by Amy Boyles
I glanced at him. “Medical treatment? Your daughter?”
He nodded. “Come on out.”
Lillian hesitated at the edge of a door. The girl dug a toe into the ground and glanced shyly through her long hair at us.
“My daughter,” he said. “She had a rare virus a few years ago.”
My jaw dropped. “So you and Maria..?”
Byrd nodded. “Maria and I were together years ago. After we went our separate ways, she had a daughter without telling me.” He laughed bitterly. “Imagine that—an illegitimate child having another illegitimate child. I didn’t find out about Lillian until Maria took a job aboard the Majestic. That’s when Lillian got sick, and I needed the money for her treatment. Maria and I have never been open about our relationship because the company doesn’t allow employees to fraternize. She could quit being the gypsy, I suppose, but why would she? She loves her work.”
Byrd wrapped an arm around Lillian. “She’s healthy now.”
“I’m so glad,” Grandma said. She crossed to Lillian and took one of the girl’s hands in her own. “You’re a strong, strong girl, Lillian. One who is much loved.”
Byrd sighed. “And like any girl she needs attention. That’s why she took the diamond. Isn’t that right, Lillian?”
The girl nodded. “I just wanted my grandmother to know who I was. I never meant to keep it.”
“I believe my daughter,” Byrd said. “What grandchild doesn’t want the love of a grandparent?”
I glanced at my own grandma. “I understand that. It’s an important bond between two people. One that shouldn’t be broken no matter what.” I glanced at my grandmother guiltily. “So what happens now?” I said.
Byrd stroked his beard. “Now I come forward and stand beside Maria, let the world know she’s supported and that I believe she’s innocent. It’ll mean my job, but I’ll be happier for it, I’m sure.”
I thanked him, and Grandma and I left.
“See, Dylan,” she said. “The power of family is a strong thing.”
I nodded. “You’re right. It’s an incredibly strong bond. One that should never be challenged.”
“Unless there’s a warhorse involved. Those can be scary. Never underestimate the power of a warhorse who just ate a skillet of cornbread. The flatulence alone will make you sick.”
“Thanks, Grandma.” I stopped. “Wait. What happened to the vial of dewdrop liquid?”
Grandma shrugged. “I suppose Alistair might have it. I’m sure he’s keeping it safe for you.” She wrapped a hand around my arm. “Come on. Let’s go get it for you.”
We traveled back to the stateroom. I had to admit, my grandmother had really upgraded in digs since arriving as stowaway extraordinaire. She found her card and tapped it to the lock. The door swung wide, and we stepped inside.
Alistair stood in the middle of the room. The vial of dewdrop nectar was uncapped, and he was holding it high, staring at its golden liquid in the light—
Right before he started tipping it toward his lips.
“Wow,” I said. “That sure is some pretty nectar, isn’t it?”
Alistair whirled around. He jerked the bottle away and capped it. “Yes, yes. I was just admiring its beauty. Of course it belongs to you.”
I eyed him as I extended my hand. “Yes, it does.”
Alistair grinned as if embarrassed. He slid a hand over his grease-slicked hair, leaving a sheen on his palm. He laughed nervously. “Yes, just looking at it one more time.”
Alistair held out the vial. I curled my fingers around it and tried to take it, but the old man held fast. “It’s one drop. One single drop. One drop to find out whatever it is you want in the entire world.” His eyes gleamed so bright they nearly glowed. “A single drop equals a single wish of knowledge. Use it wisely.”
Wow. No pressure there. Truth was, I didn’t need the wish now that I’d found out that Byrd was Griselda’s child.
I’m sure that would change in about five minutes. “I could use it to find out who killed Griselda.”
Alistair choked on some invisible substance. “Let the police sort that out. This can be used for so much more. Something better. Keep it safe.”
I tucked the vial in my pocket and watched as Alistair’s eyes followed it. A chill raced down my spine. Wow. In like two seconds Alistair had gone from normal to someone who spread the heebie-jeebies around the room like it was cooties.
