“I did indeed.”
“Yet he keeps misplacing his pocket watch.”
As they passed the stairs, an odor wafted up. Cigar smoke! Nora pulled Aunt Julia to a stop and whispered, “I smell a cigar. Perhaps Lawton is down there.” She tilted her head toward the stairs.
Julia raised a brow; clearly she hadn’t deduced that cigar smoke might equal Lawton. Chalk up one for Nora’s skills of observation. “Let’s take a look, shall we?”
They descended the stairs to find Max Lawton leaning against the railing, cigar smoke trailing in the air. He turned as he heard them approach, his brow lifting slightly.
Aunt Julia went right over to him, even though the look on his face indicated he didn’t want company. “Mr. Lawton. How lovely to see you again.”
“A pleasure.” He looked past Aunt Julia to Nora, holding her gaze ever so slightly too long.
As if she would be interested in a murder suspect in that way!
“Exciting trip so far, wouldn’t you say?” Julia asked.
“How so?” Lawton looked at the end of his cigar as if not at all interested in the answer.
“Well first there was a death… in fact, I believe you helped recover the body.” Aunt Julia shivered. “Nasty business. That was very brave of you.”
Lawton frowned at her as if wondering what she was getting at.
“Anyway,” Aunt Julia forced on, unheeding of his hostile silence. “I hear they might bring in a detective. It seems maybe Miss Dove had a little help going over.”
Lawton’s brows rose in surprise for a fraction of a second. He had a good poker face—either from playing poker or being a murderer, Nora didn’t know which, but nevertheless she saw through it. The news of an investigation seemed to have disturbed him.
“I don’t think that’s something you should go spreading rumors about.” Lawton stared down at Julia.
“I have it on good authority.” Julia backed away. “But, anyway, that’s not uplifting talk for such a lovely day. Do enjoy your smoke.” Julia waved at the cloud of smoke that had drifted in front of her face, then turned and walked away, leaving Nora to follow.
When they were out of earshot, Nora pulled Julia aside. “I thought you were going to leave the questioning to me.”
“I am, dear. That wasn’t questioning, that was information dropping. We need to be sure that Mr. Lawton knows an investigation is imminent. Don’t worry, when it comes to interrogation I’ll let you have your way with him.” Julia started back on their rounds of the deck. “Now, let’s find Giles so we can get a look at Delilah’s rooms.”
It didn’t take long to find Giles: he was standing at the back of the boat overlooking the river and describing to a group of passengers various aspects of the countryside they were passing. He seemed to be in his glory, smiling and happy until he saw Aunt Julia, and then his demeanor became worried and anxious. He excused himself from the other passengers and hurried over to Julia and Nora who were waiting a discreet distance away.
“Has there been a development?”
“I’m narrowing things down. I think you could help me out, though. I’d like to get into Delilah’s cabin and her dressing room.”
“Of course. Come with me.” Giles held out his elbow for Julia and they all headed downstairs.
The dining area was being set up for lunch and they dodged waitstaff as they made their way backstage. Giles held the door open for them, but as they entered the back hallway, Aunt Julia stopped short, causing Nora to bump into her.
“Auntie, what is it?” Nora asked, half-afraid something was wrong with her aunt. Aunt Julia never had any ailments and was fit as a fiddle.
Julia stepped into the hall, craning her neck toward the end. “I cannot be certain, but I think that was Max Lawton. He was coming down the hall but when I stepped out he turned and hotfooted it the other way. Almost as if I’d scared him off.”
Nora craned her neck too, but there was no sign of him. “Really? How odd. Didn’t we just see him on the upper deck?”
And didn’t they just impart the information that there would be a murder investigation? How interesting that the very next thing he did was to come down there.
Aunt Julia nodded. “Yes, I wonder what he was doing down here.”
“I’m sure I don’t know. He’s not a member of the staff.” Giles seemed baffled by their interest in Max Lawton.
“Perhaps he was lost.” Aunt Julia turned and started down the hall. “Shall we continue?”
