The Corpse with the Diamond Hand
Page 27
Sympathetic looks flickered around the room, laced with apprehension. They haven’t seen this happen to a person before, like Bud and I have.
“Did you grind up pills and drop them into his poi?” I asked.
Frannie nodded.
“And, as everyone was fussing about, you squashed his collapsible pot and popped it into your pocket, right?”
She nodded again.
“Did you throw it over the side of the ship?”
More silent nodding.
“Did it feel good at the time?”
Frannie’s head shot up. Her eyes blazed. “Oh yes,” she said with passion. “Seeing him convulse was a wonderful feeling. I just wish my husband had been sitting next to him, doing the same thing. And those stupid counselors they made me see. Useless, all of them. Terrible people. There are so many terrible people on this planet. Why do they all get to take up so much space? They suck the life out of us, and take away the ones we love. They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it.”
Any sympathy in the room evaporated. Ezra stood. “Frannie Lang, I’m asking you to come with me to your stateroom, where you will be required to remain until we reach the Port of Vancouver, where I will deliver you to the proper authorities.”
Silence fell upon the room.
“Sure,” was all Frannie had to say. Looking up at Ezra, she added, “Do you think my boys will come to my trial? It would be nice to have some real time with them.”
Ezra, shocked, said, “Maybe. I—I expect so.”
There was no fuss. Ezra, Frannie, and Officer Ocampo left the room, and everyone sat looking dazed.
“Hell of a day at sea, sir,” said Derek Cropper.
Laurie let out a wailing laugh and sobbed, “Oh Derek, honey.” Looking at me through rolling tears, she said, “From our favorite movie, Overboard, that is.” Beaming at her husband, she flung her arms in the air and said, “Arturo!”
Derek matched her actions, saying, “Caterina!” They hugged, sobbing on each other’s shoulders.
Since Ezra had left, Rachel White stood, taking command of the room. “It’s been a traumatic experience for everyone. I hope that the confidences exposed here today never leave this room. I urge you all to consider what you say about today very carefully. It would appear that we all do have secrets, and we all tell lies. Aside from those who have broken the law,” she glared at Nigel, “I believe no good will come of those details being discussed, ever again. I suggest we clear the room, and get back to our duties—our lives—as best we can. Thank you Bud, Cait. Although we might not feel it, you’ve helped us weather a difficult situation in a gentler way than might have otherwise been the case.”
I looked over at the cool blue eyes beneath copper bangs. “Thank you for understanding that sometimes every option is unpleasant, but a decision still has to be made. I believe my decision to lay bare every secret will now allow us to keep them between ourselves,” I said.
“I dare say,” replied Rachel curtly.
A Safe Berth
BUD AND I WEREN’T IN a hurry to disembark. We clung to the last moments on the ship as though we’d never get the chance to cruise again, even though the Stellar line had offered us a free trip to thank us for our contribution to the case. We’d caught a glimpse of a cowed Nigel and a blazing Janet as they’d walked along the glass-encased gangway. I was certain they were heading for what would be a very unhappy bus tour of Vancouver. We hadn’t seen anyone else from the previous day’s events, not even Winston.
Just as we were finishing our last cup of coffee, we were alarmed to hear our names announced over the loudspeaker requesting our appearance at the Guest Relations desk on Deck 3. Once there, we saw Ezra, who beckoned to us to join him and Rachel in a back office.
“I don’t want to delay you,” he said, “but I wanted to let you know that your guys,” he nodded at Bud, “have taken Bartholomew Goodman into custody. We found his cache of drugs in the dispensary, packaged as acetaminophen, and surrounded with layers of coffee grounds—he must have repacked them at regular intervals. He still hasn’t spoken, but he’s done for, I’m sure of it. They also took Frannie Lang into custody. Even as I was transferring her, and they were reading her rights, she was telling them all about it. Couldn’t shut her up. I think the innocent will be safe now, because of what you did. And I wanted to thank you. It was quite an experience, one I will value, and from which I have learned a great deal.”
Bud and I smiled, acknowledging the man’s gratitude.
“And there’s one more thing,” he said, smiling. “I don’t know how you guessed, but you were right about me and Rachel. And we thought you might like to know …”
He paused, and Rachel lifted her left hand in front of us. She was wearing an engagement ring.
