A Plot to Die For (A Ghostwriter Mystery)

by C. A. Larmer

“Pff! What eeze it with everyone ’ere?” He raised a hand to the sky. “In France we can do work and play. Both things at once. ’Ere, we must do one or the other. It eeze boring.”

  “It’s also professional, Luc. I’m not sure Abi would be too thrilled if she knew I was off fraternizing with the resident artist.”

  “Abi! Why does everyone care so much about Abi? She is an old woman. She has had her fun and now no one else can have some?”

  He spat into the sand then shrugged, giving her another of his dazzling smiles.

  “Ah well, it eeze your loss, mon amie.”

  I don’t doubt it for one moment, she thought as she watched him striding back to the hotel.

  Chapter 6

  The veranda was almost empty when Roxy stepped out onto it for the cocktail hour. Despite Maya’s promise, she was nowhere to be seen. Luc and the Zimmermans were also absent, and Helen was a no-show as expected. Even Abi did not materialise, which left just Roxy, Doc and Joshua.

  “Where is everyone tonight?” the writer asked before taking a long sip of the thick banana daiquiri Josh had just handed her.

  “The Zimmermans are having a sunset picnic at the other side of the island near the strip,” he replied. “We won’t see them again tonight. Helen’s in a meeting with Abi—”

  “They’ve been at it for hours,” whispered Doc to Roxy and she raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

  “And I think Maya’s having a lie-down in her room,” Joshua continued. “She’ll join us for dinner.”

  “That explains where Luc is, then,” said Doc and, again, Joshua ignored the comment, clearly not interested in island gossip.

  “Hey I wanna suggest a toast!” Joshua announced suddenly. “To life!”

  Roxy and Doc glanced at each other surprised, then raised their glasses and repeated: “To life!”

  They each took a sip of their drinks then Doc asked, “And what’s got you so excited tonight, young man?”

  “I’m a proud man tonight, Doc. Proud I tell you!”

  “Oh Lord, here he goes, on about his people again.”

  “It goes deeper than that my man. Deep!”

  Helen appeared at the doorway then, a tired look on her face.

  “Joshua, can I have a word?”

  “Not joining us for cocktails?” Doc called out and Helen gave him a brusque smile and left again.

  Joshua excused himself and followed her back into the lobby.

  “Well, it’s just you, me and the sunset,” said Doc to Roxy. “Looks like it’s going to be a really relaxing evening after all.”

  Dinner, an hour later, however, did not prove relaxing at all. Maya showed up first, dressed in a very short, very spangly dress that showed off more than it concealed, and was followed soon after by Luc in a crushed linen suit. As they waited for Maurice to fill their wine glasses, they snuck guilty looks at each other, grinning like idiotic school children. It occurred to Roxy that if Luc really was having an affair with Maya, he hadn’t broken it off as Helen appeared to suggest just hours earlier on the village track. In fact, if anything, it looked like he’d turned things up a notch.

  Helen arrived next, followed several minutes later by Joshua, but there were no happy, conspiratorial glances for them. They both looked stressed, avoiding each other’s eyes, and Joshua’s good spirits were now clearly deflated. Roxy wondered what Helen had said to the hotel manager to bring about this change of mood.

  Abi came in last, apologising for her tardiness, then waved the wine waiter away. She was clutching her trademark G&T in one hand.

  “Get Popeye to bring the entrées out straight away will you?” she told Maurice before settling into her chair. “How was everyone’s day?”

  Her tone was cheerful enough and, as no one responded, Roxy spoke up.

  “I’ve had a great day, thank you, Abi. I managed to hit the beach twice, which is something of a record for me.”

  “I see it ’as done your colouring some good,” said Luc, appraising her naked arms in her off-the-shoulder ’50s silk taffeta dress. She shot a glance at Maya.

  Maya held her glass out again to be refilled, smirking at Luc now. She looked like she was about to say something when a loud crash could be heard behind her. Everyone turned to see Popeye staring, wide eyed with an empty tray and several plates of what looked like peppered squid strewn across the floor.

  “Oh what a surprise,” Helen said.

