Her heart rose into her throat as she described what happened when Nick found her alone in one of the rooms.
Jonesy stopped, and pulled her toward a recessed doorway. They were almost to Honan Road, which was packed with Shanghailanders of all nationalities dressed for dinner.
“They said this was around two o’clock?”
“A little before two, probably—but yes,” Lucy said.
“He was dead an hour later,” Jonesy said. “The police in the Chapei found his body a little before three. That means whoever killed him would have shot him not long after the girls left. My money says it was Rose himself.”
Lucy considered that. “That’s definitely possible—but wouldn’t it be more likely that the Green Gang had Nick killed when they found out that he knew about their operation? They have a reputation for eliminating threats without asking many questions first.”
“And that’s what we’re meant to think,” Jonesy said. He took a cigar from his pocket, and pointed it at her while he spoke. “But think about this—why would Rose put so much effort into getting Nick and Lola together? What did he gain?”
Lucy shrugged, confused about where Jonesy was going with that. “It could have been one of Nick’s demands, part of his blackmail for not exposing the commander. That makes perfect sense, actually.”
A gleam had come to Jonesy’s green eyes, and he struck a match to light his cigar—but let it burn while he said “Yes! It does! But why wouldn’t Rose just offer him more money instead? He was smart enough to know a girl like Lola wasn’t going to be bullied into going steady, not with a fella like Nick. Why put forth all the effort needed to find out where she lived? To bring her to the party? Just giving Nick more money would have been preferable in so many ways.”
He cursed and shook out the match, then put his finger in his mouth for a second.
“Are you alright?” she asked.
“Fine,” Jonesy said around the finger in his mouth.
While he struck another match, and actually lit his cigar with it this time, Lucy pondered the questions he’d raised. “That does seem pretty strange, since you brought it up. I think maybe that troubled me, too, but I didn’t want to think about it too hard. I would swear to my last breath that Lola was telling me the truth about everything.”
“I’m sure she was,” Jonesy said, puffing his cigar to life. Then he exhaled smoke upward, and looked her in the eyes. “One more thing—why did Rose give in so easily when Lola insisted on Tatiana staying with her?”
Lucy scoffed. “I wouldn’t say he gave in easily. She said he tried to bully her.”
“Of course he did! He had to make her think he didn’t want Tatiana there. But it actually made his plan better. He was counting on Nick pushing Lola too far. In his initial plan, he probably pictured himself being the hero coming to her rescue—and in the process, Nick would end up dead. No more blackmail. But now, maybe Tatiana would be the heroine.”
Lucy’s mouth hung open for a second. Then she shook her head, as much to clear the incredulity from her mind as to disagree. “But how could he know Tatiana would hit Nick with a vase?”
Jonesy chuckled, and put his cigar back in his mouth. “He didn’t. Not specifically. But he was counting on her doing something bold and violent to save her friend. Her lover. Don’t pretend you didn’t already guess the real nature of their relationship.”
She nodded. “I had.”
“And just like you would commit violence to save Doug, so Rose knew that Tatiana would do the same to save Lola.”
He was right. She knew with certainty that Jonesy was right. “How do we find out?”
“Let’s go back and talk to Tatiana again.”
**
They spotted Lola and Tatiana crossing the street from their building, and walking south down Fokien Road. Lucy and Jonesy hurried after them in the gathering twilight, and caught up with them two blocks later, right after they turned right onto West Nanking Road—beneath the Chinese lanterns lining the front of The Jade Dragon.
“Yes, Mr. Rose send me to find Lola,” Tatiana said in answer to Lucy’s question. “He say he saw her go down hall, long time, and I should bring her back to party.”
“And that’s when you found her with Nick,” Lucy said. It wasn’t a question, but Tatiana nodded confirmation.
Lucy and Jonesy thanked them, but as they were turning away, Lola grabbed at Lucy’s wrist. “You wanna come in and join us for a drink, honey? You and your, uh, friend.”
