Death on the Bella Constance (A Jesse Watson Mystery Series Book 6)

by Ann Mullen

  “I heard that, husband.” I smiled and then looked at Bella. She didn’t look so well. “Are you okay? You do look pale even for someone who is pale to start with.”

  “No,” Bella continued. “I am worried about Steven, but mostly, I’m worried about Loukas. I can’t believe someone would want to kill him. It just boggles my mind.”

  “When you’re in big business you usually make a few enemies,” McCoy said. “Try being a lawyer for one day. You’d lose your mind.”

  “Not just big business,” Billy offered. “Look at Jesse and me. Our list of enemies is a mile long, and that’s just been since we’ve been together. I have past enemies from way back when. They could come out of the woodwork at any time, and Jesse wouldn’t know them. That’s not something I like to think about.”

  Billy’s remark opened up a new window for me. I ran down the list in my mind of all the people we had tangled with, and surprisingly, I realized that Billy was right. We had made a few people angry together, so I could imagine how many were left out there from Billy’s past. He’s been a private detective ever since his boys were little. They’ve both since graduated from college. That’s a long span to accumulate enemies.

  The door to the Med Center opened, and a battered and bruised young woman was wheel-chaired out. She looked as if she’d been in a barrel that had rolled down a long and bumpy hill. She had bruises from head to toe, especially the toe part. Her foot was wrapped in an ace bandage and was propped up on the wheelchair footrest. The doctor told the woman and her husband that he would come by in the morning to check on her. “If you need me, don’t hesitate to call,” he said.

  The man thanked the doctor, and then pushed the wheelchair down the hall.

  “Come in,” the doctor said to Bella. “Steven is going to be fine.”

  Bella turned to Billy and me and motioned for us to follow. Billy and I looked at each other and then to Savannah and McCoy.

  “Go ahead,” Savannah said. “We don’t mind waiting out here.” She smiled at Bella. “Watch out for these two. Their experience and knowledge might shock you.”

  “Honey, not much shocks me anymore,” Bella replied as she turned and walked into the room. Billy and I walked in behind her, leaving Savannah and McCoy in the hallway, waiting.

  The room was much larger than I had expected. It was equipped with two gurneys separated by a curtain, medical paraphernalia, and what appeared to be an overhead x-ray machine over top of one of the gurneys. “Wow!” I exclaimed. “This is really nice! You could almost operate in here.”

  The doctor laughed while gesturing to his team of four, and then turned back to me and said with a true Southern accent, “You must be Jesse Watson Blackhawk. It’s very nice to meet you. I’m Dr. Henry Whitley.”

  “What a coincidence!” I said. “I used to work for a company called Whitley Chimney Sweep!”

  “Did you crawl down chimneys?” he asked, and then let out a hearty laugh.

  “No, I didn’t.” I looked around the room and thought for a minute before saying, “Let me ask you something, Dr. Whitley.”

  He nodded.

  “Are you from Georgia like everyone else on this ship?”

  “No, I’m from Florida, but I spend most of my time on this ship. This is my second home.”

  “I was just wondering why so many people who live in Georgia come all the way to Norfolk to board this ship.” I looked at Bella. “Your girls live in Georgia, so I assume you and Loukas do, too.”

  “You are correct, my dear,” Bella answered. “And the family took our private plane, and then rode here in a limo from the Norfolk airport—separate limos, I can assure you. I assume the rest flew here by plane also. This ship only sets to sea out of Norfolk. A lot of cruise ships leave out of Miami, but not us. We wanted to be different from the rest. And if you want to cruise on the Bella Constance, you have to embark in Norfolk.”

  “We’re just one big happy family,” Steven replied as he walked out from behind the curtain, followed by Jena, Loukas, and Loukas’ two body guards—Jacob and Allison.

  Billy and I looked at each other, stunned to see Steven in such a good state of health for someone who had just suffered a heart attack.

  “What…” I started to ask.

  “It’s a long story,” Loukas said. “Let’s talk.”

