by Vivi Holt
“But I still had to come find you and tell you what I discovered.”
“You have a break in the case?” she whispered, clearly conscious of the Meers couple’s continued presence.
“Maybe.”
“Well, come sit over here and tell me about it.” She led him by the hand to an empty table against the wall. Her purse hung on the back of the chair she slid into.
He sat next to her and leaned close. “I spoke to my source at the Atlanta PD. He says the state investigated Susan Meer’s death and suspected Alton, but couldn’t find any motive or witnesses. When she fell overboard, the only person who saw it was Alton. Her husband Kyle was inside the cabin and heard her cry out, but was too late to save her. They never found her body.”
Jessie’s eyes flashed. “But what about an inheritance? Wouldn’t Alton get all her money?”
“She didn’t have any money, or anything else except what she shared with Kyle.”
Jessie leaned back with a huff and eyed Alton and Liliana through narrowed slits. “Then it’s very convenient for Alton that Kyle died a year later.”
“Very. Especially after Kyle changed his will leaving everything to Alton – something we’ve already determined was out of character and unexpected, according to those who knew him.” Callum fiddled with a salt shaker that sat in the center of the table.
“And now he’s got a new wife he’s given a nickname similar to his dead mother’s name? Which is beyond weird – why would she put up with that?”
Callum felt a smile coming on. “Good question. I’d be interested to know the answer to that one myself.”
Jessie glanced at the Meers again, suddenly tense as a cat. “Callum, I have an idea, but I need to act on it quick. Can you trust me?”
Callum frowned – couldn’t she just tell him what she intended to do before she did it? Was that so much to ask? Still, he did trust her. For all her impulsiveness, she’d never steered him wrong. “Yeah, I can.”
“Okay. Follow my lead.” She bounced to her feet and headed for the corner table where the Meers sat, heads together over their cocktail glasses with the rainbow-colored paper umbrellas. He stood and followed close behind her, hoping her instincts – and his – were right.
Jessie reached Alton and Liliana, leaned against the back of an empty chair and grinned at them, but didn’t speak. Callum decided it must be up to him. “Good evening Alton, Liliana,” he said with as warm a smile as he could muster. “It’s a lovely one, isn’t it?”
Liliana stared down her nose at them. Alton’s eyes flitted between Callum and Jessie – he seemed agitated, as if he knew they were up to something but couldn’t figure out what.
“Evening,” Alton replied weakly. “Nice singing,” he added to Jessie.
Jessie beamed. “Thank you.” She turned to face Liliana with a glint in her eye. “Liliana, you look lovely tonight.”
Liliana’s eyes narrowed. “Thank you.” She searched the table with her fingers, as if just realizing her sunglasses were missing. She found them and quickly shoved them on.
Jessie wasn’t done. “I hope you’ll forgive my curiosity, but I heard Alton earlier call you by a strange nickname. I was just talking to Callum about it and we were both a bit confused – I mean, your name is Liliana, so I’d expect Lil or Lily or Ana. But why Susie-Q?”
Callum watched the exchange with interest. It was a shame Liliana had already donned her sunglasses, as he couldn’t see the look in her eyes, but her entire body stiffened, her fists clenched and her nostrils flared.
“Well … that’s a funny story,” Alton stammered.
“They don’t want to hear the story, Alton,” Liliana snapped. “Do you?”
Jessie grinned. “Actually, I’d love to hear it. Wouldn’t you, sugar plum?”
“Sure would,” Callum replied, taking her hand.
“Well, there was a popular song,” Alton managed. “I can’t remember from when exactly …”
Jessie interrupted, her eyes fixed on Liliana. “But I read somewhere that your mother’s name was Susan. Is that right?”
Alton froze, silent as a statue.
Liliana stood abruptly, knocking her cocktail over, the red frozen drink saturating the white tablecloth like blood from a wound. “Come, Alton,” she said coldly. “I just remembered we have somewhere else to be.” She slung her purse strap over her shoulder.
