by Diane Rapp
“Miller never said anything to me, so I didn’t know he was trying to market that painting himself. I didn’t think he knew about the diamonds.”
Kayla held up the plastic bag with the diamond inside. “He gave this to Cynthia for safekeeping, so they both knew about the diamonds. You threatened Cynthia with a note, telling her to hand over the painting before Anchorage or she would die.”
Robert cringed and nodded. “Okay! I slipped that note under her door just to scare her. I hoped she knew where the painting was stashed. I didn’t commit a real crime.”
“You’re involved in the whole escapade, Robert, and could be charged as an accessory to murder. We’ll tell the police you’ve cooperated, but you’d better hope we catch the real killer.”
After security hauled Robert to a holding room, Jason turned to Natalia and asked, “What did you learn when you touched his shoulder?”
“He was telling us the truth. I don’t think he had anything to do with the murder.”
Steven nodded. “I got the same impression from his body language, and we only have his word that Carson Allbright was prepared to receive stolen goods. Jeffrey Miller committed the theft. It’s nice that Robert confessed to his plans, but he didn’t steal anything.”
Kayla nodded. “He couldn’t even open the coffin’s drawer, so we’ve got nothing.”
Steven rubbed his chin, deep in thought. “We need to find out more about that coffin. The drawer is the perfect size to hold that painting, so I’d like to contact the manufacturer.”
“We’d better check on those cufflinks, too,” Jason said. “I wonder how many of them could be used as a key in that lock. I’ll have another chat with Timothy Sinclair.”
Chapter 16
Kodiak Island
Julia and Clint waited for the driver to load their overnight bags into the van as Patricia and Jonathan climbed inside. “This is so exciting,” Patricia said. “I never thought we’d get to see bears in the wild.”
Jonathan settled into his seat and adjusted the strap on his camera bag. “I hope the weather holds. It looks a bit like rain.”
“Rain? I thought you Brits thrived in the rain?” Clint said as he took the seat behind Jonathan.
“I prefer sunny weather to take pictures,” Jonathan replied. “We brought slickers in the event we encounter a shower.”
Julia sighed as she took her seat. “You think it’s very far to the airport? I was hoping we could get into our cabins before the bear viewing.”
The driver climbed into the van and said. “It’s a short ride to the float plane. The Kodiak Brown Bear Center is located in the Kodiak Wildlife Refuge on the southwest side of the island which is a forty-five minute flight. We’ve got some awe-inspiring scenery to see during the flight to Karluk Lake, so watch for whales, eagles, and mountain goats.”
Julia asked, “Will we see the bears today?”
“Sure. It’s only a five minute boat ride from the cabins to the Thumb River observation area. We’ve received reports that the bears are out fishing right now. We’ve got a picnic lunch packed, so you don’t need to waste time.”
Clint grinned like a little boy and Julia patted his hand. “See? You’ll be taking pictures of bears in no time.”
The float plane revved its engines and skimmed across the bay, as the two couples grabbed the arms of their seats and eagerly gazed out at the rugged coast. The small plane swooped into the air and banked to fly over the large island. The pilot spoke into his helmet microphone and everyone heard him through their headphones.
“Kodiak is the second largest island in the U.S., next to Hawaii. Alutiiq natives lived here for over 7000 years, but the island was settled by Russians in the early 1700s. Kodiak became the capital of Russian Alaska, and Russians influenced the design of historic buildings.
“Kodiak became a valuable fishing center after Seward bought Alaska from the Russians in 1867. Fishing is still our primary industry today. During World War II, the U.S. feared attack from Japanese submarines. The town was turned into a fortress, and the military built roads, the airport, and gun fortifications at Fort Abercrombie.
“Bear viewing has become our most popular activity, but locals are used to sharing their island with a large population of brown bear. The Kodiak Wildlife Refuge is 1.9 million acres with the highest density of bear anywhere in the world, about one for every 1.5 square miles. The Kodiak brown bear is only second to the polar bear in size. A mature male can reach 1500 pounds and stands five feet tall on its hind legs. They must eat lots of salmon and gain 20 to 30 percent of their weight before they hibernate each winter. Luckily the rivers around Karluk Lake get plenty of the five varieties of salmon.
