by Sonia Parin
“Even if you find yourself floating face down in the sea?”
“I can’t tell if you’re joking or seriously concerned about my wellbeing.”
“A little of both,” Mira said and turned her attention to placing an order for them.
David arrived shortly after the food was delivered.
“I’m glad I ordered more than either of us could eat,” Mira said.
He sat down beside Eve and studied the notes she’d made. When she told him about wanting to look at the footage from the cruise ship terminal, he drew his cell phone out and called Jack.
“See Mira, he doesn’t think it’s such a silly idea.”
“Sometimes in an investigation,” David said as he waited for Jack to pick up, “You need to back up and take stock of the information you have at hand.”
Mira smiled at Eve. “Drink your coffee and eat your cake. You might need your strength.”
“To stay afloat? I’m bringing out the worst in you.” She helped herself to a scone and slathered a generous helping of strawberry jam and rich cream. “Yum. The cream is lemon flavored. I’ve never thought of doing that.”
“He’ll get back to us,” David said as he put his cell phone away. “But don’t hold your breath. They might not be able to allocate the manpower.”
“I’m only interested to see if any of the suspects liaised with Crystal while coming on board. Who knows, we might catch the captain having what he thought was a private moment with her. We need to start making solid connections.”
“Why the captain?” Mira asked.
“I can’t rule him out. Not after he refused to take me seriously and insisted Crystal fell by accident.”
“This must be one of your sugar rush storming ideas,” Mira said. “And, now that I think about it, not a bad one. I like it. Someone might have been behaving strangely even before they came on board. Yes, it makes sense. Some criminals have been caught after they made the mistake of lingering at a crime scene. Why not before...”
“Firebugs hang around,” David offered. “Police are always quick to get their hands on video footage of those crime scenes.” He brushed his hand across his chin.
“You look concerned.”
“It’s my thinking face,” he smiled at Mira as she handed him a cup of coffee.
“Think out loud, David. Don’t be shy,” Eve encouraged.
He rested his chin on his clasped hands. “I’d like to know what happened to the scarf you saw hanging on the railing. There one moment, gone the next.”
“I thought we’d assumed it had gone overboard.”
“But what if it didn’t? I’m willing to bet there’ll be traces of blood on it.”
“You still think the killer used it to wipe the railing?”
He nodded.
“But what good is finding the scarf?”
“It could prove useful in a trial.”
Eve thought about it for a moment. “I saw it when I entered the cabin. It prompted me to look overboard. That’s when I saw Crystal’s body floating. Then I reported the incident. It probably took the captain fifteen minutes to come to the cabin. The scarf was still there, or at least, I don’t remember not seeing it. He locked the cabin and escorted me to his office where he spent too much time telling me off for entering someone else’s cabin without permission. He actually referred to it as breaking and entering.”
“If he didn’t remove it, then someone else might have,” David suggested.
“Okay, I didn’t really want to say this, but I’ve been second guessing myself. What if I grabbed it on my way back inside the cabin and put it down somewhere?”
Mira patted her shoulder. “You were in shock, Eve.”
“You’re too kind, Mira. But you’d think I’d be used to seeing dead bodies by now.”
“At least you reacted promptly. Anyone else might have...” Mira shrugged, “I don’t know, gone into a catatonic state. Personally, I’ve never had the misfortune of finding a dead body. I’d like to think I’d know what to do, but I’ve read so many books and seen too many films where someone always goes into hysterics, so I can’t vouch for myself.”
Eve laughed. “You’re not the type to lose your head, Mira. You’d probably start taking notes for your next book.”
“Don’t worry about it, Eve.” David rolled up his sleeves. “Timeline.”
“What about it?”
He gave a small shake of his head. “We need more detailed information. Somehow, we have to establish a timeline and we do that by digging deeper.” He surged to his feet. “Carlos said he had a drink at the bar.”
“Right after he went to see Crystal.” Eve jumped to her feet. “There must be a record of the transaction.”
“Yes. Even if he’s running a tab. I’ll be back.” With a wave to Mira, he left.
Eve took a sip of her coffee and noticed Mira staring into space. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Mira made a helpless gesture with her hand. “It’s... foolish.”
“Out with it.”
“I hope David doesn’t think less of me for not knowing how I’d react in a difficult situation.”
“Who are you and what have you done with Mira?” Eve smiled at her aunt.
Mira’s grin took ten years off her. “I can’t believe I just said that.”
“You did, and I’m going to have fun reminding you. David is not the type who’d mind you showing a softer, more sensitive side and if he is... well then, he’d be a fool to hold it against you. If you want my advice, stick to being yourself. He already likes you.” She hadn’t changed for Jack and he liked her just as she was.
Mira fanned herself and took a few deep breaths. “Okay. I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?”
Mira gave a firm nod and poured herself another cup of coffee. “Go on with what you were doing.”
“I’m wondering how I can contribute to the timeline. I took my photo at eleven and Crystal was on it.” She drew out her cell phone. “Can you access your email, Mira?”
“Yes.”