You can thank me later for that childhood reminder of the cooties.
Grandma grabbed my hand before I left the room. “Take care of that vial. It’s worth a million dollars.”
“I will,” I said, sneaking a quick glance at Alistair, who was fluffing his ascot.
As I walked back to my cabin, my mind spun with information. The question was, what was I going to do about it—how did any of this help Maria?
It didn’t, actually, did it? The fact that Byrd was Griselda’s child and had been blackmailing her didn’t make Maria innocent, and it didn’t get me any closer to solving the murder.
I walked the halls, my mind wandering in circles and loops. Maybe Alistair was wrong. Maybe I should use the one drop of dewdrop buttercup I had left to see who had actually killed Griselda.
But was that wasting it?
Only if it didn’t save a person’s life.
“Hi, Dylan.”
I nearly jumped three feet from surprise. “Holy shrimp and grits,” I said. I splayed a hand on my chest and glanced toward the voice.
Annie was walking Fifi. “How’re you doing?” I said.
She shrugged, tucked a loose strand of stringy hair behind an ear. Ugh. Looked like the woman was taking Griselda’s death so hard she hadn’t been washing.
I hadn’t noticed if she smelled the other night. Maybe her lack of personal hygiene hadn’t gotten that bad yet.
Maybe I needed to stop judging and remember my good-girl Southern manners.
“I have good moments and bad ones,” Annie said.
Fifi scratched at my leg. I gave the dog a light stroke. “You had a good moment when we tried on the furs the other night.”
She nodded. “Have to find time for that stuff,” she said. “Listen, about that note we found...”
I smiled brightly at her. “Oh, I haven’t had a chance to tell you because I only just found out.”
Annie quirked her lips. “Found out what?”
I pulled her to the side. “Maybe we should talk somewhere privately.”
She pulled her hair over one shoulder. “Let’s go up on deck.”
A breeze whipped off the island, sending my hair teasing up around me. “One more day here,” I said.
Annie sighed. “It was always Griselda’s favorite, this cruise and going to the island. She had fond memories of it from her youth.”
“It’s gorgeous. A great place to have spent my honeymoon,” I said.
Annie stared out at the beach. Her eyes got a dreamy, glassy look on them. “The first time I ever came here was with Griselda. Every time, actually. That woman introduced me to an entirely new world.”
“I’m glad you found such comfort in her.”
Because I was pretty sure that Annie was the only person who found comfort in that old biddy.
Annie picked up Fifi, who licked her face. That brought a smile to the assistant’s lips. “Yeah. Anyway, about that letter. Griselda never talked anything about being blackmailed.”
“Who could blame her? I wouldn’t talk about it if it was me,” I said. “Especially not to my assistant.”
Annie’s face pinched. “I was more than a mere assistant to her. Anyway, it wasn’t Griselda’s way to talk about personal things like that. So I’m sorry you found it. That sort of information doesn’t need to get out into the open. If the gossips knew that Griselda was being blackmailed, it would taint her reputation.”
I nodded. “I’m not going to tell anyone.”
Annie sniffed. “Thank goodness.” She laughed nervously. “Besides, that le
tter was just someone trying to take advantage of an old woman.”
I clicked my tongue. “It sure as heck wasn’t. There was a child, and I know who it was.”
Annie leaned so close I thought she was going to kiss me. I pulled back because, you know, personal space and all—me and it were good friends.
“Who was it?” she said.
I glanced over both shoulders before saying, “Captain Byrd. But listen, keep it hush-hush.”
Annie’s gave narrowed. “How do you know it was him? Did you talk to him?”
The edge in her voice made me feel very small. So small that I hesitated in my mind, but not on my lips. “No, of course I didn’t talk to him. I used the dewdrop nectar and figured it out.”
What? Why had I lied?
There was simply something about the look in her eyes that made me think I shouldn’t have said anything, so I clamped up. I know, I’m not very good under pressure, am I?