  We gathered together, while Loukas stood next to the doctor, preparing to give us a rundown on the situation. “First, let me say that Steven didn’t have a heart attack. It was just an attack of severe indigestion.” Loukas laughed, and Bella let out a sigh of relief. “He’s going to be fine. He hit his head when he fell out of the chair, and almost knocked himself unconscious. He’ll have a nice little bump for a few days.”

  “Thank goodness, he didn’t have a heart attack!” Jena said, happily.

  “Here’s what we have so far,” Loukas explained. “We suspect that the man who had the heart attack and was taken off the ship might have been poisoned. Dr. Whitley examined the body and saw signs of what he suspects to be poisoning. He’s not positive, but blood tests will tell us whether or not his suspicions are correct. The wife said her husband drank the champagne in their room and then had to lie down immediately. The leftover bottle of champagne and even the glasses were sent with the body for examination. The doctor thought there might be a connection because he knows that we don’t supply the staterooms with champagne. The statement by the wife about the complimentary champagne sent up a red flag.”

  I looked over at Bella. She stared back, knowing exactly what I was going to say before I had a chance to say it.

  “I should’ve paid more attention,” she said. She looked up at Loukas. “Jesse mentioned the bottle of champagne left in their room. There was so much talking… I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” She looked back at me. “I need to listen more closely.”

  Billy paced for a second, thinking, and then said, “The dead man had a bottle in his room, and we have a bottle in our room. How many others are out there?”

  “We have a bottle,” Steven said. “I poured a glass, and then Jena said she was ready to go. I sat the glass down, and left it.”

  “Did you actually drink any?” Billy asked.

  “No, I didn’t. I put the glass to my mouth, but didn’t take a drink.”

  “There’s only one problem here,” Billy said. “Suppose the man actually died from a heart attack? The poison could be a false assumption.”

  “Suppose he didn’t?” Loukas asked. “To be on the safe side, the captain has sent crew members around to every room to look for more bottles of the champagne.”

  “What is he telling the passengers?” I asked. “I hope he has a good story.”

  “He’s a very clever man,” Loukas replied. “He got his crew to load up their carts with fruit baskets and complimentary bath gifts, and told them to tell the passengers that they were checking to make sure they had gotten theirs. They will alert him if they find any bottles of supposedly complimentary champagne.”

  “That’s going to be mighty costly,” I said, and then stopped. “But I guess when it comes to passenger safety, money isn’t top priority.”

  “It’s getting pretty late,” Billy said. “What will the crew members do if the people in the rooms are asleep?”

  “People stay up late on a cruise ship, especially the first day,” Loukas said. “They don’t want to miss a minute. But if someone is asleep, they’ll get up to receive a free gift, and they won’t get mad. No problem. The crew members will knock first, but they have access to all the rooms, with the exception of a few. So, we’re covered.”

  “And which few would that be?” I asked, curiously. “Because I’ve been meaning to talk with Bella about this… and since we’re on the subject…” I looked at Bella. “I really feel funny about people letting themselves into our room. I know this sounds silly, but I’m just not comfortable with it.”

  “I’m so sorry, my dear,” Bella replied. She looked at Loukas. “We’ll have
that situation remedied. You will have your privacy.”

  I never got an answer about the few staterooms the crew couldn’t enter, but it didn’t take me long to figure it out.

  “There’s more to this,” Jena said as she walked over behind the curtain, and then returned with a pair of high heels. She held them out for me to see.

  “They look similar to mine, except they’re beige!” I looked down at my feet.

  “Yes, and if you had chosen the camel-colored gown that I also had in mind for you, I would’ve suggested this pair.” She hesitated. “They’ve been tampered with.”

  “Somehow, someone took off the heel and then glued it back on. They intended for the heel to snap off and injure the wearer,” Loukas said, pointing at it. “We don’t know how he gained access to the merchandise. The woman in the wheelchair who just left was the person who purchased the shoes. The heel gave way, and she fell down a flight of stairs.”

  “She could’ve died from the fall,” Dr. Whitley added. “She was lucky she didn’t, but she took a real beating. This is going to be a painful cruise for her. Poor girl.”

