Deep Sea Dead

by Lori Avocato

He nodded. “I understand they’re being brought out by helicopter. Go to your new room and rest until they arrive. I’ll get someone to help with your stuff after the FBI is done.”

  Yikes! I’m sure they were going to “go through” all my stuff too. Damn. At least I’d learned from my mother to keep all my clothes neat and clean at all times. One never knew when they’d become the source of an investigation. Of course that’s not why my mother used to warn us to wear clean undies. Had more to do with getting into an accident and embarrassing her when the medical staff saw them.

  I hoped the Feds would let me have my belongings soon, and I also hoped that Jagger wouldn’t be the one moving my “unmentionables.” But I didn’t have the energy to argue right now.

  Even though I’d been used to death and dying in my nursing career, seeing Jackie’s lifeless body was a whole different ball of wax. She was, after all, murdered. Only a few hours ago I’d been talking to her, watching her paint her nails. It all seemed so surreal now.

  Who killed Jackie, and why?

  Did the medical-insurance fraud have something to do with her death?

  Was there a connection and, if so, what did that mean for my case…and my safety?

  Jagger took my arm and guided me to the door. “Come on. I’ll walk you to Deck Eleven.”

  In my numb state, I could barely feel his touch, but found it comforting. Once we were alone on the elevator, I said, “She had to have something to do with the fraud to be murdered.”

  “What do you have to go on?” He poked the button for Eleven.

  Through the glass-enclosed back of the elevator, I watched the floors below becoming smaller and smaller. The purple and gold became a blur until the bell rang, indicating we were at our stop. Jagger held the door and stepped to the side so I could get out.

  Thank goodness Claude had given Jagger the key. After he opened the door, I looked inside and gasped. “Wow. Nice place.” All I wanted to do was collapse on the bed.

  Too bad I can’t enjoy it, I thought.

  I sat on the stuffed beige chair near the bed and shoved off my heels. In all the commotion, I’d forgotten how much my feet hurt. I would give anything to have my nightie to slip on right now. I felt so uncomfortable, all dressed up. But if the FBI arrived during the middle of the night to question me, I’d want to be properly dressed.

  I looked up to see Jagger seated on the couch near the balcony. “You asked me something, but I’ve already forgotten what. Sorry.”

  He nodded. “I’m sure you’re upset, Sherlock.” His use of my nickname made me feel better. “I asked you what fact told you that Jackie was involved in the fraud, leading to her murder.”

  I stared at him a few seconds. “Nothing really, other than instinct.” I waited for him to curl his lips or comment about not having facts, but right now I could care less about that reaction.

  “And?”

  Hmm. “Okay. And she was evasive about a few things, and just gave me the impression that she was involved in something. Besides, Remy went to school with her and maybe he’s dead too.”

  “I trust your gut, Sherlock. Get to sleep, and we’ll talk tomorrow.”

  I yawned. “Good plan. See you tomorrow.” I looked at him and then at the door. “Please make sure the door locks on your way out.”

  He leaned back on the couch, lifting his feet over the end. “I’m not going out.”

  Gulp. As if I didn’t have enough on my mind. Now Jagger was going to be here. I looked at him and normally would argue the point that I could take care of myself, but instead I said, “Thanks.” With that, and after throwing a pillow and blanket to Jagger, I snuggled under the covers of the bed, clutching my pink necklace.

  Maybe when I woke, this would all have been a bad dream.

  Knock. Knock.

  My eyelids fluttered open. Darkness surrounded me, along with a soft snoring. Jagger. I looked toward the door.

  “Ms. Sokol, it is Captain Duarte. The FBI agents are here to talk to you.”

  Couldn’t they wait until morning? I thought the ship’s security officer had launched a very thorough start to the investigation, and had accepted my ironclad alibi.

  “Ms. Sokol!” the captain’s voice seemed less patient.

  A murder onboard had to be a nightmare for him. I started to shove the covers off, but before I could, Jagger was up and standing at the door.

  He opened it and said, “Easy does it. She’s been through a lot.”

