Dastardly Deeds (18 page)

‘Odd.’ I smiled. ‘But I’m not complaining. Now, what did you find out?’

‘Okay, I heard back from my mate, who ran them both through the database. Apart from some taxation issue with Donald years ago, they’re both clean. Barely a parking ticket.’

I frowned, a little disappointed. A missing spouse would have made everything neater. ‘That doesn’t mean much. He could have been clever. Let’s face it, our suspicions would never have been raised without that ten lira note. It was a total fluke.’

‘And I’m beginning to think that’s exactly what it was. Nell, have you considered that our man Clint may have written his name on a whole bunch of banknotes?’ He looked at me quizzically, waiting for this to register. ‘It might be his modus operandi. His pick-up line.’

This actually hadn’t occurred to me. But I shook my head almost immediately. ‘It’s still too much of a coincidence. And what about Anna? And April?’

‘Tragic, but exactly as they presented. Culpable driving causing death. Suicide.’

‘Are you serious?’ I stared at him. ‘What happened to everything we were talking about last night? What, you go out for a few drinks with these guys and suddenly you change your mind?’

He lifted an eyebrow. ‘You sound disappointed. Do you
want
there to be a murderer in our midst?’

‘Of course not!’ I replied, stung. ‘But I’m not about to throw all the evidence out the window just because I got chummy with someone!’

A group of women waiting for the elevator turned towards my raised voice. Their eyes flicked over us. I was furious. This was like all those domestic violence advertisements, where people said things like, ‘But he was
such
a nice guy.’ Sure, he could be a nice guy at a barbecue or at the pub, but that didn’t stop him from being a control-freak despot at home. Part of my fury also stemmed from the fact I was ridiculously disappointed in Ashley. I’d thought he was better than that.

‘Look, Nell.’ Ashley kept his voice low, reasonable. ‘I don’t think Donald did it. We’re talking serial murders. I don’t think he’s
capable
of that. Scott either. Last night was the first time I’ve actually spent time with either of those guys and, well … no. I don’t see it.’

I clapped a hand to my chest. ‘Oh, what a
relief
. If you don’t see it, it can’t
possibly
be there.’

‘There’s no need for sarcasm. I’ve been in the police force for almost thirty years and a detective for sixteen. I think I’ve earned the right to have an opinion.’

‘Only if it doesn’t change every five minutes! Besides, you once said to me that
everyone’s
capable of murder.’

He nodded. ‘That’s true. But not everyone’s capable of carrying on the next day as if nothing happened. And in my opinion, they aren’t.’

The women by the lift kept glancing across curiously. I turned on them. ‘Am I speaking loud enough? Want to join us?’

‘Nell,’ said Ashley. ‘Don’t. That’s not like you.’

He was right, and I felt horrid for embarrassing them, but that just made me angrier. The lift arrived and the women hurried in, giving me disapproving looks from behind the safety of the glass walls. I lowered my voice. ‘Well, I think you’re wrong. There’s much too much coincidence there. And frankly, I’m disappointed that you can change your mind so dramatically just because they’re nice guys to have a drink with.’

‘Actually, they’re not,’ said Ashley, still keeping his tone reasonable. ‘All Scott can talk about is sport and women. Watching the first and doing the second. Donald is just plain tedious. And for your information, I didn’t just change my mind. Both Lew and I asked a
lot
of questions.’ He began to speak quicker, as if wanting to negate any chance I’d interrupt. ‘Yes, Scott was keen on Anna, but he already had another girlfriend by the time she died. He just thought he was in with a chance of a one-night stand. Donald didn’t seem to care one way or the other. As for April, both of them seem genuinely cut up. And far from wanting to murder either Phoebe or Deb, they just want the trip to be over. They’re a little fed up with each other. Apparently Phoebe is clingy and Deb, well, they’re still a bit peeved that she brought her husband along. But they’re not about to fling her overboard because of that.’

I stared at him, trying to absorb the torrent of information.

‘So you see, it’s not just a hunch. There’s no bloody evidence there. Trust me on this one.’ He ran his hand through his hair tiredly. ‘I need a coffee.’

‘Hangover, hey?’ I said nastily. ‘All that questioning must have been exhausting. Poor you.’

He stared at me. ‘I’m leaving. Before I say something I might regret.’

‘Whatever,’ I said, sounding exactly like my teenage daughter. I watched him walk back into the buffet and then turned away. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. Did I
want
there to be a murderer here? Or was it embarrassment? Because I had started all this, with the ten lira note, so if there was nothing behind it, then I looked like an idiot. A melodramatic, overly imaginative idiot. And I didn’t like that at all.

