Dead Calm (A Dylan Scott Mystery)

by Wells, Shirley

  Bev had worried that people were watching. So what? He was doing exactly that right now. Watching.

  Bill and Maud Carr were sitting at a table by the windows. They were holding hands and smiling into each other’s eyes like love-struck teenagers.

  Dylan wandered over and sat at their table. “I thought you’d be waltzing Bill round the dance floor, Maud.”

  She laughed. “I’ve worn him out.”

  “What about you, Dylan?” Carr asked. “I can’t believe you let your lovely young wife dance alone.”

  “I was waylaid.” He took a sip of his drink. “Actually, I was having a chat with Vidar Freberg. You’ll know him. I saw you chatting with him earlier.”

  “Oh, yes.” Maud looked to her husband before answering. “We met him on this same cruise last year. Isn’t that a coincidence?”

  “It certainly is.” Dylan hated coincidence. Hated it. “It’s a small world.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Tonight, there was to be music and dancing and Ruby was looking forward to it. When Howard had been alive, they’d enjoyed the social evenings and had made many friends over the years. Every Christmas brought cards from people they’d met while on holiday and each one served as a reminder of happy times. Nothing was the same without Howard, and she couldn’t laugh quite so freely, but she was looking forward to the evening’s entertainment.

  First, she had to call Laura. If she didn’t, she’d have Tom nagging her. She took her phone from the bedside drawer and cursed beneath her breath. The battery was flat.

  It took a couple of minutes to find the charger and then another minute passed before the phone sprang into life. She hit Laura’s number and waited, hoping the answer machine would greet her, but it was Laura’s voice she heard.

  “Mum? Is everything all right?”

  “Yes, of course.” Laura sounded busy. Distracted. Tom had reminded Ruby a dozen times to call her and now that she had, Laura seemed surprised to hear from her. “I thought I’d give you a quick call before I go along to the evening’s entertainment. How are you, darling?”

  “Me? Oh, I’m fine. This is a lovely surprise. Is everything all right?”

  “Yes.” She had to smile. “Of course it is. Tom said you’d sent him a few texts asking me to call.”

  “Ah, yes.” There was a brief pause. “Actually, it was Tom I wanted to talk about.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yes.” Another pause. “Look, I really don’t want to interfere—”

  Ruby had heard it all now. If there was one thing her daughter excelled at, it was interfering.

  “The thing is,” Laura said, “I think he’s struggling more than he’s letting on. Financially, I mean.”

  Ruby should have guessed.

  “I don’t want you to worry, Mum, but I think he’s in a real mess. I also think he’s too proud to tell us exactly how bad things are. It can’t have been easy for him to ask you for money, can it? He wouldn’t have done that if he hadn’t been at rock bottom. To be honest, I’m worried about him.” She sighed. “I know he can be a pain and, yes, we drive each other up the wall, but he is my brother so I’m entitled to worry.”

  Ruby pulled the chair closer to the phone and dropped down on it. The anticipated pleasure of the evening’s entertainment was ebbing away. “This is between Tom and—”

  “I know. You’re right. It’s just that I’m worried about him. How does he seem to you?”

  Stressed was the word that sprang to Ruby’s mind. He couldn’t seem to relax and on the rare occasions he smiled, it seemed forced. “He’s fine.”

  “Well, I suppose you know best.”

  Ruby almost smiled at that. Her children, Laura especially, were always telling her what she could and couldn’t do, and what she ought to do at any given time. Now, when there was a problem, she knew best.

  “Would it hurt you to help him out?” Laura asked. “It’s not as if you can’t afford it, is it?”

  Damn it, Ruby refused to be pressured by her children. She didn’t care for Laura’s tone either. “It wouldn’t hurt me, no. But what about Tom? What good will it do him?”

  Ruby despaired. Howard had always maintained she was too soft with the children, that she’d spoiled them. Perhaps she had.

  “I think you should have a word with him.”

  “We’ll see.” This was between her and Tom. There was no need for Laura to get involved. “I’d better go. I’ll call you—”

  “I’m sorry. Forget I said anything. Tell me about this entertainment. What’s planned?”

  They talked of easier things, like the cruise and the music and dancing that lay ahead. Laura, her brother forgotten for the moment, updated her on her own life, her neighbours and the arrangements that she was already making for the Christmas concert at the school.

  “I’d better not keep you talking any longer, Mum. Have a lovely evening and thanks for calling.”

  Ruby switched off her phone, picked up her bag and left the cabin. She’d get herself a stiff drink and forget her children for an hour or so.

  In the ballroom she helped herself to a glass of wine and looked around for someone she recognised. Tom was with a group of young people at the bar but she didn’t want to get involved.

  Just as she thought she’d have to talk to Tom or sit alone, she saw Dylan Scott. He was sharing a table with Bill and Maud Carr and she crossed the room to them.

