I looked around at them.
“That bartender Jason. Or you mean the man she’s married to now? Hear it?” I repeated the nonsense words, then focused on just the sounds, before repeating what Vance actually said. “The significance was Jason helped Piper previously Laura and who knows what other names, troll for her next husband last year as soon as the previous one died in Rome.”
Petronella’s hands went to her mouth. “Oh, my goodness, do you think she killed that husband, too?”
“That,” I said firmly, “is for the officials to find out.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
The thing about cruises is they end.
Our final day cruising.
Around the tip of Florida, then up its west coast through the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and into Tampa at an inhumanly early hour. Thank heavens we didn’t have to be off the ship then.
I had packing to do, but it could wait until after dark. For now, I’d enjoy the sun and the water.
After breakfast, of course.
Petronella was swarmed in the dining room. I felt a twinge of guilt to see her so overwhelmed.
Until she accepted one curious shipmate’s handshake and murmured, “Oh, no, no, I couldn’t possibly take all the credit.”
Petronella was going to do just fine.
She was still talking with a large group, when I finished eating in peace. I gestured and mouthed that I would see her later.
I spent a leisurely morning at the pool.
I was leaning against the railing, waiting for Petronella to wrap up with two couples from Missouri expressing their admiration so we could have lunch, when Chief Security Officer Gerard Edgars settled in beside me.
“Your handiwork?” he asked with a nod toward Petronella. “Misleading the public?”
“You should talk. All that baloney about how Badar was being taken by authorities as soon as we docked in the Bahamas.”
“No baloney employed. We never were to dock in the Bahamas, since we would have used the tender. It is a fine point, but a point nonetheless. One we discussed with both the Bahamian and American authorities. It was decided amongst us that the authorities in Tampa would be best equipped to handle such an investigation. As events transpired, we shall hand them a murderer and accessory.”
“You tricked me.
“It was unconventional,” he said smugly. “However, the circumstances called for it. You correctly stated that a number of people filled the requirements of motive, opportunity, and means. In addition to having familiarity with the guests from the days of the cruise, you were in a more advantageous position to question those people than we were and to hear whisperings we would never hear.”
“Pretty sneaky.”
“I believe you, too, employed a measure of stealth. I believe you did not share all you observed.” He coughed delicately. “I asked if there was anything more. You said no, when there was. I considered how best to make use of whatever it was you were concealing.”
“Very sneaky,” I said admiringly. “You let me see the video on purpose, didn’t you?”
He ignored the question, confirming my guess he’d wanted me to have that information without seeming to give it to me.
“Okay, but you have to tell me why Piper didn’t throw the body overboard. Seems a lot simpler. I know they’re developing technology to detect people going overboard, but the Diversion doesn’t have it yet from what I read.”
“It is well above my pay grade to confirm or deny what technology is employed. However, in the absence of such technology, there could yet be methods employing current technologies.”
I thought a moment. “You have cameras trained along the railings to see if something or someone goes over? How many do you have? Do you cover the whole ship? Guest balconies? What about—?”
“Will not confirm or deny.” His stern expression lightened. “However, one might say your interest in the whereabouts of Leah Treusault’s cane led to a review which spotted a narrow object going overboard in a particular area now secured for the authorities in Florida.”
“You found the murder scene. Oh. The section of the deck you closed off.”
“Alas, none of our cameras caught the crime.” Another neither confirm nor deny. He cleared his throat. “Returning to the theme of sneaky, I am told the talk on the ship is how the murder was solved by your friend, Ms. Petronella Domterni.”
“She deserves some time as the star.” And the author of Abandon All didn’t need the attention.
“No contradiction will come from those I command. However, I will need to convey accurately to the authorities how the information came to me.”
I grimaced. I’d deal with that if I had to.
* * * *
Late in the afternoon, I slowly pushed open the door for one final visit to the cozy spot beyond the indoor pool.
Odette sat in the middle deck chair, none of the others occupied.
I hesitated.
“Come sit, Sheila. Come sit.”
I did. “Where are the others?”
“Ralph and Maya have been helping Wardham today with arrangements.” Her mouth twisted. “They have the experience, since Ralph helped Maya when Bruce died. And I am giving Wardham space and time to adjust to the knowledge that I don’t want him back.”
She let out a long, slow breath.
