Cedar Bay Cozy Mysteries #3

by Dianne Harman

  “You’re really good,” Kelly said as Carola sat down. She waved the server over and in fluent Spanish asked for a piña colada. She turned to Kelly. “What can I order for you?”

  “I don't know, surprise me. I have no experience with rum drinks.”

  A few minutes later the server brought them piña coladas. They talked about their families, their husbands, and this and that. Kelly had just looked away from Carola when much to her surprise, she saw Mike walking into the restaurant. She said in a loud voice, “Mike, over here.” He walked over to their table and sat down.

  “What are you doing here?” Kelly asked. “I thought you were going to be fishing all day and eat lunch on one of the islets like you did yesterday.”

  “So did I, but the constable sent a boat out for me. The coroner brought his equipment to Cayo Largo earlier today, and he’s determined that Dudley was murdered. Apparently it's the first murder that’s ever occurred here on the island. The constable wants me to help him, since he's never had to conduct a murder investigation. Plus, Dudley was staying here at the hotel, and we were with him in Havana as well. The constable is picking me up in a few minutes.” Mike heard something under the table and looked down. He saw Cayo with his head resting on Kelly's feet.

  “What in the devil is this? Never mind, that was a stupid question. I know what it is, but how and why?”

  “I have no clue. I was simply adopted by him on my way to breakfast this morning. I think he plans on staying with us while we're here.”

  “Great. I love our dogs,” Mike said, “but I have to tell you it's been kind of nice not having to get up to let them out, make sure they're fed, and all the rest of the stuff that goes along with being a dog owner. What is it with you, Kelly? Do you send out sounds at some tone decibel I can't hear inviting stray dogs and cats to come to you?”

  Kelly laughed. “I have no idea. I know nothing about cats, but Cayo seems to have decided we're going to be friends while I'm here.”

  “Mike, I know you have to go, but does this mean Jack will be a suspect? Where is he?” Carola asked.

  “I think everyone who has had anything to do with Dudley will be a suspect. As for Jack, he's still out fishing. There was no need for him to come in with me. I told him to keep fishing and see if he could become a member of the Grand Slam Club.” He turned to Kelly. “I have no idea when I'll be back, so if you get hungry tonight go ahead and eat without me.”

  “Okay, but how do you intend to start this investigation, since it sounds like it's falling into your hands?”

  “Several things have happened. Guido, the head fishing guide at the marina, told me when he came to get me in the boat that Philip had volunteered this morning to take over Dudley's group and help them. Guido said he wasn't too sure how he felt about it, because Philip told the group now that Dudley was dead he was going to be the one who would get the exclusive rights from Bartolo to fish in the Cayo Largo area, so they better get to know him."

  “What a horrible man,” Carola said. “He's saying Jack doesn't have a chance at becoming the exclusive United States agent for Bartolo, right?”

  “That's how I'd interpret it. I agree, it takes a lot of nerve to do something like that when a man has been murdered, but I doubt if his clients know that since they're all still out on the water.”

  “What else has happened?”

  Mike looked at his watch, “I'll make this quick, and then I need to go change. The constable will be here in just a few minutes. He spoke with his superior on the main island, and a decision was made to not allow anyone who could be considered a suspect to leave the island, and that includes Dudley's wife. It's somewhat unusual, but he's also decided not to allow Dudley’s body to leave Cuba until the killer is found. Jack, Stewart, and Philip, all of whom are the fishing people who might be considered suspects, are here for several more days anyway, but it's unusual to place a hold on the body of a murder victim and not allow the spouse or the decedent’s body to be returned to their home country for some type of a memorial service.” With that he stood up to leave.

  “Wait, Mike, one more thing. What made the coroner say Dudley was murdered rather than suffering a heart attack, which is what was originally thought?” Carola asked.

  “He found a little dot on Dudley's arm that looked like a needle puncture. When he conducted the autopsy, he found traces of an unknown substance in Dudley's body. He didn't know exactly which one it was, but it seems to have caused Dudley's heart to stop. Essentially he was poisoned. A lot of coroners would have missed it. I'm pretty impressed the coroner was able to get that information from an autopsy done under rather primitive circumstances. See you later.”

  Carola, who was normally carefree and vivacious, had become very quiet. After a few minutes she looked at Kelly and said, “I remember you told me how you have helped Mike solve several murder cases in the past. I’m so worried for Jack. Please, Kelly, would you help Mike find the murderer? I’ll do what I can to help. Surely my ability to speak Spanish can be of some use. Please, please say yes.” She looked at Kelly, her big brown eyes glistening with unshed tears.

  “I'll be happy to do anything I can, but we're in a foreign country, at a remote resort, I don't speak the language, and the possible suspects are from all over the world.”

  “I think the first place to start is with Dudley's widow,” Carola said. “She was very rude when I tried to talk to her before, but maybe if I go to her room and offer my condolences, she'll be nicer, and I can find out something.”