Eve sent her a copy of the photo along with the link Jill had sent her of the CM Encore blog. “If you can open the photo in your laptop, we’ll get a better look at it.” Moments later, the screen filled with the image and they got to work. If they’d been back on the island and in the comfort of Mira’s sitting room, Eve and Jill would have covered all available surfaces with notes and brainstorming ideas. The twin share cabin had a sitting area with a small coffee table and a two-seater couch and Eve had already covered the few feet of floor space with notes. Without a printer, they’d have to make do with looking at the photo on the small screen
Mira pointed to one of the women. “We can’t see her face, but the color of her costume matches the photo of Lillian Wordsworth on the blog and I swear, the way she’s looking at Crystal makes me shiver.”
“I can’t get over the fact they’re all wearing different costumes. Why does that make me think of clowns?” Eve asked.
They both looked at the picture in silence. Then Mira spoke up. “Possibly because of clown registers and copyright. There are official registries to document a clown’s unique makeup. I must have found out during one of my writer’s block moments. There is so much information online. Type in a word and the Internet sucks you right in. I bet they’ve all agreed to never cross the line and wear anything resembling each other’s costume.”
“You think they have some sort of copycat infringement rule?”
“Writers do it, why not fans of Carmen Miranda?”
“If I ever succumb to an obsession, please promise me you’ll make me come to my senses.”
“Can I start now?” Mira looked up at the ceiling. “A certain bespoke stove comes to mind. You were quite obsessed with it. You still are.”
Ignoring Mira’s remark, Eve said, “Lillian’s death stare looks familiar.”
“It might just be her serious face,” Mira suggested.
Eve stared at t
he photo. After a moment, she clapped her hands and threw in a triumphant whoop. “It’s the silver Carmen Miranda. She gave me the death stare.”
“She looks quite pleasant in the other photos.”
“Hang on.” Eve shot to her feet. “She’s the one I saw leaving Crystal’s cabin.” She’d suspected it when she’d seen her making a toast. There had been something about her hand gesture that had looked familiar.
“Are you sure she was coming out of the cabin?”
Eve bit the edge of her lip. “The way she moved suggested it. She appeared to walk diagonally along the hallway as if she’d just emerged from one of the cabins. Also, she was picking up her pace. Again, the way one would do when coming out of a room.”
“So what are you going to do now?”
“We’ll finish putting names to faces and then...” Would she risk approaching any of them? “I’ll figure it out.”
Mira checked her watch. “I wouldn’t mind a bite to eat. Coming?”
“In a minute. I should change. I wouldn’t want to be seen still wearing my morning shorts.”
Chapter Ten
Mira and David sat at a table by the window. As Eve approached, he stood up and drew a chair for her.
“David, you’re a keeper. If I could bottle you up, I’d make a fortune.”
“An opportunist. I like that.”
“It runs in the family. Don’t be surprised to find yourself in one of Mira’s books. She tends to draw her characters from the people she meets, not that she’d ever admit it.”
David laughed. “I heard about the mad innkeeper. She tells me you think she used you as inspiration.”
“The innkeeper is not mad.” Catching the defensive tone in her voice, Eve smiled. “She’s undercover...”
The look David exchanged with Mira spoke of easy camaraderie. Eve couldn’t help silently cheering for them. “What else has Mira been telling you?”
“She filled in a few gaps and told me you’re in the process of setting up an inn on the island.”
“Yes, I already have a couple of bookings and my new bespoke stove is about to arrive.”
Another chuckle. “I heard about that too. You needed the money to buy it so you rented your house to a killer.”
“Not on purpose. And it’s no secret. I’m sure I told you about that earlier on.” It seemed Mira had been talking a great deal about her. As a way to color in the details of island living and make it interesting? Enticing?
“And,” David laughed, “You offered full disclosure and told him about a previous murder that had taken place in the house.”
“Yes, well...” That didn’t make her mad... Eve fanned herself and glancing at Mira, she gave her a raised eyebrow look to encourage a change of subject.
“David started telling me about his chat with Carlos,” Mira said, “But we got side-tracked.”
She’d almost forgotten about their meeting with Carlos at the bar and now she wished she hadn’t been reminded. If only Carlos had given them something to go on with.
At this rate, she could kiss her vacation goodbye.
“When did people stop talking about the weather?” Eve asked.
“I take it Carlos was uncooperative,” Mira offered and laughed as Eve pretended to study the menu.
“Meaning he didn’t confess to the crime or point the finger of suspicion at someone else,” Eve added. “We’re in desperate need of a good old-fashioned rat.” Eve set the menu down, only to pick it up again. “Put him under pressure and I think he’ll sing like a canary.” She frowned and remembered she’d decided to step back and work on relaxing and enjoying her vacation.
Belatedly, she realized this had been her intention all along but it had been derailed when she’d remembered she’d taken the photo of the Carmen Miranda rumble... Clearly she was fighting a losing battle with herself. “There’s only lobster on the menu.”
“What do you expect? It’s the Lobster Lounge.”
“It is?” Eve looked around them and noticed all the tables had coral pink covers and the flower arrangements were all orange.
Mira smiled. “You blend in nicely, Eve.”
