So why did Helen annul the divorce proceedings? Tom must be holding something over her head to have made her stay.
Helen was livid with Carl, so much so that she followed him to the casino and threatened him. Could she have confronted him on the riverboat and killed him when he refused to return their money? Yes, Lana could easily imagine that she could have.
So how did Mrs. Henderson fit into all of this? Was she the target, or was it Jess? Mrs. Henderson was almost invisible on this trip. She seemed happy to go along for the ride and certainly didn’t upset anyone. Except for the night Carl died and she couldn’t sleep because of all the noises. Oh no, Lana moaned. The doors opening and closing kept Mrs. Henderson awake. And she blamed “that girl” for keeping her up.
What if the girl Mrs. Henderson was referring to was Helen and not Jess? Mrs. Henderson died shortly after Lana told her group that the police were going to question them about the night Carl disappeared. If Mrs. Henderson told them that she’d seen Helen in the hallway, her statement would contradict Helen’s alibi.
What if Helen did push Carl into the Danube and Tom figured it out? He could be using that as blackmail to stay married. Tom’s life had improved dramatically since Carl’s death, but not Helen’s. At the beginning of the trip, Helen dominated their relationship. That all changed after Carl’s body was found.
Yet someone like Helen wouldn’t be able to demurely sit by and watch Tom destroy her father’s business. What if she thought the only way to free herself from Tom was to kill him – just like Elektra?
Lana looked up to their box. Tom was leaning far over the railing, gazing through the opera glasses. Helen’s arms were coiling back like a snake ready to strike. Lana jumped out of her chair. “It’s Helen! She killed Carl and Mrs. Henderson!”
“That is enough. Security!” the woman behind Lana shrieked so loudly that she momentarily drowned out the opera.
Tom startled at the noise and leaned back into the box as he looked down, exactly at the same moment that Helen’s hand shot out to push him. Her arms slid over his back, yet the momentum was enough to force him over the balustrade. As Tom fell headfirst, he grabbed onto a rail and hung on for dear life.
“Helen is trying to kill her husband! Someone help him – there, in the box!” Lana screamed as she pointed up. A spotlight whipped around until it found Tom. Helen was clawing at his hand, trying to loosen his grip. When the light hit her, she sprung up like a cat and ran out of the box.
Moments later, other patrons raced to Tom’s rescue, earning a loud round of applause as they pulled him up to safety.
32 What Was The Catch?
Once again, the police took statements from Lana and her group, this time in the lobby of the opera house, after which they were allowed to return to their seats. Lana shared all of the information she had discovered about her guests, persuading the police that this was not an accident, but a murder attempt.
After she’d been released, Lana excused herself from the group and found a quiet place to talk. She thought it prudent to call Dotty before the Budapest police contacted her.
Luckily it was early afternoon in Seattle. Dotty answered on the fifth ring. It took Lana a few minutes to get her up to speed.
“I don’t understand why Helen wouldn’t just divorce Tom. Why did she try to kill him?”
“Tom must have been embezzling from her boat rental company in order to invest in that plastic recycling plant. Unfortunately for him, it was a Ponzi scheme, and he lost everything he invested. Helen mentioned that her home was double-mortgaged. It doesn’t sound like they had a lot of cash on hand. When the rental fleet was damaged in that storm, I bet there wasn’t enough money left to fix them all. Especially considering his company was underinsured. Helen filed for divorce right after her accountant called, then withdrew her petition two days later. I bet Tom figured out that she killed Carl and was holding it over her. If Helen divorced him, he would have nothing. But he had destroyed her father’s legacy. I can imagine the thought of being stuck with Tom drove her to murder.”
“How the heck does Carl fit into this?” Dotty asked. Lana wasn’t sure whether it was the static on the line or the sadness in her heart, but Dotty sounded terrible.
“Jess saw them reviewing maintenance contracts at the café where she works. I think Carl had somehow convinced Tom that he could get his yachts fixed for less than the going rate.”
“What was the catch?”
“Apparently Tom discovered that Carl was lying and demanded his money back. But it was too late. Carl had already gambled it away. That’s what I overhead in the labyrinth.”
“So Tom killed Carl?”
“No, Helen did. She confronted Carl at the casino but got kicked out by security. I think she waited on the upper deck and confronted him about the money. I wouldn’t be surprised if he laughed at her like he did Tom. Helen does have quite a temper. I bet she didn’t mean to kill him.”
“But she did. Carl is dead. Oh, poor Sally. What a nightmare. But why did Margret Henderson have to die?”
“I don’t know for certain. I suspect it is because Mrs. Henderson’s statement about the night Carl died would have contradicted Helen’s. Tom admitted to poisoning Mrs. Henderson, so she was the intended victim, not Jess. The police have both Tom and Helen in custody.”
“Good. If Tom had anything to do with either of the deaths, he should pay for it, as well.”
Chimes rang through the lobby, signaling that the opera was about to resume. Dotty must have heard it, too.
“Lana, take good care of my group, or what’s left of them anyway. I sure hope you enjoy the New Year’s celebrations tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Lana’s eyes widened when she looked at her watch. In two hours, this year would be over. She could not wait to start anew. “Happy New Year, Dotty!”
