Captain Finn Treasure Mysteries: Books 1 - 3: Short Sea Stories of Murder and Shipwreck Treasure

by Liz Dodwell

  “Hey!” Eli shouted out. “Let’s all hear what’s going on.”

  A bunch of the others called out in agreement and I couldn’t say I blamed them.

  Finn waved the voices down. “Detective, I’m going to put you on speaker phone. As you must realize, the other guests are anxious to hear what you have to say.” With that he pushed a button and set the phone down on a side table while we crowded round.

  “Go ahead, detective.”

  “This is Detective Lucien Cardero. I’m in charge of this investigation and I want you all to be sure you understand that, because for the next 12 to 24 hours you’ll be on your own on the island. Our police launch is unable to navigate the rough waters, so until Tropical Storm Darla passes by and things calm down I’ll be conducting the investigation via phone. I am also asking Captain Finsmer to oversee things on my behalf at your end. Assuming he agrees, I expect you to give him your full cooperation.”

  “What do you mean by ‘oversee?’” someone shouted. Eli again, I think.

  Then Wayne broke in. “Any chance of getting in by helicopter?”

  “There’s nowhere to land a copter on Mud Bug,” the detective replied, and several people gave Bert dirty looks as if he should have anticipated this. “Meanwhile, I will be conducting telephone interviews with you, which the captain will monitor. He will also….”

  “Why Finn? Why not someone else?” Eli just had to keep interrupting.

  “Who is that asking?”

  “Eli Shain, independent reporter.”

  “Well, Mr Shain. I’ve met the captain myself and know his reputation from other police investigations he’s helped. I know nothing about you or anyone el…”

  There was an enormous crack that resonated through the house and the line went as dead as Black Bart. For a moment everyone stared in shock at the phone lying mute on the table. Then Bert picked it up. “Hello! Hello! Shit. Lightning must have struck the dish.”

  “Well, so much for that.” Eli’s lips curled in a sneer.

  “I say let Finn do the interviews.”

  Dilly’s suggestion took everyone by surprise, especially coming from her. Almost immediately Eli denounced the idea; Leticia began to argue in favor and soon voices were raised all around and we were getting nowhere. I’d pretty much had it, so I stood on one of Bert’s sturdier antique side tables, raised myself to my full five foot ten and yelled at the top of my voice, “That’s enough!”

  Ten pairs of eyes turned to me and the voices went quiet.

  “Can we please proceed like adults and not a bunch of over-stimulated soccer fans? It’s likely one of us is a murderer.” Most of the women gasped. Leticia blanched as white as the walls. “We can spend the next 12 hours or so squabbling and looking over our shoulders wondering if we might be next, or let Finn ask a few questions. It certainly can’t hurt, and you heard the detective – he trusts Finn, so do I.”

  “Me, too,” Dilly piped up.

  “As do I,” Bert joined in.

  “Let’s put it to a vote. All agreed, raise your hands.”

  With some hesitation nine hands were in the air. Only Eli stood stiffly, arms crossed and lips pursed tightly.

  “Come on, Shain.” It was Ralph who tried to jostle him into changing his vote. Eli’s look was pure stubborn.

  “Why would I want an amateur investigating me for murder? For all we know, Finn did it and he could frame any one of us.”

  “Or you might have done it and you’re afraid of the truth coming out.” It was said softly and gently but we all heard it. Until now Teresa had stayed in the background but her words caused Eli to color crimson.

  “I didn’t do it.” His demeanor was sullen.

  “Then let the captain prove it.” She smiled and touched his arm. Eli just caved.

  “Alright, then. But only for you.”

  Well, well. When did that happen? A little romance blooming between the reporter and the maid.

  FOUR

  Within minutes Finn was set up in the study. He’d insisted he needed me to take notes and no-one had objected. We pooled our own information first and were able to come up with a reasonable time-frame for the killing. I’d seen Ken in the great room just before the game began. That was right around 8.20pm. At 8.35pm, give or take a minute or two, Dilly found Black Bart.