  I hugged my pillow and smiled. Then I threw off the covers and sat on the edge of the bed. Good thing I had on my real clothes. Not too comfortable for sleeping, but modest enough to be questioned in despite the wrinkles.

  The captain introduced me to several men, who asked all kinds of questions. They wore suits, and I figured if it were daytime they’d have on the clichéd sunglasses of the agents.

  One was very tall with light hair, and probably would have a nice smile if he weren’t so solemn. He was a looker. The other I barely noticed.

  For a few seconds, I looked past them at the windows to see the sun peeking out over the horizon and longed for a cup of tea as I explained what little I knew about Jackie.

  No, I hadn’t seen her with anyone other than Betty and myself. I actually hadn’t seen her out of the cabin. She never told me anything much except the little bit about Remy. The taller man, with blond hair, questioned me as if I were a suspect.

  I had no motive other than she had painted her toenails on my bed, I wanted to shout. But I kept my cool despite my exhaustion, thinking I’d make myself look guilty if I got agitated.

  You didn’t want to appear on the wrong side of the law in front of the FBI. They made you feel guilty even when you weren’t. At least, the blond J. Edgar Hoover did.

  Finally they all left and Jagger looked at me. “How about some coffee?”

  “I don’t think they have a Dunkin Donuts onboard.”

  He smiled at the mention of “our” favorite coffee joint, and I realized I couldn’t wait to get back to Hope Valley. Maybe I really was just a hometown kinda gal and never should have accepted this case on the high seas.

  Especially since now a murder had been committed.

  Six

  Jagger handed me a steaming cup of hot tea where we sat in the coffee shop near the main lobby. They didn’t have my usual hazelnut decaf, so Jagger made the correct decision to get me tea without even asking. I noticed the little paper label on the end of the string. Decaffeinated. Perfect. What a guy.

  I didn’t have to go on duty today, which was a blessing. Since we each got a day off every schedule, now I could concentrate on my case. But every time I saw some guy in a suit, my heart skipped a beat. I hoped they found out who killed Jackie soon, since it didn’t feel too comfortable being a nurse on this ship. Hopefully, her murder had had nothing to do with being a nurse on The Golden Dolphin though. But it stuck in my mind.

  One dead.

  One missing.

  I also didn’t want my friends’ and family’s vacations to be ruined. Hopefully, they wouldn’t find out about Jackie, but I doubted that the FBI wouldn’t question everyone onboard.

  Jagger sat down with his black coffee and handed me half a bagel with cream cheese and lox on it. I thanked him, slid the lox out and into my napkin when he turned around, then took a bite. Tasted a bit fishy but good, since I was starving. “Thanks.”

  He nodded. “So, what’s your plan for today?”

  I held the bagel near my lips. Jagger was asking me my plan. He was actually acting as if it were my case. I was in charge, and he was just here to help. I could tell him what to do now.

  God willing.

  “Well.” I swallowed, took a sip of tea, winced since it was too hot and watched Jagger add more milk to it from the metal container on the table. I set down my bagel, because if I kept eating while he kept doing these things, these so-unlike-Jagger-type things, my jaw would drop in shock and any bagel bites would cascade out. I took a sip of tea and
smiled. “Perfect.”

  “You have a perfect plan?”

  “Er…yeah, but I meant the tea was perfect. Thanks.”

  He looked at me over his cup. “The plan?”

  I set my cup down. “No, I don’t have a detailed plan to relate to you. I just got here yesterday, got a short tour of the infirmary, met a few nurses and then my roommate was killed. Not a lot of free time in that scenario.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t have gone out dancing last night.”

  As soon as he said it, my eyes widened, and I could tell he wished he could suck back the words. Ha! Imagine Jagger wanting to take back what he said. I smiled inside so as not to make fun of him. “I’m always working, Jagger. Even when on the dance floor, I can scan the room, get information from the crew and bartender. Always on the job.”

  Even I didn’t buy that.

  Jagger merely gave me a look that said, “Yeah, right,” but he kept his mouth shut and ate and drank in silence.

  Several passengers walked by carrying their coffee and sweets. They sat at the glass tables next to us.

