by Sonia Parin
“Maine. I used to live in Boston, which is where I’m originally from. The Maine house has been in my family since it was built over a hundred years ago. I’d always spent my vacations there and when it came to me, I decided to live there permanently.”
Not far from Rock-Maine Island. They were practically neighbors...
“This is my first time on a cruise. My daughter’s been trying to talk me into it for a while now. She finally wore me down.”
“I hope you’re enjoying yourself,” Eve offered as Mira continued to be short on conversation, probably because all her other senses had been engaged.
“My daughter wanted me to get out and meet new people,” he said. “No regrets so far.” He fixed his twinkling blue gaze on Mira.
Eve knew she’d become invisible. However, they had business to take care of.
“How much did Jack tell you?” she asked.
David Bergstrom gave her a brief rundown. “The death occurred before the ship reached international waters so this actually falls under the jurisdiction of the NYPD but the FBI will most likely step in.”
“I hope I didn’t imagine any of it.”
He shook his head. “The blunt force trauma didn’t happen by itself.”
It took a moment for her to respond. He really did have lovely eyes. Gentle. Pensive. “What I don’t understand is why the captain is not taking measures to have the matter investigated.”
“It’s not unusual for a captain to come under pressure from the cruise ship bosses,” David said distractedly. “It’s a messy business. On board crimes reported are rarely prosecuted for lack of evidence or witnesses. In this case, however, we have the medical examiner’s report to go on with. There’s enough proof to suggest the victim met with foul play. The ship’s legal team will likely argue the injury happened on impact when the body hit the water, but the examiner insists a weapon was used. It would be good if we could find something to collaborate the findings.”
If only he could add a sense of urgency to his tone, Eve thought. Then again, no one was going anywhere. “Jack said you’d be working as a consultant. How much power does that give you?” Eve asked.
“I’m a civilian so I have to tread with care. I’ll be examining the crime scene and identifying useful evidence. Also, I’ll work on identifying likely suspects.”
Apart from the other Carmen Miranda impersonators on board, Eve couldn’t imagine who else would be capable of murder or have a reason for it. “Out of curiosity, where were you between eleven and midday yesterday?” Eve had tried to return the suitcase close to midday and the victim had been on the top deck at eleven when she’d taken the photo so she’d been killed soon after.
David gave her a small smile. “I was touring the ship with a group. There are pictures to prove it.”
Mira kicked her under the table again. Eve grimaced. “Good. I’m glad we cleared that up.”
David cleared his throat. “I understand you went to the victim’s cabin at midday. Did she happen to be the one who shoved you out of the way?”
Eve couldn’t remember telling Jack about that... “Touché.” She got her cell phone out and called Jill. When she answered, Eve growled softly. “Did you tell Jack about our conversation?”
“It was for your own good, Eve,” Jill said. “He wanted to know every detail about it. I know it sounds disloyal, but at least now you don’t need to worry. Jack didn’t suspect you but he wanted to make sure you’d be in the clear so he needed to know everything. He’s got your back, Eve.”
“Makes me wonder what else you tell him because you think it’ll be for my own good,” she whispered.
“Sorry, I didn’t get any of that.”
“I have to go. This call is costing me a fortune. My cell phone’s switched over to the ship’s satellite.” She took a long sip of her coffee. “Well then, that’s settled. Neither one of us killed her. So what’s the plan, David?”
“Let the man have his breakfast first, Eve.”
Chapter Four
David Bergstrom thanked the purser for opening the cabin for them and then gestured for Eve to precede him. Eve relished the moment. Normally, she had to listen to Jack issuing his warnings to steer clear of any involvement.
“For an ex law enforcement officer, you’re surprisingly relaxed and open-minded.”
The edge of his lip kicked up. “Let me guess. You’ve been snooping around Jack’s crime scenes and getting underfoot.”
“Not intentionally.”
“How did you two meet?” he asked.
Eve’s gaze danced around the room. “At a crime scene. I inadvertently became the prime suspect.” Eve decided Mira would love David’s chuckle. It sounded throaty. Male. And delightfully playful.
“I’m now thinking you had him running around in circles.”
She shrugged. “Again, not intentionally.”
This time his chest shook. “I’d give anything to have been there.”
“So where do you know him from?” she asked.
“It’s actually a small world. We’ve crossed paths a few times. In fact, he worked one of his first cases with me.”
“And then you taught him all you know?”
He nodded. “I also learned a few tricks along the way.”
Modest to boot. She couldn’t wait to tell Mira.
She knew her aunt had enjoyed a few special relationships, but none had evolved into something more serious and Eve had never really delved, so she didn’t know how her aunt felt about marriage. Mira had close male friends, one in particular came to mind, Patrick McKenzie. To his dismay, Mira had never hinted at wanting anything more than friendship from him.
The fact Mira appeared to be moonstruck over David Bergstrom made Eve want to find out as much as she could about the man to make sure he’d do right by her.