She looked down at herself and only then realized she’d matched her blouse with her turquoise skirt. Lobster orange. “Great. I don’t have to worry about dribbling on my blouse.” She set her menu down and huffed.
“I nearly forgot to ask,” Mira said and turned to David, “How did you go finding out what time Carlos had his drink?”
“The bartender didn’t work that shift so he suggested I try again tomorrow.”
So much for putting together a timeline, Eve thought and silently thanked Mira for asking the question. Now they could try to enjoy their vacation.
She tried. She really did...
“In Murder She Wrote,” Eve said, “Angela Lansbury always found the murderer using phone records.”
Mira took a sip of her drink. “You mean, Jessica Fletcher.”
“Same person.”
“Not really. One is the actress, and the other is the character she played.”
“The devil is in the details, Eve,” David offered.
Eve tossed the words around. “Do you think we can gain access to Crystal’s cabin again? I feel we missed something.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” David leaned forward and lowered his voice. “What’s on your mind?”
“Riffling through her personal effects. You’re the official police consultant so there shouldn’t be anything wrong with it. Who knows? She might have kept a journal. Also, she must have a cell phone. I’ve seen plenty of shows where the killer leaves a threatening message.”
“Yes, and they usually end up killing again when they try to retrieve the phone.”
Eve waved off his concerns. “There’ll be two of us searching the room.”
“Are you offering to watch my back?” David asked, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
“I wouldn’t dismiss Eve,” Mira said. “She can be quite handy in difficult situations.”
“Thank you, Mira.” Eve took a sip of water. Lifting her gaze, she scanned the restaurant. When her gaze landed on the Captain’s table, she nearly dropped her glass. “This is a new development.” And it reinforced what they’d seen earlier...
Mira and David turned to see what she was talking about.
“That’s Lillian Wordsworth,” Mira said.
“Flirting with Captain Jon Robertson,” Eve piped in. “That has to mean something.”
David nudged Mira. “I’m guessing Eve is the type to cut the edges of jigsaw puzzle pieces to make them fit.”
Eve didn’t see anything strange about two women fighting over one man and one of those women taking steps to clear the way for herself.
“We’ll see who has the last laugh.” Eve focused on the menu. “After careful consideration, I’ve decided to have the lobster.”
If she never ate lobster again... it would be too soon.
Groaning under her breath, Eve rose from the poolside lounger where she’d collapsed after her waddle around to ease her digestion.
One more turn around the ship and she might feel human again. Smiling, she thought about Bronson. She might end up joining him at the gym. Earlier, she’d seen him from a distance. He’d been dressed in shorts and a t-shirt and most likely on his way to meet his torturer. They’d waved and made a few hand gestures to suggest a meeting later on.
Absently, she gazed at the passengers lounging around. They didn’t appear to have a care in the world. Eve couldn’t see any reason why she couldn’t settle into an easy rhythm. She’d already put enough thought into it to turn her efforts into a working vacation. How hard could it be to forget about everything that kept her busy most days?
Including murder, she thought.
She strode through a food court, averting her gaze from the tantalizing feasts, and instead eyed the lush chairs strategically placed to take in the best views, albeit too close to food. Before she could be tempte
d into taking another break, she pushed herself to keep walking.
With so many people making the best of the pleasant sunny weather outdoors, she had the corridors to herself. And the shops. She stepped inside one and was immediately accosted by a sales assistant.
“I’m only browsing.”
“Are you looking for anything in particular?”
Eve responded to the salesgirl’s bubbly tone with a smile. While she’d never been much of a shopper, she wouldn’t mind taking advantage of the opportunity. However, giving her stomach a discreet pat, she decided it could wait a couple of days. No point in buying something that would fit today and... sag tomorrow...
“No, nothing in particular.” And just as well. She caught sight of a prize tag. Clearly, the boutique catered to people who were either gullible or so affluent they didn’t care about cost. “Very pretty,” she said as she ran her fingers along the sleeve of a blouse. “Is this the quiet part of the day?”
“It’s usually like this during the first couple of days. Passengers are eager to kick back and relax. Once they get bored of that, they hit the shops.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Eve thought she saw a pineapple... attached to a head. Instinctively and without much justification, she ducked.
“Are you all right?”
“Knee-jerk reaction.” To what? Seeing a Carmen Miranda impersonator? “I thought I saw someone I... well, I didn’t want to be seen shopping,” she prevaricated.
“My sister does that all the time when we go shopping. She’s afraid her husband will catch her in the act.” The salesgirl shrugged. “We deal with our issues in our own way. I eat chocolate, she shops.”
Eve looked over her shoulder.
“She’s just gone up the stairs.” The salesgirl gave her a knowing smile.
Eve couldn’t hold back her sigh of relief. That pineapple had looked familiar. And dangerous. Her senses must have picked up some sort of danger signal. Maybe it had been the Carmen Miranda who’d shoved her out of the way on the first day...
Eve drew out a pair of shorts and held them up against her. They looked to be about her size, but the way she felt at the moment, she didn’t dare try something that didn’t come with an elastic band. “Sorry, I had a sort of run in with her.”
