by Leena Clover
“Good Morning Mom!” Cassie greeted her brightly.
Meg hugged her and handed over a glass of fresh mango juice.
“Our cabin steward wanted to do something special for you,” she explained. “I told him how much you love the local mangoes.”
They were having migas for breakfast again, along with the usual assortment of pastries. Anna wondered how she would feel about eating something simple like yogurt once she got home.
Cassie and Meg kept a careful eye on her while Julie told them about the plot of her latest novel.
Anna humored them until they finished eating.
“You can stop treating me with kid gloves.” She started on her second cup of coffee. “I know you can barely control those questions, Cassie.”
They wanted to know about the previous evening. Anna told them what had happened since they ran into Milli at the café.
“Poor Logan!” Cassie looked stricken. “He couldn’t face life without Jojo.”
“What are you implying?” Anna asked sharply.
“Logan must have taken his life. The grapevine says he was found with a syringe in his hand. I thought he had killed the habit in rehab but he must have relapsed after Jojo died.”
Anna was having trouble keeping up.
“Hold on, Cassie. First of all, this was supposed to be kept under wraps. Even I didn’t know about the syringe. And I was right there!”
Julie figured Gino had been shielding Anna from the more gory details of Logan’s death.
“He can be a bit too protective sometimes,” Anna muttered. “I’m not some China doll …”
“You don’t know how lucky you are.” Julie sounded wistful.
She had been single since Anna knew her. Julie’s larger than life personality often hid her grief. Anna felt chastised. She made a mental note to coax Julie to go out with someone when they got home.
“Are you saying Logan took his own life?” Anna asked Cassie.
“Either that or someone took it for him.” Meg dipped a churro in rich melted chocolate. “Or it could have been an accident.”
“Do you see a pattern here?” Julie shook her head. “We thought Jojo’s death was a mishap. Everyone almost believed it until you found that shoe, Anna.”
“You think the same person killed both Jojo and Logan?” Cassie’s brows shot up. “If you’re right, we are dealing with a very clever person.”
Meg licked some chocolate off her fingers.
“Why hurt Logan now, Mom?”
Anna sat up suddenly.
“He must have realized who pushed Jojo.”
“So the killer wanted to protect his own identity?” Cassie stifled a yawn. “Jojo told Logan everything. He must have remembered some tiny detail that led him to this person.”
“You think he confronted him?” Julie wondered. “If so, he obviously signed his own death warrant.”
Anna felt another headache coming on.
“We are just speculating and to what end? The ship security won’t do anything. That Bernard may be Gino’s friend but I don’t think he’s very good at his job. He’s just going to grab the low hanging fruit and be done with it.”
“In this case, that is suicide,” Julie murmured.
“Unfortunately, Logan’s history supports that.” Cassie told them Logan had struggled with a drug problem all his life. He had been in and out of rehab. It all started when he and Jojo broke up in college. Logan had swallowed some pills and tried to end his life.
“Why didn’t you tell us before?” Anna cried. “This means Logan could have pushed Jojo from the balcony in a fit of anger. He came to his senses later and couldn’t live without her. So he took his life.”
“It’s a plausible theory,” Julie mused. “And one people will embrace easily.”
“Wait a minute, you guys!” Meg interrupted them, wide eyed. “What if the actual killer is walking around on the ship, thinking they got away? Let’s assume Logan was innocent. Who else could’ve had it in for both Jojo and Logan?”
Cassie stood up and walked to the railing. The sun was finally peeping out of the clouds.
“Ricky, Uncle Fred and Millicent are the three people who were closest to them,” she announced.
Julie asked about the bridesmaids. Cassie assured her they were just superficial contacts. None of them were invested enough.
“It’s a tossup between Ricky and Uncle Fred then,” Meg sighed. “Although I do like Ricky.”
“Don’t be fooled by those baby blue eyes, kiddo,” Julie warned.
“Why Ricky?” Anna asked. “He wasn’t going to get any money until they got married.”