The entertainers slept down the hallway from the dressing rooms. Being the lead singer, Delilah had a room to herself, but it was cramped and sparse, barely big enough for a bed. Julia opened a few drawers of the small dresser then turned to Giles. “It’s empty.”
“Yes, I believe they were packing her stuff up to send to family. Most of her things are in her dressing room though. She spent most of her time there. Had it decorated quite nicely.”
“I remember.” Aunt Julia turned from the bathroom where she’d slid the mirror open to reveal empty shelves. “I think we need to look there.”
Giles nodded and they left, Giles locking the door behind them.
They opened Delilah’s dressing-room door to find Oxley bent over a trunk. He looked up, red faced. “What are you doing here?”
“Sorry, err…” Giles apparently wasn’t very good with coming up with something on the fly but at least he realized he couldn’t admit Aunt Julia was investigating Delilah’s death.
“I lost my glove when I was here the other day,” Aunt Julia covered for him. “Have you seen it?”
“No.” Oxley glanced around the room. It was pretty much the same as it had been except the gowns were missing. Lily must have taken them to the other dressing room. There were three trunks in the back. Two were closed and Oxley was filling the third. All three were scrubbed with worn hinges. One had a big splatter of red nail polish on the top. Oxley shut the trunk he’d been working on and locked the top. “No orphan gloves in here.”
Giles pointed to the trunks. “Is this all of Delilah’s things?”
“Yes.”
“She sure had a lot,” Giles said.
Aunt Julia wasn’t interested in the trunks; she’d gone straight over to the photos on the wall. Nora could see why. One was missing from the center. Julia turned to the dressing table, her fingers trailing along the edge of a silver jewelry box.
“Lovely. Delilah did have good taste.”
She opened it to reveal sparkling jewels nestled in a dark-purple-velvet interior.
“Those look like the real thing,” Giles said.
“I believe they are.” Aunt Julia picked up a ruby brooch and held it to the light. “Solid setting. Very well made.”
A few long necklaces lay on the dressing table. They were in various jewel tones, the new style that flappers wore knotted at the waist. Nora had a few herself and knew they weren’t very expensive, which was probably why Delilah had left them in a tangle on the surface of the dressing table instead of in the jewelry box. But something was out of place…
Aunt Julia was one step ahead of her. Her hand reached out to pick up a ruby-and-diamond bracelet that Nora recognized as the one Delilah had worn the night of the reception.
“That’s interesting.” Aunt Julia held the bracelet up to the light. “This is real, too.” She picked at an ivory-colored thread that had been snagged on the prongs that held one of the rubies, then dropped the ruby bracelet into the jewelry box. She glanced around the room, her eyes falling on the trunks. “I trust you’ll make sure this expensive jewelry gets to Delilah’s family?”
“Of course.” Oxley looked impatient for them to leave.
Aunt Julia sighed. “I don’t see my glove. If you find it, please let me know. It’s periwinkle.”
Oxley frowned.
“That’s blue-ish purple,” Nora supplied.
“Oh, of course.”
“Thank you.” Aunt Julia turned to Giles. “Thanks for escorting us
down here to look for my glove. Although we didn’t find it, the trip has been very enlightening.”
Chapter Fourteen
“Do you think I should have the salmon salad or the pork chops for lunch?” Aunt Julia peered over the lunch menu as they sat in her cabin after going through Delilah’s dressing room.
“How about you get the salmon and I’ll get the chops and we can split,” Nora said.
“Good thinking.” Aunt Julia put the menu down. “Now what did you observe from our visit to Delilah’s dressing room?”
Nora took a deep breath. “Well, a picture was missing, so that supports our theory that the killer had a prior connection to Delilah. They must have been in the picture together.”
“And the motive was not money, though I never thought that. It appears as if all her jewelry was there in the room.” Aunt Julia looked out the window. “Do you think Max Lawton was heading to the dressing room when we saw him? If so, he wasted no time in getting there after we spread the rumor of the investigation.”
