Death in a Beach Chair

by Valerie Wolzien

  “See something interesting, Mrs. Henshaw?”

  Susan looked up and over her shoulder and discovered James striding down the stairs to the beach.

  “Someone-there’s someone swimming out there-underwater.”

  “Snorkeling?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “One of the guests snorkeling?” He paused in his descent and, shading his eyes with one hand, peered out to sea.

  “Yes. I guess that’s who it was. I was surprised by how long whoever it was remained underwater.”

  “Probably someone snorkeling and you didn’t see the tip of the snorkel above the water,” James said, putting down his hand and turning to Susan. “Good news. The Robbinses are going to kayak with us. The more people we have, the more fun we have,” he added without much enthusiasm.

  “Can she-I mean-” Susan was too much of a lady to ask the question.

  “Many of our larger guests do just fine on the sea kayaks,” James said, answering the question she hadn’t asked.

  “I know the kayaks aren’t as unsteady as they appear. But I still have trouble getting on and off,” Susan said, chatting as though nothing untoward had happened. She was still staring out at the sea. “How long can someone stay underwater when they’re snorkeling?”

  “All day if they’re good. You don’t want to get water in the snorkel. Or in your eye mask, of course. You never tried to do it?”

  “No.”

  “You try. You might like it. Many of our guests like it. Oh, here are our companions all ready to go out to sea.”

  “Yes. We’re ready!” Joann agreed, making her way slowly down the steep steps.

  “Some of us are readier than others of us,” her husband said, trailing behind.

  Joann threw him an angry look over her shoulder. “We’re here to have fun. We’re here to experience new things. There’s no reason we shouldn’t go kayaking.”

  Martin Robbins flushed. “I don’t think I said anything to imply that I wasn’t going along.” His pale blue eyes glanced up at Susan for a moment before looking down at the boats.

  Susan suddenly realized that Martin must have been exceptionally good-looking when he was young. He still seemed to be in excellent shape-tall and athletic. The contrast with his wife made her look even dumpier. Susan wondered what had brought them together when they were younger. Had she been thinner, less demanding, less annoying? Had he been the dominant partner in their relationship in the early years? She sighed. There was no time to speculate about such things now.

  “Mrs. Henshaw, do you want to use the same kayak you used yesterday?” James asked, pushing the red plastic crescent toward her.

  “I guess.”

  “And I’d like that yellow one over there,” Joann spoke up. “Martin, you take the blue one.”

  Susan couldn’t help hoping Joann would get soaked while trying to board her kayak, but, in yet another example of the lack of justice in the world, Joann slid onto her kayak without even mussing her hair. Martin, benefiting no doubt from the long list of instructions his wife offered, followed suit. The dunking that Susan got almost made her forget why she had suggested this activity in the first place.

  James waited patiently for her to right herself, regain her balance, and begin paddling. Then he jumped into the last kayak and began to paddle. “Where do we go?” he asked.

  “I don’t know,” Susan answered honestly.

  THIRTEEN

  Susan’s experience in touring kayaks was once again not helping her to get the hang of the little sea kayak on which she was perched. She was having so much trouble, in fact, that she was forced to accept James’s offer to travel by her side.

  Joann smirked and Martin looked concerned, but Susan had gotten what she wanted-the opportunity to talk with James in relative privacy.

  “I heard you were walking on the beach last night.” She jumped right in, not knowing how long Joann would be content to bounce around on the waves, displaying a surprising skill in this sport.

  “Ah, you know about that, do you? I am courting a lovely young lady who works in the kitchen. Her parents are very old-fashioned. They think I’m unsuitable for some reason.” James offered his most charming smile, and Susan could understand why a young woman’s parents would worry if their daughter was interested in him. “So we spend time together here when we can,” he continued. “The staff isn’t really supposed to be using the beach,” he added, lowering his voice. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention seeing me to Lila.”

  “I’d never do that,” she assured him. “I mean, you have a right to your privacy. I’d imagine the beach was pretty deserted yesterday evening, wasn’t it?”

  “No, ma’am! Cottages are all full this week. At least, they were until three emptied out this morning. But, still, there are few places where a man and his girl can be alone.”

  “Did someone interrupt you yesterday?” Susan asked.

  “We are always interrupted. You all okay?” he called out as the Robbinses steered their kayaks to the east.

  “We want to see that large coral reef we’ve heard so much about,” Joann called back. “Just follow us.”

  James looked over at Susan and shrugged. “That one, she likes to have her own way.”

  “She seems to get it, too,” Susan muttered, guiding her kayak toward the east. She looked down into the water at a row of sand dollars lying in a line on the floor of the sea. “It’s amazing how close everything looks,” she said, momentarily distracted.

  James chuckled. “It is close. Tide is low. Water not more than one, one and a half meters deep here.”

  “You’re kidding!”

  “No. Course, tide coming in. Soon it will be much deeper.”

  Susan paddled along, considering whether or not this might have any bearing on the murder. “Can a person walk-wade-to the gazebo when the tide is low?”

