A Night Ashore
by Ron A. Sewell
Genre: Crime/Mystery
Swearwords: None.
Description: Check your facts before doing the business.
_____________________________________________________________________
Captain Edward Powell reached over his desk, picked up the telephone and punched in a number. It was answered instantly.
“Bosun, there’s a woman in my Day Cabin. I’d like her removed at once and dumped on the jetty. Furthermore, if she ever tries to get back on board, call the police.”
Charlie arrived, nodded to his captain and escorted the girl away.
A mop of sun-bleached blond hair surrounded Edward’s round face. Although of average height, he gave the impression of being taller and the shoulders beneath his jacket were broad and muscular. He sat and looked longingly at the photo of his wife, which took pride of place on the desk. They had been married for thirty years and he loved her passionately. She was everything a man could have wished for, patient, understanding and a wonderful mother. He had betrayed her and tears came to his eyes.
Only two days had passed since he had met Gillian at that hotel bar.
“Would you mind if I join you?” she had asked.
Somewhat startled, Edward looked up from his empty glass. To his right stood a vivacious woman, bursting with youth. Dazzling blue eyes twinkled and gloss-covered lips smiled.
“I think you must have mistaken me for someone else,” he replied.
“I don’t think so. You’ve been sipping one drink all night.”
“I know, but it passes the time.”
“I’m Gillian and am also on my own. You look the decent type and they say two’s company.”
Her style and manner impressed him. “Edward Powell. I could do with the company. Would you like a drink?
“A gin and tonic with plenty of ice would be nice. Thank you. I think it might be nicer and certainly more comfortable if we moved to a table.”
On returning from the bar, he wondered how old she was. To his keen eyes, it was more than noticeable that a slim, curvaceous body existed under her blue dress.
Initially, Edward talked about how his wife hated him being away. Gillian changed the subject to more general matters, which lightened the atmosphere. Occasionally, her hand would brush against his. At first he withdrew, but as the night progressed, shameless thoughts stirred. The more he tried to dismiss them the more persuasive they became.
Gillian looked directly into his eyes. “Before I let you leave and return to your ship, would you like a coffee? I have some in my room.”
Edward hesitated. “That would be very nice.”
In the confines of the lift, her perfume tantalised. His physical needs were fast overcoming his normal control. They strolled from the lift along the corridor and she reached for his hand, pressing her hip against his as they stood at the door to her room. Edward’s body was reacting to pure desire. For the first time, he was about to break promises made long ago.
Her hands fumbled with the key until it turned in the lock. Once inside she uttered, “I want you to make love to me.”
Edward never liked being forced into a corner by a woman but she was in his arms, caressing his mouth with hers.
The sun was rising when Edward left Gillian sleeping peacefully.
He stopped at reception and ordered a bouquet of fresh flowers. The porter smiled, took the money and the large tip.
Edward had a rare step in his stride as he returned to his ship which was alongside and unloading. Within him, guilt gnawed at his conscience but knowing he would never see her again, he could live with it. There was only one woman in his life and that was his wife, Dawn, whom he loved more than anything.
The next day, as he was dealing with his daily correspondence, there was a knock on his cabin door and the mate entered.
“Another day another dollar, Boss.”
“How’s the unloading going, Joe?”
“Fine, Captain.”
“I’ll be here in my cabin if you need me, okay?”
Gillian arrived later. The seaman on gangway duty happily escorted her past the raucous crew to his captain’s cabin.
Edward stood and moved to greet her but the eyes of the night before were hard and cold.
“Captain, you’ll hate me for this, but a girl has to earn a living.” She held a large brown envelope in her right hand. “In here are some photographs. While you slept, I acquired your home address. Five thousand pounds and the negatives are yours, or I’ll send these to your wife.”
Edward looked at her with contempt. “That would be very interesting.” Remaining calm, he held out his right hand. “Can I see?” Looking at the prints, he smiled.
Scornfully, Gillian remarked, “And I thought you loved your wife!”
Edward looked at her with total loathing as he tossed the pictures to the floor. “I do love my wife very much, and always will, but she died in a car accident five years ago.”
Swearwords: None.
Description: Check your facts before doing the business.
_____________________________________________________________________
Captain Edward Powell reached over his desk, picked up the telephone and punched in a number. It was answered instantly.
“Bosun, there’s a woman in my Day Cabin. I’d like her removed at once and dumped on the jetty. Furthermore, if she ever tries to get back on board, call the police.”
Charlie arrived, nodded to his captain and escorted the girl away.