Nora frowned. “But if Lawton was going to the room when he saw us and ran away, then that means he couldn’t have taken the picture.”
“There was another clue in the room, too.” Julia looked at Nora expectantly.
This was clearly a test to see if Nora had noticed. Nora thought for a bit. Had anything else seemed out of place? The fancy jewelry box was out in the open filled with gems and the necklaces were lying on the dressing table, though those weren’t worth very much. “The bracelet! All of Delilah’s other fine jewels were in the jewelry box.”
“Yes!” Aunt Julia seemed pleased that Nora was catching on to the art of investigating. “And what does that tell you?”
In Nora’s studies, she’d learned that men and women behave differently. She was sure the people on the Miss Delta Belle were no exception. But she didn’t like to make assumptions. “Delilah most likely wouldn’t have put the bracelet there. By the looks of things, she kept her fine jewelry in that box.”
“So I was right, the bracelet being on the vanity surface was out of place.” Aunt Julia looked pleased with herself.
“Yes, and not only that, there’s a high likelihood that a man put it there.” Nora dug in her purse for her cigarette holder. She’d heard that smoking was a good thing to do while thinking. “A woman would have recognized that there was only cheap costume jewelry on the vanity and probably would have put it in the jewelry box so as not to draw attention to it.”
Nora produced the cigarette holder and then rummaged for a cigarette. Noticing Aunt Julia’s frown she said, “I’ve heard smoking helps one think. And it is the modern thing to do.”
Aunt Julia looked skeptical but interested. “I don’t know. It doesn’t smell very good.”
Nora produced the cigarette and held it and the holder in her hand. She didn’t want to be rude and light up in Aunt Julia’s cabin, but wanted to finish the conversation. “We only have three male suspects… unless you include Sven.”
“Sven is rather odd, but I think we should focus on Oxley, Stokes and Lawton.”
“Oxley was in the room packing, though. It doesn’t make sense that he’d take the picture or leave the bracelet.” Nora stood.
“You’re right, of course. I still think he could be the killer and, if not, maybe he noticed something that would point to the killer. It’s worth talking to him again.” Aunt Julia’s eyes fell to the cigarette. “You say they really help you think? Would it help me to delve deeper into the case?”
“It might.” Nora didn’t see how. She wasn’t even sure if she should be indulging in this habit, never mind her aunt, but she was game to give it a try and see if it made anything about the case any clearer.
Aunt Julia pressed her lips together. “I don’t know. Maybe later if I get really desperate. You go have your smoke and I’ll meet you in the restaurant in fifteen minutes. Lunch starts in twenty and we can slip in and talk to Oxley before they start serving.”
Nora met Aunt Julia at the top of the stairs to the dining room.
“That was good timing,” Aunt Julia said. “Did you enjoy yourself?”
“Not as much as some people seem to.” Nora shrugged and started down the stairs. The dining room was set for service but no other passengers had arrived yet. Waitstaff bustled around putting the finishing touches to the tables. The stage was empty since the band normally only played for dinner.
Nora eyed the door to the backstage area. “Should we just walk in?”
Aunt Julia headed toward the door with a purposeful stride. “I always say, act like you belong and people will think you do.”
No one was in the backstage hallway, though, so no acting was necessary. Julia headed straight for the star dressing room. They were in luck. Oxley was just closing the last trunk. He glanced up, clearly annoyed at their presence.
“I didn’t find your glove,” he said.
Aunt Julia looked disappointed. “Oh dear, I did so hope to wear those tonight at dinner. I have a matching dress and I’m still a bit funny about going bare-handed to formal events like the young people do these days.” She shot Nora a pointed look.
“Well it wasn’t in here. Maybe you dropped it somewhere else.” Oxley practically pushed them back into the hall.
Aunt Julia wouldn’t be budged. “So you’ve packed up all Delilah’s things. It must have been a very sad task for you.”
“Yes, it was. Very sad.”
“And did you notice anything amiss when you were packing?” Aunt Julia glanced at the wall that had held the photos, now empty but for tiny holes where the pictures had been hung.