By ten o’clock the two couples were perched on a bluff overlooking the Thumb River. Clint set up his tripod and zoomed in to film a massive male lumbering through the river. His elongated neck and head swayed from side to side as he walked. Tails and fins shimmered under the crystal clear water as salmon swam upstream in an ancient spawning ritual. Suddenly the shaggy brown bear lunged, churning through the water and plunging his snout into the icy river. Water streamed from his mouth as he raised his snout with a silvery tail dangling from his jaws.
Figure 5 Bear and Fish
The bear climbed out of the water onto the muddy bank. Using long curved claws, he raked the red flesh of the fish and tore chunks off with glistening white teeth. Quickly downing a five pound fish like an appetizer, he growled as a nearby female intruded on his fishing spot. She galloped away, two fluffy cubs scurrying behind, to flee from the dangerous male. Shaking his shaggy wet coat, droplets of icy water sprinkled the shore. He raised his nose to sniff the scent of the nearby female but hunger prevailed. He plunged back into the river, searching for the main course of his lunch.
“Did you get a shot of that mother and cubs?” Jonathan asked when Clint stopped filming. “I was afraid that male was going to take off after them. I read that a male will kill cubs to make the female go back into season.”
Clint nodded. “I got lots of footage, holding my breath the whole time.” He turned to Julia, who operated the still camera. “How’d you do, honey?”
Julia pressed a button and held out the camera’s display. “See for yourself. I think I did a good job, even with shaking hands.” Everyone marveled over their pictures until splashing attracted their attention. “Oh! That smaller bear just scooped up a big salmon with his paw. See it flopping on the bank?”
The juvenile bear pounced on his prize, slapping the fish with his paw until it lay still. The bear picked up the fish and moved to higher ground for a safe place to eat. The mother bear waded into the rapids at the far side of the river while her cubs played tag on the shore, well away from danger.
Before long hunger called the humans, and they each grabbed a sandwich from the cooler, hoping the easy source of food wouldn’t attract hungry bears. White bread, tuna, and mayonnaise proved a poor substitute for fresh salmon, so the bears ignored the human paparazzi. Sipping a can of soda, Julia inhaled the scent of the milkweed and wild roses that lined the bluff where they sat. She swatted a mosquito and reached into her pack for the can of bug spray. The sun was bright, but a cold wind turned her fingers and nose rosy pink. She heard the huff, huff of bears drifting up from the river but felt safe enough. Two experienced outfitters stood guard with rifles ready, keeping an eye out for danger.
Clint finished his sandwich and peered into his camera again, eager to shoot more video. Julia felt grateful that they could enjoy an experience like this with their new relatives. She raised her camera to snap a shot of the cubs rolling through the thick grass. They looked so small compared to the gigantic males fishing in the rapids. It was incredible to think these same bears would probably return to this spot as adults. The large male chased a salmon as it splashed upstream and stood eating his meal in the middle of the water. He raised the fish with long hooked claws and tore into the meat with sharp teeth. Hours sped by quickly. The two weary coup
les returned to their cabins to soak in hot showers and later met to enjoy a hearty meal of salmon in safety.
Jonathan curled his long fingers around a hot mug of tea and sighed with pleasure. “I’m ever so glad we joined you on this adventure. Those bears were gigantic.”
Patricia nodded, cutting a bite of salmon. “This is delicious! No wonder those bears spend the summer months eating this tasty delicacy.”
Julia grinned at Clint, who had a smear of tartar sauce on his chin. “At least bears don’t bother with messy sauce.” She dabbed Clint’s chin with a napkin, and he laughed.
“They have their own icy river to wash the remnants away. Did you see those long claws? I never realized how deadly those things could be. Imagine meeting one of them in the woods?”
“It’s a good job we had armed guards at the observation hill! As a policeman, I’ve faced deadly criminals, but I’d become a quivering bowl of jelly if one of those bears came running after me.”
