LC 04 - Skeleton Crew

by Beverly Connor

  "Yeah, sure. It sounds like something they could make a movie out of."

  "It wouldn't surprise me a bit if Lewis was trying to work it out right now. What's that?" asked Lindsay.

  They all followed the direction she pointed. A diffuse glow under the water was traveling slowly toward their starboard side.

  "It's a reflection-the moon," said Luke.

  "No," said John. "It's not the moon." The glow passed behind them and John hurriedly started the engine and began flipping switches on the panel in front of him.

  "What... ?" asked Lindsay.

  "Sonar."

  "You're kidding." Lindsay looked incredulously at John.

  He grinned at her. "This is a fishing boat."

  He slowly followed the glow. The small green screen on the panel made dull pings as what looked like a glowing second hand of a watch made a revolution. When he was over the light a blip appeared on the screen. "What you think, Luke?" John asked.

  Luke rose and looked at the screen. "Can't be."

  "What?" asked Lindsay.

  "A sub."

  "As in submarine? You're joking." The blip disappeared off the screen as they spoke.

  "No. I believe it's a minisub."

  "Doing what?" asked Bobbie.

  "I'd say looking for ..." he hesitated, "artifacts."

  "You mean, it's our pirate lady?" Bobbie asked.

  "Don't know for sure," John replied, "but what else is there to survey this close to shore in the dead of night?"

  "Should we call someone?" asked Bobbie.

  "They aren't breaking the law ... I don't think," John answered. "However, I'm going in and report it to Lewis." He turned the boat and sped toward the cofferdam.

  "Damn," said Lewis, throwing down his pen. He sat in his cabin behind a desk with an array of paperwork spread in front of him. Lindsay sat on his bunk and John in a chair in front of the desk.

  "You're sure that's what it was?"

  "No," said John, "but what else?"

  There was a knock on the door and Trey entered.

  "It has to be her," said Lewis. He frowned and explained to Trey what Lindsay and John had seen.

  "Then they know," said Trey. "That sub's just too expensive to be used on a mere hunch."

  "Is there anything we can do?" asked Lindsay.

  "Find the ship before she does," Lewis replied. He rose. "I'm going to Nate's cabin to tell him to do nothing but try to find this ship. Sarah can lead his diving team."

  "You think he can find it with just the location of the coins I found?" asked Lindsay.

  "He has to," Lewis declared. Lindsay felt a pang of sympathy for Nate.

  "The two murders are related to this. I know it," she said. "Gold is a compelling motive. I once worked on a skeleton that had all the teeth removed. I thought it was a feeble attempt at hiding the identity. It turned out the killer was after the gold caps on the teeth." Everyone in the room winced.

  "It doesn't have to be related," said Lewis. "Keith Teal led a suspect life. Anyone could have killed him. And Hardy Denton was a man who made enemies."

  "Both their bodies were found on the island where neither of them should have been. It's related." Lindsay was certain.

  Later, as Lindsay lay in her bunk, it occurred to her that Lewis might have a strong motive for murder if he thought Teal or Denton were trying to find a ship he claimed as his own. Lewis was not a man who liked to have things taken from under his nose. She did not like that scenario, but the last thing he had asked her when she left his cabin was to try and find out what Ramirez knew.

  Evangeline Jones's schooner, Painted Lady, was beautiful. The sails were furled, and she was anchored ten miles out from the cofferdam. Eva, dressed in white slacks and blouse, greeted Lindsay and John as they boarded the ship and led them to a table near the bow, where the man Lindsay had seen at the restaurant was seated. He was pouring wine into four glasses.

  "So nice of you to visit," Eva Jones said. "I was surprised when you called my ship. But you really didn't need to bring your fleet. You're quite safe here."

  "Thank you for having us." Lindsay introduced John West.

  Eva Jones gestured to a chair. "Please, I've had the cook bake bread and slice some fresh fruit. It really is nice to have visitors, isn't it, Carson?"

  The man had an amused expression on his face. "Yes, it is."

  He was, thought Lindsay, Eva's lawyer. He looked like a lawyer, from the cut of his wavy hair to his Rolex watch, to his smug countenance. Eva confirmed it.

