Max crossed his arms over his chest. “Lady, this is dangerous. You shouldn’t be looking for a killer at all.”
Aunt Julia simply gave him one of her looks, which eventually made him fidget and sigh. “Okay, I get it. You aren’t going to stop.”
“No. Especially since Giles will be calling the police in when we dock at Vicksburg.”
“Seems like that would be a good thing,” Max said.
“It would, except the detective happens to be Aunt Julia’s nemesis, Artemis Leonard.” Nora took out a cigarette and Max lit a match, cupping his hands against the wind. She leaned over to touch the cigarette to the flame, then blew out a stream of smoke. She supposed it looked sophisticated right up until she started coughing.
Max squinted through the smoke. “You mean you’ve done this sort of investigating before and run into this Leonard guy?”
“That’s right and I aim to hand him the killer. Now, you were one of the first on the scene that night, Max. What do you remember? Did you see anything?” Aunt Julia asked.
Max’s eyes got a faraway look. “I was supposed to meet Delilah on the sun deck that night, but apparently someone beat me to it. I had been there actually right before.” He looked at the matches in his hand. “Having a smoke. Then I went down to my room for something and that’s when I heard her scream.”
“You didn’t see anyone?” Aunt Julia said.
Max shook his head. “No.”
“Oxley didn’t come up until much later, after you had pulled the body up,” Nora pointed out.
“Perhaps that was to establish an alibi of sorts. He wouldn’t want to show up right away and could claim he’d heard the scream and needed the time to get ready and come up from his room,” Aunt Julia said.
“That could be the case, but it doesn’t tell us anything,” Nora said. “The killer might have wanted to show up early or late or not at all. Like Vera and Beau Hinchcliffe. Beau had poked his head out right away, but who’s to say how long he had been in the room. Maybe he’d slipped in after pushing Delilah over. He even made it a point to make a big deal about how he’d slept so well the night that someone returned the bracelet and took the picture from Delilah’s room… was that to provide himself with an alibi?”
“But what is his motive? Now I wonder if her death had anything to do with the drugs.” Aunt Julia looked at Max. “If the two are related, it only makes sense to work together.”
Max thought about that for a few seconds. “I could use some help. I suspect that Oxley is keeping the drugs in a storage room for the show. He keeps it locked. I can pick the lock—the locks on this ship are easy enough to pick—but he keeps a close eye on it. If you could distract him, I can get in there and have my proof. Once I have that I’m sure I can get a confession for her murder.”
“If he’s the killer,” Aunt Julia said. “Though it will help me to know either way.” Aunt Julia glanced at Nora who nodded. The prospect of working with Max Lawton wasn’t entirely unappealing. “I say you have yourself a deal.”
They shook on it. “Good. But don’t do anything dangerous. I don’t want that on my conscience.”
“Oh, we won’t.” Aunt Julia pressed her lips together. “I know the perfect thing. We’ll distract Oxley tonight during the dancing after dinner. It’s a big event, this being the last night, and all, so he’s sure to show up at some point. The backstage area will be empty with everyone out front on stage, so you won’t be seen.”
“Okay, that could work and doesn’t sound dangerous for either of you.” Max’s eyes flicked to Nora. “We’ll meet right here afterwards and I’ll fill you in on how I plan to arrest him.”
Aunt Julia clapped her hands together. “Perfect! And we’ll keep this on the hush hush?” She glanced around as if to reassure herself no one else was there.
“At least we agree on that,” Max said.
“Good then, it’s settled. Let’s get going—there’s lots to do and only two days left in which to do it.”
Chapter Sixteen
Vera Hinchcliffe smoothed her hair that had been pinned into a chignon at the base of her neck. The slate-blue gown with silver beading she’d chosen was both stylish and demure. It was sure to please Martha. And Beau. It made her happy to please Beau and, surprisingly, she found herself looking for the approval of Martha more often now too. But it would all be ruined if they knew what she’d done. And though her biggest problem had been solved, she still had a little matter to take care of.