“There’s an old joke—you only need to run faster than your companions.” Clint’s eyes sparkled with humor. “I may be small, but I’d bet I could run faster than you.”
Patricia leaned closer to Julia. “I notice he said nothing about protecting the women while fleeing from a raging bear.”
“I guess we’d need to climb the nearest tree and wait for our heroes to return,” Julia added.
Jonathan raised his tea mug and offered a toast. “May we all escape unharmed and enjoy many adventures together.”
“Here, here,” everyone said together and clinked cups and glasses.
Julia looked dreamy-eyed as she sipped her wine. “I’ll be glad to get back on the ship tomorrow and find out how the investigation is going.”
Jonathan smiled. “Let’s each make a prediction. Who do you think is the culprit? I’ll bet a fiver on my choice.”
They spent the rest of the evening discussing the possible suspects.
*****
Jason approached the suites on the Diamond Deck. He found Timothy Sinclair coming out of his private entrance in the company of a shapely redhead. He recognized the girl, who worked as a dealer in the casino. Timothy’s long hours gambling made more sense.
“Hello, Timothy. I came by to ask you a few questions,” Jason said.
Timothy’s face turned red and he sputtered, “We’re just off to breakfast, can’t it wait?” He nervously glanced down the hall toward his uncle’s door.
“I’d enjoy a cupper, so mind if I join you?” Jason turned to the girl. “It’s Gina, isn’t it?” He held out his hand and Gina shook it smiling.
Timothy grimaced but politely said, “We’d be happy to have you join us.” He sped down the corridor. Jason got the impression Timothy wanted to get away from his uncle’s suite as fast as possible.
At the buffet Jason poured a cup of hot water and chose a packet of Earl Grey from an assortment displayed in a fancy wooden box. Cream and sugar topped off the mixture and he snagged a blueberry sweet roll before he sat down.
Timothy and Gina stood in line and watched a chef prepare a custom dish for each of them. A waiter helped Gina with her plate while she carried a cup of coffee and a cup of tea to the table. The scent of waffles made Jason’s mouth water, and he wished he dared snag a bite from Gina’s plate.
“I need to ask you about that skull-and-cross-bones cufflink you lost,” Jason said.
Timothy frowned. “I must confess that I didn’t lose the cufflink. I couldn’t admit the truth in front of Sir Cedric, but I sold the cufflinks to that chap, Jeffrey Miller.”
Jason raised his eyebrows. “Bit risky to sell him a gift from your uncle, don’t you think?”
“That cufflink is from a new set that my uncle gave me before the trip.” Timothy shrugged. “Jeffrey was ever so keen to own a pair and offered me two hundred pounds for them. I had my old pair in my kit, so I decided to sell him the new ones. Does it matter?”
Jason changed the subject. “Do you know who built the coffin for Sir Cedric? It’s quite expensive and must have been a custom job.”
“I have the information stored in my Blackberry.” He pulled out the device and scrolled through his contact list. “Here it is.” Jason recorded the phone number in his own smart phone.
Timothy shut down the phone and said, “I admit I was surprised the old man spent so much on a coffin. He dismissed most of the staff and harangued us about reducing expenses. Seems the stock market’s decline hit the old boy hard.” Timothy took a bite of his Eggs Benedict and added, “The coffin arrived at the castle the week before we departed on this trip, and Sir Cedric was ever so excited to see it. He spent days alone with that box, and I felt concerned about his state of mind. When he ordered me to arrange for shipping the thing on this trip, I was dumbfounded. You realize how much it costs to ship a coffin on an overseas passenger flight?”
“If he’s low on funds, why did he agree to donate such an expensive painting to the museum?” Jason asked. “I’d expect him to sell the painting and keep the money.”
Timothy nodded. “He might have done, except he’s been quietly selling his collection of Impressionists. That story he told about displaying copies for security purposes was a fabrication. Since the paintings created a massive profit, he needed a large deduction to offset the tax gains. Our family always considered Glacier Blue a low value piece, so my uncle signed a contract for the donation and had the painting appraised privately, just before we left England. He planned to register a claim with his tax records.”