“I’m not sure what you mean.” Oxley made to brush past them. “If you don’t mind, it’s been a very trying morning and I need to rest.”
Nora studied him. He did look tired and emotionally drained. Then again, she supposed trying to hide the fact that you’d murdered your girlfriend could be emotionally draining. “What will happen to the trunks?”
Oxley turned to look at the three trunks neatly arranged in a row. They were fairly basic black trunks with oak strapping, and on the small side. “We’ll put them on the freight deck and ship them to her mother when we get to the next port.”
“How very sad,” Aunt Julia said. “She wouldn’t have wanted anyone here to have some of her things?”
Oxley shrugged. “I doubt it. I don’t think she liked the other entertainers too much, and most of the gowns are costumes that stay with the show.”
“I see. Have you noticed anyone odd in here? Looking for a memento, perhaps?” Aunt Julia asked.
Oxley made a face. “You think someone came in and stole your glove as a memento thinking it was Delilah’s? I doubt it. Everyone is busy and no one seems interested in this room. Well, unless you count Lily Sumner, she’s dying to get the star dressing room.”
“So Lily was in here?” But Lily would have no need to remove a picture; everyone already knew she had a previous relationship with Delilah Dove.
Oxley nodded, his eyes filling with tears. “She wanted to use it as her own, but I couldn’t let someone else take it. Maybe now,” he sniffed, “maybe now that it’s empty I should just let her have it.”
“Now, now, that might be a good idea.” Aunt Julia patted his arm soothingly and gave Nora a questioning look. Nora knew the question was whether or not he was faking. His tears were genuine so Nora shook her head. She didn’t think Oxley was faking.
“Speaking of Lily, would you happen to know where she might be?” Aunt Julia asked.
Oxley guided them toward the door. “She might be in the staff lounge at the end of this hallway. The staff eat before the guests—it’s a bit late but you might still be able to find her there.”
They headed in one direction and Oxley in the other. Aunt Julia pulled Nora aside halfway down the hall. “Funny thing, Oxley packed the pictures but didn’t notice that one was missing. I assume he would have mentioned that when I asked if he’d seen anything odd. What do you
make of him?”
“I’m not really sure what to make of him. He does act odd, but it makes sense he would with his girlfriend being murdered. But there is one thing I noticed—the way his brow kept creasing and his eyes kept darting to the hallway. My instincts tell me that Clifford Oxley is definitely worried about something but it may not have to do with Delilah’s death.”
They were in luck: Lily Sumner was still in the staff lounge and, even better, she was alone. She looked up as they entered, her face registering confusion. “The passenger dining room is down the hall.”
“Oh, we know,” Aunt Julia said. “We just wanted to congratulate you on how smoothly you have taken over from Delilah Dove. It’s not an easy task, especially considering the circumstances.”
The compliment must have made her nervous judging by the way she fidgeted with her sleeves.
“It’s not and thank you. Didn’t I see you in her dressing room the other day?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know her?”
“No, we were getting a tour of the ship. You must be very sad about her passing, despite the fact that it was good for your career.”
Lily looked a bit uncomfortable at that, her eyes darting to the doorway. “Yes, very sad. She was so lovely.”
“Indeed, so odd that someone would want to kill her.”
Lily simply stared at them. “I heard the rumors that her death wasn’t an accident. You don’t think there’s someone dangerous on board the ship, do you?”
“If there is, hopefully they will be caught soon. That’s why it’s important for everyone to report if they’ve seen or heard anything…” Aunt Julia let her voice trail off.
“What do you mean?” Lily asked.
“Anything out of sorts. Like Delilah arguing with someone or someone strange visiting her or even someone in her dressing room after she died.”
Something sparked in Lily’s eyes. She’d remembered something!
“I did hear an argument that night, but I don’t think that had anything to do with her death, do you?” Lily seemed agitated, looked at the door again.
Murder on a Mississippi Steamboat Page 9
