Always on Duty

by DB McNicol

  “Mr. Big and Rude found his wife and Mr. Flashy together and killed her in a jealous rage!” Caryl-Anne was bouncing up and down with excitement.

  “The spouse or significant other is always suspect number one,” Cass chuckled. “But what can you tell—”

  Doc’s pager went off and he stood. “Sorry ladies. Work calls. I’ll get back to you later, Cassidy. Have to talk to someone first.”

  “Darn it. I wanted to hear more about the body,” Caryl-Anne pouted.

  “Excuse me? You going all morbid on me?”

  “It’s way more interesting than I thought it would be. I can’t wait to find out who did it. I bet you solve it.”

  Cass shook her head. “I doubt we will ever find out and will have to live with our conjectures. I’m ready for a fou-fou drink and some music. How about you?”

  “Sounds like a perfect afternoon to me!”

  “Sorry you already have plans or we’d love to have you join us.” Caryl-Anne shouted from the bathroom. “Pizza and a movie while in the middle of the ocean. How surreal is that?”

  Cassidy laughed. “No more surreal than folks watching a major sports event on the big screen at the pool today.”

  Rounding the corner, tugging on a strap, Caryl-Anne asked, “Can you fasten this in the back?” She handed Cass a safety pin.

  “Got it. What movie are you going to see?”

  “Heck if I know, but there was no way I was going to say no.”

  “Go and enjoy it. I’ve got to get dressed for the chef’s dinner with the Captain. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Nitey-nite!” Caryl-Anne tossed a kiss and headed off to her date.

  Cass put the final touches on her make-up and stared in the mirror, lost in her thoughts. I wonder who Doc meant when he said he wanted me to meet someone? She shrugged and straightened her dress before grabbing her room key and purse to leave. No matter. Morning will come soon enough.

  Chapter 7

  “Are you sure he won’t mind?” Cass asked Doc Oswald as they proceeded to the head of security’s office. “I don’t want to step on any toes.”

  Doc laughed. “Wait till you meet him. He’s going to love you.”

  “Love me?” Cass snorted. “More like disapprove of my interference.”

  “Just wait.” Doc opened the door and motioned her inside as he shouted, “Hey, Jack. Got company!”

  A portly man in his 60s stuck his head around the corner. “Be right there.” He winked at Cassidy before disappearing.

  Doc waved okay as Cass murmured, “He looks familiar. I must have seen him around the ship.”

  “Maybe, but I think you’ll find a closer connection. Just wait...”

  Puzzled, she started to say something but was interrupted as the man returned and stuck out his hand. “Nice to finally meet you, Officer Peck.”

  “Um, same here, Jack? Um, Jack...”

  He laughed. “You don’t remember me, do you?”

  She shook her head.

  “Jack Murphy, retired from Pittsburgh-”

  “I remember! You came to our house for Christmas one year. I think you were my dad’s fill-in partner while his was in hospital?”

  He nodded. “That’s me. Glad you remember. Your dad was a great partner. I wanted to keep him but it wasn’t in the cards. Good to hear you’re carrying on the family tradition.”

  “To both my parents consternation. I’m with the Bradford Police Department now, up north in McKean County.”

  “That’s what Doc told me. And I hear you might have some insight to our deceased passenger.”

  “Possibly. First, did your staff mention the backpack I saw Mr. Big and Rude-”

  “Big and Rude?” He couldn’t hide his smile. “I sure know which one you’re talking about. His name is David Burgess. Go on...backpack?”

  “When your men took Mr. Big, um. Mr. Burgess and Mr. Flashy-”

  Both men broke out in belly laughs. “Mr. Flashy? That’s a new one on me.” Doc poked Jack in the ribs. “Wonder what she calls me behind my back.”

  She glared at him. “Doc. I call you Doc. Because that’s who and what you are.” She turned back to Jack and continued. “Mr. Flashy because he’s always flashing his smile at the ladies. Now, if you two are done, can I continue?” Satisfied they were paying attention, she continued. “When your guys broke up the fight between the two men, I told one of them about a backpack that Mr. Burgess had hidden. I told him they needed to pick it up for evidence.”