  ,,By the way, this is Carson MacMillan, my attorney."

  Lindsay took the glass of wine he handed her. John declined. "I'm driving the boat," he said.

  "This is the man who escorted me down into the cofferdam, Carson. I didn't know at the time that you built it," she said to John. "It's quite wonderful." Eva passed John and Lindsay a plate of fruit, cheese, and bread.

  "Thank you. We think so," he said and took the gold-rimmed, bone china plate from her hand.

  "I'm very sorry about your friend Hardy Denton," said Lindsay.

  "We didn't know him well. Odd, his dying virtually on your doorstep."

  "Yes, it is. Do you know if he had any enemies?"

  Eva looked amused for a moment. She took a bite of bread and a drink of wine. "You people are the only ones I know of."

  Lindsay laughed. "If we counted as enemies everyone who lost a bid at UGA, well-we let many bids, and there's only one winner each."

  "I think he felt it was rigged against him," said the lawyer. "He was planning on suing."

  "He would have wasted his money," said Lindsay.

  The lawyer shrugged. "That's a matter of opinion. In court, anything can happen."

  "It was both a matter of physics and the laws of economics. Not only would he have lost, but his reputation would have been ruined, as his proposal would have received close public scrutiny. I really don't think he was planning on suing. I'm sure it was only bluster."

  Lindsay pointed to a large canvas-covered object near the stern of the ship. "We saw your little minisub last night. I'll bet that's fun. Do you drive it?"

  Evangeline Jones and her lawyer sat silently for a moment, stunned. A surprise hit between the eyes. Lindsay concentrated on keeping an innocent smile on her face. Eva recovered first.

  "I, uh, it belongs to my half sister, Marcella. A little project of hers. You remember she was with us at the restaurant? She's sort of a-what can I call her? Anyway, nautical engineering is her hobby."

  "What does she do for a living?" asked John.

  "What? Oh, I get it, that's funny." Eva laughed. "Marcella is one of those fortunate people born rich and smart. She's sleeping right now, or she'd be here with us. Where'd you see her?"

  "Cruising the bottom of the sea," said Lindsay.

  "Where were you?" asked Carson.

  "We were cruising, too." Lindsay didn't mention that they were above the water.

  "Really? I don't think she mentioned seeing anyone, did she, Carson?"

  "Probably didn't see us," said John. "What with the stealth and black light."

  Eva and her lawyer glanced at each other, wide-eyed. "Well," began Eva. "That-what-"

  "They're putting you on."

  A woman came from behind Lindsay, apparently up from the living area, wearing a bathing suit covered by a thin white gauzy shell. Her small valentine face and short dark hair gave her a pixy look, very different from Eva. She picked up an apple off the tray, sat down, and bit into it.

  "There's no such thing. They were above me. I felt you ping me." She smiled at John.

  Eva threw back her head and laughed. "Tell me, why didn't Lewis or Marcus come with you? Are they out there circling my ship?"

  "No. They're probably at the dam," said Lindsay. "I really only came to see if you can tell me anything about Hardy Denton. We are naturally concerned about his getting killed, as you say, on our doorstep."

  "We really don't know anything about him," said Cars
on MacMillan.

  "What was your association with him?"

  Eva shrugged. "Just acquaintances. He had a boat out here sailing around. You know, it becomes like a small community here on the water. We went out to dinner a few times. That's the extent of it. He wasn't very pleasant, really. Got drunk one too many times at the restaurant. We had decided to decline the next time he asked us to go out."

  "Did you know Keith Teal?" asked Lindsay.

  "Why are you asking us all these questions?" Carson asked, leaning forward, putting his forearms on the table.

  "Like Eva said, we are a community out here, and a couple of members have been murdered." Lindsay turned back to Eva. "Did you or Denton know him?"

  Eva patted Carson's hand. "She's right. Carson never stops being an attorney." She gave him an indulgent smile. "I didn't know him," said Eva. "I really don't know if Hardy did or not."

  "What about you and Marcella?" asked Lindsay. Marcella shook her head.

  "The reason I ask is that Keith's father said he mentioned you often. Talked about your expensive equipment."