“I don’t know if we’ll ever cruise together again. That’s a shame, really, because I think we’d have a good time.” She brightened. “Although maybe we will. Wardham will find someone quickly. He doesn’t like being alone. And if we can guide him to the right sort… Oh, I see you’re scandalized I might matchmake for my ex-husband. Left to his own devices, he’d be snapped up by one of the sort we’ve seen all too much of on this trip.”
I wasn’t totally sure if she meant Leah or the Valkyries. I agreed, either way.
“And I might find a companion suitable for a two-week cruise. As long as the others don’t try to make it more. Perhaps a bridge player. Ah, there goes the sun.”
We watched in silence as the orange and red circle sank below the horizon, while still splashing colors into the water and clouds.
“You know Leah was not like that when we met — the nastiness, the vicious reviews, hounding that poor boy who plays the guitar, the threats. Many bottles of wine become better with age. But a few turn to vinegar. Sometimes no one knows why.”
Another silence fell between us.
She shivered. “It’s chilly without the sun. I’d best go inside. Maya and Ralph and I are having room service together tonight. Don’t want others to feel uncomfortable on this last night.”
She gathered her things. We stood.
“Odette, you said the first day at the spa something about professionals and amateurs. What did you mean?”
“Oh…? Oh, yes.” A small smile. “Those young women. The rivalries, the tangles, the emotions. That’s what I meant. They made us look like amateurs.”
Her smile softened and saddened. “Leah would never have believed she was tangling with someone tougher than her.”
Odette gave me a quick hug and said, “Good luck to you, dear. And thank you.”
* * * *
I stood at my balcony railing, watching the light of settlement, distant across the water, and the light of stars, even more distant.
The dining room had felt depleted. The remainder of the Valkyries and their “boys” sat at their usual table, but subdued beyond recognition. They never looked up from their plates. Except Coral, who stared at our table for a spell before tossing her hair and resuming her meal.
Petronella welcomed a flow of admirers. Catherine, Bob, and I chatted and I tried not to meet Catherine’s eyes for too long because I’d start laughing.
It was a night of good-byes.
Eristo before dinner. Catherine and Bob, of course. Anya and Pyorte played in the Atrium — they’d never sounded better. They came over during a break, sharing their plans to buy rings, having decided they
would be happy with what they could afford now. Imka and Badar slipped in, too. Badar had given her the birthday song last night. Scowling, he said he was awful. Smiling, she said he was magnificent.
Constantine, pressed into bartending service in Jason’s absence, gave me two glasses of Veuve Clicquot and a wink with each. He was a much better winker than Jason.
He even gave a glass to Petronella.
She said, “Oh, no, I couldn’t possibly.” Then she drank it all.
One more sleep on the Diversion, then back to real life.
A new life.
My heart thudded harder against my ribs.
Anticipation, excitement, trepidition.
I was in my mid-thirties and I was ready — more than ready — to do something exotic.
Like move to the middle of the country and be normal.
No more interview queen. No more pretending I’d written something I hadn’t. No more smiling past complaints about why didn’t I write another Abandon All.
I think Aunt Kit had it right. One should be enough.
You know what? It was enough for me.
I was Sheila Mackey and outrageously fortunate that these fifteen years as someone else left me free now to be myself.
If another puzzle happened to come my way, I might just see what I could figure out.
I chuckled.
I’d be a sleuth with a secret.
Oh.
Yes, yes, yes. And I wanted a dog.
A sleuth with a secret and a big, furry dog.
And a better Doctor Watson than Petronella, bless her heart. What were the chances I could persuade Catherine and Bob to leave Scotland?
It wasn’t a whole plan for the rest of my life, but it was the beginning of one.
I liked it.
* * * *
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Secret Sleuth series
DEATH ON TORRID AVE.
A new love (canine), an ex-cop and a dog park discovery.
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More Sheila Mackey adventures are coming in:
Death on Beguiling Way
Death on Covert Circle
Caught Dead in Wyoming mysteries
SIGN OFF
Divorce a husband, lose a career … grapple with a murder.
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LEFT HANGING
Trampled by bulls — an accident? Elizabeth, Mike and friends must dig into the world of rodeo.
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SHOOT FIRST
For Elizabeth, death hits close to home. She and friends must delve into old Wyoming treasures and secrets to save lives.
