Murder for Glacier Blue (High Seas Mystery Series Book 3)

by Diane Rapp

  The large group reached the main building, where Sir Cedric’s wheelchair waited in the hallway, and the Clan Chief offered more apologies to the trembling man. They lowered Sir Cedric into his wheelchair, and watched Timothy guide his uncle back up the ramp to the gondola. Timothy set the brake on the chair as the tram operator closed the door. He waved at Clint and Jonathan, mouthing a silent, “Thank you,” as the car lurched away from the platform.

  Jonathan brushed his hands together and said, “Don’t know about you lot, but I’m famished. Want to visit the world famous Timberline Bar and Grill? I could go for some fish and chips.”

  Patricia shook her head. “It won’t be the same as we get at home.”

  “Too right, but the fish is sure to be fresh, what with the fleet supplying them each day. Give it a go, lass.” He kissed her cheek and led her through the gift shop toward the restaurant. “I’m hoping they serve a cold mug of beer.”

  Kayla looped her arm through Natalia’s and trailed behind her parents into the smoky grill. “I smell the scent of hamburgers and fries! My mouth is already watering.”

  Natalia grinned. “I’m after Alaska King Crab myself. They grow them big I hear.”

  The lunch menu satisfied everyone and soon they enjoyed the view, sipping beer and wine while nibbling fried nuggets of potato. “This is delightful,” Clint said to his daughter. “I’m so glad you brought us up here. Can’t ask for better views.”

  Kayla thought about Steven and felt lonely. Maybe he’d get away from the ship long enough to join them on the whale watching tour. “So what time does our afternoon excursion leave?”

  Julia gazed at her with a knowing expression. “We meet the boat at 2 p.m. There’s time enough to shop on the way.”

  Kayla asked, “Any particular store you want to visit?”

  “The Red Dog Saloon gift shop! I’ve seen pictures and hear it’s an authentic Alaskan experience,” Julia gushed.

  Clint tossed down his napkin and offered Julia his hand. “Let’s get going before the tourists buy all the good stuff.” He winked at Kayla. She felt love fill her chest and prayed that she and Steven could be as happy as her parents. Suddenly the image of Cynthia flashed through her mind, and she nearly choked on her drink.

  *****

  Steven stood waiting on the dock next to the whale watching boat as he spotted Kayla ambling down the ramp with her parents. He resisted the urge to check his watch, knowing the gesture might betray his impatience.

  Spotting Steven, Kayla ran and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m so glad you could break away from the ship. You can’t believe what happened on Mount Roberts.”

  “I’m sure you’ll tell me all about the adventure, but we must board since the boat is ready to cast off. Hurry along, everyone.” He guided Kayla up the ramp.

  The excursion boat had two levels. The lower level was enclosed by large windows wrapping around rows of bench seats, while the upper level was open to the elements. The loud speaker crackled before the captain announced, “Glad to have you all aboard today. We’ll be leaving in a few minutes so please find a seat inside. There are life vests under every bench in case of emergency. We ask parents to put vests on your children now, please.” The passengers all looked under their seats and parents captured wriggling kids to strap them into the orange vests.

  “It takes about an hour to reach our destination. The galley will be serving hot chocolate and cider to keep you warm, and we’ve got a film about whales on the monitor. Don’t worry, I’ll point out any wildlife that comes in view. Reports claim that a humpback mother and baby were spotted this morning. We’ll also motor past an area known to support sea otters and seals and announce our approach. You’ll have plenty of time to get outside with your cameras ready.”

  Steven opened his pack and extracted a fluffy green sweater and handed it to Kayla. “You left your sweater in our cabin, and I remembered how chilly it gets on the open water.”

  “Where’s my sweater, Steven?” Natalia asked. He rolled his eyes and dug into the pack.

  “You girls need a keeper. Here, take my extra sweater, Tally. I’ll snuggle up with Kayla to stay warm.”

  “Thanks, Steven. I’m already freezing.” Natalia donned the sweater which swamped her slender figure. The arms stretched six inches longer than hers, so she rolled up the sleeves until her hands emerged. “Where’s Jason?” she asked, peeking out from the turtleneck roll.

