Whales and a Watery Grave_Mystery

by Ruby Loren

  “What’s he called? I know a lot of the guys around here, although, he’s not a regular, is he?”

  “No. The last I heard he was working in publishing. My friend said he was finding it hard to get a job, so I’m guessing he may have gone for a career change.” I suddenly realised he’d asked me for a name. “He’s called Darius…” I screwed my face up, trying to remember his last name from the Facebook page.

  “Vrilli?” Ben finished, and I realised that sounded right.

  “I think so. Do you know him?”

  Ben shook his head. “I’ve just got a great memory for names. It’s a knack you develop after years of doing this stuff. People think that once you start landing great assignments like this one, you don’t have to work hard anymore, but you do. You’ve got to be friendly to everyone you work with, and remembering their names is part of that. Most of it is just staying down to earth. If you behave badly towards the people who are working lower down the ladder than you, they’ll do everything they can to push you off the top, and when you’re on your way back down…” He shook his head again. “Believe me, you’ll be reminded of everything bad you ever did. I always tell the people I work with that.” For a second, a troubled look flickered across his face, but then it was gone. “If memory serves, and it probably does, your guy is actually one of the reconstruction actors. He’ll have had the right look and language for the local area. I met all of the actors the other day.”

  We walked onto the beach where the party had definitely moved. The food truck was parked and the young woman I’d noticed earlier in the stripy uniform was setting out platters of food for lunch. Out on the water, commands were being shouted through a megaphone.

  I shot a sideways look at Ben and found he was watching me. My zoologist idol opened his mouth to say something, but it was drowned out by the sound of someone yelling to ‘make way’. The parade of caravans was moving down onto the beach for the day. I silently wondered how people professing to care for the environment and the animals within it could so wilfully miss their own contributions to its demise, by dragging caravans around the place. What was wrong with walking?

  I was still thinking about how to raise those points with Ben without being too pedantic when another burst of loud noise distracted me. The group of protesters Nile had said were camping out in front of the marine park’s entrance had evidently heard that the filming was now being done in a far more accessible place. A large group was now on the beach, just beyond the barriers, and they were making a surprising racket waving their placards around.

  “What are they doing?” Ben muttered, sounding a lot less patient and friendly than he had when talking about being kind to others a few moments ago.

  Gina rushed up the beach towards us, zeroing in on Ben. “You did make that deal with them, didn’t you?”

  “I said we’d give them their say. They could have screen time.” The zoologist glanced across at me before returning his attention to the director. “There are two sides to every argument, of course.”

  Gina looked puzzled for a moment but then gestured towards the unruly group. “Then what are they doing? We can’t have them over there shouting. It disturbs the animals we’re filming and disrupts the scenes we’re shooting. There needs to be quiet! We’re supposed to be filming scenes with speaking parts.”

  “I’ve already spoken to them. I suggest sending some people to let them know that if they continue, their voices aren’t going to be heard. They’re not the most organised group of activists I’ve ever met. Just tell them to go back to their base, or they’ll miss their chance. I’m not going to go over there and give them any attention,” Ben announced.

  “Well, they’re ruining everything. I guess we’ll have to hire security but that is going to blow the budget out of the water.” Gina gave a long suffering sigh. “I’m a director! This shouldn’t be my problem.” She stormed off in the opposite direction to where the shouting was happening.

  “What were you hoping to get from the protesters for the documentary?” I asked as soon as she was gone.

  “We all thought it would be interesting to get their thoughts on marine parks like The Big Blue. We want to show every side of the story,” Ben explained, still pretending to be Mr Reasonable.

  “I think you’re trying to stir up some drama for this documentary. I may not work in TV, but I know drama sells. I’m a comic book writer!”

  “I thought you were a zookeeper.”

  Ben was really starting to get on my nerves now.

  “I am both. And none of this is my problem,” I said - this time saying it out loud. I was getting way too close to this! “When are we doing this interview? Can’t it be done now?” I just wanted to get back to the holiday. Everything here felt false, and there were some pretty sneaky undercurrents afoot.