  “Now, now, accidents happen,” Abi added quickly. “Just clear it away, thanks Popeye and get the main meals out. I don’t think anyone will complain if we skip entrée tonight?”

  She glanced around the table and they all shook their heads. Maurice appeared to help clean the broken dishes away, and within minutes the main course—a fish curry with rice—was being served, slowly and carefully by the younger waiter.

  “What is it with these people?” Helen was saying between clenched teeth. “Honestly Mother, you give them far too much credit. They’ll be the ruin of this place, you’ll see. You’ll regret it, you really will.”

  “That’ll do, Helen,” Abi said firmly, indicating Maurice who was still in the room.

  Helen rolled her eyes and let it go.

  A long, uncomfortable silence fell upon the group and it soon turned to Abi and Roxy to keep the conversation flowing. Eventually even Abi held up the white flag.

  “You know, I just feel really ordinary suddenly,” she told them, her face dripping with sweat.

  Doc, who’d been in a world of his own during the meal, looked concerned and leaned over to place a hand on her brow.

  “Oh leave it alone, Doc. I’m fine, just a bit bloody hot tonight.”

  Abi reached for her drink and took another large mouthful. “Need a good night’s sleep, is all.”

  “Great idea!” spat Helen. “Perhaps that might clear your head a little.”

  “I might be old and wonky, Helen, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with my head.”

  There was no trace of good humour left in Abi’s voice now.

  Helen stood up, hands clutching the table in front of her.

  “You know what? I don’t really care about your head, Mother, I don’t care about your hotel. I don’t care about any of this! It’s finally occurred to me that I am over it, I’ve had enough!”

  Her sudden, unexpected outburst took them all by surprise and no one quite knew what to say, least of all Abi who was looking flustered and dripping with sweat. After a moment, Joshua got to his feet and reached a hand out to Helen.

  “Are you okay, Hel’? Can I get you something?”

  She sneered at him. “No, Beela, I think you’ve done enough as it is.”

  Pausing, she took a deep breath, dropped her arms to her side and tried for a smile. She managed one but it was as icy as her tone.

  “Roxy, apologies once again. I seem to be making quite a spectacle of myself these days. Perhaps it’s time I took my leave.”

  “Where are you going, Helen?” Abi asked, also struggling to get to her feet.

  “Just to bed, Mother, don’t panic. And, by the looks of it, so should you.”

  Helen left the dining room and Abi fell back into her seat, fanning herself with the menu card.

  “Oh dear, I do feel a bit queasy.”

  “Hey, Abi, I can take you up to your room if you like,” said Joshua but she waved him off.

  “No, Joshua, dear, you finish your dinner. Please. That’s enough of all of this nonsense. Helen’s right. It’s all been a bit of a soap opera around here lately. It’s not normally this dramatic. Hopefully things will settle down soon.”

  Then, looking about a little confused, she added, “Why did Maurice turn out the lights?”

  They all stared at her.

  Doc said softly, “The lights are still on, Abigail.”

  “Really?” She began rubbing her eyes irritably.

  Doc got to his feet. “Come on, my dear, let’s get you to bed.”

  “I can do it—” began Jos
hua but Doc stopped him.

  “No, I’d better make sure she’s okay.”

  This time, Abi allowed her old mate to help her up and apologised once again to the diners, looking about the room blankly. She looked as though she had lost all focus, staring around the room but not quite connecting with anyone’s eyes.

  Doc looked suddenly very worried and began tugging her away.

  “Okay, okay, I’m going, I’m going,” she muttered, letting him lead her out.

  That left Roxy with Joshua, Maya and Luc who all appeared to have quickly forgotten the outburst and were now in a world of their own. Maya giggled from time to time at some unspoken joke, Luc sniggered into his wine glass, and Joshua was so preoccupied, he barely registered a word Roxy said. Eventually, she, too, excused herself and made her way back to her room, leaving the lovebirds to ogle each other in peace, and Joshua to sit in stony silence close by.

  Once inside her bedroom Roxy peeled her dress off and changed into pyjamas. She wasn’t feeling at all tired though and, noting that it was still early—just past 9.30pm—she reached for her journal and began scribbling away. There was clearly something going on under the surface at Dormay, and she wanted to air her concerns before they dissipated.