Alton’s face had gone from pale to a blotchy red. “Right. Uh, sorry, we have to get going. Nice to see you again.”
Callum stepped aside to let them pass. “No problem. Maybe you can tell us the story some other time?”
Liliana brushed past him, pulling Alton by the hand behind her.
After they fled the restaurant, Callum faced Jessie with raised eyebrows. “Well, that was interesting.”
Her lips pursed. “Did you see how upset she was?”
“She couldn’t get out of here fast enough,” said Callum. “I doubt we’ll see them again tonight. So can I buy you a drink? Maybe some dinner?”
She smiled, her eyes glowing in the semi-darkness. “That would be great. I’m famished.”
Jessie leaned on the deck railing and watched the wake running away from the bow of the boat as it cut through the dark ocean. There was something hypnotic about staring at water, the bubble of breaking waves, the sound of them slapping against the hull. Moonlight glinted off the water’s surface as it swirled and sighed. She shivered at the thought of what might be down there.
She pulled her denim jacket around her shoulders. It was a warm evening but there was a chill in the air. She was anxious to get home to her family, but when she got back to Atlanta she’d miss being out here. It was therapeutic, above and beyond all the time she’d had to relax and rest. And she’d needed it. She let her eyes drift shut, and drew a long breath.
Two wiry hands grasped her shoulders and pushed.
Jessie’s eyes flew open and she reached up to grab the hands. Caught off balance, she found herself dangling precariously over the rail. Her heart thundered as adrenaline pumped through her veins, making her head buzz. She shoved backward as hard as she could, but had no leverage. She turned her head to catch a glimpse of her attacker, but only saw a black ski mask and a flash of brown eyes. The hands closed around her throat, and she scratched at the gloves in vain. Finally she jabbed her elbow as hard as she could into her assailant’s ribcage.
The hands around her throat didn’t budge, but her attacker grunted in response. She jabbed again, stars dancing before her eyes as her lungs screamed for air. This time the assailant whooshed and their grip loosened. Jessie reared her head back, cracking it against her attacker’s skull. The hands released her, even as she felt the ski mask catch on one of her fingers. Then they were gone.
Jessie’s vision swam as she collapsed to the deck. Footsteps echoed through the quiet, first rapidly away from her, then toward her, more steadily.
“Jessie?”
Callum! She gasped and tried to stand, ignoring the dizziness.
“Are you okay?” Callum wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to her feet against his chest.
She pressed herself to him, eyes shut, grateful for each choking breath. “I’m okay,” she rasped. “Did you see who it was?”
He shook his head. “No, I didn’t see anyone. What happened?”
The feel of his embrace filled her with warmth, but she couldn’t shake her frustration at having let her assailant get away. No doubt they’d have a bruised rib and perhaps a broken nose for their troubles. Still, she hadn’t been caught so unawares in a long time. She was getting soft already, only a few months since she left the force. “Someone … tried to push me overboard. When that didn’t work … they meant to strangle me. I fought back, but … I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have let them get away. I just wasn’t expecting it.”
“No apologies. I’m just glad you’re okay.” He stroked the hair away from her face and gazed into her eyes, his own snapping with anger. “I wish
I’d been here. I shouldn’t have let you take that walk alone.”
“I wanted some time on my own to think.” Jessie chuckled. “Kind of regretting that choice now.”
14
Callum opened the cabin door and helped Jessie through, his head spinning. Who would do this to her?
“I can walk just fine. Thanks, but I’m okay.” Her voice was gruffer than usual.
He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Sorry. I know you’re a fully capable, strong and independent woman.”
She rolled her eyes and grinned. “And don’t you forget it.”
Jessie disappeared into the bathroom, and he pulled back the bedcovers, poured her a glass of mineral water from a bottle in the mini-bar and set it on the bedside table, then stood with his hands on his hips, thinking through the case. When she reappeared in her pajamas with her face freshly washed, he was surprised. “I thought we’d go see the captain together, report what happened.”