  “We need to find out where everyone was during that 15 minutes. The killer had to have the opportunity to remove the katana from the display in the great room and do the killing.”

  “OK, let’s get started.” I was ready for some real sleuthing.

  The first person Finn called was Bert, who walked in looking like a whipped puppy. “Now I know what it’s like to be on the wrong side of a lynch mob.”

  “What’s happened?” Finn was sympathetic.

  “They act as if it’s my fault someone got murdered and ruined their evening. This is why I prefer to be left alone.”

  Finn’s sympathy evaporated. “Snap out of it, man! You’re alive and kicking while Ken is dead.”

  Bert remained glum. “And now I’m going to be grilled as a suspect, I suppose.”

  “Actually, I’m pretty certain you didn’t do it.”

  Bert perked up as Finn went on. “You were never alone long enough to do the deed. Ken was in the great room just before the game began, and I noticed you slip in here at about the same time. That meant you would have had a minute or two, tops, to run out to the patio, gut him and get back to being a fake corpse. After that, there was always someone with you.”

  Bert heaved a sigh. “You’re right. I’m ashamed I was thinking of myself when someone else suffered a real tragedy. Is there anything I can do to help nail the scum who did this?”

  “Actually, there is. Can you print out the pictures Phill took, then help her put them on a board?”

  “Easy, but I could set you up a slide show with bigger pictures that would probably be better.”

  “Finn is still more of a paper and pencil kind of guy.” I’d tried to bring him into the age of technology, but he was pretty old-fashioned about some things.

  “I know what you’re thinking.” He gave me a hard stare. “And it’s not true. Technology is a wonderful thing but sometimes not the best thing. In this case I want to see all the pictures in a collage in case something pops out at me.”

  “Yes sir! Anything else, sir?” Bert stood to attention and saluted. I was really beginning to like this guy.

  Finn didn’t react other than to say, “Yes, there is. I want everyone to have something to write with. Then I want them to make lists of who they saw in the great room as the game was about to begin, and who they remember being in the study when the fake corpse – Barbarossa – was found. Oh, and where did they go after that?

  “Bert, as the corpse I realize you kept your eyes closed, but do your best to try and figure out who was around based on voices or names you heard.

  “Phill, keep an eye on everybody while they do the lists. I don’t want them discussing with each other who was where or when. And if Dodo is up to it, ask her to do the same. I’ll wait ‘til you’re done before we call the next witness.”

  “Or suspect,” I mumbled beneath my breath.

  FIVE

  Ten o’clock and tropical storm Darla was still thrashing around outside. In the study our collage of photographs was set up, as was a slide show of the same pictures on a laptop beside it. With Bert’s skills and his advanced computer equipment it took no time to get everything together.

  Finn had insisted the others stay together in the great room. “If there is a killer amongst us, that person must not be given the opportunity to manipulate any evidence.” Grimly, he’d added, “And there’s safety in numbers.”

  Bert and I had collected the lists Finn had asked everyone to make and were awaiting his instructions.

  “Alrighty, then. Here’s my list for the great room. I was never in the study with the rest of you. That’s when I was taking care of Teresa in the kitchen. I w
ant you both to collate the names so we can see if anybody was missing.”

  “I get it,” said Bert. “One person might remember seven people, another might remember six, but if none of them remember one particular character then that could be our killer.”

  “Exactly,” Finn said.

  “OK, I can get this done in a few minutes.”

  Finn frowned. “This isn’t something to make light of. It’s tedious work and needs to be done right.”

  “Nothing difficult at all. I’m going to let the computer do the work.”

  “By the time you type in all the names you could do the job by hand.”

  “Type! Who types these days? I’ll scan the lists in.” With that he was gone.

  “I enjoy these moments of techno-revelation with you,” I said to Finn.

  “We haven’t seen the results yet,” he huffed.