33 Happy New Year!
After the police were finished questioning several patrons, the opera resumed as if nothing had happened. The final curtain was drawn to a tremendous applause.
Lana, still in a daze, escorted her group back to the Danube for their final celebration. Dotty had originally booked a champagne cruise at midnight, but Lana thought it was too soon for any of them to board another boat. Yesterday, with the hotel receptionist’s help, Lana had arranged for her group to celebrate New Year’s Eve at a fancy restaurant with a terrace overlooking Chain Bridge.
At ten to midnight, her group reassembled outside, champagne in hand, as they waited for the world-famous fireworks show to commence. When Lana stepped out onto the balcony, the cold wind whipped through her clothes, and wisps of snow settled on her hair. But the views made her stay. Chain Bridge was so close, she felt as if she could touch it. The thousands of lights illuminating the many bridges and monuments were reflected in the waters of the Danube, turning the river into fluid diamonds.
Loud speakers counted down the minutes. When they reached the last seconds of the year, her group joined in, all screaming at the top of their lungs. Lana felt pure bliss bubbling to the surface. In a few seconds, this year would be over, and a new one would begin. A new year full of new possibilities. Lana could not wait.
The massive crowds lining both sides of the river yelled out in unison, “Three, two, one!”
Fireworks exploded across the Danube, lighting up the cityscape with gigantic balls of color. The deep explosions drowned out any conversation. Lana’s group stood side by side at the railing, stunned by the beauty of this perfect night. Despite all of the drama, Lana had really enjoyed leading this group. Considering the high body count, she doubted Dotty would hire her again. But it was a new career option to consider. Lana pushed thoughts of the future out of her mind and let herself get caught up in the festive spirit of renewal.
As the last burst lit up the night, it seemed as if all of Budapest erupted in applause. Lana’s heart burst with joy. The worst year of her life was now officially over. Tears of happiness trickled down her frozen cheeks.
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“Happy New Year!” she screamed, kissing and hugging her tour group as if they were close friends. Best of all, her guests hugged her back with all their might.
It was going to be a great year.
34 Last Breakfast in Budapest
January 1 – Day Six of the Wanderlust Tour in Budapest, Hungary
The new year began with a headache for Lana Hansen. A pounding sensation in her brain woke her early and had her guzzling water in the bathroom until she felt human again. Lana wasn’t much of a drinker, but last night her entire tour group had overindulged, and she’d joined in willingly.
Lana crawled back into bed and slept more soundly than she had in months. When a distant beeping broke through her scattered dreams, she used one finger to lift her eyelid and find the source. Her alarm clock was beckoning her.
“Nuts, breakfast time,” she mumbled.
It was their last day in Budapest, and her job this morning was to rush her group through breakfast and get them into an airport shuttle bus by eleven. It was already seven-thirty, and she hadn’t yet packed up her bags. Lana shot out of bed, threw open her suitcase, and tossed all of her clothes inside. They didn’t fit as well as when they were neatly folded, but it would have to do. Most would need to be washed as soon as she returned home, anyway.
As soon as her bags were ready to go, Lana skipped down to the breakfast room, curious to see who was already present. Not surprisingly, the Fabulous Five were tucking into breakfast. The extra person at their table brought a smile to Lana’s face.
“Sally, you’re back!” Lana wrapped her up in a hug. Sally held her tight, wiping away a tear when they pulled apart. “What happened? Did the police release you?”
“Yes, they did. Whatever Helen and Tom told them, they are finally convinced that I didn’t kill Carl or Margret Henderson.”
The police inspector who had arrested Sally entered the breakfast room. He was finishing up a call in Hungarian. As soon as he hung up, he came over to Lana and gave her his hand.
“Good morning, do you have a moment to talk?”
“Of course,” Lana said, surprised by his polite tone. His eyes were bloodshot, and there was a thick layer of black stubble on his chin. Lana wondered whether he had slept at all since she saw him last. She led them to the lobby, well away from the Fabulous Five’s prying ears.
“I thought you should know that we have completed our questioning of Helen and Tom Roberts. They are responsible for both murders.”
“Was I right about Helen’s motives? Was it purely for financial reasons?”
The inspector shrugged. “Helen maintains that when Carl returned from the casino, he tried to force himself on her. While running away from him, she hit him with the rescue hook, and he went overboard. She claims she didn’t tell her husband because she was ashamed.”
“Do you believe her?”
“Not really. We found video footage of her fighting with Carl in the casino. Your friends were right; she was demanding that Carl return several thousand dollars that he’d taken from her husband. We are in contact with the Seattle police, though I doubt we will ever know what really happened that night on the boat.”
“And Tom? Did he kill Mrs. Henderson?” Lana still couldn’t call her Margret.
“Tom and Helen worked together on that one. Helen was worried Margret Henderson would tell us about seeing her in the hallway late at night, thus contradicting her alibi. She crushed up several of her Valium pills, and Tom added them to a shot of pálinka that Mrs. Henderson drank after they’d returned from Visegrád.”
“Helen told you that?”