  “I will have to see to her,” Bella said. “She should be compensated for her injuries.”

  “Are you saying,” I asked, reluctantly, not paying attention to what Bella had just said. “Are you saying those shoes were meant for me?”

  “I’m afraid so,” Jena answered. “I picked them out myself.”

  “Oh, my!” Bella cried. “It’s a conspiracy! Whoever is after Loukas has sabotaged the ship. Someone is trying to hurt people other than my husband.”

  “Or kill them,” the doctor added.

  “What else is going to happen?” Bella was getting very upset, and the doctor’s comment didn’t help. “Are we going to find a rattlesnake in someone’s bathtub?” She started walking back and forth. “This is worse than I thought. That animal hurt that woman. What will he do next?”

  “Calm down, Bella,” Loukas said as he touched his wife’s arm. “We’re going to stop him in his tracks, aren’t we, Billy?”

  “Yes, we are,” Billy agreed. He walked over to Bella. “Don’t worry. I’ll find him. I told you I would.”

  Someone knocked on the door. The doctor walked over, opened it, and Captain O’Riley walked in.

  “What have you discovered?” Loukas asked, walking up to him. “How many bottles did you find?”

  “We found six bottles,” Captain O’Riley said. “We turned this ship upside down. My crew did an outstanding job in such a short period of time.” He motioned to a crew member who had come in behind him, who, in turn, walked over, grabbed a gurney, and shoved it out the door.

  “They always do.” Bella acknowledged. “Stop beating around the bush and give us the news. Where’s he going with that gurney?”

  “He’s…”

  “Who had the champagne?” Loukas butted in.

  “All three of your daughters had a bottle, the Blackhawks had a bottle, and the three sisters from Georgia had one,” Captain O’Riley replied, distracted from Bella’s question. “Another bottle was found in Maggie Anderson’s room.”

  “She’s the mother of Teresa Anderson—the two women Billy sent to you for help,” I said. “The daughter is convinced her stalker is on this ship. She’s terrified.”

  “The man in room 527 is registered as Perry Dickerson, but we’re still checking into the matter,” the captain replied. He turned back to Loukas. “How he chose his victims doesn’t add up.”

  “We’re assuming this is a man, and he’s acting alone,” Billy said. “If that’s true, he really knows his stuff. He knew Jesse and I were going to be on board before we ever arrived. He has inside information.”

  “If the champagne really has been poisoned somehow, I surely don’t know how he pulled that one off,” Loukas said. “The ship’s supply comes straight from the maker.”

  “Maybe he brought it on board in his luggage,” Billy suggested.

  There was a silence in the room for a second when everyone noticed the strange look on the captain’s face, as if he had more bad news… and he did.

  “Finding this guy is urgent, but I have more pressing news.” He looked at Bella. “We found two opened bottles. One was in Jena and Steven’s room, and it’s obvious from the looks of both of them, they’re all right, but the bottle in Nell and Utah’s room had been opened and was half-empty.” He looked over at the doctor and then back to Bella again. “God… I hate to tell you this, but Nell was lying on the bed, unconscious. The response team is taking care of her, and that’s where my guy is taking the gurney. We’ll need to clear the room. I’m so sorry Bella… Loukas.”

  The doctor sprang into action. Orders were issued.

  Chapter 8

  Bella collapsed into her husband’s arms, crying pitifully. The news of her daughter’s grave condition was too much for her to handle. “I’m staying right here,” she said. “I’m not leaving this room until I’m sure my girl is going to be all right.”

  “Bella,” Loukas said tenderly, trying to console his wife. “Nell is a strong woman. She’ll be fine. No one has proven that the champagne has been tainted. Nell could’ve…”

  “Stop it, Loukas!” Bella demanded. “Somebody is trying to kill you, and if they kill one of our own, we’d be devastated. They know that. Whoever is doing this will catch us at our weakest moment, and then move in for the kill. It’s obvious they plan to kill you, and why not distract you by hurting others first. Collateral damage is what they call it, isn’t it, Billy?” She looked over at him.