“Congratulations!” We all hugged, even Bud and Ezra. I beamed and said, “I hope you two are as happy as Bud and I are. Marriage can be a wonderful thing, even for a career woman who wasn’t sure it would ever happen to her.” I winked at Rachel. “I suspect that was a part of the reason for your hesitation, yes?”
Rachel nodded. “You’re right, but how did you know? I mean, about the argument, the ring—well, everything?”
Bud hugged me proudly as I replied, “The way you looked at each other, or didn’t. Your cryptic comment about ‘access all areas.’ The bruise on your arm—a straight line of a bruise, the sort you’d get if you hit your arm against a hand rail when you’d pulled away from someone. And the ring? Ezra, when we found those earrings in Tommy’s cabin, remember? No man knows as much as you did about the four C’s of assessing diamonds unless he’s been shopping for a diamond engagement ring. You seem to be a good match, and I wish you well.”
“Me too,” said Bud. “He’s a good man, Rachel.”
“I know,” she smiled. “Seeing the Croppers made me realize we never know how long we have, do we? So why wait? Isn’t it better to try than wonder?”
“Always,” I said. “Experience all you can, to learn, to grow. Sometimes there’ll be disappointments, sometimes maybe sadness, but to never take a chance? To always be looking back? It’s not healthy.”
“You’re right,” said Bud. “So let’s get going, Cait. We’ll collect the car, pick up Marty from his holiday home with the Whites in Hatzic, and get home. I’ve missed it.”
“Me too,” I said. “Though home is where the heart is.”
“Aloha, and mahalo,” said Ezra.
“And aloha and mahalo to you too,” I said, “and say hello to the Islands for us when you get back to them next week. Maybe we’ll visit again one day. It’s very beautiful there.”
Bud nudged me. “How about we stay home for a while and get ourselves properly settled in before we go wandering again, eh?”
“Yes, Husband, I’d like that,” I said. And I meant it.
Acknowledgments
THE HAWAI’IAN ISLANDS ARE SPECIAL to me: I’ve spent a fair amount of time on several of the Islands, my husband and I were married at a friend’s home on O’ahu, and our honeymoon was spent on a cruise around the Islands and back to Vancouver, BC. (Fortunately for us, no corpses were involved!) It’s impossible to thank everyone by name who’s invited me to their home, shared their knowledge and love of the history and culture, and fed me their wonderful local foods over the years, but you all know who you are, so here’s a group Mahalo.
It’s a similar situation when it comes to cruise ships: I’ve worked out that, over the last decade, I’ve spent more than an entire year on various cruise ships! During that time, I’ve been shown nothing but the greatest kindness and generosity by all types and ranks of people who work on these modern floating palaces. I’ve taken some of my “insider” knowledge and put it to use in this book, but, while I’ve remained true to general practices on board ships for the timeframe within which this book is set, I know that rules, regulations, and working methods change often; any discrepancies between what I have written and what you might witness or be told,
on any ship you might be lucky enough to sail upon, are my own choice, or fault. To all those I’ve met at sea (crew and guests): I hope our paths cross again one day, and thank you for sharing your time with me.
As always, my husband, mum, and sister have been tremendously supportive throughout the entire period I was working on this book; there were times I might have thrown in the towel without their kind words of encouragement, or without a friendly nuzzle from my ever-present writing companions, my chocolate Labradors, Gabby and Poppy. Thank you—I love you all.
Once again, I thank everyone who is a member of the TouchWood Editions family for their help, and all the people who, through their professionalism and interest, allowed this book to end up in your hands. I hope you enjoy your time with Cait and Bud, and I thank you for choosing to take this journey with them, and me.
Welsh Canadian mystery author CATHY ACE is the creator of the Cait Morgan Mysteries, which include The Corpse with the Silver Tongue, The Corpse with the Golden Nose, The Corpse with the Emerald Thumb, The Corpse with the Platinum Hair, and The Corpse with the Sapphire Eyes. Born, raised, and educated in Wales, Cathy enjoyed a successful career in marketing and training across Europe before immigrating to Vancouver, Canada, where she taught in MBA and undergraduate marketing programs at various universities. Her eclectic tastes in art, music, food, and drink have been developed during her decades of extensive travel, which she continues whenever possible. Now a full-time author, Cathy’s short stories have appeared in multiple anthologies, as well as on BBC Radio 4. She and her husband are keen gardeners who enjoy being helped out around their acreage by their green-pawed Labradors. Cathy is also the author of the WISE Enquiries Agency Mysteries. Cathy’s website can be found at cathyace.com.
