All Summer Long

by Dorothea Benton Frank

  It was not to be.

  Bob was there reading the news on his iPad. Ellen was seated to his right and Gladdie was in between them, eating pancakes with her fingers. Colette was on his left, smiling and pretending to be the hostess, chatting up Dorothy and Michelle. Knowing that Colette was at the root of all the hullabaloo, which he deemed to be totally juvenile and unnecessary, Bob turned his chair away from her to better ignore her.

  By the clench of Ellen’s jaw, Olivia surmised that Ellen was not happy with Colette’s presumption to the throne.

  The bride and groom had already left for Saint-Tropez. Bob had been there to see them off, but he did not think it was a good idea to throw a shadow on their honeymoon with the story about Maritza. It wasn’t necessary.

  Everyone else was in various stages of arriving and leaving the breakfast table and perhaps they were somewhat subdued, but the mood was almost like it was business as usual.

  “Good morning, Bob,” Olivia said. “Any news?”

  “Cappuccino?” a crew member asked her.

  “Yes, two, please, and grapefruit juice? Thanks.”

  “Good morning,” Bob said. “No, not yet. But I’m sure she’s fine. She’ll turn up.”

  “You seem awfully sure about that,” Nick said. “Um, I’d like a Swiss cheese and mushroom omelet.”

  The crew member looked at Olivia with a questioning expression. Their boss’s wife may have been missing, but people still had to eat.

  “I’ll just find something on the buffet,” Olivia said, adding, “Thanks.”

  “Well, Jack has his ear glued to the harbor news station and nothing has washed up on shore,” Bob said as though he was casually looking for a lost large rubber duck. “And he’s got a half-dozen men onshore asking around. I’m sure she’ll turn up before lunch.”

  “This is simply terrible,” Betty said. “Ernest is inside on his knees just praying as hard as he can for her safe return.”

  “Well, that’s awfully nice,” Bob said. “But make sure he gets something to eat.”

  Michelle was less interested in the blather coming from Colette, and she strained to hear what Bob was saying.

  “Bob,” Michelle said, “I’m a whole lot less sanguine than you about this. I think that if we don’t know any more by lunch, we should plan to contact the authorities. Does anyone agree with me?”

  Buddy said, “Shhh! Don’t intrude, honey. And you don’t want to frighten little ears.” He motioned toward Gladdie.

  “Agreed, Buddy. I told Dorothy to MYOB too,” Sam said.

  Dorothy was emotionally incapable of minding her own business, but the arrival of Colette had trimmed her sails. The line to ensconce oneself in Bob’s sheets had grown overnight. Olivia couldn’t help but wonder if Bob slept alone last night or not. It really would be the height of all bad taste to bonk the nanny or the ex-wife while your present wife was MIA and before you knew whether or not it was you who drove her to throw herself in the Balearic Sea.

  “I suggest we all busy ourselves this morning with a good book or a movie until after lunch. The plan is to set a northeast course to see the eastern side of Majorca and drop anchor on the tip of Majorca and take the launch over to Cala Ratjada. There are some amazing caves there and a castle on top of the hill that has a clear view of Menorca.”

  “Excuse me, Bob,” Betty said. “But we’re not going to leave without your wife, are we?”

  “Betty? She’s a big girl. She knows where to find us,” Bob said. “This is the biggest boat in the harbor. All she has to do is call a water taxi.”

  Betty had a look on her face that hung somewhere in between revulsion and incredulousness. That was the moment the thrill over Kitty’s becoming a part of Bob’s family was gone.

  “Where’s Mommy?” Gladdie said, looking around.

  Bob, who always had an answer for everything, stumbled around for the right words and finally said, “Uh, she went to town to go shopping. She’ll be back for lunch. Don’t worry.”

  Gladdie sensed that he was lying and she didn’t know what to say, so she started to cry, not like a spoiled brat, but like a frightened little girl. Bob’s heart melted.

  “Come on now,” Bob said and Gladdie climbed on his lap. “There’s my girl. Let’s dry your eyes now, okay? Your mommy wouldn’t leave you! She loves you!”