  “As soon as I finish, I’m off to the infirmary.”

  He looked at me.

  I moved my hand away from my hot tea so as not to knock over the cup when I said, “We. We are off to the infirmary.”

  “Atta girl, Sherlock.”

  “Hey, good looking, you come to snoop around?”

  My eyes widened as I looked at Rico, who was working the nursing station today. How in the world did he know? My mouth went dry, and I couldn’t think of a lie.

  Jagger pushed me forward. “‘Good looking’ is here to orient herself to the place before she has to start duty.”

  Rico glared at Jagger for a moment. “Ah, the male host.”

  I swallowed back a laugh. Apparently there was a very active crew’s grapevine around here-and the enigmatic Jagger was the juiciest grape this cruise.

  I eased past Jagger. “Yeah, Rico, I’m here to snoop around, as you say. I want to be very familiar with the place before Monday.”

  He smiled at me. I felt Jagger stiffen.

  Yes! Obviously he’d noticed and didn’t like what he’d seen.

  “No problem,” Rico said. “The place is empty. Just passed out a shitload of seasick pills. Other than that and a kitchen worker cutting his finger, the day is slow.” He waved toward the examining/treatment room. Have at it.”

  When Jagger started to step forward, Rico stood. “Can I help you?”

  Yikes! “Oh…him. Well, funny thing…” I looked toward Jagger for a life vest. Nothing. He left me drowning. “Seems as if we have a common friend back in the States-”

  Rico laughed. “Pauline, we’re near the coast of the U.S., not off in some foreign land.”

  I forced a laugh. Jagger remained silent, probably thinking Rico was a jerk. “True. But we just met…that is, Jag…um…Jay and I met at the dance, and I wanted to talk about our friend before he has to go back to work.”

  I wished I could get sucked out the porthole.

  Thank goodness a woman came through the doorway holding a napkin to her bleeding nose. Not that I was glad she had a nosebleed, but it gave us the opportunity to hightail it away from Rico while he tended to the patient.

  Jagger and I went into an exam room, where I started to open drawers and look in shelves, all the while making ridiculous conversation with “Jay” about our fictitious friend. I was actually learning the layout of the place. If I had to treat a patient, I wanted to know what to do and where things were.

  While Rico cleaned up the area, Jagger and I eyed a small desk area that held a computer and notepads. A file cabinet, marked STAFF, sat on the side.

  “Look at that,” I whispered.

  Jagger glanced toward Rico then over at the file cabinet. “Observant.”

  I smiled.

  Several passengers came to the reception desk and suddenly, voices started to escalate. Apparently they were complaining about the ridiculous cost to treat their mother’s nosebleed. Rico didn’t sound all too pleasant-more as if he’d been through this routine way too many times.

  Interesting.

  “Can I help you?”

  I swung around to see a woman standing inches from me and staring at both Jagger and me. She had on a uniform, so I knew she was staff. I should have worn mine too, except that whoever had packed up my stuff to move me had made a mess of everything. I was going with the tall, blond FBI guy, who looked as if he could care less about a woman’s rumpled clothing. Thank goodness I found the wrinkle-free white shorts and navy tee shirt I now wore.

  “Oh, hi. I’m Pauline Sokol, the new nurse.” I held out my hand, but she didn’t take it. The woman was nearly a foot taller than myself and had deep brunette hair that was piled on top of her head with a few sexy strands dripping down the sides of her perfect face.

  Already I didn’t like her.

  “I’m Topaz Rivera. I work the front desk here.” She stared at Jagger. “What the hell are you doing in here, Jay?” Her tone changed considerably, and she flashed what had to be fake eyelashes at him. How the hell did she know him?

  I decided Topaz Rivera looked more like an exotic dancer than a receptionist. A receptionist? I needed to get to know her.

  She slithered over to Jagger and whispered something in his ear.

  “Topaz!” Rico shouted. “Get your butt over here!”

  She winked at Jagger, curled her lips at me and cursed at Rico, but she did leave.

  “Phew. Thought she’d never leave,” Jagger said.

  Jagger’s eyes still looked in Topaz’s direction, so I slapped his arm. “The case?”