“Oh darn!” She studied herself in the mirror, turning her head to the side as Beau came up behind her.
“What’s the matter?” He seemed genuinely concerned.
“I forgot my gray pearl earrings, the ones you gave me for our three-month anniversary! I put them in the secret compartment in the trunk and forgot to take them out.” Since Vera had brought so much luggage, Beau had arranged for the stewards to take some of their trunks to the freight area. Which, as it turned out, was a stroke of good luck for her.
“I’ll go get them.”
“No!” Vera stood and put her hand on his chest. It was warm and soothing. “You’re not ready yet, you still have to dress and bathe and I’m all ready. We don’t want to be late and upset your mother. I have the time. I’ll go.”
Beau frowned. “I don’t like the idea of you wandering around on your own.”
Vera laughed. “Now now, it’s broad daylight. I think I can handle going to the freight deck. I know right where it is; Giles Hendricks showed me earlier today.”
Beau looked as if he was making up his mind. “Well, if you’re sure.”
Vera pushed him toward the bathroom. “Of course I am. Now don’t you worry. You go get ready. I need you to be all spiffed up for dinner.”
She gave him a peck on the cheek and closed the door. Once she heard the water running, she grabbed the item she’d hidden, shoved it in the pocket of a light jacket that she threw over her dress so it wouldn’t get dirty and headed out the door.
Johnny Stokes waited patiently in his room for everyone to go down to dinner. The ticket Rodney had gotten from Delilah was for one of the smaller cabins on the Miss Delta Belle. Likely the worst room on the ship, but he could hardly complain. It was barely big enough to fit the twin bed, but it had its own washroom and was clean. Of course, being above the boiler room it was a bit noisy, but it was free and it gave him the opportunity to get on board the ship. An opportunity that would come in handy for his end goal.
The hissing of the boilers didn’t bother him; he was a sound sleeper and with so much to do on the ship, he hardly stayed in it anyway. Except for now. Now he didn’t dare exit, he didn’t want anyone to see him and wonder why he wasn’t going along with them to the dining room. He had an important mission, one that meant life or death to him.
He resisted the urge to peek out. He’d done that earlier and seen that nosey old lady, Julia Marsh, with her nose pressed to the lock on her cabin door. Why she would be doing that, he had no idea. Perhaps she was some sort of thief. She asked enough questions to be suspicious. He made a mental note to avoid her, questions were something he didn’t need right now.
Putting his ear up to the door, he could hear people moving along in the hallway. His room was at the opposite end from the larger suites and the people would pass his door on their way to the stairs. Once he could hear no one else, it would be safe to exit.
It wouldn’t take but a few minutes and then he could join the others at dinner and, hopefully, no one would be any the wiser.
Thankfully they would reach their destination tomorrow night and the trip would be over. If he played his cards right, no one would suspect what he’d done and he could exit the ship free and clear.
Nora emerged from her room in the new emerald dress with the beaded bodice and silk skirt at precisely five forty-five to find Aunt Julia inspecting the doorknob to her room. Julia looked spiffy in a sky-blue ensemble complete with a feather adorned hat and layers of opalescent beads.
Julia straightened. “These locks really are easy to pick. I’ll have to talk to Giles about that.” She looked Nora over approvingly. “Are you ready for dinner?”
Judging by the gleam in her aunt’s eye, Nora could see that she was excited at the prospect of distracting Oxley. Hopefully it wouldn’t backfire.
Nora kept her eye out for Max Lawton as they made their way to the dining room. She didn’t see him, not even when she took a detour past the library to peek in at the poker games.
As they stepped off the bottom stair into the dining room, she finally spied him at a table in the back. Their eyes locked and he gave an almost imperceptible nod before she was distracted by Martha Hinchcliffe waving in their direction.
“I suppose we may as well sit with them.” Aunt Julia leaned in. “Gives us an extra chance to talk to some of our suspects.”
No sooner were they seated than the Montfords joined them.