  Maud’s greeting was as effusive as ever but Ruby sensed a strange atmosphere at the table. Dylan didn’t look as relaxed as he should. Bill looked tense, too.

  “Everything all right, Ruby?” Maud asked. “You look a little peaky.”

  “Do I?” Ruby smiled at that. “I’m fine. My children are ganging up on me, that’s all. But, hey, isn’t that what children do?”

  The Carrs laughed politely, but they seemed ill at ease.

  “Do you have children?” she asked.

  “No.”

  “Yes.”

  They both spoke at once and Ruby wished she hadn’t asked. “I could willingly disown mine too,” she said, trying to make light of their embarrassed confusion.

  “We don’t have children,” Maud explained. “Bill has a son by his first marriage.”

  “Ah, I see.” Ruby knew she’d put her foot in it. Judging by the couple’s expressions, the son wasn’t a happy topic of conversation. “Well, that’s nice.”

  “Yes. He’s a lawyer.” Maud’s face was crimson.

  Ruby took a sip from her glass. Bill was smiling as he patted his wife’s hand in a reassuring way. Dylan wasn’t smiling. He was watching the Carrs and it was impossible to guess what he was thinking.

  “We don’t see much of him,” Bill said. “Children are always too busy for their parents, aren’t they?”

  “There are times when I wish mine were,” Ruby said with a rueful smile.

  Everyone chuckled politely but Ruby was beginning to wish she’d stayed in her cabin. She was right. There was a strange atmosphere at the table.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Luke was bored with his game and his music. He was just plain bored. His mum was sitting in a chair next to her bed, reading on her Kindle, but there was no point asking again if he could go back to his own cabin or have a wander round the ship.

  Something had freaked her out and it had to be more than his going for some food and leaving the cabin unlocked.

  His dad was acting strange, too. Something was going on and he’d love to know what it was. He’d bet it was something to do with the old woman who died.

  He flicked through old games on his phone but nothing grabbed his interest. He’d be glad when his gran came back and they could have a game of poker.

  “Will you stop sighing, Luke?”

  “I’m bored.”

  “I can find you something to do, if you like,” she said.

  “No, thanks.” She’d have him writing an essay on Norway or something. He was about to sigh again but managed to stop himsel
f in time. He was bored though. Bored, bored, bored.

  His baby sister was sleeping so she was no fun. He liked playing with Freya and making her laugh. The simplest of things amused her. He’d cover his face with his hands and peep out at her and she’d rock with laughter. He wouldn’t risk waking her though or he really would be in his mum’s bad books.

  Someone knocked on the door and hope flared. He thought it might be his gran.

  “Who is it?” his mum called out.

  “Cabin crew, madam. Sorry to bother you so late.”

  She went to the door and held it open for him. “What’s the problem?”

  “There’s nothing at all to worry about. We have a fault on the heating system and I need to check this cabin. I’ll be two minutes at the most.”

  “Oh, right. Could you be quiet, please?” She pointed at Freya and the bloke smiled.

  “Of course,” he said in a whisper. “We don’t want the little one to wake, do we? We don’t want her getting cold either.”

  He was carrying a small metal toolbox and he had a rubber glove sticking out of his trousers pocket.

  “I need to go in the bathroom,” he said, still whispering.

  He’d been in there for a few seconds when there was a clatter. It sounded to Luke as if he’d unscrewed the shower head and dropped it in the tray. Luke had been messing around and done the same thing in his cabin. He looked across at Freya, hoping the noise had woken her, but she was fast asleep. A marching band could practice by her cot and she’d sleep through it.

  The chap came out of the bathroom. “All done. Sorry about the noise.” He walked to Freya’s cot and leaned over her. “She’s beautiful. Just like her mother.”

  Luke groaned to himself. The smarmy git was chatting up his mum. Thankfully, she didn’t encourage him.

  “Is that it?” she asked.

  “Yes, all done. Once again, sorry to have disturbed you.” He opened the door to let himself out. “Sleep well.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Dylan left Ruby chatting to the Carrs and found a quiet corner to check his emails. Several downloaded slowly to his phone. None contained warnings or threats of violence, thank God, so he put his phone back in his pocket and looked around the room.

  Tom Jackson was at the bar and being as loud and overbearing as he had on their first night aboard. He had a young brunette on his left and a willowy blonde on his right. It looked unlikely that he’d be sleeping alone tonight.

  How the hell did he do it? He wasn’t the best-looking bloke on the ship by a mile. Surely there was more to it than promising young women he could get them work in television.

  Sitting at a table on the opposite side of the room to Ruby and the Carrs were the Jorstads, Sigurd and Mathias. Their heads were bent and they were deep in conversation. They didn’t look guilty or concerned or particularly worried about anything, but for all Dylan knew, they could be discussing the way they’d murdered Hanna Larsen. Dylan doubted they’d get their own hands dirty but it would be easy enough for them, respectable businessmen who travelled this route often, to arrange for someone else to do the deed.