  “Hmm? Oh, I told her the story about our mutual friend back in the States. She’s cool with it.”

  “Shut up.” I turned toward the wall and rolled my eyes then looked back toward the reception desk. Soon fists might be flying. Rico got up and shut the door between us. Great. No one could or should hear us or see us snooping around, although I did want to hear what was going on out there if it involved billing.

  “Perfect.” Jagger lifted the key to the file cabinet from his hand and unlocked it.

  My mother could do that. She could produce a Dagwood-sized sandwich while you sat in her kitchen and you never saw her lift a finger. All of a sudden, poof, the sandwich would be on your plate.

  I shook my head and decided not to even ask. There were many things that were better off not asking about where Jagger was concerned (and my mother too).

  We gave a look through the windows on the doors toward the front desk and then turned our attention to the files. Jagger had already pulled out two. Jackie’s and Topaz’s. “Remy’s is already gone,” he said, while I contemplated why he’d picked the exotic dancer/receptionist’s.

  After a few minutes, I realized any jealousy that involved me, Jagger and Topaz was unfounded. “She’s been the receptionist here for three years. Same time that Jackie’s been onboard.”

  “And?”

  “And, you’ll have to check your files to see when the overbilling was reported, and how far back it goes.”

  “It seems as if the passengers are none too happy with the rates charged around here. How can we tell if all the money is going to the ship or being skimmed off?”

  “I’ll send an email to Adele at the agency and see what she can find out.”

  We heard a crash and quickly stashed the files back in the cabinet. Suddenly, Rico flung the door open and wheeled in one of the crewmembers with an icepack to his cheek. Jagger grabbed my arm and we left.

  Rico winked at me as we passed by. And Jagger’s hand tightened.

  Once we were safely out in the hallway and no one was around, Jagger finally let go. Damn.

  I was paged to the main desk, only to find my room had been changed. No swanky suite anymore. I was moved back down to the crew’s quarters only a few doors away from where I’d been with Jackie. The crew’s purser, Claude Bernard, gave me my key and said I was rooming with ano
ther medical staff crewmember. I figured it would be Betty. That would be a welcome relief. Despite knowing I shouldn’t talk ill of the dead, Betty was a heck of lot nicer than Jackie.

  When I got to my new room and opened the door, I instantly knew my assumption was wrong. Where my original quarters had looked as if it had been whitewashed, this place was a den of black. Darkened curtains hung from the portholes. The bedspreads were red with black trim. If I didn’t know any better, I’d assume the occupant of this place was practicing the oldest profession in the world, and I didn’t mean being a nun.

  I noticed my suitcase next to the bed by the bathroom door and figured I’d have to make the most of it.

  If this continued the way it was going, I kinda hoped the ship would travel to another dimension in the Bermuda Triangle. Right now some paranormal Holiday Inn was sounding better and better.

  I lifted my suitcase onto the bed and started to pull on the zipper.

  The cabin door opened and before I could turn around, I heard, “What the hell do you think you are doing here?”

  Topaz stood in the doorway. I should have known. Who else would have “nautical brothel” décor?

  “Oh, hi. I guess I’m rooming with you.” I yanked the zipper until Topaz’s hand covered mine.

  “No chance in hell. Don’t do a thing with that yet.” She let go and grabbed the phone.

  I stood silently listening to her talk to someone, and then another, and then finally heard her say, “Captain Duarte.” Before I knew it, Purser Claude was at the door with another key for me.

  “So sorry for the mix-up, Ms. Sokol. You will be in the cabin across from the infirmary.”

  “The one Jackie was killed in?” My mouth went dry. Damn. I felt sorry reminding him about it.

  He hesitated. “No, the next one. Rooming with Betty Halfpenny.”

  Phew. “Perfect. Does she know? Because I’m getting kinda dizzy with all this moving around.”

  He chuckled. “Betty is on duty, but yes, she knows. You will enjoy rooming with her.”

  I looked at Topaz, who was now lying amongst the black and red.

  “Well, it was nice,” I joked and then grabbed my suitcases.