  “He’s waiting on the ship for an important telex.”

  “Figures!” Natalia grumbled, “I noticed that he didn’t keep a ticket for himself when he passed them out this morning. He’s afraid of whales, says they’re too big. I told him that Humpbacks never attack tourist boats, but he won’t be convinced.”

  Steven’s eyes rounded in surprise. “I’ll never let him live it down! Afraid of a mother and baby? That’s brilliant.”

  Clint delivered mugs of coffee to the table and slid across the bench to sit near Julia. “Did Kayla tell you about Sir Cedric? He nearly fell off the mountain.”

  Steven shook his head. “Is that what you wanted to tell me, Luv?”

  She nodded. “He was trying to drive a scooter up to the site for the new museum, but he got the speed wrong for reverse. He nearly went over the edge.”

  Patricia said, “Remember how scooters go faster in reverse? Jonathan used one while recovering from knee surgery.”

  Jonathan nodded as he sipped hot tea. “The scooter moves like a turtle in forward gear, but if you shift into reverse it races.”

  Steven asked, “So what saved Sir Cedric?”

  “The scooter tipped toward a handrail along the trail. He grabbed the handrail and hung over the edge as the scooter flew off. I was surprised to discover how strong his arms were.”

  Steven sipped his tea, deep in thought. “I hoped we’d prove him capable of walking, but it sounds like he really needs his wheelchair. There goes one theory down the drain.”

  “What theory?” Jonathan asked, his attention stimulated.

  Steven grinned. “It turns out that the victim called several numbers on the waiter’s mobile. One of the calls went to Sir Cedric and another to Cynthia. Jason decided that he and Emily will interview Sir Cedric about the call Miller made to him this afternoon.”

  Kayla said, “We know that Cynthia and Miller had an affair, but we don’t know why he called Sir Cedric.”

  Jonathan speculated, “Perhaps Miller demanded a ransom for the painting. He might have thought Sir Cedric would be willing to pay for his prized painting’s return.”

  Steven stared out the window, wrapping his hands around the warm cup. “We want to know why Sir Cedric failed to tell us about the call earlier. If Miller told him he stole the original, wouldn’t he want to cooperate in finding the canvas?”

  Kayla sighed and tipped her cup to drain the last bit of chocolate. “Sir Cedric couldn’t get down to the baggage room on his own. Timothy stores the wheelchair on a landing that’s too far from Sir Cedric’s cabin.”

  “Maybe the call wasn’t answered by Sir Cedric.” Steven flipped open his own phone. “Hey, Jason. Find out if Timothy Sinclair carries a mobile. He might be the one who took the call rather than Sir Cedric.” Steven listened for a moment and grinned. “Thanks.”

  “Jason just got his telex. It identifies the person who owns the third number as our rich golfer, Carson Allbright.”

  Jonathan grinned. “Sounds like you need to interview another suspect. Do you need some help, lad?”

  “I could always use help, Dad.” They raised their cups in a toast just as the loud speaker announced a wildlife sighting.

  Clint shot video of sea otters floating in a cove filled with kelp, while Kayla zoomed in with her still camera. Wrapped in seaweed, the otters floated on their backs and pounded rocks against abalone to open the shells. Kayla took still pictures of a mother and baby. The mother otter dragged the baby onto her belly and floated on her back while both nibbled her lunch. It was an end
earing scene. Clint leaned over the handrail and nearly fell overboard, but Jonathan grabbed Clint’s belt and helped him balance against the handrail.

  Laughing, Clint stood up and turned the camera to film Jonathan’s face. “My friend, Jonathan supported my weight while I got that last shot,” Clint narrated into the microphone, “He’s a real life saver and soon to be part of our family.”

  The boat motored past a rocky island where seals sunned themselves and puffins dove to catch fish. The captain explained, “Puffins are pelagic seabirds that feed primarily by diving in the water. They use their wings to fly through the water and gather many fish with each dive. Watch closely. You might see them bob to the surface holding six or seven fish in their hooked beaks. They nest in the steep rocks along the cliff.”