“Good,” Annie said. “No one needs to know.”
I glanced back out to the island. “But I wonder who the father was. I mean, it wasn’t who Griselda married, but who was it?”
Annie nodded slowly. “I may be able to answer that.”
I gripped her arm. The hint of a juicy slice of gossip grabbed hold of me. I didn’t know why, but I seriously wanted to know who the heck could’ve fathered Captain Byrd.
“There were rumors,” Annie said, “and there were times when Griselda hinted that perhaps their relationship was more complicated than merely friendship.”
I leaned forward. “Really?”
Annie put Fifi back down and watched the dog as she wove between our legs. “Yes. Now it all makes sense.”
“Is it someone I know?” I said.
Annie nodded. “Oh yes. You know exactly who fathered Griselda’s son.”
A cold pit punched through my stomach. I had a feeling the weight of this knowledge was going to be more than I wanted to deal with, but I had no choice. I had to know.
“Who was it?” I said. “Who was Griselda’s lover and Byrd’s father?”
Annie’s lips quirked into a sly smile when she said, “Byrd’s father was Alistair Krause, your grandmother’s new husband.”
Crap on a stick. I had a feeling that was the case.
TWENTY
I found Roman in our cabin. He’d just taken a shower and stood in his towel. I gulped down a surge of girlie hormones at the sight of his broad shoulders, bulging pecs and cut-from-marble abs.
“You’re staring at me,” he said, his mouth quirking in amusement.
I swallowed to get the saliva working in my mouth. “Some things are just pure and simple acts of God. You would be one of those.”
He chuckled as he threaded his fingers through his short hair. I had to say, I did miss his shoulder-length tresses, but the short was growing on me. I could still work my fingers through it. In the end that was all that mattered, right?
“You’re still staring.”
“Oh. Yes. There’s so much I have to tell you.”
He winked at me. “Want to tell me in bed?”
I backed up. “No. I want to tell you when your head’s screwed on straight so we can figure it out.”
He shrugged. “Darlin’, my head’s never screwed on straight with you.”
I cocked my head. “Is that a compliment?”
“No comment.”
I chucked a pillow at him. Roman caught it, and in one step he pulled me into a bear hug and a hot kiss.
“I can’t think,” I said. “All my memories have slipped away.”
He skimmed his lips down my throat. “All except for me?”
I wiggled from his grasp and blurted everything before he could stop me with his manliness. “Captain Byrd is Griselda and Alistair’s illegitimate son.”
Roman paused. He ran a finger down his jaw. “Does your grandmother know?”
“I have no idea. But they’ve also arrested Maria. Roman, we have to help. We have to find the real killer.”
He sank onto the bed and sighed.
A slow smile spread across my face. I was wearing away his resolve like drops of water cascading down a mountainside.
“We need to get her freed. She didn’t do it. I’m certain of it.”
He inhaled a deep breath and said, “Okay, let’s go back to the beginning.”
I clapped my hands with childlike glee. “Yes! The beginning.” I paused, trying to figure out exactly that would be. “Where is the beginning?”
Roman sat up. He grabbed a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. “That would be back at the carnival. Let me pull on some clothes and we’ll go.”
So with my husband beside me, we strolled back to the carnival. The stars were shining brightly on the ceiling, but the music wasn’t cranked as loudly as it had been on previous nights, and even the barkers weren’t barking as loudly as they had before.
“Who do you want to ask?” I said.
Roman pointed to Max Devereaux. “How about him?”
I nodded. “Sounds like a solid plan.”
We reached Devereaux, who bowed low when he saw me. “Back to play?” he said.
Roman shook his head. “No. We wanted to ask you a few questions.”
Max smiled like a carnival barker, all glittery eyes and sparkling teeth. “Ask away. I’ll answer whatever I can.”
“What can you tell us about the night Griselda was murdered?”
Max’s face dropped. “I’ve spoken to the detectives on board the ship already.”