  “Hmm, not sure if that’s happened yet. Why don’t we all go get coffee and you can tell me everything you know or surmise about Mrs. Burgess’s death. On the way, you can show me where you found the backpack and if it’s still there, we will collect it

  CONVERSATION during lunch was about anything but the topic at hand. Once they were done eating, Jack nodded to Doc. “Why don’t you update Cassidy on your examination of Mrs. Burgess’s body.”

  “Well, I’m unable to do an autopsy here on the ship but my initial findings showed she was most probably strangled.”

  “Why ‘most probably’?” Cass asked.

  “Without an autopsy, it’s difficult to say positively but from the petechiae and neck bruising, it’s an easy leap.”

  “Were there any other bruises or signs of a struggle?”

  “Not that I could see outwardly. Like I said-”

  “I know, we need an autopsy.” She sighed. “No other signs of physical trauma?”

  “One hematoma on the side of the skull. I suspect that came when she fell.”

  “No break in the skin? No signs of blood loss?”

  “Ah, there was a laceration but not severe enough to cause death. Again, I presume it came with the fall.”

  Cass nodded. “Thanks, I appreciate your help.” She turned back to Jack. “You examined the contents of the backpack. What were your thoughts?”

  “Well, the contents of the backpack were a bit surprising. Doc, we found a sweatshirt with blood on it. I don’t supposed you can do a type match here on board.”

  “Afraid not. My resources are limited as are yours. That will have to wait for the authorities on shore. Are we sure the backpack is, was, hers?”

  “Yes. I assumed it was due to the style and size. A bit feminine and small for a man of Mr. Burgess’s size. Then there was the notebook.” Cass nodded to Jack to continue.

  “It was her notebook. She had her name on the inside cover. The notes were mostly generic. Reminders to pack, things she wanted to see or do on the cruise, that kind of thing.”

  “Have you searched their cabin and safe for her belongings yet?” Cass paused, then asked. “Are you even allowed to do that?”

  Jack shook his head. “Not unless we are sure her husband killed her. Otherwise we’d have to have his permission to search their cabin.”

  “So what’s the next step? I mean, after the fight we saw...”

  “Next step is questioning the two men to see if they will admit to knowing anything about the death. If we can’t come up with anything definitive, we’ll keep them both in custody until we get back to port when we’ll turn them and the body over to the local officials.”

  “Do you mind if I listen?”

  Jack cleared his throat. “Actually, I was hoping you’d sit in with me. It might be a bit unorthodox but right now I can use your help. A second perspective on things never hurts.”

  “Thanks! When do you plan to interview them?”

  “I have a mandatory crew meeting, a safety briefing kind of thing,” he looked at his watch, “in thirty minutes. Would two o’clock work for you?”

  “Perfect. I have no plans other than relaxing and reading.”

  Doc laughed. “And I bet it’s a romance novel. You know, escapism?”

  “Nope, I pretty much stick to mysteries and thrillers. Guess it’s in my DNA. What about you, Jack? Mysteries?”

  “I’m a Sci-Fi nut myself. Lots of good choices out there. Fess up, Doc. You must be the roman
ce reader among us.”

  “That honor goes to my new gal, Caryl-Anne. She loves a good sappy romance but I do think Cass is swaying her towards mysteries. At least the cozy ones. She says they’re ‘softer’ reading.”

  “Yeah, but what do you read?” Cass continued.

  “Thanks to my work, mostly medical journals. I’ve tried a few medical thrillers but I tend to solve them too quickly. Maybe I’ll try something ‘softer’ next time.”

  “Been fun, guys, but I’ve gotta run to this meeting. Two o’clock, right?”

  Cass nodded. “See you in your office then.”

  After he left, she turned to Doc. “Your gal, huh. Sounds interesting.”

  He blushed a bit before stammering, “Did I say that?”

  “You did.”

  “Well, I do admit to being a bit sweet on her. No one since my wife has captivated me like Caryl-Anne. I don’t know where this will go, but I’m going to enjoy these last two days with her.”

