Pastries and Pilfering

by Danielle Collins

  “What about Brice?”

  Adam hesitated a moment. “Brice? Brice who?”

  “Brice Simmons.”

  “The actor?”

  “Yes.” Margot stared at him, surprised he didn’t know what she was talking about. “What’s his part in all of this?”

  “I, uh… Gabe didn’t say.”

  Margot’s heart pounded. They didn’t know of Brice’s involvement? Surely he was involved in some way. There were too many things going on to not have him as part of the operation, now that she knew there was an operation. Then again, was he involved or had she merely seen a man hand something to a crewmember? But that seemed like too much of a coincidence, especially after what she’d overheard at the restaurant that day.

  She filled Adam in on what she’d done that afternoon and what she knew of Brice.

  “Sounds like he’s definitely mixed up in this then—at least in part. I’ll need to discuss it with Gabe. But you…” He shook his head. “You know better than to go off on your own like that, Margie.” He looked worried but she assured him she’d been fine.

  “But still—” he began.

  Then another thought occurred to her and she interrupted his next lecture fueled by worry. “Addie isn’t mixed up in this, is she?”

  “Your friend, the pastry chef?”

  “Yes,” Margot said, nervously twisting her hands together. “She’s been acting so strange and, I don’t know, almost looking guilty.”

  “Gabe didn’t mention her, but he didn’t mention Brice either. All he said is that he’s certain that there is at least one more member of this team to consider—and there could be more.”

  The reality sunk into Margot’s chest and she felt despair take root. Addie acted guilty. She had been moody, gone often, and distracted. Was it possible? Were those signs of guilt or was she hiding something condemning like being involved in a smuggling ring?

  Margot didn’t want to believe it, but she knew that the only way to clear it all up was to have a conversation. Something she would do the very next morning.

  The next morning, Margot woke to bright sunlight streaming through the thin curtains she’d pulled closed the night before as Adam left. He’d promised that they could trace down leads in the morning after breakfast with Gabe, but her mind had been set on seeing Addie. She didn’t want to believe that her friend could be involved with something like a smuggling ring, but there had to be some explanation for her evasive behavior. But what could be so important that Addie wouldn’t have shared with Margot?

  She pulled the drapes aside and saw nothing but ocean stretching out before her. It was a stunning sight, the water registering a deep, azure blue. She could stare at this view for hours, but the press of the case was too persistent. She showered, dressed, and was out the door early.

  Cringing, she knocked on Adam’s door.

  After a few shuffling footsteps, he opened the door wearing a bright blue polo with khaki shorts and a sleepy grin. His hair was adorably mussed and she resisted the urge to reach up and smooth it down. They needed to focus on the case, not the fact that she wanted him to remind her of the sweetness of his kiss.

  “Ready?” she said, hands on hips.

  He just shook his head. “Give me a moment to at least run a comb through my hair.”

  Grinning, she followed him into his room and looked around. Clothes were strewn everywhere and the top of his small desk was covered in papers.

  “Didn’t you just get here last night?”

  “Yeah,” he said distractedly from the bathroom.

  “Then how is it possible you made this big of a mess?”

  He didn’t answer right away but, when he came out of the bathroom with slicked down hair and a big grin, he shrugged innocently. “I’m usually tidy, but there’s something about being away on a trip—vacation or not—that makes me feel like I don’t need to constrain myself to tidiness norms.”

  “You goof,” she said, smiling.

  “So, to breakfast?”

  “Yes.”

  His grin widened and she led him down their hall and out the door into the early morning air. It was cooler, the breeze from the ocean coming in stiff gusts, but soon they were back inside and heading to a buffet.

  Gabe met them at the entrance and led them to a table in the back. Once they had their food, they ate in silence for a few moments before he jumped in.

  “What can you tell me, Margot?”

  Her eyebrows rose. “And what makes you think I know anything?” Her coy response made Adam smile and Gabe shook his head.