“Take a moment to compare what you see now to what you saw yesterday,” he suggested.
Eve thought she’d struggle to recall all details but she’d been trained as a chef and had an excellent memory, at least, for recipes. Although, she could also find her way around her kitchen blindfolded, as she always knew where everything was. She had a particular talent with becoming familiar with new kitchens—a trait she’d picked up during all those working vacations she’d taken.
David produced a professional looking camera and began taking photos of the cabin.
“Did you just happen to have that handy?”
He smiled. “No, I borrowed this from the cruise ship photographer.”
Eve remained by the door and tried to think back to when she’d first nudged it open the previous day. She’d noticed some clothes and the fruit scattered on the floor. Everything she now saw seemed to match her mental inventory, but had any of it been moved? She didn’t think so.
“Is it coming back to you?”
“I stood here and followed the trail of fruit. Then I lifted my gaze and looked out onto the balcony.” She closed her eyes for a moment. “That’s when I saw the scarf.”
“What scarf?”
“It was hanging on the railing. Once I got my feet to respond, I rushed out and instinctively looked down. When I saw the body I rushed back inside to call for help. I...” She frowned. Had she grabbed the scarf on her way back in? She looked around the room. “I don’t see the scarf anywhere. I guess it must have blown away.” How much could she remember about the scarf? The color green came to mind... with splashes of blue and purple.
“Do you notice anything else missing?”
“Everything I saw seems to be here. Should we check her personal effects... in case someone came in and helped themselves to something they thought the victim would no longer need?” The thought of theft of a dead person’s belongings brought a bad taste to her mouth. If the scene remained undisturbed, all her personal possessions should be there. Handbag. Purse. Cell phone...
“We should stick to facts. I’m only asking you to recall what you know you saw. If something you know for a fact sho
uld be here, but isn’t, then we’ll know for sure someone took it.”
She hummed under her breath. “So are you suggesting the scarf might have been removed?” And if so, why?
“You’re certain you saw it?”
She nodded. “On the railing.”
David strode over to the railing. “Jack left out a crucial bit of information.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
“The victim suffered the blow to the front of the head.” He stepped back from the railing and looked around. “The killer might have grabbed something from the room, or...” he brushed his hand across his chin, “The killer might have bashed the victim’s head against the railing and then used the scarf to wipe any trace of blood.”
Eve grimaced. Had David just pictured the scene in his mind? “But why would the killer then leave the scarf hanging on the railing?”
David shrugged. “Perhaps someone came into the room and the killer had to hide.”
Eve’s lips parted. “Are you suggesting—” She swirled around. Had the killer hidden under the bed or the bathroom while she’d been in the room?
“Yes, it’s possible you were in the room at the same time as the killer.”
“Hang on.” She frowned. “If that’s the case, that means the woman I saw coming out of the cabin is not the killer.”
She closed her eyes and tried to recall if she’d maybe... smelled something. Perfume? Cologne? Aftershave lotion? Eve growled softly. The door to the balcony had been open. She could only remember smelling the sea breeze.
He gave her a pat on the shoulder. “You’re doing well. Half the people I know would have run for their lives by now.”
Eve didn’t move. The realization of how close she might have been to the killer felt like a bucket of icy cold water had been thrown on her face. “Don’t be fooled. My knees are knocking together.” She looked around the room. There were some smooth surfaces. “Is there any way you could dust for prints?”
David chuckled. “Do I look like MacGyver to you?”
Eve lifted her chin. “You could use the lead from a pencil and some tape to lift off a print.”
“And you think that would stand up in court?”
“A print is a print. At least it would point the finger at someone. It would be a start. As it is, we only have ninety-nine Carmen Miranda impersonators to suspect.”
“Or anyone else the victim might have crossed paths with.”
“What do you mean?”
“Anyone on board this cruise ship could be the killer. A deranged passenger. One of the crewmembers. She might have argued with one of the crew. That alone paves the way for possible motives. Imagine if a crew member got on her bad side and she threatened to complain about them.”
“Would that be motive for murder?”
“Push a person too far and who knows what they’ll do. Situations can flare up and get out of control even between people who’ve only just met or... it might have been an ongoing dispute. There are endless possibilities. It’s our job to narrow them down. We should find out if she traveled on this ship before.”
“This is the groups’ tenth year anniversary. This could be the same cruise they went on in previous years.” Eve gazed at the railing. “Who would be desperate enough to push someone over?”
“Try not to think about it too much.”
“I can’t help wondering what would drive a person to deliberately end someone else’s life.”
He brushed his hand across his chin. “Anger. There might have been an argument. The killer might have lost all control and acted on the spur of the moment.”
“It’s strange but I don’t actually find that at all disconcerting. I’m more worried about someone doing this intentionally. A crime of passion or anger might plunge the perpetrator into a state of remorse. Whereas a premeditated act would mean there’s a person who could plan something and see it through to completion without breaking into a sweat.” She tried to clear the thought away but it refused to budge. “If the killer thinks I know something, what’s to stop him... or her from coming after me?”