She shook her head. “We filled in the report at the security desk. They already know everything I know. You can go and see the captain. I just want to go to bed now. If the captain has any questions, I’ll deal with that in the morning.”
“Was it Alton?”
She grimaced. “As I told security, I didn’t get a look at him or her, but I don’t think so. Alton’s pretty tall – this person wasn’t much taller than I am. Also, it doesn’t really mesh with his personality, does it?”
“Who knows?” replied Callum. “We’ve only seen the person he wants us to see. He could be anyone underneath that bland exterior.”
Jessie laughed as she slipped beneath the covers. She pulled them up under her chin and lay back against the pillows with a sigh. “You like to think you’ll react so differently if someone attacks you – that as a trained police officer you’d notice all the details, remember their face, subdue them, all in thirty seconds. The reality’s a bit different.”
He cocked his head. “Sure is.”
“Is that what it’s like in combat?”
“Yeah. You can’t know what it’ll be like or how you’ll respond until you’re in it. We all just do our best. And don’t beat yourself up over it – seems to me like you did pretty well. You fended them off and you’ve described the height of your attacker. You didn’t see their face because they were behind you.”
“Black ski mask. Brown eyes.”
“Not many could do better given the circumstances.”
She smiled and her eyes glimmered. “Thanks.” She ran a hand through her hair and groaned.
Callum eyed the purpling bruises around her neck. “You should put some ice on your neck. I’ll get you some.” He opened the mini-bar, pulled the ice cube tray from the tiny freezer compartment and dumped the cubes into a hand towel in the bathroom, then dampened the towel under the faucet and brought it to her, sitting gently on the edge of the bed beside her.
She held the cloth to her neck with a sigh, her eyes closing, then opening again. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I’m not coming, but you should still talk to the captain. Maybe they’ll have video footage of the attack and you can identify who did this.”
“Will you be okay?”
She patted her nightstand. “I’m armed with mace. Just because they don’t allow firearms on the cruise doesn’t mean I can’t defend myself.”
“Good to hear.” He smiled. “Don’t open the door to anyone. Get some sleep and I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“Okay. See you soon.”
He stood and studied her. Should he leave her alone in her condition? But he had to go report the attack to someone other than the drowsy looking security officer manning the security desk, or it might be too late. They’d make port at Georgetown on Grand Cayman Island in the morning, and whoever tried to throw Jessie overboard could very well disappear onto the island and not come back. He shook his head in frustration. “Are you sure you won’t come with me?”
“No, I’ll be fine. I’m just going to get some rest. Really, I can take care of myself.”
“I know that.” He scratched his chin. “Okay, see you soon.” He left the cabin, his mind on Jessie and what might have been if she hadn’t had the presence of mind to fight for her life. He rubbed his face as he waited for the elevator that would take him upstairs to the bridge.
His phone buzzed – it was Jack McIntosh. At this hour it must be important. “Hi Jack – you have got any news for me?”
“Hey, Callum – just checking in. I got hold of Gavin Owens at the GBI. He said he had suspicions about Susan Meer’s death, but since there were no motives, no witnesses and no body, he had to rule it accidental. He did mention something interesting – as her next of kin, Kyle wanted him to list her as a missing person until a body was found, but apparently Alton wouldn’t have it. He was sure she was dead and pressured his stepfather and Gavin to rule on it. It’s not much, but I thought you’d like to know.”
“Thanks. That helps a lot.”
“Oh, and Gavin was called in to be part of the team looking into Kyle’s death as well. I remembered him as soon as I heard his voice over the phone. The GBI came rushing in and took over the case just when we were getting started on it — caused a bit of upset in the department, they did. He said they suspected Alton’s involvement as soon as they heard about Kyle’s death. And since they hadn’t been able to pin his mother’s death on him, they were keen to get him for Kyle’s. But when they discovered his airtight alibi they couldn’t pursue it.”
“Did he say whether there were any clues that pointed to Alton?”