  “Look, I saw you around the ship the first day. I was going to say something, but it could have compromised my situation. I’m registered here under the name Josh Wilkes and I couldn’t have you coming up and saying you knew me as Gabe.”

  “I understand,” she said, nodding. “But I have one question.”

  “Shoot,” he said, taking a bite of light green honeydew.

  “Why were you near the sports storage area where Kristen was found?”

  He grinned, chewing and then swallowing before he could answer her. “So it was you following me.”

  She inclined her head.

  “You’re quicker than I anticipated. Nice catch,” he said to Adam with a wink. “I was looking for Kirsten. We were supposed to meet that night. I’d seen her in the club, acting like we didn’t know each other. She said she’d been called to a face-to-face meeting with her contact. It was supposed to be our big break. We’d arranged to meet at the storage area.

  “I’d just gotten there and slipped inside, hoping to avoid whoever—well, now I know it was you—but then I got a text from her saying that the meeting had been canceled so I left and the passage was clear on my way back.”

  “I hid in a laundry closet,” she said with a shrug.

  “Clever.”

  “She couldn’t have sent that text though, could she?”

  He pressed his lips together. “We believe her contact found out about who she really was. I think they were the one to message me, likely thinking they were buying themselves time before Kristen was discovered.”

  “But then I heard something—or someone—else in there after you’d walked past, which drew my attention.”

  “And you found her,” Gabe said, his expression pained.

  “Yes. Do you think that whoever killed her left out the back door? No one passed by me after you left.”

  “It’s possible.” Gabe broke a piece of bacon in half. “Or they were already gone.”

  “I’ve got a question,” Margot said, her forehead wrinkling. “Do you have any idea who her contact could be? I mean, there have to be some suspects.”

  “There are a few people I’ve been keeping an eye on, but whoever it is is very careful and covers their tracks well.”

  “You should tell him what you saw,” Adam said, finally speaking up after spending considerable amount of time working through his eggs and toast.

  “What do you mean? What did you see?” Gabe leaned forward, elbows on the table cradling a cup of hot coffee in his hands.

  She explained seeing Brice pass something to Noah as well as the conversation she’d overheard between Brice and his assistants and how she’d followed him to see what was going on. She recapped the conversation he’d had with Gold Chain but also how the trail had run cold when Gabe had rescued her.

  “Why were you there, though?” she asked Gabe. “If you didn’t suspect Brice, why were you following Andres?”

  “We don't suspect Brice…at least not yet, but I have had my suspicions about José Luis Martinez—the one you call Gold Chain,” he said with a grin. “He owns that restaurant you were at and many other businesses catering to tourists. He’s done well for himself, no doubt, but we think he’s done a little too well for the operations he has going. I’ve been down to Ensenada quite a bit recently and I’m usually staked out by whatever restaurant he’s in. I saw you sneaking around and, when you came out to follow A
ndres as well, I knew something was up. I had no idea you were following Brice, though.”

  “So you think the restaurant is a front then?” Margot asked. Her mind started to piece things together.

  “We can’t definitively say, nor does it affect us. What’s really our problem is anything that goes on on board the ships that come into port and anything affecting U.S. Citizens.” Gabe looked over to Adam. “You know how it is. We’ve got leads everywhere but nothing solid. Though we have some cooperation with the officials in Ensenada, we need proof. Martinez has covered his tracks well and whatever happens on U.S. soil is covered up just as quickly.”

  Adam nodded, his lips pressed into a hard line as he thought through the situation.

  “What if Brice is involved though?”

  “We’d need evidence. Besides—what do you think? He hired Noah to kill his own partner? It doesn’t add up. Noah isn’t even on our radar.”

  Margot thought this through. Should Noah be on their radar? She thought of him coming in late and his lie about where he’d been. People lied all the time though, and for various reasons. Then again, the reality of two murders was enough to bring anyone into question.