“Money may not be the motive,” Meg reasoned. “Logan didn’t hide the fact that he was still in love with Jojo. And we know Jojo loved him as a friend. But what if her feelings ran deeper?”
Cassie took up the thread.
“Ricky learns his fiancé is still in love with her ex. They get into a fight and he pushes her in a fit of anger. Or he planned it all. He got rid of Jojo first and just waited for an opportunity. Ricky might have just talked Logan into using again.”
“I’m with Meg on this one,” Julie offered her two cents. “I don’t believe that boy could be so cold blooded.”
Anna pulled the dome off her migas, glad to see they were not stone cold. She was slowly beginning to develop an appetite.
“Let’s not forget Uncle Fred. He went into the Empress Suite. We actually have a witness who saw him go in and stay there for twenty minutes.” She leveled her gaze at them. “A lot can happen in twenty minutes.”
“So who should we talk to first?” Cassie asked. “Or do you want to do this with Gino?”
Anna ate some of the spicy eggs and tortillas and considered her daughter’s suggestion. Gino’s presence would comfort her and deter any violence. But Cassie knew Fred. Whether he was guilty or not, he was more likely to open up before her.
“We’ll go, Cassie.”
“How do you feel about pilates?” Julie asked Meg. “I could use a good stretch.”
Meg agreed readily. They would join Anna and Cassie on the main pool deck after the class.
“He has to be on the ship,” Julie reasoned. “That’s one advantage of being at sea.”
Anna grabbed a quick shower and got ready in record time. Cassie was waiting for her, dressed in a new bikini, wearing a large hat and her favorite shades. Her neck boasted a chunky necklace she had bought on the pier the previous day.
“Do you know where he is?” Anna asked her, debating whether they should take Gino along after all.
Cassie told her Fred had last been seen on Deck 14, having breakfast. The coordinator had arranged a few special classes just for the wedding party. Most of them had jumped at the opportunity. The remaining people had chosen to stay in their cabins and take it easy.
“So the top deck is almost deserted,” Cassie assured her.
They walked down the long passage to the bank of elevators. A couple was plastered against the wall, locked in a tight embrace. Cassie giggled and pressed the button to call the elevator. Anna looked away, then swung her neck back.
The couple broke apart as the elevator dinged. The woman straightened her maid’s uniform, trying to hide her face. The man’s eyes flew up and met Anna’s.
“Ricky!” Anna exclaimed spontaneously.
Chapter 21
Anna felt like an automaton as she entered the elevator. She couldn’t forget what she had just seen. What was Ricky doing, embracing some maid in a dingy supply closet?
“Don’t jump to conclusions, Mom,” Cassie warned. “We can talk about this later.”
“Just tell me I wasn’t dreaming,” Anna sighed. “I mean, I didn’t imagine all that, did I?”
The doors opened and they stepped out on Deck 14. It was bright out there since the whole deck was open to the sky. Anna squinted and wished she had brought along a pair of sunglasses.
Breakfast was being served. The chef waved at t
hem and offered fresh waffles. Anna declined politely. She had spotted their quarry at a table, all by himself.
Cassie greeted Fred cheerily. He looked up, hand paused mid air, holding a tiny espresso cup.
“Top of the morning to you, Cassie.” He smiled painfully. “I think they are still serving breakfast.”
Anna assured him they had already eaten.
“I wouldn’t mind a cup of what you’re having though.” She didn’t wait for an invitation and sat down at Fred’s table. Cassie followed suit.
Anna admitted she’d had a difficult night.
“I’m here by sheer willpower,” she confessed. “Why, I could barely get out of bed this morning. But a promise is a promise. And I intend to keep my word.”
Fred was staring in the distance, barely paying attention.
Cassie ordered their coffee.
“Did you know Logan well?” Anna asked. “His parents will be devastated.”
Fred told them Logan had been in and out of the Gold family mansion for years. He knew the Powells well.