  “From what you told me and what I overheard, I doubt it, but yes, it's worth a try. I wonder where she was when Dudley was murdered. In other words what is her alibi? As to any other suspects, we can forget about Jack, although he was taking a swim, and Dudley was murdered either when he was in the water or right before he was in the water. While Jack might not have a very good alibi, I feel certain we can cross him off the list.”

  Carola looked steadily at Kelly and said, “I told you before that Jack could not have done it, and that's why I want to find out who did.”

  “I understand, Carola. That leaves Stewart and Philip. Since they're both out fishing right now, we’ll have to wait to find out anything about them. There is someone else that hasn't been mentioned, and this is where your fluency in Spanish might help. I don't think I've told this to you or Mike, but when the guides were showing the men how to cast during the orientation, I went up to the marina building where the fishing equipment is stored to use the bathroom.

  “I overheard the head guide, Guido, telling another guide he wanted Jack to be the one to get the contract from Bartolo. I thought it was interesting that he was speaking to his guide in English since he's Italian, and his guide is Cuban. He told the guide he was talking to him in English because he wanted him to use his English as much as he could. He said the reason he wanted Jack to get the contract, and not Dudley, is that Dudley had bragged that when he got the contract he would bring his own people in, and Guido was worried about what would happen to the Cuban guides who had worked so hard to get where they were. He said he considered them family.”

  “Do you think I should talk to Guido or the one who is guiding Jack?”

  “I don't know,” Kelly answered. “It just seems to me that maybe one of them would be a suspect if his livelihood was threatened. I don't know if they have families to support or for that matter anything at all about them. Maybe we should take a taxi to the marina and kind of sniff around. We could go to the clubhouse, and you could talk to Guido. We could say I was so charmed by the photos in the clubhouse I wanted to show them to you. Then here’s something else that can be done.”

  “What’s that?”

  “There's a computer room next to the front desk in the lobby. I’ll do an Internet search on Stewart and Philip. Mike will probably get in touch with people he knows back in the States and have them do a background check on everyone involved. I have no idea what we're looking for, but at least we have a few places t
o start.”

  “Kelly, let's not waste time. I'll go to the marina and talk to Guido while you do the Internet search. That way we can get a lot more done. When I come back I'll go to Dudley's wife's room and give her my condolences. Why don't we meet in the lobby at 4:00 and share what, if anything, we've learned?”

  “Sounds good. I need to go to my room and get some money for the Internet. It will probably take me more time to do the searches than I have left on my existing card. See you at 4:00.” Kelly left the table, Cayo at her side. It was obvious Cayo was well-known at the hotel, since no one associated with the resort even bothered to look at him.

  CHAPTER 12

  Carola paid the taxi driver after he’d driven her the short distance to the marina. She saw several shops that catered to fisherman, went into one of them, and asked where the Bartolo fishing clubhouse was located. The clerk pointed to a building near the dock. As she walked the short distance to it she admired the well maintained dock and large patio with its teak tables and chairs that overlooked the marina. To the left of the patio was a glass windowed office next to a wooden door with several kinds of fish painted on it along with the words “Grand Slam Club.”

  So that's what Mike was talking about when he mentioned Dudley had caught the tarpon, permit, and bonefish that allowed him to become the first English member of the Grand Slam Club, Carola thought. Wonder if that provided the motive for someone who wanted to kill him.

  She decided to go in and introduce herself to the handsome Italian man sitting at the desk. Although Carola's beauty was not all that important to her, she was well aware of the effect she had on men and decided that if ever there was a time to make use of it, this was the time.

  “Hello. I'm Carola. My husband, Jack, is fishing with one of your guides today. He told me how beautiful the clubhouse and grounds were, and I decided to come and see for myself. I’m also interested in looking at all of the photos on the wall. I hope you don't mind,” she said, smiling and batting her long dark eyelashes at him. The poor man never had a chance. He was practically stuttering as he said, “I am Guido Naraldi. I am in charge of the fishing guides. Please have a seat. May I get you something to drink? I would be happy to show you around if you would like to take a tour.”

  “Thank you, but I just had lunch. I can see that you’re busy, so I won't trouble you for a tour. Actually, I'm writing an article for a magazine. I'm surprising my husband with it, and since he spoke so highly of Bartolo Fishing Adventures last night, I thought it would be a fun thing to include something about Bartolo in the article. If you could spare a few minutes of your time, I'd love to ask you some questions.”

  “For you, I can spare all the time you need. Please, tell me how I can help,” he said leaning against the edge of his desk.

  “Well, for starters, could you tell me about your company, Bartolo Fishing Adventures? How does it work?”

  “Sure, I’d be happy to tell you about the company. Bartolo is an international recreational sport fishing company. We specialize in full service destination sport fishing. By that I mean our customers pay a flat fee for their trip, and that covers everything, including airfare, ground transportation, meals, lodging, and of course fishing equipment and guides. The company is headquartered in Italy and manages different fishing locations throughout the world.

  “Our operation here in Cuba is somewhat unique. A number of years ago the company negotiated an agreement with the Cuban government that grants the company the exclusive right to fish in the marine sanctuary located adjacent to Cayo Largo. Fishermen from all over the world come here for our world class fly fishing to catch bonefish, permit, and tarpon.”

