Spindle stared at him blankly. ‘Get in,’ he said to his wife and yanked her arm. She disappeared into the room. Spindle half-closed the door.
‘What d’ya want to talk about?’ His eyes narrowed.
Fortescue was not sure where to begin, how to explain that the boy was a genius.
‘May I?’ he indicated the door.
‘No, you may not. We ain’t got much room.’ He stepped out into the corridor and nudged the door shut. ‘We can talk ’ere.’
Egbert cleared his throat. ‘Your ward, Billy, has a remarkable gift.’
‘Gift for thievin’,’ the man hissed. ‘Comes in ’andy though, just so long as the little shit don’t get caught.’
‘He’s actually a very talented mathematician, Mr Spindle. I’m a teacher and I think he should be given every chance to develop his abilities.’
The man looked into Fortescue’s eyes, his face completely expressionless. Then he broke into an unpleasant smile. ‘Mathematics, eh? Well, he must get that from his aunt.’ He cackled.
Fortescue and Billy looked at him in silence.
‘So what you saying, mister?’ Spindle went on sarcastically. ‘You expecting us to put the lad into a school for the gifted? I imagine it would be a little pricey… I might have to sell off a few shares.’
Fortescue held the man’s gaze. ‘I was going to offer to help. I think Billy has a remarkable talent. It would be a crime to let it go to waste.’
Spindle considered the scientist. ‘Did I ’ear right that you’re a teacher?’
Fortescue nodded.
‘So you could teach ’im.’
‘Up to a point, but I have important business in America. I have to leave New York soon after we dock.’
Spindle nodded slowly and looked Fortescue up and down again. Fortescue sensed something had changed. The man’s expression had turned from sarcasm to an odd blend of disgust and avarice. ‘So, this “mathematical talent”,’ he said, ‘would be worth paying for, right?’
Fortescue looked confused. ‘I would be happy to pay for Billy to receive special attention,’ he said and glanced at the boy. Billy looked from one man to the other.
Spindle’s face was rigid, his black eyes held Fortescue’s. ‘Special attention… yeah.’ He was nodding slowly again. ‘That comes expensive.’
‘I’m not sure I’m making myself clear.’
‘Oh, it’s very clear, Mr… Wickins was it? We knows all about special attention… ain’t stupid.’ And he touched the side of his nose.
Suddenly Fortescue got it. The man thought he was fabricating a story about Billy’s skills and that he was really interested in the boy for nefarious sexual purposes. He felt a frisson of revulsion. ‘I don’t know how you have reached the conclusion I think you have reached, my good man…’
Spindle gave Fortescue a look of utter contempt. ‘I ain’t your good man, guvnor, and don’t play me for a fool. I know what all you toffs are like. Mathematical ability, my arse…’
Fortescue felt a fury building. He glanced at Billy and then back at Bert Spindle. Trying to keep calm, he said, ‘I assure you, you have it all wrong.’
‘Five quid and you can have the little bleeder.’
‘What?’
‘Five now, five when we get to New York and I’ll keep me silence too.’
Fortescue had a sudden overwhelming urge to strike the man. He took a step forward and saw a glint of metal. Spindle had a flick knife in his left hand. He made a grab for Billy with his right, but the kid slipped away and darted along the corridor behind Fortescue. Fortescue had his hands half-raised level with his chest. He realized he was suddenly breathing heavily.
‘I’m afraid there’s been a misunderstanding,’ the scientist began, eyeing the knife.
‘You reckon, do you, Mr Wickins? I don’t think I’ve misunderstood nothing. I think I have the measure of you, mate… seen it plenty a times before. Empty your pockets.’
‘What?’
‘You ’eard me.’
‘But this is preposterous!’
Spindle moved the knife forward six inches. Fortescue reached into his pocket and withdrew a few coins. Spindle grabbed them, pushing his face close up to Fortescue’s. ‘I’ve got your name,’ he said. ‘This ship’s a small place… I’d watch out. Touch the boy without paying for ’im and I’ll slice you ear to ear before you go overboard.’ And he was gone.
Fortescue realized he was shaking He peered down at his trembling hands. Lowering his arms, he took a couple of deep breaths, hardly able to believe what had just happened. He looked at the door to G10 for a long moment, then turned. There was no sign of Billy O’Donnell. He walked along the corridor and up the steps, seeing no one until he reached the top and the passageway onto D-Deck.
He heard a sound from behind. ‘Mr Wickins.’
He spun round but there was no one there. Then he saw a hand beckoning him from behind a pillar. He walked over.
‘I’m sorry about that,’ the boy said.
‘It’s not your fault, Billy.’
Along the deck he spotted a pair of middle-aged women testing the air. They ducked back inside.
‘Look, there’s something I was trying to tell you.’
A bit late now, isn’t it, Billy?’
‘It’s not about me uncle and aunt.’
‘Go on.’
‘It’s just… well, earlier, I was running away from something, something terrifying.’
‘What do you mean?’
The boy looked down at his scuffed shoes and shrugged his shoulders. ‘You’ll probably think I’m lying’
Fortescue shook his head. ‘I won’t. Tell me.’
‘I was exploring and I got cornered. Had to duck into a storeroom. Then guess what happened? I’m behind some crates and this couple come into the storeroom and start whispering… schemin’.’
‘Billy you’ve lost me.’
‘They was talkin’ about you.’
‘Who were?’