“Bel Air is as provincial as a village,” he told Anna. “You tend to run into the same people wherever you go.”
“Please extend our condolences to his family. I’m going to do whatever I can to find out who hurt these poor kids.”
She finally had Fred’s attention.
“What are you saying, Mrs. Butler? The matter is closed now. The media would have gone crazy over this, but thankfully we are at sea. Our publicist will make sure everything is handled quietly.”
“Don’t you want to know what happed to Jojo?” Cassie asked.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Fred waved at a server and asked for another espresso. “Poor Logan! He’s been crazy about Jojo since they were in school. There was no way he was going to stand by while she married that Ricky.”
“But Logan was totally on board!” Cassie explained. “He was Ricky’s best man.”
“It was an excellent ruse, my dear.” Fred scratched his eyebrow. “Logan pushed Jojo over in a fit of anger or grief – I don’t know which – then he came to his senses.”
Anna and the girls had already considered this theory.
“You think he felt guilty later and took his life?”
Fred nodded eagerly.
“Can you tell me about the night Jojo died?” Anna probed. “You went in and had a drink with Ricky?”
Fred’s brows shot up.
“Are you trying to bait me? I did no such thing. I was barely there for a minute.”
Anna sipped the bitter brew the server had placed before her. It was too strong for her but she took a tentative sip.
“I must be mistaken. The Empress Suite is bigger than my house. Surely it would take anyone a few minutes to walk across it?”
“Sure it would,” Fred sighed. “But I didn’t do that. I saw Ricky sleeping on the couch in the living area. I assumed Jojo must be sleeping inside.”
“That’s all?” Anna prodded.
Fred lost his cool.
“You think I haven’t agonized over this a hundred times? But I have to live with this.”
Anna didn’t want to anger him any further so she gave a nod.
“I really appreciate your trying to help me,” Fred continued. “But you don’t need to trouble yourself any longer. I believe Logan and Jojo were like those star crossed lovers we read about. Let’s not fan the fire. People will forget about it by the time we reach home.”
“Will you?” Anna burst out.
She didn’t expect Fred to answer. He stood up and excused himself, claiming he needed to attend a meeting with his board. Time stopped for no one and Gold Labs needed to prepare for the future.
“I can’t wait to get home, Mom.”
Anna told Cassie she wouldn’t give up that easily. She stood up to leave, eager to go have a powwow with Julie. The catering staff started clearing up the breakfast buffet. The chef came over to ask if they fancied something before he shut everything down. Anna felt bad about disappointing him.
“We’ll split a waffle between us.” She told him to go crazy and surprise them with the toppings.
A man walked up to their table from a far corner. Anna hadn’t noticed him earlier.
“Hello, I’m Drake Benson.”
“Did we meet at the rehearsal?” Anna’s brow furrowed. The young man seemed familiar but she couldn’t place him.
Cassie cleared her throat and tried to catch Anna’s eye.
“This is Meg’s date from last night,” she reminded her.
“Ohhh!” Anna smiled readily. “Meg told us she had a good time. You seem like a kind young man.”
Drake sat down without invitation.
“I know I’m a bit older than her, but we hit it off.”
“Meg’s smart enough to make her own choices,” Anna quipped. “We have faith in her. Don’t we, Cassie?”
Cassie seconded her.
“I have a soft spot for Dolphin Bay,” Drake began. “Meg must have told you I studied at DBU.”
Anna wasn’t sure what the boy wanted. She felt cornered and she wasn’t happy about it.
“Your husband was a good teacher, Mrs. Butler. May he rest in peace.” Drake leaned forward and put his elbows on the table. “The student body was shocked by his death. Not many professors manage to connect with the kids.”
Anna wasn’t hearing anything new. She hoped Drake would come to the point.
“Where are you going with this?” She couldn’t hold herself back.
The chef arrived with a giant waffle drenched in maple syrup, topped with whipped cream, berries, mangoes, almonds and pistachios and shaved chocolate.