“Have you found your watch?” Aunt Julia’s question caused Percival to look grumpy.
“I can’t say as I’ve looked. I’m sure it’s in my valise, or maybe the bureau.”
“Or it could have fallen under the bed,” Martha Hinchcliffe offered helpfully. “That happened to me once.”
“Vera left something in her bag. It happens. In fact she had to get it out of her trunk earlier,” Beau said.
“Yes, I did. Even young people forget.” Vera shrugged and opened her beaded purse. The beads were a pretty violet-blue color that matched the soft chiffon dress she wore.
The band started to play muted tones of jazz and soon they were digging into prime rib and roast chicken. In between the main course and dessert Aunt Julia leaned over to Nora. “Looks like someone is joining us a bit late.”
Nora’s gaze swiveled in the direction Julia indicated and she saw Johnny Stokes coming down the stairs. He paused at the bottom and scanned the room for an empty seat. “What do you make of that?”
Aunt Julia pressed her lips together. “I’m not quite sure.”
Finally, the tables were cleared and Lily and Joy took the stage. Lily was wearing a flamingo-colored gown with ostrich feather edging that Nora had seen in Delilah’s dressing room. She fit into it almost perfectly except she didn’t have the matching jewelry that Delilah seemed to have. Instead Lily wore only a subtle black bracelet and gold beads.
Soon Oxley emerged from backstage and leaned against the wall, watching the show. When the band picked up the pace, Aunt Julia pushed up from the table. “Wish me luck.”
“Where are you going?” Nora asked.
“I’m going to distract Oxley. He certainly can’t refuse to dance with an old lady!”
“Oh, but I thought I would—”
“You can take over when they launch into those modern dances.”
Nora watched as Aunt Julia made her way across the room. The dance floor was getting full. Oxley looked reluctant at first, but eventually he couldn’t resist Aunt Julia’s powers of persuasion and they took to the floor. In the background Nora saw Max slip through the door that led backstage. Hopefully he would come up with something.
Aunt Julia was starting to look a little winded, so when the band started playing a faster song, Nora ventured out and tapped her on the shoulder.
“Oh, dear, would you like to dance? Mr. Oxley is such a good dancer!” Aunt Julia smoothly handed him off before the guy could complain.
Oxley hesitated. “I really must—”
“Don’t be silly! You deserve a break. This trip must have been very hard on you.” Nora nudged him along and he had no choice but to continue around the floor or be trampled by the other dancers.
“It has been rather hard.” He glanced at the door that led backstage and Nora twirled him in the opposite direction so he couldn’t see the door.
“I’m sure you must miss Delilah, but you’re taking it very well,” Nora said.
“The show must go on.”
Nora drew on her knowledge of human behavior to analyze his response. Most performers would say “the show must go on” but Oxley seemed more nervous than sad. Of course, if he was hiding drugs on board that might account for that.
“It’s commendable that you’ve done such a nice job here in spite of what has happened. The entertainment has been wonderful.”
Oxley narrowed his gaze on the stage where Lily was bee-bopping a jazz tune. “Yes, I suppose it has.”
“Lily was a great choice. Must have been hard to choose between her and Joy, they both have lovely voices.”
Oxley stiffened. “Joy didn’t want the position and Lily was happy to fill in.”
Nora saw a dark look in Oxley’s eyes as he watched the singers. Was it true that Joy didn’t want the lead job? If so, why? Perhaps she didn’t want to call attention to herself. She’d been one of the first ones on the scene at Delilah’s death, how was it possible that she’d gotten there so much sooner if she’d been in her room with Lily?
Oxley’s attention had drifted back to the door leading backstage and again she twirled him in the other direction. All this twirling was making her dizzy but she wanted to ask a few more questions to see his reaction. A chill crept up her spine—she could be dancing with a killer!
“You certainly like to take the lead,” Oxley said.