“No, Tom did. He is cooperating fully. Frankly, I think he’s scared of what his wife might do to him if she’s set free.”
Lana puffed out her cheeks. “It is such a relief knowing that neither will get away with these murders. Thank you. I’ll inform the owner of Wanderlust Tours about your findings.”
#
When Lana returned to the breakfast room, Jess had joined the Fabulous Five. She was sitting next to Nicole and directly across from Sally. Lana’s steps slowed as she worried about the impending confrontation, but it seemed as if Jess and Sally had called a truce. Lana glanced at the empty chairs, her thoughts turning to Carl and Margret.
Both Jess and Sally were probably better off without Carl. The man was a con artist incapable of love. But poor Mr. Henderson; his wife died for nothing.
She felt a tear coming on until she recalled his words about life and love. At least they’d had sixty-seven wonderful years together. Ron’s betrayal had broken her spirit and trust in men. But there were plenty more fish in the sea, as Dotty would say. She was only thirty-seven; there was more than enough time to fall in love again.
Too soon, it was time to go to the airport. Their departure was a flurry of embraces and tears. Sara made a point of pulling Lana aside so they could talk more easily. “You are a wonderful guide; all of us girls think so. I’ll be sure to tell Dotty how much you helped us enjoy Budapest, despite all of the problems.”
Lana gently squeezed her shoulder. “Thank you, Sara. But I doubt Dotty will ask me to work for her again.”
Sara cocked her head and raised an eyebrow.
“The two bodies?”
Sara waved her words away. “That can happen to anyone. You didn’t kill Carl or Margret. It’s not your fault someone else did. I’m sure it’ll all work out.”
“Thanks, Sara.” Lana smiled at the older lady, not believing a word she said. She began to pick up her bag when a sudden thought made her stop and address the group. “Oh, could I ask you all for one last favor…”
Minutes later, the airport announcement system crackled to life. Their plane was boarding. They waved at each other from their seats, scattered around the airplane, until the door closed and the stewardesses asked them to buckle up. Lana took her place by the window. As much as she wanted to stretch out, she couldn’t bring herself to use Carl’s reserved seat, empty beside her.
35 Snuggling with Seymour
January 2 – Seattle, Washington
“You’re right. The fresh ginger is zesty,” Dotty said. Her curlers were out, and the resulting ringlets hugged her heart-shaped face. She and Lana sat in Dotty’s living room, sipping tea while Lana recounted her adventures in Budapest. Rodney was in Dotty’s lap, his curled tail twitching as she scratched at his back. Chipper chewed on a fake bone, his tail thumping against the couch in rhythm with his bites.
Seymour was spread across Lana’s lap, purring contently. Her cat had not let her out of his sight since she had returned yesterday afternoon. After she set her teacup down, Seymour pushed his head into her hand and meowed. “I missed you too, fur ball. More than you know.” Lana ran her fingers through his velvety black fur as he stretched out.
“Sara and Frieda told me all about the trip and how you kept it upbeat, even after everything that happened. Everyone left five-star reviews, even Jess. I do appreciate it.”
“Really? I didn’t expect Jess to have bothered. That’s wonderful news.”
“So next week I have a bird-watching tour heading to Costa Rica for ten days. Three more tourists want to join, but I would need another guide to commit before I can book them. What do you say? It is warm and sunny down there this time of year.”
“Are you kidding me? Two of your guests died on my first tour.”
“You didn’t kill them. That was just bad luck.”
“But I have to…” What did she have to do exactly? Seymour was in excellent hands with Dotty. Willow could easily fill her one-hour-a-week teaching slot. And Lana already had enough gift cards to feed her chai habit for several months.
Lana had always dreamed about visiting Central America – the volcanoes, snorkeling, and rainforests sounded magical. What did she have to lose by saying yes? Absolutely nothing.
Sensing her hesitation, Dotty added, “Carl was booked to work a two-week tour around Berlin later in January and an eight-day trip to Paris in
February. I sure could use your help with those, as well.”
“Dotty, are you certain you trust me?”
“Of course I do! You’ll be working with at least one other guide on each trip. The Costa Rica tour is a big group, so there will be three other guides present. All are quite experienced. And one is pretty cute.” Dotty winked as she took another sip of tea. “So, what do you say?”
“Yes. I would absolutely love to work on all three tours.” Lana’s eyes widened in excitement. Her passport was going to get quite a workout! She had been dreading returning to Seattle and having to look for work. The only consolation had been that she didn’t have to worry about paying rent for three months. So far, this new year was a vast improvement over the past one.
“Excellent. I must say, one of the men taking the Costa Rica trip is quite hunky.”
“Is hunky even a word, Dotty?”
“Oh, I don’t know. But it should be. So, let me tell you about him. He seems quite athletic. I bet he works out a lot. And he requested that we include a kayaking trip along the coast, as part of the tour.”
“A kayaker? That does sound good,” Lana leaned back into Dotty’s overstuffed couch, one hand holding a cup of tea while the other stroked Seymour’s soft fur. As she listened to her friend outline why this guest might just be Lana’s perfect match, a smile played on her lips.
Life was so much better with good friends.
THE END
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