  “I think I might spend the day, Bob,” Colette said. “I haven’t seen the Caves of Drach in ages!”

  Ellen made some kind of guttural sound that bordered on a growl. Not loudly, but it was pronounced enough for Colette to hear.

  Colette swung around to Ellen and said, “Oh, I’m sorry. Does the help have an objection?”

  Everyone at the table was instantly riveted.

  “Of course not,” Ellen said.

  “Of course not who?” Colette stared at her. “Answer me, Ellen. Whom are you addressing?”

  Ellen stared back at her defiantly.

  Colette smiled delivered a classic Colette response. “I’m Mrs. Vasile, Ellen, and you’re the hired help.”

  “Whoo!” Dorothy said and shook her head.

  “Colette? Ellen? That’s enough out of both of you.” Bob said. “Ellen? Why don’t you take my precious child to watch Frozen?”

  “You’re the ex-wife,” Ellen said, lifting Gladdie into her arms. She walked slowly and finally went inside.

  Michelle smirked and said, “Pass the butter, please?”

  Olivia looked around the table to see that Betty was completely horrified and nervously wrapping a muffin in a napkin for Ernest. She couldn’t get away from them and back to Ernest fast enough.

  “Well, thank you for breakfast, Bob,” Betty said. “If there’s any word on Maritza, please let us know.”

  “Of course! Don’t worry about her! She’s fine.”

  Olivia and Nick were not going to discuss their doubts about Maritza’s welfare or whereabouts with any of the others, but after breakfast they went forward to the deck chairs on the bow and had plenty to say to each other. There was a delicious salty breeze and the sun was climbing to the top of the sky. They sat and were alone together, stealing a moment of privacy to share their thoughts.

  “Well, we’ve got ourselves a helluva situation here,” Nick said. “What if the poor girl did fall off the boat or what if she got pushed? There were a few people last night who could’ve had motive.”

  “I think so too. But who are you thinking? Colette? Dorothy?”

  “Maybe. And even Daniel. I’ve heard him make plenty of catty remarks about Maritza. Isn’t it always the classic problem with divorce that the children want their parents to stay together at any cost? He could’ve done it for Colette’s sake. And I’m sure he thought Maritza was spending his inheritance every time she opened her wallet.”

  “Do you think Daniel was so stupid that he didn’t notice Bob’s involvement with Ellen? A dead Maritza wouldn’t bring Bob back to Colette.”

  “True. That’s true. I guess we can rule out the likelihood of Daniel pushing her. But what about the others?”

  “I think they’re total bitches but not murderers. Can you see Colette or Dorothy wearing orange for ten to twenty? They’d die.”

  “So, okay. Let’s take murder off the table for the moment. Do you think she might have jumped?”

  “No.”

  “Kidnapped?”

  “I can’t see it. I think Bob humiliated her one too many times. I think Maritza has plain had it. And remember he said how disappointed he was in her?”

  “I surely do. It was awful.”

  “Bob doesn’t realize he makes himself look bad when he says things like that. And you want to know something that contradicts everything we’re saying?”

  “What?”

  “In his heart? Bob is a really sweet man; I mean he’s a pussycat. He’s generous, he’s smart. There are so many good things about him. He’s a true visionary in so many ways. He can be so thoughtful and on and on the list goes. He just has this one fatal f
law.”

  “Which is?”

  “He doesn’t understand love, with the exception of the affection he feels for Gladdie.”

  “Well, you’ve known him long enough to know how he ticks. Do you think it’s too early for a beer? The combination of warm weather and salt water makes me crave beer.”

  Olivia looked at her watch. It was after eleven-thirty.

  “We’re on vacation. I’ll go get you one. You just stay right there.”

  “Thanks, my love. I’m too tired to get up.”

  “Me too. Too much excitement.”

  Olivia felt so good then, luxuriating in the warmth of the sun. In that moment she felt she could’ve lived out the rest of her days in that very deck chair, but her own heart ached with Maritza’s pain. She prayed Maritza was safe and that she would return or be returned as soon as humanly possible. Olivia got up to find a crew member and ask for a beer for Bob.