  “You do that, Doc. You do that!”

  Chapter 8

  Cass knocked on the security office door before sticking her head in. “Jack, are you ready?”

  Jack Murphy, head of security, looked up from his computer and motioned her in. “Be right with you. Paperwork, never ends.”

  She chuckled and sat across from him. With a sigh, he straightened a pile of papers on his desk and leaned back. “You ready for this?”

  “I am. But I’m assuming you don’t want me to take an active role, maybe interject a question from time to time? I know I have no jurisdiction here.”

  “Correct, but they don’t. Anything you want to know before we start?”

  “Based upon our conjecture that Mr. Burgess is the culprit, are we starting with him?”

  “Yes, ma’am. Let’s do this.”

  “You are having way too much fun.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows. “I know!”

  THE holding room was about the size of most cabins on the ship but contained a single bed, a small table and four chairs as well as a bathroom. David Burgess jumped up off the bed when they entered. “Are you here to let me go? This is an outrage. My wife has been murdered by that slimy gigolo and you keep me prisoner. What kind of outfit is this? I’m going to sue-”

  “Please sit down, Mr. Burgess. We have a few questions for you.” Jack motioned to the chairs.

  “We?” He frowned down at Cassidy. “Who is she? Isn’t she just another passenger? This is an outrage!”

  “As you know, I’m Jack Murphy, head of security here on the ship. This is Officer Peck. She represents the police in the US.”

  Cassidy smothered a chuckle and nodded her head in agreement as Mr. Big and Rude, as she continued to call him, sat down. Jack and Cassidy took two chairs opposite him. Jack pulled out a recorder and sat it on the table.

  “We will be recording this conversation.” He clicked the on button and started out with the date, where they were, and their names. “Interview with David Burgess, husband of the deceased, Francesca Burgess. Present are Jack Murphy and Cassidy Peck, interviewing officers. Mr. Burgess, please tell us the events of the day your wife disappeared.”

  “Pretty much like most days on the ship. We got up and went to breakfast. I went to the casino for a cigar and she went to change into her bathing suit. We spent the afternoon by the pool and met some new friends who invited us to eat with them. We dressed for dinner, met them in the main dining room, then went to a show together. Then got a snack in the buffet and some drinks.”

  “And who were these new friends?” Jack asked.

  “That slime-ball gigolo Roberto and his date for the night. Turns out he had a different woman on his arm every time I saw him. Sometimes two! Mostly older ladies but he seemed to really take a shine to my Franny.”

  “How so?” Cass interjected, remembering the night she first spotted the group of partiers.

  “He has this flashy smile, all teeth kinda like a shark. He whispered something to her and she moved to a seat beside him. He flirted with her all night.”

  “Anyone besides you four?” Jack continued.

  “There was another couple and two older women.”

  Jack stopped him. “Names?”

  “I don’t remember the older women, I did see them with Roberto the next day. Ask him. The other couple was Jim and Heidi something. They were celebrating their engagement. Never saw them again.” He paused. “Why aren’t you talking to him? Make him admit he killed her. My poor Franny. She never hurt anyone.”

  “Back to the buffet and drinks. Did you all leave together?”

  “The two older women left first. Said something about young kids and beauty sleep. The rest of us went up to the top deck with our drinks. We could hear the music up there. Jim and Heidi danced some. I tried to dance with Franny but I’ve got this bad back...” He rubbed his lower back and sighed. “I finally told Franny I had to go take my medication and I’d see her back in the room.”

  “And did you?”

  He shook his head. “My pills put me to sleep before she came in. When I woke up there was no sign of her.”

  “Could you tell if she had been there?”

  “I make a mess of the bed but the clothes she wore weren’t on the floor where she usually leaves them.”

  “What did you do then?”

  “I called security and reported her missing.”

  “Without talking to Roberto, Jim or Heidi?”

  Burgess shrugged. “I had no way to find them. I figured that was security’s job. Your job.”

  “Did you hear from your wife again?”

  “No, nothing.”