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LAST DITCH
KWMT’s Elizabeth and Mike search after a man in a wheelchair goes missing in dangerous, desolate country.
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LOOK LIVE
Elizabeth and friends take on misleading murder with help — and hindrance — from intriguing out-of-towners.
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BACK STORY
Murder never dies. but comes back to threaten Elizabeth, her friends and KWMT colleagues.
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COLD OPEN
Elizabeth’s looking for a place of her own becomes an open house for murder.
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HOT ROLL
Death on a tight deadline for Elizabeth and the investigative team.
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Mystery With Romance
PROOF OF INNOCENCE
She’s a prosecutor chasing demons. He’s wrestling them. Will they find proof of innocence?
PRICE OF INNOCENCE
She runs a foundation dedicated to forgiveness. He runs down criminals. If they don’t work together, people will die.
RIDE THE RIVER: RODEO KNIGHTS
Her rodeo cowboy ex is back … as her prime suspect.
BARDVILLE, WYOMING
A Stranger in the Family
A Stranger to Love
The Rancher Meets His Match
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About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn spent more than 20 years as an editor at the Washington Post after stints as a sports writer (Rockford, Ill.) and assistant sports editor (Charlotte, N.C.). She received BA and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University.
McLinn is the author of more than 45 published novels, which are cited by readers and reviewers for wit and vivid characterization. Her books include mysteries, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, historical romance and women’s fiction. They have topped bestseller lists and won numerous awards.
She has spoken about writing from Melbourne, Australia, to Washington, D.C., including being a guest speaker at the Smithsonian Institution.
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Did you love Death on the Diversion? Then you should read Death on Torrid Ave. by Patricia McLinn!
Paws for murder
Far from the publishing world that once defined her, Sheila Mackey has found a new life, a new home, and a new love. The love has four legs, a plumey tail, and a lot of fur. Meet Gracie the rescue collie. Too smart for her own good – certainly too smart for Sheila's good, when Gracie discovers a dead body during a dog park gambol.
Especially since Sheila delves into mysteries surrounding this dead body ... only to discover the new guy at the Torrid Avenue dog park is a barely retired cop. Not good for an amateur sleuth with a big secret of her own that she intends to keep. She's not exactly who she says she is. At least, she's not who she pretended to be for 15 years.
Will Sheila untangle the murder mystery before her secrets are untied, exposing her previous identity to her new small-town neighbors?
And will Gracie ever learn the "Quiet!" command?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This whodunit with humor is the second book in USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn's new cozy mystery series, Secret Sleuth, which begins with a murder on a transatlantic cruise in Death on the Diversion. In Death on Torrid Ave. and later books, accidental investigator Sheila Mackey returns to dry land in the Midwest, where mysteries abound in her new small-town home.
On the spectrum of McLinn's mystery novels, the Caught Dead in Wyoming cozy series is in the middle, Proof of Innocence is edgier (and has more romance), and Secret Sleuth is a bit less edgy.
Secret Sleuth series
Death on the Diversion
Death on Tor
rid Ave.
Look for more Secret Sleuth mysteries to come!
Death on Beguiling Way
Death on Covert Circle
More cozy mystery from Patricia McLinn:
Caught Dead in Wyoming
Sign Off
Left Hanging
Shoot First
Last Ditch
Look Live
Back Story
Cold Open
Hot Roll (2019)
"Colorful characters, intriguing, intelligent mystery, plus the state of Wyoming leaping off every page." -- Emilie Richards, USA Today bestselling author
If you like mystery with romance and a bit of humor, try also:
Proof of Innocence
Price of Innocence (2019)
Ride the River: Rodeo Knights (romantic suspense; includes cameos from Caught Dead in Wyoming characters)
Bardville, Wyoming series (romance with a little mystery)
A Stranger in the Family
A Stranger to Love
The Rancher Meets His Match
Read more at Patricia McLinn’s site.
Also by Patricia McLinn
A Place Called Home
Lost and Found Groom
At the Heart's Command
Hidden in a Heartbeat
A Place Called Home Trilogy Boxed Set
Bardville, Wyoming
A Stranger in the Family
A Stranger to Love
The Rancher Meets His Match
Bardville, Wyoming Trilogy Boxed Set
Caught Dead In Wyoming
Death on the Diversion Page 21