  “A tall person, yes. The water is maybe five meters at low tide this time of year. Later, in the summer, it is less. There is a blackboard in the bar. There, low tide and high tide are listed. The person who tends bar makes daily change.”

  “That’s good to know.” Susan thought about this for a moment.

  “You are wondering if someone walked out to pier and kill that woman,” James said.

  “I was thinking of that, yes. Do you think it’s possible?”

  “Not last night. Last night tide was high. Killer either walk on pier or swim.”

  “Or kayak,” Susan suggested.

  “Not kayak. Not in one of my kayaks. They are locked up when sun go down.”

  “Why? Are you afraid someone will steal them?”

  “No. Kayaks used to spend the night up by gift shop. They were leaned against walls. No one thought anything about it. Then one night some guests got drunk, took two kayaks, and drifted out to sea. They were rescued by U.S. Coast Guard the next day. Suffered sunburn and nothing else. Damn lucky they didn’t drown. One man was a lawyer. He threatened to sue. Said kayaks should be locked up. So now we lock them up. Can’t let stupid people do stupid things.”

  “Where?”

  “In lockers. Behind gift shop. There’s lots of things locked up behind the gift shop.”

  Susan frowned. They didn’t seem to be getting anywhere. “How well did you know Allison-the woman who was killed?”

  “I do not fraternize with guests. It is a rule.”

  “I’m not accusing you of anything like that,” Susan assured him. “I just was wondering if she talked to you about anything-anything that might help my friend.”

  “Yes, of course you must help your friend,” James agreed. “Many people here-we worry about your friend.”

  “Then you’ll help me?” Susan asked, relieved.

  “How can I help you? I don’t know what you want.”

  Susan could hear the hesitation in his voice. “I need two things. I need to know who you saw on the beach yesterday. They may have had nothing to do with the murder, but anyone who was ther
e might have seen something. And I need to know if anyone on the staff saw something-or was told something-that might give me a clue to what really happened.”

  James didn’t respond for a few minutes.

  “I’ve investigated murders before,” Susan explained.

  “Yes. But the staff here has not been involved in anything like this until this. And this is good place to work. People who work here want to keep working here. These people, they are my friends, my family.”

  “Of course. I understand. That’s a nice way to feel. Do you think-maybe I should talk to Lila and she could assure everyone that their jobs aren’t in jeopardy?”

  “No. Lila already told staff what to do. We are to help police and keep the guests from being upset. And we are not to talk to press.”

  “But I wouldn’t involve Lila in my investigation. I wouldn’t want to bother anyone here or cause anyone to lose their job. Really. And I think I could investigate, just ask a few people a few questions, without doing anyone any harm.” She stopped talking and concentrated on her paddling. She realized she was going to need James’s help in gaining the cooperation of the rest of the staff. And she had no idea how to convince him that she wouldn’t hurt anyone. “I-”

  Before she could say anything more, Joann coasted over to her side. “Have you gotten the hang of this yet?”

  “I’m doing fine now,” Susan said, immediately offended. “I’m just not accustomed to this type of kayak. In Maine-”

  “Really? I find this very easy. Almost relaxing.”

  Something about Joann’s voice implied that Susan was a complete klutz. “I’m just not used to this type of kayak,” she started her explanation again. “See, in Maine-”

  “I’ve been thinking about the murder,” Joann interrupted. “I think it’s possible that Allison knew someone was going to kill her.”

  Susan was astonished. “Why?”

  Joann scowled at Susan and then managed to give James a look that was both imperious and demanding. “I believe my husband could use your assistance.”

  “Of course. If Mrs. Henshaw doesn’t need me…”

  “You go ahead. I’ll be fine,” Susan assured him. “I’ll call if I think I’m going to fall in.”

  “What’s he going to do? Pull you out and dry you off?” Joann asked as James spun his kayak around and pointed it toward her husband.

  “I’ve got the hang of this now. Why did you say what you said?”

  “Not in front of the servants,” Joann said, putting one pudgy finger to her lips.

  Susan waited until she deemed James out of hearing range to ask the question again. “You said that you thought Allison knew someone was trying to kill her?” She liked this woman less and less, but was curious to know where this would lead.

  “Yes. I said that. And I can tell you why.”

  “Why?”

  “I must tell you that Allison and I had a very interesting talk two days before she was killed.”

  Susan made an effort to keep her impatience to herself. “Really? You talked about murder?”

  “In a way. We talked about death.”

  “What about it?”

  “Perhaps I should start at the beginning.”

  “Please do.”

  “Well, I was lying by the pool-in the shade, of course. I cannot understand what these people are thinking when they sprawl out in the scorching sun for hours and hours. Haven’t they heard of melanomas?”

  “Was Allison lying in the shade, as well?”

  “No. And now that I think about it, that was unusual. She was talking about the value of life when, in fact, she was practically squandering it.”

  “She was talking about the value of life? Is that what makes you think someone was trying to kill her?”

  “No, that’s what led to the comment that makes me think she knew someone was going to try to kill her. I do think I should tell this story in my own way.”

  Susan doubted if Joann was capable of telling anything any other way. “That’s fine.”