  “The reconstructions have to be done first. It’s the hardest part to timeline. The crew have been out here filming the wildlife for the last six months. All of the presenter stuff is actually pretty minimal and mostly consists of the interviews, oh… and drama, of course.” He rolled his eyes heavenwards and drenched his voice in sarcasm. But I was bored with Ben Ravenwood. You really should never meet your idols. “Then it’s just a few shots of the animals here and their background. We all go back to England and add the voiceover stuff and it’s a wrap.” He shrugged. “The viewers make their own mind up about everything else.”

  “With a lot of help from you,” I surmised.

  Ben laughed. “I’m just a presenter here. How much power do you think I have? I have my views, but seriously, I don’t run this show. Anyway… maybe you can give your side in our interview.” He raised an eyebrow. I saw it for what it was - a challenge.

  “I don’t think I want to be involved with this at all,” I said, inwardly congratulating myself for being so sensible.

  “Don’t want to damage sales by actually having a view?” Ben mocked.

  I shook my head, not feeling the slightest urge to rise to his taunting. “I’m not an expert on any of this stuff. You’re making a documentary that’s supposed to focus on marine wildlife around the Balearic Islands. It’s hardly my speciality. If you were making a documentary that somehow involved small, family owned zoos in South East England, believe me, I would wade in. But why would I ever be drawn to debate with you over something I know I don’t know enough about? Is Nile being included in the documentary?”

  “No, he’s not.”

  “Why not?” I asked with a frown.

  Ben shrugged. “Nothing to do with me. I’m just the presenter.”

  If he said that one more time I was going to walk out of here. I probably should have left ages ago.

  “Ben, can I speak to you for a second?” The woman from the food truck had materialised next to us and had a concerned look on her face. I felt like giving her a kiss.

  “Oh, yeah, sure,” Ben said, shooting me an apologetic look and then following her back over towards the truck, looking pretty reluctant about it. Perhaps he was in a bad mood about everything today.

  “What ever did you do to deserve the attentions of ‘the talent’?” an amused female voice asked.

  I turned around to see a woman of similar height and build to myself. It was actually weird being able to look someone directly in the eye without craning my neck. “I wrote a comic book,” I said, not bothering to hide my bemusement from this complete stranger.

  “I’ve heard worse crimes,” she said with a wicked grin, pulling a cigarette out from the breast pocket of a blouse that certainly was never intended to have cigarettes kept in the pocket. “He’s like a rich chocolate dessert. Nice to start off with, but when you get beneath the surface you start to feel pretty sick.”

  We both looked over in the direction of the food truck, where Ben seemed to be having about as friendly a discussion with the catering assistant as I’d been having with him.

  “I just thought he’d be a bit different,” I confessed, still sorry to have the illusion
shattered.

  The woman shrugged. “You and half the girls I see around here. But I see you’re not interested in him anyway, are you?” She threw a pointed glance down towards my ring finger and I realised what she was getting at.

  “No, I’d never consider it.” I frowned, wondering what sort of ‘girls’ she’d been talking to. “I’m a zookeeper who writes comics,” I explained. “Apparently, the zookeeper part is where we have differences of opinion.”

  “Oh, for sure. He thinks he knows everything about what’s right for animals, having been all up close and personal with them in the wild, but he’s just as narrow-minded as the loud gang over there.” She jabbed a thumb in the direction of the placard waving group, who were now being shuffled away by a couple of larger men I’d seen wandering around the media circus.

  “I’m Bryony, by the way,” my new friend said, inclining her head as she lit up her cigarette.

  “Madi,” I replied, still not quite sure what to make of her, or even what she was doing here.

  “If you’re wondering what I’m doing hanging around with these crazy people. I’m a fixer,” she said, proving herself to be a mindreader, too.

  “A fixer?”