  Cass squirmed in her seat, wanting to ask about the backpack but waiting. She still suspected he had fought with his wife when she returned late from her time spent with Mr. Flashy.

  “What makes you think Roberto had anything to do with your wife’s disappearance?”

  “That’s easy. He was all over her, smarmy devil. And he was the last one with her.”

  “You assume he was. You said you left her with three others. And there could have been more people who saw her before she died.”

  Cass had to ask. “What makes you think she was murdered and didn’t die in some type of accident?”

  He jumped up, slamming the chair to the floor. He leaned forward on the table, going nose to nose with her. “I told you. It was him! He did it. It was no accident. Why would her body be hidden in a lifeboat if it was an accident?” He straightened. “I’m done. Go talk to that creep and get him to confess.” He turned and sat down on the bed, his head between his hands.

  Jack stopped the recorder and motioned too Cass. “We’ll be back, Mr. Burgess. Please let us know if you think of anything else that might be important.”

  OUTSIDE the second holding room Jack paused. “Well, that didn’t tell us much more than you already had surmised.”

  “I know. I still think he did it out of a jealous rage. You saw how angry he was.”

  “Agreed. Let’s see what your Mr. Flashy has to say.”

  “I will try to remember his name is Roberto...what’s his last name?”

  Jack looked at his clipboard. “Hernandez. Single in a solo cabin.”

  “Roberto Hernandez. Got it.” Cass chuckled. “But I had to laugh at Burgess’s description of him as a shark, all teeth. Fits him to a T.”

  A short knock and he opened the door to quite a spectacle. Roberto was on the bed wearing nothing but a speedo while smoking what appeared to be a cigarillo. Jack stormed across the room, snatched it out his hand, and put it out on the bottom of his shoe. “No smoking!” he bellowed. “And put some clothes on.” He tossed the shirt and pants hung on the back of a chair to the smirking man.

  “As you wish, mi amigo.”

  “I’m not your friend. Get dressed, now.” Jack pointed to the small bathroom.

  It was all Cassidy could do to not laugh. Jack seemed to be embarrassed for her and she thought the whole thing was hilarious.
It just backed up her opinion of the man. And, she realized, the opinion of Mr. Burgess.

  The trio sat at a matching table and chairs to the ones in Jack Burgess’s room. Jack repeated the introductions and instructions. “We’re here to ask you a few questions about the disappearance of Mrs. Francesca Burgess. We will be recording this conversation.” He clicked the on button and started out with the date, where they were, and their names. “Interview with Roberto Hernandez, acquaintance of the deceased, Francesca Burgess. Present are Jack Murphy and Cassidy Peck, interviewing officers. Mr. Hernandez, please tell us what you know about the disappearance of Mrs. Francesca Burgess.”

  “Nothing. Nothing at all. She was a nice lady but she was married.”

  “But you were last seen dancing with her.”

  He shrugged. “Dancing is my lifeblood. I dance with all the ladies.”

  “Like those two older women you’ve been seen escorting around the ship?”

  Hernandez laughed. “You mean my tías?”

  Jack looked puzzled so Cass whispered, “His aunts.”

  “Okay, so they are your aunts. But about Mrs. Burgess, you were seen whispering and getting quite close to her. Didn’t that make her husband jealous? Weren’t you concerned?”

  Another shrug. “No hay problema. All done in innocence.”

  Jack got to the heart of the matter. “Mr. Burgess says you killed his wife. When did you last see Mrs. Burgess and what was she doing?”

  “Ah, easy one. We were watching the moonlight on the ocean and I left just after the lovebirds. My tías were the first to leave. Then Mr. Burgess, then the lovebirds. Miss Francesca and I enjoyed the fresh air and then I excused myself. I have no idea what happened after that.”

  “Then you’ll have no problem if we search your cabin?”

  “None. I am full of innocence.”

  “Thank you. We will get back to you soon. We appreciate your cooperation.”

  Chapter 9

  “Well, that was interesting but not particularly illuminating.” Jack and Cassidy stood outside the holding rooms.