“Redheads always choose green, don’t they?”
“It’s ingrained into us in childhood.”
Taking the garment bag, I headed downstairs and to my car, with Threnody following me to the veranda and waving farewell. After I turned from Vexton’s lane onto Eaton Street, I noticed Detective Lyon behind me in his unmarked car.
Chapter 25
Although I didn’t need groceries, I stopped at Fausto’s and picked up some coffee. That must have put Lyon off course. Or maybe he hadn’t been following me. Could have been my imagination. I drove around Old Town for several minutes until I was sure I didn’t have a tail. Back at the hotel, I hurried to my suite with my borrowed dress. Dolly turned off the vacuum and picked up a dust cloth when I stepped inside.
“Any calls?” I asked.
“Just one.” She unplugged the vacuum and wrapped its cord around the handle. “Kane called just a few minutes ago. I offered to take a message, but he declined. Didn’t say what he wanted.”
“Thanks. I’ll give him a call after I hang up Threnody’s dress. Want to see?” Dolly nodded, and I removed the garment bag and showed her the plain green shift. “I have the string of pearls and the drop earrings Daddy gave me years ago, so I guess that solves the problem of what to wear to the funeral.”
I shoved some extra clothes Kane kept at my place farther to one end of my closet before hanging Threnody’s dress beside them. When Dolly went to Cherie’s suite to work, I phoned Kane. “Dolly said you called.”
“Right.” Kane’s voice always sounds low and sexy over the telephone. I like that in a man, and I waited for him to continue. “Want to do lunch? Margaritaville?”
“Thanks, Kane, but not today. Have a few details to attend to around here before Diego’s service this afternoon. Maybe another day.”
“Fine. Just thought you might need something to do to take your mind off the funeral for a few minutes.”
“Very thoughtful of you, Kane. I appreciate the invite. And I have a question for you.” Why had I said that? Was I really ready to ask questions?
“So give. What do you need to know?”
“What were the names of the guys who owned your boat before you bought it? I know you told me, but I can’t remember them now.”
“Sure. Let’s see. There was the guy who went back to Iowa, then Red Clipper. And before him, Snipe Gross who bought it from Bucky Varnum. But what’s the deal? Why the sudden interest in former boat owners?”
“I have my reasons, but I don’t want to talk too much about them over the phone right now.”
“Think your line might be bugged?”
“Who knows? I’m not sure my fall from the balcony was an accident, and I’m taking no chances on the security of my phone line. Maybe I’ll take you up on that lunch invitation after all. But let’s do Margaritaville when fewer tourists are on-island. There’s a big cruise ship docking today and Duval Street restaurants will be overflowing. Why don’t I pick up sandwiches and sodas? How about a lunch on the beach?”
“Fine with me.”
“I’ll stop by for you in a few minutes, okay?”
“Okay. Now you’ve really aroused my curiosity.”
“Ten minutes, okay?”
“You got it.”
Kane was waiting on the dock when I arrived. Leaving The Buccaneer bobbing on the blue-green water, I drove us to Smather’s. We found a metered parking place and I bought hotdogs and sodas from a vendor parked at the curbing. After we climbed a short flight of stairs to the sand, Kane helped me spread a blanket near a volleyball court that wasn’t in use.
“Okay, so what’s too important to discuss over the phone?” Kane bit into his hotdog and rolled his eyes in pleasure.
For a moment I hesitated, then I spoke softly. “Kane, I know you don’t want me to investigate Diego’s death, but you know I’m going to.”
“Glad you’re ready to be upfront about it.”
“In addition to investigating, I’m going to ask for your help and tell you why I needed the names of those former boat owners.”
“Give.”
I took a big swallow of soda before I began. “You remember the line that someone tied to Diego’s feet? Blue line.”
“Hmmm. Of course. Hadn’t thought any more about it. What’s your thinking? I didn’t see anything unusual about it.”