MORE MYSTERIES FROM TOUCHWOOD EDITIONS
A Quiet Kill
by Janet Brons
The head of the Canadian High Commission’s trade section is found brutally clubbed and stabbed to death in the Official Residence in London, England. Scotland Yard’s Detective Chief Inspector Stephen Hay is called in to investigate, while Royal Canadian Mounted Police Inspector Liz Forsyth is dispatched from Ottawa. There are a number of suspects from the diplomatic community: the High Commissioner and his beautiful wife, the smarmy head of the political section, the charming military attaché, the high-strung Deputy High Commissioner, and a deeply troubled engagements secretary. After a second murder, the case takes a turn and radical environmentalist Dr. Julian Cox becomes a suspect.
A Quiet Kill is the first in a new mystery series featuring Forsyth and Hay. Paired up for the first time, the two investigators must overcome insecurities and suspicions as they find themselves wading into the murky waters of the diplomatic community and navigating through a melee of international conspiracy, nationalism, and murder.
The Glacier Gallows
by Stephen Legault
Tragedy strikes during an expedition through Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. At the base of a windswept ridge that forms the border between Canada and the United States, Cole Blackwater finds the body of his business partner and former rival Brian Marriott, a bullet hole in his head. Cole’s long history of violence and his antagonistic past with the deceased put him in the spotlight of the murder investigation.
The fourth Cole Blackwater Mystery, The Glacier Gallows is a gritty, fast-paced mystery that will catapult the reader across North America, from Canada’s Parliament Hill to Alberta’s Porcupine Hills to Montana’s Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Cole, his brother, Walter, and reporter Nancy Webber must race against time to learn who really wanted Brian Marriott dead and why, before Cole himself ends up in the gallows.
Dark Moon Walking
by R.J. McMillen
It’s been more than eight years since ex-cop Dan Connor put a troubled criminal named Walker behind bars, and a year since he handed in his badge after losing the woman he loved. The remote islands off the Pacific Northwest coast seem like the perfect destination for his retirement. That is until a wave of increasingly sinister events disrupts his peace.
When a mysterious boat drives Connor from his anchorage and a marine biologist working in the area goes missing, Connor is forced to team up with his former nemisis, Walker, who has been released from jail and is struggling with his own demons. They have little in common, but when a life hangs in the balance and others are threatened, the knowledge and skills of these two men from very different cultures are the perfect mix.
With an eclectic cast of characters and a riveting plot, the first Dan Connor Mystery, Dark Moon Walking, is a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller that will keep you turning the pages until its explosive conclusion.
PRAISE FOR THE CAIT MORGAN MYSTERIES
“In the finest tradition of Agatha Christie … Ace brings us the closed-room drama, with a dollop of romantic suspense and historical intrigue.” —Library Journal
“Touches of Christie or Marsh but with a bouquet of Kinsey Millhone.” —Globe and Mail
“A sparkling, well-plotted, and quite devious mystery in the cozy tradition.” —Hamilton Spectator
“Perfect comfort reading. You could call it Agatha Christie set in the modern world, with great dollops of lovingly described food and drink.” —CrimeFictionLover.com
Copyright © 2015 Cathy Ace
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise—without the prior written consent of the publisher or a licence from the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (ACCESS Copyright). For a copyright licence, visit accesscopyright.ca.
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LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION
Ace, Cathy, 1960-, author
The corpse with the diamond hand / Cathy Ace.
(A Cait Morgan mystery)
Issued in print and electronic formats.
ISBN 978-1-77151-145-2 (html).—ISBN 978-1-77151-146-9 (pdf)
Editor: Frances Thorsen
Copy editor: Renée Layberry
Proofreader: Claire Philipson
Cover image: Tropical Hawaiian Cruise Ship, digital94086, istockphoto.com
Author photo: Nick Beaulieu Photography
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support for our publishing activities from the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and the Canada Council for the Arts, and from the Province of British Columbia through the British Columbia Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.