  Dinner had been a most intriguing affair. What was all that about? Something was clearly going on between Helen and her mother, and she wondered whether it had anything to do with the ‘autobiography’. She made a note to ask Abi about it in the morning. She wondered, too, why Helen was even on Dormay. Unlike her mother, who clearly revelled in the tropics, Helen seemed very ill suited to it. Roxy could imagine her in Melbourne, Sydney, even New York city. But a hot and primitive Pacific island? She shook her head. It didn’t fit.

  She thought then of the other residents. Doc. Maya. Luc. They were all odd-balls in their own special way. It was not surprising that the Zimmermans had opted for a quiet picnic at the furthest point from the dining room, and its histrionics, as they could get.

  “Perhaps I’ll join them tomorrow night,” she said aloud, only half joking.

  What the ghostwriter didn’t realise then was that there would be no more moonlit picnics at Dormay for any of them.

  Chapter 7

  It was a creaking floorboard that woke her first, followed soon after by the clicking of a door, and then silence. Roxy peered across to the clock radio. It was not yet 6.30am. She hadn’t set the alarm for another 15 minutes but the damage was now done and she slowly struggled out of bed and into a shower for her early morning breakfast meeting with Abi.

  An hour later, with her poached eggs eaten and a second cup of coffee under her belt, Roxy was growing impatient. Abi had yet to surface and at first Roxy was feeling cheated. The old girl was enjoying the sleep-in Roxy so craved. By 7.40am her annoyance had turned to concern and she began to seriously worry. She hadn’t known the hotelier long but she didn’t take her for a slacker. Abi hadn’t looked too good at dinner the night before. Perhaps she was sick in bed. Or perhaps she’d got waylaid on her morning walk.

  Mary, the only other person in the dining room, was refilling a bowl of fruit when Roxy asked her if she had seen Abi about. The young woman shook her head, no. Her brow wrinkled a little.

  “She take very long walk today,” she said in her soft, sing-song way.

  “Oh, so she’s already been up and out walking today?” Roxy asked.

  The local woman shrugged and Roxy was not sure what that meant, but decided to check the foyer.

  At the front desk Joshua was sorting through some newspapers and looked up as she approached.

  “Mornin’, Roxy,” he said. “Want a newspaper?”

  “No, I was just wondering if you’d heard from Abi this morning.”

  “Abi? No. Why?”

  “Well, it’s probably nothing but she was meant to meet me for a breakfast interview this morning at 7 and hasn’t shown yet. Can you call her room and see if she’s still there?”

  He grabbed the phone and placed the call. After some time, he dropped it back on the receiver.

  “She’s not there. Well, I mean, she didn’t pick up. She could be asleep of course.”

  “Does she usually sleep through phone calls?”

  He shook his head, suddenly looking worried.

  “I’ll go up and see if she’s okay.”

  “Thanks, Josh. I might head for the beach, see if she’s still on her walk.”

  He looked at her, surprised, then nodded his head. “Good idea. You do that. I’ll see you back here, eh?”

  They both went off in different directions, Roxy making her way back through the restaurant to the side steps. She dumped her recording gear there and continued down past the patio to the beach. It was an overcast morning, very different from the day before, but the humidity was stifling and she sweated a little as she trudged along the sand. Looking both ways, she could see nobody in sight, so made her way towards the village track.

  Perhaps Abi had fallen over on her morning stroll, or, better yet, got caught up chatting to the locals.

  Roxy was just metres from the grassy track when something caught her eye. She stopped and squinted, not quite sure what it was she was staring at. It looked vaguely like a hairy old coconut someone had perched upright in the sand. She continued to walk, then stopped and squinted again.

  It couldn’t be.

  She stepped forward, more slowly this time, a sudden chill rushing down her body.

  Oh my god, it looks like...

  She wouldn’t let the thought form, she shrugged it off impatiently.

  Don’t be ridiculous, Roxy, you’re seeing things.

  Yet suddenly her legs felt like logs, her blood turned cold. She wanted to stop, to turn back and run. But she knew she had no choice. She knew she had to keep walking. To find out for sure.