  “It’s exactly what it sounds like. If there’s a problem, or if someone needs something, I’m the one who fixes it. Whatever it takes, I’ll do it.” Something about her tone said to me that her methods were less charm and more aggressive intimidation. Funnily enough, I believed her. Being short didn’t mean you couldn’t also be a badass.

  “That sounds really interesting,” I said, meaning it.

  Bryony shrugged. “The job has its moments, it’s just the people who are sometimes a real pain in your backside. But hey, that’s showbiz, am I right?” She winked and nudged me.

  I really didn’t know what to say back to that.

  I was saved from responding by the outbreak of another bout of shouting, this time from the other side of the beach. A guy with a camera and the producer were clearly trying to reason with Leona Richards, who appeared to be very frustrated by something.

  “Sounds like I might need to spring into action,” my new buddy said. “Let’s go find out what the fire-breathing monster wants this time.”

  Although she hadn’t outright said it, I decided to assume that when she said let’s, she really did mean ‘us’. It only took a few steps in that direction to get within earshot - that’s how loud the heated conversation was. Ben rushed across to his costar before we could get near, but it was obvious that his words weren’t doing anything to help either. Instead, Leona actually gave him a shove and walked past, leaving him looking after her with hurt and bafflement on his face.

  “I can’t work in this heat,” the actress said, gesturing towards the sun and then covering her eyes in spite of the sunglasses she was wearing. With some further muttered curse words, she climbed the steps to her caravan and slammed the door shut.

  Bryony let out a low whistle. “Yikes. Some things even a fixer can’t fix. I wouldn’t say much for the burgeoning romance those two are supposed to have going on. More like burnt out, am I right?” She nudged me again.

  “They’re together?” I asked, surprised that they would be a compatible pair.

  “That’s what the gossip is. Someone saw them getting friendly in the walk-through aquarium bit yesterday. Idiots probably didn’t realise that it’s an aquarium. Everything here is made of glass - which is see-through.” She shook her head. “But yeah, she’s quite a lot older than him, isn’t she? But… she looks pretty good, and fame… fame can work wonders for your level of attraction.”

  I blinked a few times thinking that one over. I was a little too well aware of the age gap between Auryn and me and this only seemed to drive it home. Fortunately, I knew that we were well past that and I’d only ever worried because I’d thought Auryn was rushing into something that would be a mistake. I’d learned better than to assume I knew what was best for him. He was a man who made his own decisions.

  I was also super glad that Auryn and I had known each other and felt for each other for a lot longer than my comic book bubble. Bryony was really not pulling any punches with her opinions.

  “Well, crisis averted. That’s my cue to make myself scarce before someone decides I’m just another runner,” Bryony said before slipping away through the crowd.

  I was about to beat an escape for the second time when a woman with strawberry blonde hair practically popped up in front of me. For the briefest of moments, I was reminded of my best friend Tiff, but the sensation passed when I realised that this woman’s hair colour was the result of expensive salon treatments. Few people got as lucky as Tiff.

  “Hi! It’s so great to meet you. You’re Madigan, right?” She had a wide smile on her face that was just a little too big.

  “It’s just Madi,” I corrected.

  “Okay, great! Listen, Leona wanted me to ask you if you’d like to have dinner with her tonight. She’s sorry that she hasn’t been able to get to know you more. She really does love your comics! We all do,” the bouncy woman added.

  It was the kind of thing that made me want to say, ‘Oh yeah? Name me one character from the comic!’ but that wouldn’t be terribly gracious.

  Unfortunately, I also couldn’t think of a good way to turn down this offer without seeming to be just as much of a diva as I viewed the talent in this documentary. “That would be nice, but only if my fiancé can come. We’re on holiday together.”

  “Oh, great! I’m sure that’s fine. Can I take your number so we can organise it all later?” she asked, looking a little less happy. I’d clearly just added a complication.

  I pulled my phone out, mentally wondering if I should have a business phone and a phone I actually used. I didn’t want to end up constantly being rung by people who wanted to manoeuvre me as some sort of fame game.