The look in her eyes as she glanced at Jonesy said she knew the score. It surprised Lucy, who would have never guessed about Jonesy if she hadn’t known.
“Thank you, but we have to do something,” Lucy said. “We appreciate all of your help, very much.”
Jonesy tipped his hat at the ladies, but kept silent.
Lucy took his arm, and they walked back east.
“Do you have a way to get a message to Doug?” Jonesy asked.
She shook her head, and a jolt of fear swept through her. “No, they don’t have a public itinerary this time. It was an impromptu cruise, in response to the Japanese landings. I don’t know where they are exactly.”
“We have to find a way.” Jonesy stopped walking. He looked directly into her eyes, his expression deadly serious. “Doug is stuck onboard a ship with a killer—and that killer knows Doug is looking for him. We have to warn him.”
26
Thursday, August 26
One-thirty AM
The swish of the mop was drawing closer, and Doug stepped further back into the shadows, pressing his back against the cold tile wall of the shower room entrance. At this hour, only every fourth light was lit inside the enlisted men’s head, and Doug had deliberately worn his blues instead of his whites, to blend in.
The mop’s swish stopped at the entrance to the head, and the quiet clink of the handle against the tile wall came through the stillness, followed by the padding of footsteps coming inside. The shadowy figure approaching was immediately recognizable. He didn’t turn toward the toilets, but instead came straight ahead—toward Doug’s hiding place inside the shower room.
Near the back of the room, Callahan turned on one of the nozzles, and the splash of water onto the floor drowned out the sound of footsteps on the tile.
Ben Trebinski passed Doug’s hiding place, his gaze turned toward the rear of the shower room, where a dimly-lit Patrick Callahan stood, a towel wrapped around his waist. Ben was unfastening the front of his trousers when Doug’s hand clasped his shoulder, making him jump. He spun, the whites of his eyes reflecting the small amount of light, and his jaw dropped.
“Commander!” he said, breathless. The rapid rising and falling of his chest belied his sudden fear.
Callahan had, under duress, confided the details of how the secret liaisons transpired. In the stillness of the Middle watch—00:00 to 4:00—while two thirds of the crew were sound asleep, those in the know would creep to the only privacy to be found onboard—the empty, darkened shower room. The sound of the water masked other sounds. And if anyone unwelcome happened to come in, well, they were just taking a shower before the morning rush, that’s all.
“You missed the turn for the urinals,” Doug said. “It’s not that dark in here.”
Ben’s mouth hung open, and his breath came short and fast. “Uh...”
“I know what goes on back here late at night, Ben. And we both know you could get into a lot of trouble for it.” He nodded toward Patrick Callahan, who was staring at the floor, refusing to look at them.
“I ain’t no queer, Commander!” Ben said, his whole body visibly tensing.
Doug fixed him with a stern stare. “Don’t lie to me, Ben! You’re not here for a shower.” He pointed at Ben’s uniform.
“I ain’t queer!” Ben repeated, almost spitting the words. Then his defiance seemed to melt away seconds later, and his eyes looked scared. The words tumbled out of his mouth. “I mean, I’m not gonna say no to a blowjob, ya underst
and. It ain’t like I get a whole lotta offers, you see. I ain’t turning one down. I mean, a lotta fellas wouldn’t, neither. You can understand that, right?”
Doug told himself he didn’t understand that motivation. And he almost believed it.
Ben’s panic increased. “I don’t do none of that other stuff, I swear! And I don’t give ‘em back, neither. They just do it to me, that’s all!”
“Come with me,” Doug said, and tugged Ben into the main restroom. “And fasten up the front of your pants.”
No one stood at the urinals. Doug looked under the toilet stalls, checking for feet. Seeing none, he looked back at Ben. “I don’t care about any of that,” he whispered. “I’m not here to bust you. But I need your cooperation.”
“Cooperation.” Ben’s voice was flat, emotionless, and his eyes had taken on a cold distance.