  “If he is involved and he’s working with Noah, it’s possible Kristen was found out. Or perhaps…” She paused. “Then there’s Michael Bowers. You say he’s a part of this…so is it possible whoever is behind this is eliminating partners for a reason?”

  “It’s possible,” Gabe said, steepling his fingers. “Kristen said she hardly interacted with Bowers. They worked independently of each other though they did know about one another. She made it clear their instructions were that they weren’t to be seen together—at all.” Gabe sighed, leaning back in his chair. “I’m so frustrated. I’ve been working this case for over a year now. The drugs are coming into the U.S. and we’ve all but pinpointed the Carousel cruise line, not just this ship but several of them, but there is never any concrete evidence. And why drugs and jewels?”

  Margot didn’t have an answer for this but something Gabe said made her think of another angle. Addie. She had signed on to the Carousel cruise line a little under a year ago.

  Something wasn’t right there and she had to find out what exactly was the problem.

  “Sorry.” Gabe tossed his napkin onto the empty plate before him. “I need to go. I’ve got a ship to shore call set up and it’s imperative I make that. I’m afraid it’ll be hard for me to get straight answers around here now that my cover is blown. I’d appreciate it if you keep your eyes and ears open to anything.”

  “Of course,” Adam said, shaking his friend’s hand.

  “Margot,” Gabe said then strode away.

  She watched him go, wondering what was next. Someone had killed Kristen and now Michael. They had no suspects and no tangible leads. How was that possible?

  “I know that look,” Adam said. “Where to first, Watson?”

  She smiled, standing up and tossing her napkin down. “We’re going to see a woman about a pastry. And it’s Holmes,” she added with a wink.

  Chapter 10

  The midmorning crowd was in full swing, those who had slept in late making their way to the buffets and restaurants for breakfast. Margot wasn’t interested in anyone else at this moment. She only had one person on her list to visit. She had a feeling that, once she was able to clear her friend and find out the truth, she would truly be able to focus on the case at hand and, with Adam by her side, help solve the murderous mystery.

  They turned down the hall that led to the crew quarters and Margot stopped in front of Addie’s door. She let out a breath and turned to look at Adam. He smiled at her and she felt her spirits renewed. It was nice to have someone with her.

  She raised her hand to knock but the door swung inward. Curiosity and worry got the best of Margot and she pushed it further in, stopping only when she got a clear view into the room.

  “Addie?” she gasped.

  In front of her, embracing a man whose back was to them, Addie was locked in a passionate kiss.

  At the sound of Margot’s surprised exclamation, Addie jerked back from the man, stepping a full two feet back and covering her lips with her hand. Her flush made her look sixteen years old instead of thirty-two.

  “M-Margot?” she stammered.

  When Margot finally pulled her gaze from her friend to that of the man, she gasped again. “Captain?”

  He stammered something but fell silent, his gaze jerking to Addie then dropping to the floor. Margot thought of the first day when she’d overheard the crewmembers talking about the captain having an affair. Was it with her friend?

  “I’m new here, but I’ve got a feeling you don’t kiss all of your crewmembers like that,” Adam said, gently pushing Margot into the room and closing the door behind them for privacy. She was almost too shocked to register what was happening, but then she realized that Adam was being discrete for her friend’s sake.

  “Oh my,” Addie finally said, shaking her head. “This is it. I can’t take it anymore, Grayson. I just can’t.”

  He gave her a pained look but then his features softened and he smiled at her, reaching out to take her hand. “Let me.” He turned to look at them. “Margot, Detective Eastwood, we’re engaged to be married.”

  It took a few moments for the words to sink in to understanding. “You’re not married?”

  It was the captain’s turn to look surprised, then realization dawned and he sighed. “There are those on board who like to make up stories. I am not, nor have I ever been, married. I do like to keep my private life just that—private. I’m afraid that leaves too much room for minds to wander and imagine.”