  By lunchtime there was still no sign of Maritza. They all gathered at the table hoping Bob had some news to share, except for Gladdie and Ellen, who was cleverly avoiding Colette.

  “Okay, folks. Here’s the latest. I found her cell phone and her passport,” Bob said in a somber voice.

  “Oh God! Bob! No!” Olivia burst into tears.

  “This is not good news,” Nick said and handed Olivia his handkerchief with a compassionate look that said Compose yourself.

  “Who leaves home without their passport and cell phone?” Michelle said. “Right?”

  “Right,” Buddy said.

  “What does that mean?” Dorothy said.

  “Well, it greatly lessens the likelihood that she left voluntarily or that she planned to leave,” Sam said.

  “Hey, Bob?” Buddy said.

  “Yeah, I know. It’s time to call the police.”

  Olivia felt ill and she looked up to see Betty’s face. Betty was completely aghast and gripping Ernest’s arm so firmly he was grimacing in pain. Dorothy was baffled. Michelle poured herself and Dorothy a large glass of wine. Michelle looked bewildered, which would explain her uncustomary hospitality toward Dorothy. To no one’s surprise, Colette was amused.

  “I just asked Jack to call them. But let’s eat quickly, because once the police get here, we’re not going to have a moment’s peace for who knows how long?”

  “What’s going to happen?” Ernest said.

  “We’re probably going to file a missing persons report and ask the police to help us find her,” Bob said. “They’re probably going to search the ship looking for clues. I can’t get into the vault to see if anything’s missing because Maritza changed the code and I don’t know the new one. So I asked Jack to get one of the guys to drill it open, but Jack said, and he’s probably right, we should wait and do that with the police present.”

  “Absolutely! This could be an active crime scene for all we know!” Colette said. “Watch your fingerprints, ladies!”

  Colette laughed. Everyone, even Dorothy, was shocked by her callousness.

  Within the hour there were a dozen or more Spanish policemen on the Le Bateau de l’Amour. Most of them had never been on such a glamorous ship, and they could barely contain their awe. A few policemen even snapped selfies with their phones. Bob was in the main living room with the head police officer answering questions.

  Olivia and Nick discreetly watched them from the table on deck through the glass doors and windows. After about thirty minutes Bob, Jack, and two officers went with a technician from the engine room and drilled open the vault.

  “The vault’s empty,” Bob said to the group, who had all remained at the dining table drinking coffee and iced tea. “All of her jewelry is gone.”

  “Oh, dear heavenly Father! Do you think . . . ?” Ernest said. He couldn’t bring himself to say the words.

  But that’s why Colette was there—to say the unsayable.

  “Robbed and kidnapped?” Colette said. “Looks like it.”

  “Sweet Jesus, Colette, you’d just love that, wouldn’t you?” Bob said. “You are so easy to dislike.”

  Everyone drew in a collective gasp. It was the first time Bob had really taken Colette on.

  “Maybe, but it’s a distinct possibility, isn’t it?” Colette said with a completely unflappable attitude.

  “Just shut up, Colette. So the police want to interview everyone,” Bob said. “And Colette, I’d strongly advise you to be extremely civil and courteous. Spanish jails are notoriously dark and dank.”

  Colette cocked her head to one side and gave Bob the evil eye.

  “I can’t stand to think of Maritza in a dangerous situation like that,” Olivia said.

  “Well, what else is there to think?” Dorothy said.

  “Who wants to go first?” Bob said.

  Betty and Ernest jumped to their feet.

  “I stand ready to clear my good name!” Ernest said.

  “This is a terrible business,” Betty said. “I’ll be glad to sleep in my own bed again.”

  Olivia and Nick shared a psychic moment in each other’s eyes. For as terrible as the situation was, Betty and Ernest were the only ones keeping it real.