He thinks I’m blackmailing him. Doug laid his cards on the table. “Last month, Nick went directly to Commander Rose, and told him that one of the officers was engaging in sexual activity with certain enlisted men—including some under his command.”
Ben’s eyes widened.
“I don’t think Nick revealed the names of the enlisted men, but he did name the officer. Now Nick is dead, and that officer is under arrest for his murder.”
“So that’s what Ensign Farnsworth was arrested for? Killing Nick?”
“That’s what he was arrested for—but he wasn’t the one who killed Nick.” Doug put both hands on Ben’s shoulders. “I know Nick was your buddy, and you were in the same work division. I need you to answer me honestly, Ben—I need evidence to prove my suspicions before I can accuse the man who killed him. I’m not going to tell anyone what you’ve been doing, I’m only trying to get justice for Nick, you understand?”
Ben swallowed hard, but then nodded. “I understand, sir.” His voice sounded small.
Doug nodded. “Thank you, Ben. Now, first—is there any chance that Nick found out about you and Ensign Farnsworth? Or you and Petty Officer Callahan?”
Ben swallowed again. “I don’t think so—I, I guess I don’t know for sure.”
He was clearly frightened, but Doug was certain Ben was telling the truth. “Second, did you ever hear Nick say anything about Commander Rose, anything that would have seemed strange, or perhaps out-of-character for an officer?”
Ben cocked his head, confused. “No—I mean, we only ever talked about Commander Rose the same as everybody else, you know, his orders, what he made someone do. Stuff like that.”
“Did Nick ever say anything about what Commander Rose did on his own time?”
Ben shook his head. “No,” he said slowly, drawing out the word, looking at Doug with a strange expression. “Why would he?”
Damn. “Because I think Nick found out some things about Commander Rose, and used those to get special treatment from him.” And probably money. But Doug left that part unsaid.
Ben’s eyes widened again. “Commander Rose, he wasn’t...” he nodded his head backward, toward the shower room.
Doug almost laughed out loud. He managed to keep it to only a crooked smile. “No, nothing like that.” Something worse, actually. He grew serious, and gave Ben’s shoulders a little shake for emphasis. “When your shift ends at oh-four-hundred, I need you to do something for me.”
**
Four AM
Ben Trebinski crept down the darkened officer’s corridor, shoes in his hand, stepping lightly.
When he reached Commander Rose’s quarters at the end of the hall, he took the folded paper Commander Bainbridge had given him, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and slipped it under the door. Then he hurried away as fast as his stockinged feet would allow, and bolted down the ladder to the enlisted men’s corridor.
**
Six-fifteen AM
Montgomery Rose found the folded paper just inside his door. He was in his bathrobe, on his way out to shower and shave, but he paused to pick up the paper and read the note inside.
His face turned red.
He refolded the paper, and then folded it again. Marching back toward his closet, he stuffed the paper square into the breast pocket of his uniform shirt, and re-buttoned it. Turning back to the door, he raised his chin, took a breath, and marched out, towel and shaving kit in-hand, and locked his quarters behind him.
**
Seven AM
The seamen working the steam presses in the laundry stopped what they were doing in surprise, and snapped to attention when Commander Rose walked through. After he passed through without a word, they looked at each other in confusion, some shrugging. None of them could recall having ever seen the CO visit the ship’s laundry before.
Commander Rose got a similar reaction when he marched past the washing machines and dryers. He continued past the room where a single seaman stacked the bundles of clean laundry for delivery later in the morning. At the end of the corridor was the laundry supply storeroom, he found the door unlocked, and strode inside.
And came face-to-face with Commander Bainbridge and Major Cartwright.
*
Doug took a second to enjoy the startled look on Montgomery Rose’s face. Then he held up his copy of the note he’d had Ben Trebinski slide under Rose’s door.
I know what you did to Nick. Meet me in the laundry storeroom at 0700, and maybe we can work something out so I don’t tell what I know.