  Margot burst into a wide grin. “That’s fantastic!” Then she laughed. “I mean, that you’re engaged.”

  Now Addie beamed, looking back up at the handsome man beside her. He was several years older than she, but Margot could see instantly the love they shared. “I’m so happy Marg.”

  “I suppose we owe you an apology. Or, rather, I do.” The captain shook his head. “I’ve been captain of this ship for two years now and I’ve never looked at any of my crewmembers with anything more than leadership in mind…until I met Addie.” He sighed and took another moment to study her face before looking back at them. “But, in my position of leadership, it’s a tenuous thing for the captain to be in a relationship—of any kind—with a crewmember. It’s not against company policy, just so we’re clear, but it can affect how the crew perceives me as well as Addie.”

  Margot was beginning to guess what had happened. “You’re hiding the engagement.”

  Addie nodded. “I would have told you, Marg. I wanted to and it’s caused no end to arguments between us. I understand Grayson is trying to protect me, but you are one of my closest friends… It’s just that I couldn’t risk someone like Noah overhearing. It’s been murder on me to keep it from you.”

  Margot felt the relief of her friend’s confession at the same time she felt the reminder of how serious their true mission was on this ship—not to uncover secret engagements, but to catch a killer.

  “Then I wish you both happiness and can assure you that neither I nor Adam will share your secret—right?” She grinned up at Adam, who nodded.

  “Did you need something?” Addie said, shyly looking back at the captain.

  “No,” Margot said smiling as she walked to the door, pulling on Adam’s arm. “I’m so happy for you both.”

  “That was a dead end,” Adam said once they were in the hallway. “Though I can’t say they aren’t inspiring.”

  Margot’s stomach clenched at his words. Did he mean their engagement? But no, she couldn't allow herself to think about that—not now. Besides, that couldn’t have been what Adam was talking about…could it?

  Pushing the thoughts from her mind, she tugged on Adam’s sleeve. “Come on. I’ve got an idea.”

  They searched through Kristen’s room after getting permission from Gabe. Clothes of all colors and styles clut
tered the small cabinet that was hers in the four-person room. All the other crewmembers were on duty, which gave them a window of privacy.

  “I’ve got nothing,” Adam said, standing up and stretching as best he could in the cramped space. “You?”

  “Nothing.” Margot dropped the sequined pink miniskirt that matched the one Kristen had been wearing when Margot found her. Sighing, she ran a hand over her hair. She’d been sure there would have been something for them to find, anything that could tie Brice to the whole thing, but there was nothing.

  She stepped toward the door but stopped, looking back over the area. If she were Kristen and she was working undercover, where would she hide something she didn’t want any of her roommates to find—either accidentally or on purpose? The logical place would be under the mattress, but most people would check there first so Margot hadn’t been surprised when it was empty.

  Adam stood from where he’d been examining the empty space below the drawers under her bottom bunk when he hit his head.

  “Ouch!” he cried out, his hand reaching up to rub a spot on the top of his head.

  “Careful, you’re not exactly made for this space.” She smiled but then froze. He wasn’t made for this space. No tall person was.

  “What?” Adam said, recognizing the look on her face. “You’ve got an idea.”

  She stepped to the tall dresser to the end of the ladies’ beds. One side held one girl’s clothes and the other held Kristen’s. She looked down at the bottom and noticed the woman’s shoes.

  “She was tall, wasn’t she,” Margot said to herself, holding up a size ten shoe. “Taller than her crewmates.” She looked through the other women’s compartments, careful not to disturb anything. “Adam, look on the top of the closet! Is there anything up there?”

  Adam reached up, his nose wrinkling at the effort. He was tall, but Kristen would have been even taller in her four-inch heels. Then his eyes shot open. “I’ve got something.”

  Margot waited patiently as he pulled out a handkerchief and stretched to reach whatever it was. Finally, with a grunt, he pulled down a stack of written notes. Excitement bubbled up in her.