  "We didn't know him," said Eva.

  "Had Hardy ever mentioned the name of Keith or Boote Teal?"

  "No," said Eva. "Not to me." She turned to Carson and Marcella. "Did he say anything to you?"

  They shook their heads.

  "We only read about you girls getting hysterical and screaming over him." Carson grinned broadly and popped a slice of pineapple in his mouth. "I assume, even in death, he had a way about him."

  "Do you ever use a twelve-inch airlift?" asked Lindsay.

  "You don't mind broadsiding a person, do you?" said Eva. "The Coast Guard showed me the piece of airlift that was discovered near where your two divers were attacked. I don't hide the fact that I deal in antiquities, but I do it legally. As you know, a twelveinch airlift smashes fragile artifacts. Last month I sold a teacup and saucer for $2,000. Six months before that I sold a whole set of eigh teenth-century Dutch porcelain for $230,000. Had I used an airlift that large when I recovered those finds, I'd have destroyed them. Broken antiquities are as useless to me as unprovenanced artifacts are to you. That airlift wasn't mine."

  "Surely you know that the University of Georgia has a claim on the Estrella, and anything you find of hers belongs with her. We know that her crew was tossing her cannons and cargo overboard before she sank. You can't salvage her cargo."

  A smile spread across Eva Jones's face. "If I find anything that belongs to the Estrella, I'll surrender it, of course-provided you can prove it. However, we are only here vacationing. Marcella is trying out her toy and I'm indulging her."

  "At night?"

  "What's night down there?" said Marcella.

  "What exactly is your toy?" asked Lindsay.

  "Small subs are used most often for very deep work. I'm using this for shallower work and improving the visibility for visual scanning. I can scrutinize the ocean floor with it and send back clear pictures faster than scuba divers can survey the same area." Marcella rose and threw her apple core in the ocean.

  "Why not use scooters?" asked John.

  "No place to carry equipment."

  Lindsay turned to Eva. "If you think of who Denton may have been visiting on the island, please contact us-or Agent Ramirez of the FBI."

  "I will. I'll ask my crew. Perhaps Hardy said something to them."

  "We'd appreciate it."

  Lindsay stood and held out her hand. "Thanks for your hospitality."

  Eva took her hand and shook it. "My pleasure. Please come again, and I'll show you my ship."

  Lindsay and John climbed down the ladder to their waiting launch and John piloted them back toward the dam. Lindsay watched Eva's ship. Suddenly the sails began to unfurl. Lindsay motioned for John to slow down. He stopped and cut the engines, and they watched the Painted Lady get under way. They could hear the capstan raise the anchors and see the sailors managing the sails. Although they were vastly different kinds of ships, this must be a glimpse of what it look liked when a galleon set sail. It was rather magnificent.

  "It looks difficult," said Lindsay.

  "What?"

  "Maneuvering the sails and all of it."

  "It just a matter of learning the ropes. If you'd like to go sailing, I understand Harper's a pro, and I've had some experience. So has Trey."

  "I think I'd like to sail on one of those large sailing ships once. Just to see what it feels like."

  "Did you learn anything?" asked Lewis. He and Trey were both at the cofferdam. Rotating shifts the way they did, letting the crew members choose any two days a week off, they kept a good size crew working every day. John went to check on his crew. Lindsay, Trey, and Lewis sat atop the dam at one of the tables.

  "I think so. They know about the galleon and are looking for it."

  Lewis leaned forward. "She said that?"

  "Not specifically, but they have a minisub surveying the bottom. One of the things she wants to know is if we know she is looking for it. I believe I convinced her that we don't. She seemed very pleased."

  "So that sub you saw was definitely hers?"

  "Yes, they admitted that. They said it's a toy they're playing with."

  "Expensive toy," Trey said.

  "What else?" asked Lewis.

  "There's a good chance that wasn't her airlift found around the artificial reefs."

  "Why do you say that?" asked Trey.

  "Because she says she prefers selling artifacts to breaking them."

  "Maybe, depending on what the cargo is," said Trey. "But if we're talking about gold, silver, and jewels, then you can afford some breakage."

  Lindsay conceded the point.