“He didn’t know the value of the glacier painting before he agreed to the donation?”
“I guess not. I was dumbfounded when the Genuine Fakes people announced the estimate at the cocktail party in Seattle.” Timothy buttered an English muffin and smeared marmalade on thick. Sipping a fresh cup of tea with milk, he took a bite and smiled. “It’s wonderful to enjoy a cup of English blend.”
“Did you see the appraisal of the painting?” Jason asked, sipping his own tea.
Timothy frowned. “No. My uncle is ever so secretive about his finances and got absolutely paranoid about security for that painting. I guess he had a right to worry.”
Jason nodded and glanced at Gina. “Do you two spend every night together?”
Timothy looked startled and fidgeted in his chair. “See here, that’s not a question you should ask a young lady.”
Gina laughed. “I love his British sense of chivalry, but he’s worried his uncle will object to an American in the family. We’ve been sneaking in and out of his room all week long. After the old man goes to bed, Timothy waits until my shift ends. We’ve spent every night together since we sailed.” She leaned forward and spoke in a low voice. “I applied for a job on this ship when Tim let me know he’d be onboard.”
Jason gazed into Gina’s dark brown eyes. “It’s important that you tell the truth, my dear. On the night Jeffrey Miller died, did he leave at any time in the wee hours of the morning?”
She stiffened and her lips tightened into a thin line. “I don’t lie. Tim didn’t leave the room at all. He never gets up after he falls asleep, and I’m a light sleeper so I would know.”
Jason nodded and patted her hand. “Thanks for your patience. I’ll leave you two lovebirds to your breakfast.” Jason stood and brushed crumbs from his slacks. “Please keep this conversation between the three of us.”
“What does the coffin have to do with the murder?” Timothy asked.
“We’re interested in special features we discovered and knowing more about that coffin might help us solve the crime.” Jason smiled and shook Gina’s hand. “Sorry for the personal questions, my dear, just part of the job.”
*****
Jason knocked on Steven and Kayla’s door, deep in thought. Natalia was already inside and looked up as he entered. “Scratch Timothy from our list of suspects. His girlfriend, Gina swears that he spends every night in her company and never left the cabin,” he said, fingering his mustache.
Steven
groaned. “Robert Long spent the night of the murder with one of the dancers, and she has no reason to lie.”
“What about Carson Allbright?” Jason asked.
Natalia said, “I spoke with his wife while I was having my nail repaired. Evidently Carson takes a prescription sleeping pill every night, and she listens to him snore all night long. He never left their cabin on the night of the murder. Actually, she was excited that someone was asking about his alibi. She’s a fan of murder mysteries and felt eager to tell me all about their personal life. I’m sure he’s not the killer.”
A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. When Steven opened the door, they were surprised to find Henry Remington and Shannon in the doorway. Remington was no longer dressed in a green uniform, and Shannon’s hand was comfortably draped over his arm.
“Come in. You might as well join the party.” Steven gestured for the couple to sit in their living room.
Shannon led the way into the room. “I told Henry we’d find you all here. He’s got something important to discuss with you.”
“It’s time for me to come clean.” Henry flashed a grin, and his green eyes sparkled with mischief. “Actually, I received clearance from my superiors to read you into our investigation. We might be chasing the same crooks.”
Steven leaned back in his chair and brought his fingers together in a steeple under his chin. “I wondered when you might tell us the truth.”
Kayla narrowed her gaze and nodded. “Natalia says he’s been hiding something all along.”
Henry held up his hands and said, “Okay! Don’t shoot, I’m one of the good guys.” He pulled a wallet from his pocket and flashed his credentials. “I work for Homeland Security and we’ve been tracking diamond smugglers. Carson Allbright contacted our office about a guy offering to sell him millions in unregistered diamonds.”
Grabbing the wallet Jason examined the badge and picture I.D. “Carson’s an informant of yours?” he asked.