“I think it’s the same kind of line that’s on the compartment lid under the mattress in your bunkhouse. Chief Ramsey let me take a snip of the line binding Diego’s feet. I showed it to some boat supply stores here on the island and learned that such line hasn’t been available for a couple of decades. An old man named George who runs a tackle shop told me that, and I think he knows what he’s talking about.”
“That bunk house compartment was on the boat when I bought it. Any of the former owners might have put it there.”
“We need to learn more about that line. One of those former owners may have the information we need. Once we find out where that line came from, we may be able to locate more of it. And that could put us closer to finding the killer.”
“And maybe put you closer to getting into big trouble. Forget it, Rafa.”
I pretended not to hear his comment. “Will you help me find Red Chipper?” I think you said he lives on up the highway on Big Pine Key.”
Kane hesitated, making me uncomfortable. What if he refused to help?
“That’s a long shot. A very long shot.”
“Kane, you’re a person of interest to the police. You’ve written several opinion-page letters about your working waters disagreement with Diego and the county officials.
If the police go snooping around on your boat they may notice that under-the-mattress compartment and see the blue line.”
Kane grinned and finished his hotdog. “So you’re going to protect me from myself by finding the killer before the police search my boat.”
“Something like that,” I admitted. “It’s the only plan I can think of for starters.”
“Rafa?” The question in his voice made me look directly into his eyes. “Rafa, you don’t think I killed Diego, do you?”
“Of course not. No way.” My voice held more certainty than I felt. Not Kane. Not the man I loved. I believed Kane innocent, but under the circumstances, I needed to prove his innocence to myself and to the world before I’d feel completely sure.
“Rafa, a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”
“That sounds good, but under our legal system, sometimes people don’t really believe that. You have a better chance of avoiding prison if you can prove yourself not guilty.”
Kane stood, tapped his wrist watch. “We’d better be going. By the time we dress and drive to Bayview, it’ll be time for you and the Vextons to greet the mourners.
“You’ll help me investigate, won’t you?” I asked as I folded our blanket.
“Maybe if I say no, you’ll give it up and let the police do their thing.”
“Don’t count on it. I’ll take you back to your boat now. But do think about what I’ve said.”
“How about picking me up later? I don’t want to arrive at a funeral in a work truck.”
“Sure. Will do. Dolly may want a ride, too. Doubt if she’ll want to pedal her bike to a funeral. But then you never know.”
“She’ll probably write a poem about it.”
Chapter 26
Kane and I ended our impromptu picnic at odds with each other. I drove him to The Buccaneer with not only his denial of help but also with his warning about the dangers of my intrusion into the police investigation. On the way to the hotel, my thoughts whirled. Now, more than ever, I wanted to investigate Diego’s death. I needed to prove to myself that Kane was innocent.
Threnody had given me a retainer and wanted to help. It irritated me that Kane wanted me to keep my distance from any investigation on my part. Was he worried about my safety and my future as a writer, or was he concerned that what I might learn would lead the police to hi
m? The police had given me a snip of blue line to work with. Surely they had guessed that all the ‘persons of interest’ were in various ways involved in their own covert investigations.
“Want to ride to Bayview Park with me?” I called to Dolly who was leaving the hotel as I arrived.
“Yes.” Dolly grinned at me. “No bike ride today. I planned to take a Maxi-taxi, so thanks for your offer.”
I looked at my watch. “Let’s leave in a half hour or so. Promised Kane to give him a lift, too.”
I showered then ran a brush through my hair that tended to kink in all directions if I didn’t tame it with styling gel and hairspray. Threnody’s shift brought out the green in my eyes and I never objected to that. The dress must have been long on Threnody, but on me it fell at knee level. I added my pearl necklace and earrings then slipped on white sandals.
Onward. A glance at the Prius told me Dolly already sat waiting for me in the back seat. Once underway, I felt like a cabbie driving a fare until we reached the dock and Kane dropped onto the passenger seat beside me. He gave me a wolf whistle and my face grew hot.
“Nice rag, Rafa.”