  Minutes later Bert was back bearing an iPad. “Here’s the consolidated report.” He propped the machine on the desk. “As you can see, the program sorted through all of the lists and came to the conclusion that everyone was seen in the great room for at least part of the time. As for the study, no-one remembers seeing Ken. Strangely enough, Dilly thinks she saw you Finn, though as we know, you were still in the kitchen with Teresa and Monks, so I think we can chalk that up to wishful thinking on her part.” Finn just rolled his eyes.

  “Other than that,” Bert continued, “I don’t know what this tells us.”

  “It tells us we have a lot of gaps to fill. Let’s start bringing everyone in here but, Bert, would you cover the pictures and turn off the slide show. I don’t want anyone else seeing that. Then stay with the group and keep your eyes and ears open in case you pick up some useful information.

  “Phill, you’ll be taking notes.”

  “Will it help to record the interviews?” Bert asked.

  “That’s a great idea,” Finn responded. “Let’s just hope we don’t lose power as well as the phone service.”

  Bert looked pained. “We operate on solar backed up by diesel. If the solar battery banks die, the back-up system will run for another 24 hours. Besides, the iPad has a 10 to 12-hour battery life of its own.”

  “Alright, but Phill, I still want you to take notes and give me your impressions.”

  SIX

  “The others simply don’t appreciate what it takes to carry the weight of responsibility. You and I, Finn, are among the few with the character and experience to inspire confidence and bring the best out in others.”

  Gag me with a spoon, but Ralph Westgate was a pontificating pinhead.

  “You know, I’m reminded of a time, about twenty years ago…..”

  Finn cut him off. “I’d really love to hear about it sometime. Right now, we need to concentrate on Ken’s murder.”

  “Oh, yes. Of course.”

  “Just for the record, where were you from the time everyone gathered in the great room and until Ken’s body was discovered?”

  “Well, Leticia and I were together when Eli and Dodo brought Teresa in from the east patio. While you were taking care of her we listened to Dilly’s introduction. And we were just going over our notes when Barbarossa’s ‘body’ was found, so we followed everyone into the den. After poking around a bit we decided to check out the east patio. I rather thought there might be some significance in what happened to Teresa.”

  “And was there?”

  “We didn’t find anything.”

  “Then what?”

  “We heard Dilly shouting and came running with the rest.”

  “When you were in the great room, did you look at the sword and knife collection.”

  “No, why do you ask?”

  Finn ignored the question and pressed on. “Did you notice anyone else show interest in the collection?”

  “No, and I’m not sure I like the tone you’re taking with me.” Poor Ralph. Not so sure of himself now.

  “You were seen with your wife talking with Mr. Kinimaka – actually, it was described as arguing – just before Dodo and Eli brought Teresa in from the east patio. Tell me about that.”

  “It wasn’t an argument. We were just discussing his life as a professor.”

  “That’s rubbish.” I jumped in. “Things were clearly heated. I’m the one who saw you.”

  “And,” Finn went on, “at dinner, when Ken mentioned Arizona State University, you and your wife both reacted with some surprise.”

  Ralph’s lips tightened to a thin line through which no words could escape. For a long, tense minute we all sat like stone, until Ralph shoved back his chair and stood. “The conversation with Ken had absolutely nothing to do with his death. I have nothing more to say.”

  He stomped to the door where Finn’s voice caught him. “Silence can be far more damning than the truth.”

  A guttural “Hmph” was the only response as Ralph slammed the door behind him. I looked at Finn for direction.

  “Get his wife in here before he has a chance to talk to her.”

  I dashed into the great room to see Ralph with a firm hold on Leticia’s arm, pulling her away from the study. In a few swift strides I was next to her. “Leticia,” I kept my voice even, “Finn would like to speak with you now.”

  Immediately, Ralph was in my face. “She has nothing to say.”

  “Look,” I began, but Leticia reached up and gently lay the palm of her hand on her husband’s cheek.

  “Enough, sweetheart. It’s time to stop hiding the truth.”