“He said the autopsy found a small puncture wound, like from a needle, in his neck. But they didn’t find any traces of drugs or poison in his system.”
Callum’s brow furrowed. “Really? What could have done that?”
“Who knows. The coroner said it might have been an injected air bubble that caused an embolism to bring on a heart attack, but there was no way of knowing.” Jack grunted. “Gavin said he suspected Alton right away, and he’d be behind bars now if he hadn’t had that alibi.”
Callum ended the call with a frown. Why wouldn’t Alton want them to keep searching for his mother? And who’d injected Kyle Callahan? If he’d been injected at all.
The halls were busy with folks heading back to their cabins after an evening of food and entertainment. Sam and Ethel Timms stood in front of one doorway arguing. “I thought you had the key,” mumbled Sam, his hands in his pockets.
“Why would I have the key? You always carry the key. Surely you didn’t leave it in the room.” Ethel rolled her eyes and sniffed. “Look again, dear.”
Sam pulled his hands out and patted both sides of his jacket. “I’m telling you, I don’t have it.”
Callum shifted sideways to scoot by them. “Sorry, excuse me.” He grinned as he passed. Ethel was still giving her husband a hard time about the key when he reached the elevator, so he gave the man a sympathetic shrug and a half-smile. Sam nodded wearily in response.
After asking several unhelpful staff members, Callum ran into an off-duty Jax Green, who took him up to the bridge. Jax knocked on the captain’s door, then glanced over his shoulder with a smile. “He might be in here, or he could already be back in his room. He doesn’t stay on the bridge all the time, since the officer of the watch does most of the navigating.”
Callum grinned. “Never mind. I just need to speak to someone in charge.”
The door swung open and a woman stood before them in a white suit with blue and gold trim on the shoulders. “Yes?”
“Evening, ma’am – this is Callum McKenzie, one of the passengers. He wants to report a crime.”
“Did you call the security office?” she asked.
Jax nodded. “I did, and my partner and I filled out one of their forms. But I wanted to speak to the person in charge about what happened as well.”
“Can’t it wait until morning?”
Callum stepped forward.
“Sorry, ma’am, I don’t think it can. My colleague was attacked this evening, and I have reason to believe the perpetrator may flee the ship when we dock tomorrow morning. I’d like to take a look at the security footage to see if I can identify them so they can be detained before we dock.”
Her eyes widened and one eyebrow arched in surprise. She held out a hand. “I’m the officer of the watch, Maggie Gray. And you are?”
He shook her hand. “Callum McKenzie. My colleague Jessie Arwens and I are private investigators – we’ve been tracking a couple on board ship since we left Florida.”
She beckoned him inside and he followed, marveling at the layout. Large screens on all four walls showed various maps, weather reports and other data he didn’t recognize. Above them were windows looking out on the ocean. A few other officers glanced at him in curiosity, but stayed in place, intent on steering the massive ship. Directly in front of him two comfortable chairs, both empty, sat beside a set of controls. Maggie dropped into one, offered him the other and did a check of the controls and screens. “So tell me what happened, Mr. McKenzie.”
By the time he’d finished giving Maggie an update, he had her full attention. “So you want to see any footage we might have?” she asked.
He nodded. “I’d appreciate it. I’m sure the police will want to take a look at it as well, as soon as we get to shore.”
“Follow me.” She led Callum to a small room off the main bridge where additional screens stood in darkness. A man slouched in a chair, snoring with his mouth wide open. She nudged him with her foot. “Mark!”
He startled awake, wiped his mouth with his hand and sat up straight. “Sorry … just resting my eyes …”
“Sure you were. Look, can we see the security footage from the bow, deck three, left side, around …?” She looked at Callum.
He nodded. “An hour ago.”
Mark tapped at a keyboard. Video footage came up on a screen above him. He rewound it, stopped, and they all watched with interest. At first there was nothing to see. Then Jessie wandered into the shot and leaned against the railing. The image was grainy and she looked small in the bottom left corner, but it was definitely her.