  A puffin flapped its wings and “ran” across the water, looking like a cartoon character, until it took off. “Puffins form breeding pairs and both parents incubate and raise their chick, called a puffing, until it fledges. These birds spend the winter at sea and only come to these rocky cliffs to breed. It won’t be long before we start spotting Humpbacks. Watch the horizon for a puff of water. A whale spouts water through its blow hole just before it gets ready to dive. Next you’ll see the whale’s body and its tail fluke. A whale can stay under water for five or six minutes, so watch for it to resurface. Let us know if you see anything so we can alert the other passengers.”

  Binoculars raised, everyone on the top deck peered at the water, watching all sides as the boat slowly motored through the calm bay. An eagle overhead screeched. Waves lapped against the hull while the motor stopped and everyone held their breath.

  Whoosh!

  “There she blows. Look at your three o’clock position to starboard, and you’ll see her tail,” the captain announced.

  Everyone rushed to the right side of the boat, causing the craft to rock gently. A large black body arched on the surface and a wide tail flipped out of the water causing a small waterfall as it dove. The color on the back was blue-grey but the underside of the tail was white with sporadic markings.

  Click, click, click.

  Cameras whirred as the mother whale disappeared into the deep blue water. Suddenly a smaller body surfaced and a tail flipped as the baby followed its mother down.

  The captain announced, “On our port side you’ll see a pod of whales that appear to be feeding with a bubble net technique.” The passengers rushed to the left side of the boat and saw five whales circling close together. “The whales should dive together, and then watch as bubbles form a circle. These bubbles trap fish in a tight column as the whales drive them toward the surface through the bubble net. Soon all the whales will open their mouths and swim up to the surface swallowing their catch.”

  They heard an eerie sound just before the group of whales rocketed to the surface. As enormous mouths snapped shut, water gushed through stringy baleen attached inside the jaws, allowing water to escape while small fish were trapped inside. Camera clicked and passengers shouted with excitement.

  “I’ve been on these trips before,” Kayla said, “but I’ve never seen this much activity.” She hugged her father. “You must bring us luck.”

  Clint laughed but kept his video camera trained on the roiling water. “First time’s the charm.”

  Jonathan pointed at an eagle that dove toward the churning water to grab a fish. The elegant bird maneuvered between the leviathans and snagged a meal without ruffling its feathers.

  Clint shouted, “Got the shot. That was unbelievable!”

  Soon the mother and baby whale surfaced on the starboard side of the boat, sending photographers scrambling. The juvenile humpback bobbed to the surface, seeming to take a look at the boat. Then it slowly turned on its side and pounded the water with its fin, keeping one narrow eye fixed on the boat.

  “We don’t know why a whale performs that particular behavior. It might be communicating with other whales or warning us off. We’ll keep our boat at a steady distance so we don’t interfere with their hunt.” The pod swam further away from the tour boat and then several spouts blew. Flukes broke the surface and disappeared in another dive. “Notice that each whale’s tail has unique markings. Scientists photograph the tails and keep records of sightings across the ocean. Adults have been recorded feeding in Alaska during the summer and then travel to the Hawaiian Islands or to the Sea of Cortez during the winter. Scientists are eager to learn how the whales navigate across such great distances.”

  The boat followed the pod at a discrete distance for an hour. Finally the captain turned the boat back toward Juneau and cold passengers sought hot drinks and warmth inside. The benches filled as the motor rumbled through the hull. Everyone thumbed the controls on their cameras, sharing and reliving the incredible experience.

  *****

  Dressed in a three-piece Savile Row pinstriped suit, a silk tie, and Italian leather shoes, Jason met Emily Schultz at the bank of elevators. She smiled. “You look like a banker, Jason.”

  He shot his sleeves and adjusted the burgundy tie. “Thanks, I try to fit the role. Shall we go?” He offered his arm.

  Emily wore an expensive coral silk suit. She slid her hand into his crooked elbow and they entered the elevator together. When the car reached the Diamond level, the elevator dinged, and they stepped onto thick white Aubusson carpet in the alcove.