I grinned, trying to forget our differences for the time being. I didn’t bother to tell him the dress was a loaner from Threnody. For a few moments on Duval Street, a trio of moped riders traveling three abreast cut ahead of us, forcing us to follow at their speed for a few blocks before a cop put an end to their game. They then rode in single file, laughing at us when they turned the next corner. Once on a clear route to Bayview, we drove several blocks before we turned and headed toward the visitor’s parking lot.
“Wow!” Dolly exclaimed. “Look at that white canopy. Tisdales must not have noticed there’s not a cloud in the sky.”
“Guess it’s to shade us from the sun.” I parked beside Threnody’s Caddi, locked my car, and we walked toward the canopy.
“Looks as if the mortuary workers have done a good job,” Kane said. “Dais for the minister, plenty of chairs, an electric piano and a piano bench.”
“Threnody told me she planned to sing a capella.” I noted the white wicker table bearing a ceramic urn decorated in swirling seascape shades of blue and green. Diego’s ashes? My body stiffened at the sight of the urn, and my mind flashed to Brick’s office and a yellowed poster showing Peggy Lee holding a mike, her blonde hair shining above her obsidian evening gown as she sang Is This All There Is?
The scent of gardenia snapped me back to the present when Threnody approached us. “What’s your opinion?” she asked. “Think they’ve set up enough chairs? Supposed to be over a hundred.”
“I’ve no idea of how many people may arrive,” I said. “Everything looks lovely. Tisdale’s did a good job.”
“I thought one of us could stand at the end of the back row of chairs to greet people and pass out these folders.” She gave me a folded obituary that I eased into my purse. Brick will oversee the parking at the visitor’s lot, point guests to the canopy, and then join us before the service begins.”
“Fine with me.”
When a few mourners began to drift toward the canopy, Kane sat beside Dolly in a back row. A good observation spot, I thought. Dolly pulled a small notepad from her purse and held a ballpoint at the ready. I sighed. Couldn’t she even attend a funeral without composing a poem?
Pablo took a chair at the center of the front row, directly in front of the urn. I watched him carefully for signs of guilt. What were signs of guilt? I tried to forget the question. The minister approached from the sidelines, taking a seat next to Pablo. A fair-size crowd sat waiting for the service to begin. Chief Ramsey arrived. Alone. From the north. Threnody greeted him, and he chose a chair in the back row, far from Kane and Dolly. In a few more moments Detective Lyon drove his unmarked car into the visitor’s lot, parking near the exit. He strode toward the canopy at a quick pace until he stumbled, almost fell, then regained his balance and continued walking at a more sedate pace. An owl burrow? Must have been. We exchanged weak smiles before he took a seat at the end of the second row.
Guests filled the chairs quickly, remaining silent as the pianist played a prelude, a medley of hymns. Diego’s favorites? Or did he have favorites? Were Cuban hymns different from American hymns? Maybe Pablo had chosen the selections. Or maybe the pianist. In addition to my close associates, I knew many of the guests through my work at the newspaper and through having given many speeches up and down the Keys for writing workshops—nonfiction, of course. But these were not people I mingled with socially. I left the social mingling to Mother and Cherie.
I needn’t have concerned myself about what to wear. Guests arrived in various modes of dress. A few of the men wore casual jackets, slacks, and shirts without ties. Others wearing jeans, tees, and deck shoes looked as if they’d come straight from the docks. Except for Threnody and me, few of the women wore dresses. Silk pant suits were the garment du jour. Had these people called each other ahead of time to plan their costumes?
Jessie Vexton took a chair on the end of the third row as if planning a quick escape route. Soon after that, the minister rose from his seat beside Pablo and approached his place behind the dais. Threnody claimed a seat beside the pianist. I used that as my cue to slip into a chair beside Kane and Dolly.
Dressed in a collared white robe tied in front with a golden sash, the minister nodded to the crowd. “Ladies and Gentlemen, let us bow our heads as we offer our silent prayers for the soul of our lost comrade.”
We bowed our heads.