  “So there I was, lying in the shade, relaxing, enjoying being on my own-and then Allison sat down a few chaises away from me and almost immediately began to talk about herself. To tell you the honest truth, I was irritated. Yes, I was irritated and I can honestly admit now that she is gone that I’m ashamed of feeling that way.”

  “But how could you know she was going to die?”

  “Exactly! How could I have known she was going to die?” Joann shook her head so hard that her kayak rocked back and forth.

  Susan hoped Joann wasn’t going to fall into the water now that they were finally getting to the topic she found interesting. “Go on,” she urged. “What did she say about herself?”

  “She started out by saying that she was relaxed for the first time in years. Well, I disregarded that. We’re all here to relax. It would be almost immoral to say anything else. I don’t remember how I responded. I probably said something like, ‘I know how you feel.’ In fact, now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what I said. I know I didn’t encourage her to keep talking about herself. But she did anyway. You know how some people are.”

  “Yes. What did she tell you?”

  “She said she was here alone and that she was using the time to examine her own life. Well, I don’t know about you, but I consider all this self-examination stuff a load of cow doo-doo. I never waste any time examining my own life. I do what I do and that is that. I’ve always been that way.”

  Susan suspected that Joann was too busy talking about herself to examine anything, but that isn’t what she said. “Apparently Allison didn’t feel the same way.”

  “No, and her conversation was a fine example of where all this life-examining garbage can lead. No sooner did she start talking about life, the value of life, what she had done with her life, all that crap, than she started talking about death. Her own death!”

  “In what way? I mean, she didn’t just say, ‘I’ve been thinking about my own death.’ ”

  “She did! Well, she almost did. At least that’s what she began rambling on and on about. Very boring. I almost didn’t bother to listen. But then she said something that will interest you.” Joann stopped dramatically, brushed a stray curl of hair off her forehead, and almost toppled her kayak.

  Susan willed her lips not to curve upward. “Are you all right?” she asked, when Joann had stopped wobbling.

  “Of course. But I will admit that what I’m about to tell you is very upsetting. It upsets me to think of it and it upsets me to talk about it. But I believe in doing what is right so… Allison said she didn’t think her own death would be peaceful.”

  “What did you say?”

  “I actually don’t remember. It’s possible…” Susan heard a hint of insecurity in the other woman’s voice for the first time. “It’s possible that she said she expected to die a violent death. Well, you can imagine how I felt.”

  “Of course, I’d be horribly upset if someone said anything like that to me. I mean, you must have been shocked and horrified and-”

  “I was appalled. What a thing to say to me on vacation. I’m here to relax. I have a very complex life to return to in a few weeks. I certainly don’t expect to be burdened with a stranger’s silly worries.”

  “Oh. Did you ask her what she meant?” Susan asked. “I mean, what sort of violence?”

  “Of course not! I just told you that I was quite upset by what she said. Why would you ever imagine I’d encourage her to continue talking about it?”

  “But-you said she predicted her own murder?” Susan protested.

  “I believe what I said was that it was possible she knew she was going to be murdered. She talked to me about a violent end to her life. What is more violent than murder?”

  Susan wouldn’t have argued with that even if she had thought there was half a chance that Joann would listen to anything she said. She just paddled back toward land with the rest of her group, wondering if she had le
arned anything this morning.

  Later, reviewing what little she had been told, she realized the high point of the morning had been Joann’s kayak flipping over and dumping its passenger in the water as she passed the gazebo. Even Martin had smiled at that one.

  FOURTEEN

  Kathleen was sitting on the deck of her cottage, apparently writing postcards, as relaxed and content as any tourist.

  Susan, recognizing a facade when she saw one, rushed to her friend’s side. “How’s Jerry? Did you see him?”

  The smile that appeared on Kathleen’s face was real. “He’s okay, at least for now. There’s an American embassy office here. Not a big one, but the woman who runs it has been wonderful. I don’t know how she did it, but she managed to convince the higher-ups in the local police department that everyone concerned would be better off if Jerry was incarcerated on U.S.-held property. Fortunately, the embassy offices were built on the ruins of an old English fort. Jerry’s locked up in a guarded room on the ground floor. It’s a bit musty and damp, but he has a sensational view out over the sea. For the time being at least, he’s safe.”

  “What did he say? Did he tell you anything about Allison, or-” Susan stopped, realizing that Kathleen probably didn’t know that Jerry and Allison had been together the day of her death. “-or anything,” she concluded.

  “A police officer stayed in the room with us, so we were both careful about what we said,” Kathleen answered. “But we talked for a bit. In fact, I’ve been writing notes here. I’m trying to figure out whether or not he was trying to tell me something that no one else would understand.”

  “What do you mean? Some sort of code? What did he actually say?” Susan repositioned the card closest to her so that she could read the words written in Kathleen’s perfect Palmer-method script.

  “Not a code. I thought he might be saying things that only he and I would understand. If that’s what he was trying to do, he failed. At least, I didn’t get it.”

  “What did he say?” Susan asked again.

  “He started out by telling me that he was fine, being treated well, not to worry. All that type of thing. He’s worried about the kids. What will happen to them if this hits the news back home and they hear about it.”