A mop of sun-bleached blond hair surrounded Edward’s round face. Although of average height, he gave the impression of being taller and the shoulders beneath his jacket were broad and muscular. He sat and looked longingly at the photo of his wife, which took pride of place on the desk. They had been married for thirty years and he loved her passionately. She was everything a man could have wished for, patient, understanding and a wonderful mother. He had betrayed her and tears came to his eyes.
Only two days had passed since he had met Gillian at that hotel bar.
“Would you mind if I join you?” she had asked.
Somewhat startled, Edward looked up from his empty glass. To his right stood a vivacious woman, bursting with youth. Dazzling blue eyes twinkled and gloss-covered lips smiled.
“I think you must have mistaken me for someone else,” he replied.
“I don’t think so. You’ve been sipping one drink all night.”
“I know, but it passes the time.”
“I’m Gillian and am also on my own. You look the decent type and they say two’s company.”
Her style and manner impressed him. “Edward Powell. I could do with the company. Would you like a drink?
“A gin and tonic with plenty of ice would be nice. Thank you. I think it might be nicer and certainly more comfortable if we moved to a table.”
On returning from the bar, he wondered how old she was. To his keen eyes, it was more than noticeable that a slim, curvaceous body existed under her blue dress.
Initially, Edward talked about how his wife hated him being away. Gillian changed the subject to more general matters, which lightened the atmosphere. Occasionally, her hand would brush against his. At first he withdrew, but as the night progressed, shameless thoughts stirred. The more he tried to dismiss them the more persuasive they became.
Gillian looked directly into his eyes. “Before I let you leave and return to your ship, would you like a coffee? I have some in my room.”
Edward hesitated. “That would be very nice.”
In the confines of the lift, her perfume tantalised. His physical needs were fast overcoming his normal control. They strolled from the lift along the corridor and she reached for his hand, pressing her hip against his as they stood at the door to her room. Edward’s body was reacting to pure desire. For the first time, he was about to break promises made long ago.
Her hands fumbled with the key until it turned in the lock. Once inside she uttered, “I want you to make love to me.”
Edward never liked being forced into a corner by a woman but she was in his arms, caressing his mouth with hers.
The sun was rising when Edward left Gillian sleeping peacefully.
He stopped at reception and ordered a bouquet of fresh flowers. The porter smiled, took the money and the large tip.
Edward had a rare step in his stride as he returned to his ship which was alongside and unloading. Within him, guilt gnawed at his conscience but knowing he would never see her again, he could live with it. There was only one woman in his life and that was his wife, Dawn, whom he loved more than anything.
The next day, as he was dealing with his daily correspondence, there was a knock on his cabin door and the mate entered.
“Another day another dollar, Boss.”
“How’s the unloading going, Joe?”
“Fine, Captain.”
“I’ll be here in my cabin if you need me, okay?”
Gillian arrived later. The seaman on gangway duty happily escorted her past the raucous crew to his captain’s cabin.
Edward stood and moved to greet her but the eyes of the night before were hard and cold.
“Captain, you’ll hate me for this, but a girl has to earn a living.” She held a large brown envelope in her right hand. “In here are some photographs. While you slept, I acquired your home address. Five thousand pounds and the negatives are yours, or I’ll send these to your wife.”
Edward looked at her with contempt. “That would be very interesting.” Remaining calm, he held out his right hand. “Can I see?” Looking at the prints, he smiled.
Scornfully, Gillian remarked, “And I thought you loved your wife!”
Edward looked at her with total loathing as he tossed the pictures to the floor. “I do love my wife very much, and always will, but she died in a car accident five years ago.”
About the Author
Ron A. Sewell was born in Leith, Edinburgh. At the age of fourteen, he ran away from home. Heading for the south of France, he found work as a deckhand on luxury yachts. On his return to the United Kingdom, he enlisted in the Royal Navy, eventually becoming a commissioned officer. During his career, he travelled the world, qualifying as an engineer, deck officer, boarding officer, a diver, and parachutist and for a time part of an Air Sea Rescue team. This has given him much experience and many ideas.
Ron has been writing for twenty-three years. He has written numerous short stories (many of them published) and five complete novels to date. Two of the novels, entitled The Collectors, are currently with his agent, who is attempting to sell them to a publisher.
Ron has been writing for twenty-three years. He has written numerous short stories (many of them published) and five complete novels to date. Two of the novels, entitled The Collectors, are currently with his agent, who is attempting to sell them to a publisher.