  “What shall I add you as?” I asked, realising the woman had never introduced herself.

  “I’m Skye. I’m working as an actress on some of the reproductions. Mostly as a tourist,” she confided. “But you never know who might spot you out here. Sometimes all you need is one lucky break and you’re a celebrity overnight.” She laughed in a rather false manner. “Look who I’m talking to!”

  I did my best to smile sweetly at this clueless wannabe starlet. I assumed she hadn’t meant to outright insult me. “Nice meeting you,” I said, glad that I’d managed to get her number down without any further chatting. Without waiting for a proper goodbye, or for anyone else to snag me, I walked back up the hill off the beach, hoping to get away from this grasping dynamic. I hope Auryn’s around. Then we can get out of here and try to remember that we are actually on holiday, I thought.

  At first, I was pleased to find that the large square by the staff building was empty. No more documentary people to deal with! Unfortunately, it was also absent of Auryn. I sighed, remembering he didn’t have his phone, and decided to look in the staff building for him. If I were hiding from the documentary crowd, that’s where I’d go. I couldn’t see any of them wanting to hang around with marine park staff - especially after the way I’d heard Ben talking.

  As predicted, the interior of the cool, shell inspired building was calm. I walked through, glancing into rooms and hoping to find Auryn and Nile somewhere in the spiral structure. I was climbing yet more steps when I happened to overhear a voice speaking very clearly in English.

  “Hello, is that Mr Ravenwood?” The crackling reply let me know that this conversation was being conducted over speakerphone, which was probably why the woman was speaking so loudly. “I’m PA to the zoo’s manager and I’ve been asked to check up on the filming schedule. I’m afraid your number is the only one I have listed here. We were wondering which locations you’re going to be filming at during your time at the park and whether any parts will be conducted in staff areas?”

  “Of course they won’t. I’m really nothing to do with this, but the producers discussed all this before with your manager
.” I heard Ben’s reply loud and clear. He was certainly losing his courteous edge.

  “I’m so sorry. There must have been some wires crossed,” the PA I vaguely remembered meeting said. “Have a good day!”

  I heard the phone being put down and then the sounds of footsteps coming right towards the door I was suspiciously hovering next to. Making a snap decision, I knocked and poked my head around the corner.

  The PA jumped rather excessively, her mouth an ‘o’ of surprise.

  “Sorry to startle you,” I said, hopefully looking suitably apologetic. “I’m here looking for Auryn, the man I was with when we met the other day? I think he was having a meeting with Nile. I thought you might be the best person to ask.” Was I explaining too much? Maybe.

  “Oh, yes,” she said distractedly, looking up and down the stairs. “I think they went up to the top. There’s an open air space up there with a lovely view over the park.” Her hands twisted together by her waist. “I was, uh, hoping to arrange a meeting with Mr Ravenwood for my granddaughter. She’s such a fan. I wanted to find out where they’d be and if there might be somewhere she could watch from.”

  I nodded politely, unsure who felt more awkward about what I’d overheard, me or her. “I could ask Ben if he’d be okay with meeting her?” I offered, hoping to make up for it in some way.

  The secretary looked strangely horrified. “Oh no, there’s really no need. I think it best that we all stay out of their way as much as possible. Who knows what an imposition might cause? There’s already talk…” She coughed and left the sentence hanging.

  “I can tell that everyone here cares about the animals they look after. I’m sure the documentary will reflect that,” I said, hoping it was true to some extent. After all, the cameras couldn’t fake what they saw, but that didn’t mean they wouldn’t twist words and hint. I just hoped that Ben Ravenwood really didn’t have as much of a say as he made out. I knew one thing for sure, I would not be inviting him to make a film at Avery or the yet-to-be-named new zoo. I shook my head in annoyance halfway up the stairs, having said goodbye to the PA. We really needed to settle on a name so I could stop calling it that!