I stepped forward, thinking a woman’s touch could help the situation. “Please. We’re trying to help Maria. What do you remember?”
Max’s face darkened. “Lillian stole the earring. You were here for that, and it was recovered. Griselda was in a black mood after that, of course. Very bad humor. I didn’t think anything of it because when wasn’t Griselda in a bad mood?”
“Seems about right,” I said. “I didn’t know her, but she seemed like the sort of person who used any excuse to be in a bad mood.”
Max nodded. “I didn’t see her until later that night up on deck.”
I leaned forward. “You saw her on deck?”
He pulled his gloves, flexing his fingers. “I did. Told the detectives. Saw her arguing with someone.”
“Did you catch who?” Roman said.
Max shook his head. “No, but it was heated, that’s for sure. The voice sounded male.”
“Male?” I said. “Are you sure?”
Max nodded. “Definitely male. I told the detectives they’ve got the wrong person in arresting Maria. She wasn’t the one who committed the crime. Whoever did it, it was that man. The one I saw her arguing with.”
“Did you catch anything interesting about his voice? Think you could recognize it?” Roman said.
Max grimaced. “Probably not. He kept it so low I couldn’t tell what was being said, but I know it was a man. That’s all I can tell you. Just Griselda alone with a man.”
“Thanks,” Roman said.
We strolled through the carnival. I couldn’t help but notice the sad spot where Maria’s booth had sat. The mood of the fun room had been tempered, and as I stared at the sorrowful faces, I felt the pain as they tried to regroup after having lost one of their own.
When we were back on deck, I said, “So Griselda and a man. Well, that easily could’ve been Captain Byrd. They could’ve been arguing over the letter or anything else. Without an identifiable marker, we’re pretty much lost.”
Roman grunted in response.
“Do you think Alistair knows that’s his son?”
Roman stopped, rocked back on his heels. “Surely he does.”
“What if he doesn’t?” I said. “And does Grandma know?”
Roman shrugged. “Does it make a difference?”
I twisted the ends of my dark hair. “To me it does.”
“He’s not your husband.”
“He’s not yours, either.”
Roman shook
his head. “I don’t even know how to respond to that.”
I gave him a friendly love tap of my hips. “You don’t have to. Okay. So who do we want to talk to first? Alistair or Grandma?”
“How about you talk to your grandmother and I’ll talk to Alistair?”
I frowned. “How about we talk to Alistair together?”
Roman nodded. “Okay. Remember, tomorrow night is the big departing party on the ship.”
I cocked a brow. “It is? Where have I been?”
Roman shrugged. “Butting your nose into everyone’s business.”
“Very funny. I’m trying to help out humanity by making sure an innocent person doesn’t go to jail.”
Roman kissed the top of my head. “And I commend you for it.”
I beamed up at him as he wrapped a strong arm around my shoulder. “Do you really?”
He nodded. “Of course.”
I squinted as a thought occurred to me.
“If you’re thinking you and your sisters are going to start solving crimes, you need to give that a hard look.”
“I’m not saying we’re going to do that,” I said.
Roman chuckled. “You’ve been talking about it off and on for months. I know you want to help other people. I think you help enough as it is. Maybe you just keep doing what you’re doing. Let it come to you instead of you searching it out. ’Cause so far it seems you don’t have to go looking for any kind of trouble or mystery. Murders have a knack of finding you.”
“I guess that’s true,” I said, feeling a little dejected.
“I say wait and see what comes your way. If it looks like folks start approaching you for help, then go from there. Otherwise, you know as well as I do that this is dangerous work. How many times has sometime tried to kill you in the last year, year and a half?”
I shot him a squeamish glance. “Does the phrase ‘too many to count’ sound good or bad in this scenario?”
Roman laughed as he tugged me into his side. I fell into the groove of him, bending my body to his curl. “That says it all. This is dangerous. It’s not something I want you to forget. You might be playing amateur sleuth, but the killers are very real and very dangerous.”