After they collected as much evidence as they could get, which only included the photographs David took, they made their way to the upper deck. The cabin would remain sealed and off limits to the cleaning staff. Hopefully, once the police boarded the ship they might be able to lift some prints. Something they could use to lead them to a suspect.
David disappeared for a moment and returned shortly with a colorful glass. “Make yourself inconspicuous. I’m going to do the rounds. See if I can engage with any of the anniversary people.”
“Who?”
“The Carmen Miranda group.”
“Oh, right.” She swirled the cocktail umbrella around and took a sip. “It’s fruit juice.”
“You need to keep a clear head. Especially if you’re standing anywhere near a railing.”
As she sipped her drink, Eve took mental snap shots of the passengers strolling by. News about the death hadn’t spread. The captain had made sure of that. He’d told her he would only be informing the passengers who’d come on board with the victim, meaning all the impersonators were in the know and had been asked to keep it all under wraps so as not to ruin everyone else’s vacation.
Moments later, David strode back toward her, a happy smile on his face.
“This is their third consecutive time on this cruise ship.”
“Fast work. Who gave you that information?”
“The purple Miranda.” He signaled toward the opposite end of the deck to a group of them.
They all appeared to be chatting as if they were the best of friends but after the brief encounters she’d had with them Eve knew better. Those full-lipped smiles weren’t fooling her.
“You realize what this means?”
Unfortunately, she did. “The net has widened to include the crew-members.” Three trips on the same cruise ship. They’d become regulars. She finished her drink. Adjusting her sunglasses, she gazed out to sea and the clear blue sky. It all looked so calm. If she could stay in this moment for a bit longer...
“Do you have any suggestions on how to proceed?” she asked.
“You’ve done your part.”
“What? I can’t be excluded now.”
“If something happens to you, Jack will hunt me down and I don’t think I’d be able to outrun him.”
“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.” Eve mentally rolled up her sleeves.
If you want to hear the latest news, go to a hair salon and chat with the hairdresser. They’re trained professionals in the art of conversation and listening, Eve thought as she rested her head against the basin and closed her eyes. She liked nothing better than having her hair washed and trying new products that always made her hair feel silky smooth. For Eve, this was the next best thing to taking a vacation.
“Have you ever thought about cutting it short?” the hairdresser asked as she rinsed her hair.
Amanda had been with this cruise ship for two years. In that time, Eve thought she must have crossed paths with the victim, but would she sacrifice her hair for information?
“It’s short enough.”
“Are you sure?” Amanda covered her head with a towel and began gently rubbing it dry. “You’d look cute with a pixie cut. It’s my specialty.”
“Just a blowout today, thanks.” And information, she thought.
Amanda guided her to the chair. Eve declined the offer of a drink thinking David had been right and she really needed to keep a clear head.
“Does anyone from the Carmen Miranda group come to your salon?”
“A few. Why do you ask?”
“I’ve yet to see their hair. They’re all wearing turbans.”
Amanda looked around and then leaned in to whisper, “There’s been a spike in appointments from them. Suddenly they all want their hair done.”
“Any particular reason?”
“You haven’t heard?” Amanda whispered.
“Don’t tell anyone you heard it from me, but one of them went overboard. Word is she jumped.”
“Really?” She did her best to sound astonished. “And you think they’re all coming to get their hair done because...”
“Therapy. Someone they know died. A couple of them came in person to make their bookings and they looked stressed out. It all affects your hair.”
It did? “So people are actually saying she jumped?”
Amanda nodded.
“Anyone in particular?”
Amanda took a moment to think about it. “That’s strange. They all seemed to mention it.”
Almost as if by mutual agreement? Had they all decided to spread the rumor to divert any suspicion away from them?
“What possible reason would she have to take her own life?”
“Who knows?”
Give it your best shot, Eve thought. “She must have had problems.”
“Maybe, but I doubt they were money problems. She could afford the cruise every year.”
Had she pushed her credit limit? Eve considered brainstorming the idea but then she shook her head. They’d already decided she’d been killed.
“Or maybe she got mixed up with the wrong crowd,” Amanda added. “A lot of funny business goes on. Passengers come on board a cruise ship, but they’re none the wiser. All sorts of under the table transactions go on. Whatever you need, you can get.”
It took a moment for Eve to engage her brain. “Drugs?” Eve mouthed.
Amanda nodded. “Not that I’d know anything about any of it. I only took this job because my cousin Leanne ran off with my fiancé and I couldn’t afford to run the beauty salon we had by myself. Bills started piling up. In the end, I had to pack it all in. I figured I needed a working holiday and someone suggested I try a cruise ship...”
Eve pretended to listen attentively; all the while her mind churned the information Amanda had provided. What sort of racket were they running on this ship? And how would a passenger get involved? Trafficking? Selling?