“Following the prayer time, the minister cleared his throat. “And now, if you’ve brought your Bibles, you may turn with me to the following scriptures that were some of Diego’s favorites.” I heard wind flutter the pages as he opened his large Bible with gilt-edged pages protected by a white leather cover. I imagined the scent of leather.
Kane leaned toward me and whispered. “I don’t see anyone opening Bibles. Didn’t know we were supposed to bring Bibles.”
“Hush.” I frowned.
The minister read three passages of scripture. After closing his Bible he offered a short eulogy, telling of Diego’s life in Cuba, his legal passage to Florida, the loss of his wife. After those facts, he related more about Diego’s present-day success in learning English, working at the Vexton marina, and gaining political notice resulting in a seat on the esteemed board of commissioners.
“In closing, I’d like to invite any of Diego’s friends who care to, to share with us a few words concerning your thoughts about this man.”
A mourning dove called into the silence while we waited, but nobody stepped forward. I knew, had Mother and Cherie been present, Diego would have had two to speak in his favor. Since nobody approached the dais, the minister nodded to Threnody, and sat again beside Pablo.
The pianist sounded a single pitch and Threnody began singing.
“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound…”
Before she could continue, everyone looked forward, hearing a flutter of wings when a small brown bird perched on the blue-green urn. An owl? In attack mode? Nobody moved. Threnody continued her solo
“…That saved a wretch like me…”
Now the minister rose and stepped toward the urn, flapping the end of his golden sash at the bird until it flew toward the top of the canopy. I thought it would be frightened into leaving us. Wrong. With another rush of wings the owl dived and perched on the speaker’s dais.
“…I once was lost, but now am found…”
Again the minister flapped his sash at the owl. This time the bird left the dais and circled overhead for a few seconds before it flapped toward Jessie Vexton. Hovering above him for only a moment, it dive-bombed him. Standing, Jessie raised his arms to protect his head while he fled across the park toward his car.
“…Was lost, but now I see.”
With dignity Threnody finished her song and sat again beside the piano as if nothing unusual had happened.
“I’m outta here.” Kane rose and started to leave. “T
hat bird may know something the rest of us don’t know.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen.” The minister stepped forward. “I apologize for this very unusual intrusion. I think our uninvited visitor has departed, so please, let us continue with this service.” Tightening the sash at his waist, he took his place again at the dais. In the distance, everyone could hear Jessie bang his car door, rev the engine, and burn rubber as he sped from the park.
Acting as if he hadn’t noticed this additional intrusion, the minister raised one arm and addressed the crowd. “Before we bow our heads for a final word of prayer, I want to extend Brick and Threnody Vexton’s invitation to each of you to stop by their marina and greet Pablo and your friends as you partake in sandwiches and coffee.”
“I’m not greeting anyone over sandwiches and coffee,” Kane said, his words audible above the minister’s prayer. “I’m outta here.”
“You rode with me, remember?” I whispered.
“I’m walking back.”
We both hushed until the prayer ended, then Dolly followed Kane and me to the end of our row of seats.
“I don’t mind walking home, Rafa. I think you and Kane need to talk—in private. I don’t intend to go to the Vexton reception.”
“Are you going to it, Rafa?” Kane asked.
“Not at the moment. Dolly, I’ll drive you home, then I’ll take Kane to his boat.”
“What does ‘not at the moment’ mean?” Kane asked.
“Kane, I think the meaning’s clear enough. I’m not going to the Vexton dock right now, but that I may stop by later. Please excuse me while I say a few words to Pablo.”
Pablo stood next to Threnody as I approached him. Threnody eased toward the minister when she became aware that I intended to talk to Pablo. I welcomed the privacy.
“Pablo, it was a beautiful service and I think Diego would have been pleased.”
“Pleased to be dead?”
“No, of course not.” His crude words caught me off guard. Had this man murdered his father? Were his words intended as a cover up of some kind? “I mean, I think Diego would be pleased to know that he had the respect and good will of his fellow citizens. And I do want to apologize for the bird’s intrusion.”
Daiquiri Dock Murder Page 16