  If that were the case though, they wouldn’t want to be on board. Far better if they were a few hundred miles away. And what had they actually gained from her death? It was feasible that Hanna’s daughter would inherit whatever there was to inherit and decide to sell the land to them as quickly as possible. It was equally likely that Hanna had left her worldly possessions to the local dog pound out of spite.

  Surely to God there had to be some link to Hanna’s murder and the Jorstads’ determination to own her piece of land.

  “Dylan, over here!”

  Shit. Tom Jackson had spotted him and was waving him over. He had little choice but to cross the room and join the group.

  “We can’t have you drinking alone, Dylan. Come and join the fun,” Jackson said. “Let me get another round of drinks in. What’s everyone having?”

  Drinks were placed in front of everyone. The brunette was given two vodka shots. She drank one straight down. Perhaps Jackson got his women so drunk they were past caring who they slept with.

  “Cheers, everyone,” Jackson said. “Let’s have our own party. Let’s make it the best night of the year.”

  The next half hour included a lot of drinking, laughing and small talk, and Dylan could stand it no more. There were more urgent matters to attend to, like finding out who the hell was threatening him.

  “Sorry. Things to do,” he said.

  If anyone asked questions, he didn’t hear. He was too busy striding out of the ballroom to sanctuary.

  Give Jackson his due, he wasn’t usually quite so insufferable. In fact, the only other time he’d been in that mood had been on the first night. Dylan had needed to escape that night too. If he hadn’t, he wouldn’t have met Hanna Larsen.

  He stopped in the corridor and peered out into the dark night.

  Why had Jackson chosen this night to be all things to all men—and women? Why had he chosen the first night? True, it had won him a place in a sexy Norwegian’s bed the first time, but he couldn’t have known that would happen.

  Everyone had been drinking back there but, now he stopped to think about it, Dylan didn’t recall seeing Jackson take so much as a sip from his own glass. In fact, he was fairly certain that Jackson had bought everyone a drink except himself.

  That first night, everyone knew Jackson had headed off to a young woman’s cabin. Most of the passengers had seen him at the bar and most passengers heard that he’d spent the night with the Norwegian. It was a great alibi.

  Dylan had no idea what women saw in Jackson, but he wouldn’t be a bit surprised if the bloke didn’t end up in the brunette’s bed tonight. She’d been all over him like a rash. In the morning, people would ask where he was and he’d have another perfect alibi. Everyone would be asked if they’d seen Jackson. “Of course,” they’d say. Everyone on the ship would have seen him because he was making sure he was highly visible.

  Dylan marched back toward the ballroom and met Ruby on her way out.

  “The very person,” he said.

  A smile sprang to her lips then vanished. “My, you’re looking very serious, Dylan. Is everything all right?”

  “I’m not sure. Could I have a word? Somewhere quiet?” They were yards from the door leading onto the deck. “Could we go outside for a minute?”

  “Of course. What’s all this about?”

  The idea of telling Ruby his suspicions was absurd. What could he say? I think your son’s plotting to murder you? I believe that if it hadn’t been for Hanna Larsen kicking up a fuss and changing cabins at the last minute, you’d be lying in the morgue?

  It was too crazy for words. For all he knew, Hanna’s heart had simply given up.

  On the other hand, if he didn’t say something and woke to hear she’d been murdered in her bed—

  The smoking area was fairly sheltered from the weather although it was snowing now and the deck was starting to resemble an ice rink. Dylan took off his jacket and put it around Ruby’s shoulders for extra warmth.

  “Thank you.” She pulled it tighter so it was high around her neck. “So what’s on your mind, Dylan?”

  “It’s about Hanna Larsen,” he said, his mind working frantically on trying to put his thoughts in order.

  His phone vibrated, alerting him to a text message. Normally, he’d ignore it, but nothing on this ship felt normal. He opened the message, read it and felt his heart stop for a full beat. Shit!

  “I have to go, Ruby.” There was no time for explanations and he fired back a quick reply to the message as he ran along the corridor.

  He was level with the sun lounge when movement caught his eye. Opposite, out on the deck, Mike Lloyd was running. Where the hell was he going?

  On an impulse, Dylan turned around and retraced his steps. When he finally got out on deck, Lloyd was standing next to Ruby. They were deep in conversation. Lloyd bent down—

&nb
sp; Dylan didn’t stop to think. He ran the last few yards, slipped on the snow-covered deck and cannoned straight into Lloyd and Ruby. Ruby crashed into the ship’s railing and lay there with blood oozing from a gash on her forehead.

  Dylan dropped down and put a finger to her neck. He could feel a pulse, thank God.

  A pair of feet came into his line of vision.

  “Dylan? Oh, my—what’s happened?” It was his mother.