  Within seconds Roxy was close enough to know exactly what it was that had caught her eye on the edge of the sand. The husky coconut was not a coconut at all. It was a woman’s head, drained of all colour, the grey hair sticking out in every direction. The eyes were clamped shut but the mouth had drooped open in what looked like a silent scream, the same scream that was now coming from Roxy’s mouth.

  She was running before she even knew it, her feet tripping over the sand as she fled that horrific sight. Everything around her was whirling, sound had ceased to exist, the ocean was nowhere to be seen.

  Suddenly someone grabbed her by one arm and she lashed out, trying to escape.

  “Whoa! Easy, easy! Roxy, it’s Joshua! Are you okay?”

  Roxy stopped, stared at his worried features and gasped as the ocean roared back into her ears.

  “Oh, Jesus, Josh. It’s...it’s...”

  She couldn’t bring herself to say the hotelier’s name, but pointed back in the direction of the track. He pushed her down to the sand.

  “Stay here,” he barked, then dashed up towards the grass.

  Within seconds a loud, agonising moan could be heard. Roxy dropped her head in her hands.

  It seemed like ages before he returned, his face ashen, his hands shaking.

  “I’ve got to call... we need to get...”

  He stumbled off again, back towards the hotel while Roxy remained perfectly still, sitting on that warm sandy spot, chilled to the bone. She couldn’t move but it wasn’t just the shock of it all. She didn’t want to leave Abi alone. It seemed wrong, somehow, to walk away. So she stayed exactly where she was for the five minutes it took Joshua to return to the lobby and alert everyone.

  Popeye came first, moving surprisingly swiftly for his age. He looked frantically at Roxy who pointed up towards the path. He dashed on. Next came Doc, being helped along by Maurice. When Doc reached her he gasped for breath.

  “Please...tell me... No one has touched... anything.”

  She looked at him. “I never touched anything. But Joshua and Popeye...”

  She let their names hang in the air. Doc swore under his breath and made his way towards the scene.
<
br />   “Stay with Roxy,” he told Maurice. “And stop anyone else from coming this way. Especially Helen!”

  Maurice nodded and stood behind Roxy, as though on guard. His expression, like Popeye’s before him, was distraught but he didn’t say a thing. Just let the tears roll down his face, silently. Doc reappeared just a few minutes later with Popeye by his side.

  “My poor, poor Abigail,” Doc said softly, his voice almost lost in the ocean wind. “When did you find her?”

  Roxy shook herself a little, tried to focus.

  “Um, I guess about 10 minutes ago.” She swallowed. “Where... where is her... body?”

  She hated herself for asking but she needed to know. He shook his head, not answering and Popeye and Maurice exchanged a look that she could not comprehend.

  “What is it?” she asked them but they both shook their heads, too. Whatever it was they weren’t telling.

  Suddenly, a hoarse cry could be heard from near the hotel and they looked around to find Helen beating against Joshua who was trying to block her path. Doc sighed.

  “I’d better see to this. Popeye, please stand guard over our dear Abigail. Do not let anyone near her. Do not touch a thing. We will have to get the police here. Roxy, come, you need a drink. We all do.”

  “But I don’t want to leave her like that.”

  “It’s too late for Abi now, my dear. There’s absolutely nothing more we can do. Besides, she must remain as you found her until the police arrive. Whenever the hell that will be.”

  He held his hand out to her and she let him lead her back, towards the small crowd that was now gathering at the base of the patio, on the sand just below the hotel.

  “I have to see her!” Helen was crying, her eyes wild with despair.

  She still had her bed clothes on—a pink kimono-style dressing gown over silk pyjamas—and was clawing at Joshua who would not let go.

  “Not now, Helen,” Doc said sternly. “You can see her later. I promise you that.” He placed one hand on her shoulder and she deflated then, dropping to her knees and sobbing into her hands. Behind her, Maya was crying, too, and Luc had her in a hug, his jaw clenching and unclenching, while Mary stood behind them all, looking terrified. The Zimmermans were still absent—no doubt off diving again—and Roxy was grateful for that. Abi would not want them around.