  “I asked my husband if it was crowded out on the water yesterday, and he told me no. With so many people wanting to fish here, how do you do that?”

  “The area where we fish is a protected government marine sanctuary, and the only type of fishing allowed is catch and release. We not only strictly adhere to the catch and release of the fish, but we also limit the number of fishermen in each area. We divide the fishable areas around this part of the island into five zones, and no more than three boats are allowed in each zone on the same day.”

  “Since the embargo is still in effect, American fishermen can’t fly directly to Cuba, but once it’s lifted they will be able to fly to Cuba from the United States. At that time there will be many American fishermen who will want to come here,” Guido said. “When it happens we expect there will be a huge increase in our business. That is why Bartolo wants to have a contract with a fishing guide that will be responsible as their exclusive agent in America to recruit fishermen to come here to Cayo Largo to fish.”

  “Will you still limit the number of boats allowed and adhere to the catch and release tradition?” Carola asked in a sexy voice.

  “Absolutely. Without those two things in place this area would quickly be fished out, and then who would want to come?” Guido shrugged and turned the palms of his hands up.

  “I agree, but if this area is open to fishing guides from various foreign countries, what will happen to the Cuban fishing guides?”

  “Aah, that is something that keeps me awake at night. I have hired the best guides in Cuba for our company. They work for us at a great sacrifice. They are local and know these waters like the backs of their hands. They spend twenty days working for me, and then they get ten days off to be with their families. It is a great sacrifice to them, but the money is good, actually better than they could make anywhere else in Cuba.”

  “You said they go to see their families on the ten days they have off. Does that mean their families are not here on Cayo Largo with them?”

  “Yes, that is correct. It is not an ideal situation, but there are no schools, and there is no housing for families here on the island. There aren’t even any dogs, because there are no permanent residents. The guides live four to a room in housing we provide during the fishing season. Almost all of them have built homes for their families on the Island of the Youth which is about three hours from here by boat.

  “If I may speak frankly, Senora, I would like to see your husband get the contract from Bartolo to become the exclusive representative in the United States to book American fishermen who want to come to Cuba and fish with us. I understand that one of the contenders for that contract, Dudley Samms, died late yesterday. I can't say that I'm sorry. He told me he planned to bring in his own guides when he got the contract, and that he would let my men go.”

  “That must have been very hard for you to accept. It sounds like you really care for your employees.”

  “I do, Senora, they are like sons to me, sons I never had. Maybe the God we believe in helped us by allowing Senor Samms to die. I heard he had a heart attack while he was swimming. I understand the coroner is going to be flown in from the main island to conduct an autopsy. When the constable told me to take my boat out and bring Senor Reynolds back here to the clubhouse, I thought maybe he had learned something. Have you heard anything more about the cause of Senor Samms’ death?”

  “Yes. He was murdered. The legal authorities have begun investigating the murder. I assume you have a good alibi for the time he was murdered. I believe he was murdered after he became qualified to become a member of the Grand Slam Club. It looks like his death was somewhere between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. last night. I'm sure the authorities will want to know where you were during that time. Do you know if Dudley planned on having you stay on as the chief guide?”

  Guido’s eyes narrowed as he looked at her. There is far more to this woman than a beautiful face and a sexy body. It's almost as if she's grilling me on behalf of the authorities. My instincts tell me I better be very, very careful what I say to her.

  “Senor Samms told me he planned to keep me on, because I knew the business side of guiding. He said he was an expert at fishing and getting people to pay to come on trips with him. He told me if he was the one chosen by the company to receive the contract allowing him to fish the waters of
Cayo Largo, I was going to stay in my current position. As far as last night between 5:30 and 6:30, I have to admit I was with a friend of mine, a woman I meet with from time to time, if you know what I mean,” he said grinning. “After all, the fishermen had all returned for the night, and I was officially off work. It's a lady whose company I enjoy, and from what she tells me, she enjoys my company as well,” he said with a proud look on his face.

  “Of course, and I can certainly see why she would enjoy your company,” Carola said, smiling beguilingly up at him. “You've been more than gracious to me. Thank you. From what Jack tells me, you are very good at what you do. I feel like I am so much better informed. Oh, one other thing. I heard that a man named Philip volunteered to act as the guide for the group that Dudley had brought with him.”

  “That's true. He rode in the van with them this morning and told me they had agreed he would act as their fishing guide while they were here now that their guide was deceased. I don't quite understand what that's all about. Philip has fished with one of our guides for only two days and now he feels that he's qualified to be the head guide for those people? I find it very strange. I have heard he also very much wants to get the Bartolo contract to bring people in from the United States, just as your husband wants to do.”

  “Senor, I agree. I met him, and he seemed very strange to me. I must go now, but I thank you again for your time.”

  “It has been my pleasure,” the handsome Italian man said as he leaned forward trying to sneak a peek down the front of Carola’s low-cut blouse. “If I may be of further service, and I mean any kind of service, please feel free to call on me.”