  Ralph colored and opened his mouth to object but Leticia’s expression, though soft, showed resolve. Ralph released his hold and his shoulders slumped as Leticia turned to me. “Shall we go?”

  Finn had been standing in the doorway, watching. As we approached he stepped aside and gestured Leticia to a chair. I closed the door behind me and readied myself to take notes.

  “My husband is a proud man, Captain. I apologize for his surly behavior but it was motivated by a desire to protect his family, and had nothing to do with Ken Kinimaka’s death.”

  “I need more than that, Leticia. It looked as though you and Ralph were arguing with Ken.”

  “We weren’t arguing with him. We were thanking him.”

  Finn raised questioning eyebrows; Leticia gave a slight sigh and continued. “Our son, Brian, attended Arizona U and played football there. He was good; good enough that he had a strong chance of being picked up by one of the major leagues. Ralph was thrilled. He was already bragging to everyone about it. But Brian was putting so much into the sport that his grades were beginning to suffer badly. His health was taking a toll, as well: too many sleepless nights trying to study and then pushing himself hard on the field. He did a foolish thing; he paid someone to take his exams for him. Ken Kinimaka found out but, rather than immediately reporting my son, confronted him privately. He told Brian that if he would drop football and concentrate on his studies, he would forget what had happened. Brian accepted Ken’s offer and went on to graduate with a 3.8 GPA.”

  “Then why the heated discussion with Ken?”

  “My son never told us who had caught him out. When Ken mentioned Arizona U we saw it as an opportunity to ask him if he knew anything about it. At first he denied any knowledge, but we pressured him and he admitted he was the one.”

  “I’m still not getting it. Ken apparently destroyed your son’s chances of making it to the big leagues. Some people would say that’s a good enough reason to commit murder.”

  Leticia leaned forward and spoke earnestly. “Finn, Ken Kinimaka stopped my son from taking a path to potential destruction. To say I was grateful to him doesn’t begin to cut it.”

  “And does Ralph share your feelings?”

  “When Brian first told us about this, Ralph was furious that his son would even consider cheating, and mortified that our friends would find out. But now Brian is a successful businessman with a lovely wife and a baby on the way, and he and his father have a great relationship. But Ralph still feels some sham
e that his son ever considered cheating and it’s hard for him to talk about it. I promise you, though, that both of us felt nothing but gratitude toward Ken and we’re horrified and saddened over what’s happened.”

  “Alright, Leticia.” Finn stood and Leticia rose with him. “Thank you for your honesty.”

  Leticia moved away.

  “One more thing,” Finn said, and she turned to him. “Did you notice Ken again after you spoke in the great room?”

  “That was the last we saw of him.”

  SEVEN

  In quick succession we next had Teresa and Eli in for questioning. Neither had seen anyone near the sword collection or noticed Ken in the great room or study. Teresa had nothing to add except to say she had stayed in the kitchen with Bert until they heard Dilly’s shout.

  When it was time for Eli to be interviewed, he came into the study huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf. “It’s about time. I have important information that could crack this case and you’ve had me sitting out there with the murderers.”

  His tone neutral, Finn responded, “Your hot air doesn’t blow with me, Mr. Shain. Sit down, please.”

  Eli glared but sat and proceeded to tell us that he’d overheard a conversation between Dodo Kinimaka and Wayne Gregory in the guest bedroom. “They were talking about a time in Hawaii. Wayne said something about Dodo choosing Ken; Dodo got upset and ran out. A moment later, Wayne ran after her.”

  “Did you see where they went?”

  “They must have gone on to the east patio because the doors were open when I came out, but I didn’t see anyone there.”

  “And just where did you come out from, Eli?”

  “I was in the closet.”

  “The closet?” I chimed in.

  “I was looking for clues.”

  “Oh, come on. Lurking in a closet seems pretty suspicious to me.”

  “Like the clues are going to be somewhere obvious? Duh!” He had a point there.