“Thank you for following instructions, Commander,” Doug said. “To the letter, even. But I take it you were expecting someone different.”
Rose recovered his composure at an impressive rate. “I’m not sure what you mean, Commander Bainbridge. I decided it was time for a snap inspection of the laundry facilities.”
Doug cocked his head. “By yourself? And strange that you decided to do that at precisely the time this note asked you to be here. You don’t really expect us to believe that’s a coincidence.”
Rose’s lips tightened. “I did receive a note this morning, making an outrageous accusation against me, and demanding a meeting with me here. I came to challenge the coward face-to-face. And this allowed me to inspect the facilities at the same time.”
Doug looked to Major Cartwright. “Why didn’t you submit that letter to me as the ship’s Security Officer, per standard protocol? My men would have found the perpetrator and arrested him for extortion of an officer."
Rose had begun blinking rapidly. “An oversight, Major. I reacted in anger to the accusation, and was not thinking as clearly as I should have been. I assure you I would have submitted the letter to you in due course, once I had faced the scoundrel in-person.”
Doug shook his head. “I don’t buy it, Monty. You’re a stickler for rules and protocols. The reason you didn’t turn over that threatening note was because you didn’t want anyone to read it and see its implication.”
Rose glared at Doug. “That’s ridiculous! I have nothing to hide. This accusation has no merit.”
“Then I’m sure you won’t mind if Major Cartwright and I inspect your quarters?” Doug said with raised eyebrows. He enjoyed the startled look in Commander Rose’s eyes.
“I don’t see any justification for such an inspection, gentlemen.”
Doug straightened his posture, and raised his chin, staring hard at Rose. “I’m acting under the authority of Captain Jansen, and I have reason to suspect your involvement in the killing of Seaman Second Class Nick Bonadio. Under Captain Jansen’s authority, you are hereby ordered to submit your quarters to inspection immediately, Commander. That inspection will be conducted by the ship’s Security Officer, in cooperation with me as lead investigator.”
Rose stared at Doug with such intense hatred, Doug’s checks involuntarily flushed. But he refused to be intimidated, and returned the stare.
“You may lead the way, Commander,” Major Cartwright said to Rose.
*
The moment they arrived in the captain’s quarters, Major Cartwright put on his white gloves and set to work sea
rching drawers, followed by the closet, and finally the foot locker, which Rose reluctantly unlocked, protesting at the “unwarranted indignity” of it.
“This would be that suppressor you’re looking for, Commander Bainbridge,” Cartwright said, holding up the metal device.
“There is nothing illegal about owning a gun suppressor, gentlemen,” Rose said, wearing his haughtiness as armor. He stared at Doug in particular. “I trust you are familiar with the provision in the Articles for the Government of the United States Navy, since they are read aloud monthly.” The words spat from his mouth as an insult.
Doug took a step closer to Rose, unintimidated. “I have a seaman who will swear under oath that he heard two shots fired somewhere off the bow of the ship, about ten minutes before you launched your snap inspection of officers’ firearms. There were no boats in the area, and we can demonstrate that what he heard was consisted with suppressed gunshots from the bow itself. This same seaman will testify that he saw you on the bow a few minutes before this.”
Rose shrugged, an indifferent frown turning his lips upside down. “I often stroll the bow of the ship in the evenings, observing the men on duty there, so I would hardly be an unusual sight there. I don’t know what you think that proves.”
“The timing is what matters. Ensign Farnsworth was in the shower at the time—and that is the only time his sidearm isn’t on his person. You and Major Cartwright here are the only men on the ship with access to a universal key. You let yourself into Farnsworth’s room while he was in the shower, took his gun, and used your suppressor to fire the two missing shots into the water. You framed him for Nick Bonadio’s murder.”
Rose laughed derisively. “You can’t prove that.” He turned to the marine major. “Major Cartwright, arrest Commander Bainbridge for making a false accusation against an officer. A couple of days in the brig with Ensign Farnsworth should teach him to be more cautious.”
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