  "They denied knowing very much about Hardy Denton, including why he was on the island. They also denied knowing Keith Teal. Keith, however, according to his father, was familiar with Jones, or at least her equipment resources."

  "So," said Lewis, "they are making an all-out effort to locate the ship-including surveying at night."

  "I would say so, yes."

  "How did they find out about it?"

  "I don't know. But I would think they have some precise information. Just to know something exists is one thing. Finding it is something else. The ocean is big. And I think they have known for a long time. If I'm right, that's why Denton made the bid for the dam."

  They heard someone coming up the ladder to the dam and turned in time to see Agent Ramirez's head appear above the bulkhead.

  "Hello," he said.

  "Did you bring your family?" asked Lewis.

  "My family? Oh, no. This, I'm afraid, is business."

  Chapter 23

  AFTER GETTING RAMIREZ a chair to join them, Trey took his seat again next to Lindsay. Agent Ramirez looked around at the sand, trailers, scaffolding, the barges, then out at the ocean.

  "Did you see Waterworld?" he asked.

  Trey smiled and replied, "I visited an undersea oil rig once. It's a rather unique environment, too."

  "The reason I came by is to tell you that the Camden County sheriff called. Boote Teal was attacked in his home last evening."

  "Oh, no," said Lindsay. "I was out there just yesterday."

  "Yes, Dr. Chamberlain. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Why didn't you call the police?"

  "Boote asked us not to."

  "You should have reported it anyway."

  "Yes, I should have. I got absorbed in other things. I'm sorry. How is he?"

  "In and out of consciousness. The perpetrator hit him over the head and tied him up. He then searched his entire house. He even broke the toilet tank."

  "Since you got a look at the earlier perp, Dr. Chamberlain, I told the sheriff I would talk to you." He pulled out a pen and paper.

  "He wore a ski mask over his face."

  "Boote was able to tell the sheriff that."

  "When John and I approached Boote's house, he came rushing out the door, pushing me down and John backward. He ran to a car; it looked like a d
ark blue Pinto."

  "Can you give me any kind of description of him?"

  "He wore black leather gloves and boots, blue jeans, and a green and black plaid long-sleeve shirt. He was about six feet, and I would guess somewhere around 190 pounds. Muscular, right handed, brown or dark hazel eyes. He had been eating food with garlic. It all happened very fast."

  "That's a pretty good description for a fast look."

  "He was breathing hard, so the odor was fairly obvious, and I make estimations about height and weight of skeletal material fairly routinely. Do you know what he was looking for?"

  "He stole a box that had been mailed to Boote from the owner of a bar that Keith Teal frequented. Neither Boote nor the bar owner know what was in the box. After some questioning, Boote finally revealed that he had something secreted in the toilet tank."

  "What was it?" asked Lindsay.

  "A gold cross about seven inches long encrusted with what Boote thought were emeralds."

  The three of them sat speechless. Lindsay was the first to recover. "Did he say where he got it?"

  "He didn't know about it until a neighbor was defrosting his freezer and found it embedded in the ice that adhered to the back of the compartment. Boote taped it to the bottom of the toilet tank lid. He said he knew Keith had found something because he had hinted several times during his Sunday visits that things would be changing for them. I don't suppose you know anything about it?"

  "There were Spanish clerics on board the Estrella," said Lewis. "They often had gold religious symbols for the mission churches."

  "You think it belongs to your ship, then?" Ramirez asked.

  "I don't know."

  "Is Boote going to be all right?" Lindsay asked.

  "The doctors think so, but they aren't sure. He is an old man and not in good health."

  One of the crew called up for Trey. Lewis went with him. Lindsay guessed it was because he wanted her to stay with Ramirez and pump him for information.

  "I'm sorry about Boote," Lindsay began.

  "You think this is related to our murders?" Ramirez asked.

  Lindsay nodded. "His son is murdered on an island where the offshore excavation of a Spanish galleon is in progress. Boote is attacked, and one of the things stolen from him is something that sounds to be a Spanish artifact. Yes, I think the events are related. I have already said that I think the deaths of Hardy Denton and Keith Teal are related and why. If they are, then logically, the death of Denton and the attack on Boote are connected."