  The police left before dark after all the questioning of the captain, crew, and passengers. Jack vouched for his crew in a sworn affidavit. The police took some DNA samples from Maritza’s hairbrush, razor, and toothbrush and asked everyone to remain in the vicinity for the following seventy-two hours or until they were notified. They took the names of the musicians and the photographer from the wedding and said they would be brought in immediately for interrogation. And the highest-ranking police officer, who spoke English, promised Bob he would stay in touch, and if he learned something of value, he would contact him right away. Bob promised the same.

  In the evening, things were very quiet. Out of respect for Bob and Maritza, the partying was over. Even Colette retracted her talons. After a simple dinner of roasted fish, everyone began to drift back to their cabins to let Bob have the deck to himself. He seemed to be very unhappy. He should be, Olivia thought.

  Olivia and Nick remained there at the table with him. He seemed to want to talk.

  “I just don’t understand it,” Bob said. “How could she slip through my fingers like this? The police officer said that if it was a kidnapping, we’d probably be contacted soon about ransom. Ransom! I just pray to God that whoever has her doesn’t hurt her. I couldn’t stand it.”

  “Look, Bob, maybe there’s another explanation,” Olivia said, hoping there was one.

  “Yeah, she might’ve jumped, but I don’t think so because of the robbery. I haven’t been the ideal husband. I mean, you know that. I’ve made my life so complicated. But I do care about her. A lot.”

  “We know you care, Bob. Maritza is a sweetheart,” Olivia said. “She’s the kindest woman you ever married.”

  “Yes,” Bob said.

  “Maybe the robbery and Maritza’s disappearance are unrelated,” Nick said.

  “That would be too coincidental,” Bob said. “I just feel like this is my fault! I wish I knew what to do. I feel so awful! You know, Maritza would cook for me. I never had a wife who could cook. She makes me a cake on my birthday. No one ever made me a cake besides my own mother. She sewed buttons back on my shirts for me. She just did all these wonderful things for me. Sounds silly, I guess.”

  “The woman really loves you, Bob. The most precious gift someone can give you is their heart,” Nick said.

  “Yes, I can see now that it is. And I blew it. I made so light of her affection that either she jumped or she let herself get into a precarious situation that led her into grave danger. And I failed to protect her. This is my fault. I’d give anything I own to see her face right now.”

  Chapter 14

  Bob’s Side

  It was Saturday, the Fourth of July, right before eight in the morning, when the police boat pulled up beside Le Bateau de l’Amour. Captain Jack hurried down to meet it and he sent one of the crew to find Bob. Bob was on the treadmill
and quickly got off, grabbed a towel to wipe away his sweat, and hurried to the main deck, taking the steps instead of the elevator.

  “Good morning, Officer!” Bob said, shaking his hand. “Would you like coffee?”

  It was the same policeman Bob had spent time with the day before.

  “Gracias. Thank you. Coffee would be muy bueno.”

  Bob nodded to a crew member, who would have the coffee order out in a flash.

  “Please. Come and sit. Tell me what you have learned.”

  “Gracias, thank you. Well, we have something, pero it’s not much and it may turn out to be nothing, but it is something to start with.”

  “Tell me. Please.”

  “Sí, sí. As soon as I returned to la estación yesterday, I called the musicians and the photographer. The musicians, all three of them, came down to the station right away. They were shocked and surprised to hear this terrible news. And they said, and all of them were questioned separately, that they had never had trouble in their lives beyond traffic violations. We checked, and es verdad. These are all honest men who have never been arrested for anything. Nada.”

  “That’s it?”

  The coffee arrived and was placed before them. Bob watched as the police officer put four sugars in his cup and stirred.

  “No, there is una cosa más. So we said we would like to let our forensics team search their boat and they said it was no problem for them. Absolutely no problemo. And so we went down to the marina and my team went over their boat with a fine-tooth comb. That’s the expression, sí? Fine-tooth comb?”

  “Yes.” This bastard is sure taking his sweet time getting to the point, Bob thought. “And?”

  “And? There were some long blond hairs in the bow, under a tarp where they keep the life preservers and oars. I can’t tell you that they match your wife’s DNA until they come back from the lab.”

  “You think my wife was on their boat?”

  “No sé. I do not know yet. But the space was big enough for a small woman to crawl in and conceal herself.”