  Everyone was surprised by Bella’s statement, but it made sense.

  “Now, Bella…”

  “She has a point,” Billy said. “Why not distract everyone and then do the deed? Maybe that was the plan from the start. Cause chaos, and everything falls apart.”

  “Kill the ones who would cut the deepest into your heart, such as your daughters,” I added. “I can see why they’d want Billy and me out of the way, but what I don’t understand is why they would choose the sisters from Georgia, or Maggie Anderson? Could the sisters and Maggie just be random targets to throw us off the trail?”

  “I know you think the sisters are nosey busybodies, and as annoying as they are,” Bella said, “Bertie saved Jena from drowning in the pool when she was just a little thing. We were on the ship heading for the Bahamas when Bertie heard a cry for help. It was way past midnight, and Jena had somehow slipped out of the stateroom. There was no one in the pool and the lifeguard was nowhere in sight when it happened. If it hadn’t been for Bertie, our baby would’ve died. That’s why I tolerate their behavior. We owe them a lot. And you know, to this day Bertie never mentions it. You would think you’d never hear the end of her heroics, but she never talks about it to anyone. I respect her for that. That’s why I refuse to let anyone treat the sisters the way that loser Utah did tonight. I’d just as soon toss him overboard than to have him hurt one of those women with his hateful words.”

  “What about Maggie?” I asked. “Does she… is she…”

  “No, I don’t really know the woman. I don’t know how she would fit into this mess.”

  The phone in the Med Center rang.

  The captain was bombarded with questions as he ushered all of us, except Bella, Loukas, and their bodyguards, out of the room. We were left standing in the hallway, waiting for Nell’s arrival and any little tidbits concerning the day’s activities. And there had been plenty of activities.

  Nell arrived looking very much dead. Her skin was ashen, and she was motionless.

  “Excuse me,” a member of the team told us as he parted the gathering, and then entered the room. The door was closed behind them.

  Five minutes later, Bella came to the door with a distressed look on her face, and asked Billy to come inside. He turned and followed, not saying a word. Another five minutes later, Billy came out and said, “Nell is going to be fine. She almost died from alcohol poisoning, but fortunately, she was found in time. Sh
e was not poisoned in the way we’ve been thinking. Bella says not to worry, and to continue with your cruise. Everything is going to be fine. There’s nothing to fear.”

  “What?” I asked. “But…”

  “It is her wish. She plans cocktails before dinner in her stateroom tomorrow evening, and we’re all invited. I’m sure she will contact each one of her guests before the get-together.”

  “But…”

  “I don’t know why you’re being so secretive,” Jena said to Billy. “Something’s going on, and tomorrow somebody’s going to get the grilling of a lifetime like steak on a hibachi. I can’t wait to see it happen. I’m going to bed.” She looked at her husband and asked, “Are you ready? You need to get some rest like the doctor ordered, and I’d really like to get out of this gown.”

  “We’re going to bed, too,” Savannah said. “If you say not to worry, I know I can sleep.”

  When they walked off, I turned to Billy and said, “Give it up, pal! I want to know what you know.”

  “Let’s go to our room. I’m tired, and I have a few things to do.”

  “No.” I stopped him. “Let me in on it. What kind of things do you have to do?”

  “I’ll explain everything to you when we get back to our room.”

  We walked hand-in-hand down the hallway and stopped to admire the ocean when we got to the outside walkway. Whatever was going on, I would soon find out. At the moment, all I wanted to do was enjoy what was left of the evening. Billy kissed me under the stars. It was the perfect end to an otherwise strange day.

  “I’m going to take a shower,” Billy said as he closed the door to our stateroom.

  “No way!” I demanded. “I want details, and I want them right now.”

  He started stripping out of his clothes as he spoke. “There’s not much to tell. Bella wants me to do what I do best… find out everything I can about anything that might lead us to the person who is responsible for the sabotage she feels is going on.”

  “What about this meeting in her stateroom tomorrow? What’s going to happen? Jena thinks someone’s going to take a beating.”