“Thank you Chef!” Anna was stunned. “You’ve outdone yourself.”
Cassie picked up a blueberry and popped it in her mouth.
“Weren’t you in my Dad’s class too, Drake?” she narrowed her eyes. “Why don’t you tell us your take on what happened.”
Anna offered to cut a piece of the waffle for Drake. He declined politely, claiming he had just had a hearty breakfast.
“I needed a job urgently,” Drake told Cassie. “I love art and history but it’s not the best career choice. Good jobs are hard to come by.”
“John often said the same thing.” Anna speared a mango with her fork. “He said most of his students ended up being school teachers or lecturers at the community college.”
“You need a vocation to teach,” Drake winced. “I’m afraid it’s not one of my strong suits.”
“I don’t understand.” Cassie was frowning. “Did you drop out of college in your last semester?”
Drake told them he had applied for a coveted internship with a famous art dealer. There had been a set of grueling interviews and he was selected for the job, amidst a lot of competition.
“It would have been foolish to pass on such an opportunity. The Blue Hill project was a shambles. My career was hanging in the balance. So I had to leave.”
Anna pushed the waffle plate away. She had taken a few bites, hopefully enough to appease the chef. Luckily, he was nowhere to be seen.
“What do you mean, shambles?” she asked Drake.
He didn’t hesitate.
“It was a wild goose chase, Mrs. Butler. There is no treasure, of course. I don’t believe there ever was. I wonder how the department fell for it this time. But then, your husband could be quite convincing.”
Anna knew John well. His knowledge of the area was unparalleled and his research was strong. And he was a pro at getting grants or funding.
“You’re so right, Drake. John had a tendency to get carried away.”
Cassie reminded her they had an appointment at the spa. Drake took the hint and wished them a good morning.
“He’s handsome, isn’t he?” Cassie muttered after they saw him enter the elevator. “You think Meg fell for his looks?”
Anna frowned, suddenly feeling warm in the sun. She wanted to get back to her air conditioned cabin.
�
�That, and his silver tongue.”
Chapter 22
Anna met Gino at the café in the atrium. The ship was crowded since it was a sea day. Couples walked around hand in hand, exploring everything on offer. Families with kids weren’t far behind.
The ship had changed course a bit to avoid the storm that had been lurking around the horizon that morning. The girl at guest relations handed Anna an activity calendar for the day, listing all the special classes, games and movie screenings that were happening everywhere across the Empress Cleopatra. Anna found a few of them tempting, like the ceviche making demonstration and the trivia game in the theater. But she had bigger fish to fry.
“What do you think, Gino?”
She had just finished bringing him up to speed.
“Now you believe the maid Alicia but not Fred?”
“I think he’s lying and I want your opinion. Why don’t you and your friend put the squeeze on him? Maybe he will respond to a little good old fashioned coercion.”
Gino burst out laughing.
“Are you serious, Anna? Why are you so hyper all of a sudden? We have two days left on our vacation. After that, it’s back to the grind for both of us.” He picked up his coffee cup and stared at the foamy heart the barista had drawn. There was a wistful look in his eyes. “I thought we might relax and do something special tonight, just you and me. What do you think?”
Anna knew he was right. When they set off on the cruise, she had wondered if things might amp up a bit between them. But the opposite had happened.
“There’s plenty of time for all that when we get home.” She stirred her coffee without a second look at the kissing couple outlined in the foam. “I need to find out what happened to Jojo and Logan and time’s running out.”
She hoped Gino would channelize his inner policeman and help her.
“Bernard is not going to take this well,” Gino muttered. “But I’ll see what I can do.”
Anna headed toward the main pool area on Deck 13. Cassie and Julie were stretched out on two deck chairs near the pool, slathered in suntan lotion. Meg was climbing out of the pool.
“It’s too crowded.” She picked up a towel and dabbed her face with it. “If I’m not wrong, there was a mishap in there.”