  Double mahogany doors entered the suites off the white carpeted passageway while secondary doors entered individual rooms. Glittering crystal light fixtures cast diamond shapes in glowing light that illuminated smudges on the brass handrails down both sides of the corridor.

  Emily knocked on the door. Jason smoothed his moustache and tugged on his vest before buttoning his suit jacket. The door swung open and Timothy Sinclair ushered them into the suite. A short hallway opened into an elegant sitting room filled with overstuffed chairs, sofa, and mahogany tables. A dining table sat on one side of the room next to the kitchenette, while two bedrooms flanked the main sitting room. Jason could see an empty hospital-styled bed through the open door to the master bedroom.

  “Please be seated. I’ll advise Sir Cedric that you’ve arrived,” Timothy said in a quiet tone and gestured toward the large sofa at the room’s center. He slipped through the door to the master bedroom as Emily sat on the sofa. Jason chose an arm chair that afforded him a better view of the entire suite.

  Sir Cedric entered the room using short aluminum crutches that were supported by straps up his forearms. He swung his stiff legs between the crutches in a shuffling gait until he reached the nearest armchair. Plopping onto the chair, he shoved the crutches at Timothy and ordered, “Offer our guests a drink!”

  “Yes, sir.” Timothy turned to Emily and asked, “Can I get you some tea or a glass of wine?”

  “Tea would be fine,” Emily replied with a genteel smile. She nodded at Jason and said, “Sir Cedric, may I introduce our head of security, Jason Briggs. He’s an ex-Interpol agent with over twenty years of international experience.”

  Sir Cedric scowled. “So! Has this expert of yours found my painting? My own insurance agent says it might be a total loss.”

  Jason chuckled. “It’s early days yet, Sir Cedric. Insurance people have a negative outlook that is endemic to their profession, but we haven’t given up yet. We believe the painting is still onboard the ship and our systematic search will ferret out the location any day.”

  “Humph! Systematic search! Your lackeys searched these rooms today! I doubt the thief would be stupid enough to hide it in the owner’s suite. Why would I want to steal my own painting, I ask?”

  Timothy handed Jason a cup of tea. He sipped the hot liquid and set the cup and saucer down on a side table before making a comment. “We do have a few questions for you, Sir Cedric. We believe the murdered artist, Jeffrey Miller was indeed the thief.” He paused to examine the reactions of Sir Cedric and Timothy. “Did either of you know the man?”

  Sir Cedric stiffened and his gray brows arched over w
idened eyes. “Of course we knew the man! He was the artist who painted the copy of Glacier Blue and we both met him on several occasions.”

  Jason stared at the old man. “Did he call you often?”

  “What? I don’t answer the telephone.” Sir Cedric glared at Timothy. “Did you receive calls from that artist fellow?”

  Timothy stammered, “He called the castle several times with historical questions about the glacier painting. I referred him to the curator of the museum and didn’t bother you, sir.”

  Jason leaned back into his chair and sipped more tea. “We’ve discovered that a call from his mobile phone was placed to your number on the night he died.” It wasn’t a question. He let the comment hang in the air for a moment before he continued, “The call was placed late in the evening on the very day the painting was stolen. Do either of you recall receiving such a call?”

  Sir Cedric’s mouth tightened into a thin line. “The young man called to discuss a business proposal. He claimed that he painted two copies of Glacier Blue and wanted to sell one to me. He thought I’d enjoy owning a copy of the painting after it was donated to the museum. At the time I didn’t know the original was stolen and the idea intrigued me.”

  “Did you agree to meet with him?” Jason asked.

  Sir Cedric nodded. “He was scheduled to come to my suite the next morning, but he never appeared. I thought he changed his mind until I heard the lad was found murdered.”

  “You didn’t think to advise us about the scheduled meeting?” Emily asked.

  “Since the meeting never happened, I didn’t believe it was pertinent.” Sir Cedric leaned back against the cushions in his chair and gazed at the ceiling. “I was angry that the whelp painted an unauthorized copy and considered reporting him to Genuine Fakes. Then I realized that any artist could make a copy while the painting was displayed in the museum. He just got a jump on the competition.”

  Jason turned to Timothy. “Did you know about this conversation?”