“Huh? Oh right. Sorry.” She’d been trying to make sure he didn’t see Max sneak out of the backstage area, though Max was smart enough to use the other door, which would be much less noticeable. “Speaking of the lead. It’s nice you took the lead on packing Delilah’s things. That couldn’t have been easy. All her personal items.”
Oxley sighed. “It was hard. But that stuff needs to go to her family and someone had to do it. But enough about depressing events, tell me, how are you enjoying the cruise?”
Oxley steered the conversation toward more general topics for the next four songs at which point Aunt Julia mercifully stepped in. Nora retreated to the table wishing prohibition was over; she could use a drink. Then the band took a break. Nora glanced over at Aunt Julia who nodded at her to indicate that she would keep Oxley occupied. Not much longer now. In ten minutes the band would start the last set and she and Aunt Julia could meet Max.
Chapter Seventeen
“I must say, this is very exciting,” Aunt Julia whispered. They’d slipped through the door behind the stage with much secrecy to make sure they weren’t noticed and were now standing in the narrow, dimly lit hallway that led to the small deck where they had arranged to meet Max Lawton.
“That’s one way to describe it.” Dangerous, foolish and questionable were some others, though Nora had to admit she did see the appeal.
“I feel like the spy in my book, Intrigue in the Garden. Do you have any of those cigarettes? I think it would be appropriate on this mission.” Aunt Julia turned to Nora.
“I don’t think we have time for that.” Had she created a monster with this cigarette business? She’d only been trying to appear modern.
Aunt Julia shrugged and they continued down the hallway, their steps echoing hollowly. Nora could hear the band and commotion coming from the dining room. At the end of the hall she could see the full moon bright in the sky, sending shafts of light dancing on the rippling wake created by the paddle wheel. Max Lawton leaned against the railing, a dark silhouette highlighted by the moon.
“Did you get into the storage room?” Aunt Julia asked.
“I did, but unfortunately all that was in there were stage props. Chairs, curtains, trunks full of costumes and some seasonal decorations for the ship. I searched them all. Thanks for keeping Oxley occupied.” He glanced at Nora. “I hope you didn’t have to do anything risqué.”
“We simply kept him busy on the dance floor,” Aunt Julia answered for them both. “He could hardly be rude and refuse us.”
“I did get a chance to ask some questions and study his behavior.” Nora dug for a cigarette. Maybe Aunt Julia was right about these things
… hopefully they weren’t addictive. “Of course, I could tell that he was hiding something, and he was worried, but I’m not sure it was just for himself.”
“An accomplice!” Aunt Julia exclaimed.
“But who?” Max lit Nora’s cigarette, and the yellow flame of his lighter glowed bright in the dark and lit the angles of his face.
Nora took a deep puff then exhaled, looking up at the sky where hundreds of stars twinkled. “I cannot be sure, he seemed to be watching several people. The singers or maybe a member of the band, and I saw him glance at the Hinchcliffes’ table. Of course, others were seated there too.”
“Doctor Montford was there, wasn’t he?” Aunt Julia said.
“Yes, he was.”
“The one that examined Delilah’s body?” Max asked.
Aunt Julia’s expression was thoughtful. “Yes. He’s Oxley’s uncle and rather an unusual character. Forgetful with his belongings—he lost his pocket watch—but adamant the body had no additional clues as to the killer.”
“Which he would be if he were working with the killer,” Max said. “And if Oxley is a relation he could be covering for him. He could even be in on the drug smuggling.”
Aunt Julia pursed her lips together. Thankfully she’d forgotten about smoking a cigarette, her mind now focused on ferreting out suspects. “I wonder if the doctor could mess with evidence. Naturally the killer would want to make sure the body doesn’t have any little fibers or markings that point to them before we dock and the police come. Doctor Montford would be a great ally for that.”
“And the body is in cold storage near the freight room. I imagine that area isn’t monitored much. Plenty of opportunity for the killer to do something if the good doctor didn’t mess with it while he was examining it that night,” Max said.
Murder on a Mississippi Steamboat Page 11