‘
There
you are!’

It always amazed me when people greeted you with those words. They were fine for a game of hide-and-seek but totally superfluous when you were minding your own business in plain sight. In this case, I was in our cabin, reading a book. My sister was wearing a hibiscus-decorated silk robe over her bathers. Her skin was glowing.

‘You should have come for the spa treatment with us, it was fan
tastic
.’

‘I can tell.’

‘Is this for me?’ She picked up the note that I had left earlier, letting her know where I was, read it quickly and scrunched it up. ‘I had lunch with the others. Have you seen Ashley? He thinks there’s nothing to worry about.’ She flopped down on the adjoining bed. ‘Just a series of unfortunate coincidences.’

‘Yes, I saw him.’

‘You don’t sound convinced.’ She rolled over to face me.

‘I’m just not quite ready to accept the Gospel of Ashley without question.’

Petra raised an eyebrow. ‘That sounds more like a relationship issue than an evidence one.’ She paused, waiting for a response that didn’t come. ‘To be honest, I’m not one hundred percent convinced either, but I’m willing to take it on face value. I want to enjoy this last day.’

‘Even if there’s a murderer stalking you on board?’

‘Well, he wouldn’t be stalking
me
, exactly, would he?’ she queried reasonably. ‘It’d be either you or Deb. Or maybe Phoebe.’

‘Thanks.’ I slid a bookmark into my book. ‘Anyway, where are they?’

‘There’s some sale on in the emporium, where all the shops are. I wouldn’t get excited though, just cheap bracelets and crap. Glad to have a break from that Phoebe anyway. She’s a bit painful.’

‘Really? How?’

‘Just annoying. She was going on and on about finding your centre and erasing negative energy.’ Petra grinned. ‘Sucked all the positive energy out of the room.’

‘Did she say anything about Donald or Scott?’

‘No. Just had a few digs at Deb for Lew being here. She seems to hold him responsible, though, as if he couldn’t bear for Deb to have fun without him. Poor Lew.’

I nodded absentmindedly. ‘So what’re your plans for the rest of the day?’

‘I’m off for a swim and then I’m going to find a deckchair in the sun. But I’m going to hold off on the alcohol until pre-dinner drinks. Lew’s arranged for a larger table in the restaurant tonight so we can all be together. Should be good, but bags not sitting next to Phoebe.’ She rolled off the bed and pulled a tote bag from beneath it. ‘What about you?’

‘I might read for a bit more, and then go and see what the girls are up to.’

‘Well, feel free to join me. But if you bring Quinn, tell her to quit the complaining. God, were we that bad at her age?’

I shrugged. The truth was that while I hadn’t been, she most definitely had.

I read for a while after she left, enjoying the cool breeze from the sliding door. But all the while I had a slight queasy feeling in my stomach, as if I had eaten things that didn’t go together. Like whipped cream and Vegemite, or bacon and banana, or tapioca and anything. I knew it was the residue of the argument with Ashley, and the idea that I had made a mountain out of a molehill. Or in this case, an entire mountain range.

Mid-afternoon, I pulled out my suitcase and began packing all the things that wouldn’t be needed before we disembarked tomorrow morning. I laid out the orange shift dress for dinner. With that done, I jammed my floral hat on my head and made my way up the corridor to Ruby’s and Quinn’s cabin. Nobody was there. I went in search, checking the emporium first and then making my way through the casino to the foyer. Enid was firmly fixed on a stool in front of the poker machines. I did a quick walk through the buffet and came out into the pool area. I could see Petra reclining on a deckchair, her sunhat over her face. Darcy and Tessa were recumbent nearby, holding hands in between their chairs. I wondered if she had told him her news yet, and how he had taken it.

‘Must be awkward,’ said Lew, coming alongside and following my gaze. ‘But I suppose at least they’re happy.’

‘For now,’ I replied darkly.

Lew turned his attention to me. ‘Have you caught up with Ash? Great news, hey? Have to say, it sure puts my mind at rest.’

‘Oh, terrific news.
If
he’s right.’

‘Ah, so we have a doubting Thomas?’ He grinned. ‘Sure it’s not because you wanted something to write about?’

‘I’m sure,’ I said stiffly. ‘And I have no intention of writing about any of this. I’m just not that willing to accept Ashley’s judgement as manna from heaven. And dismiss all the mounting evidence simply because I enjoyed having a few drinks with the prime suspects.’

Lew’s grin expanded, and then he suddenly laughed. ‘God, I love you, Nell Forrest. If I wasn’t in love with my wife, I’d whisk you off in a moment. Nothing’s boring while you’re around. You’re adorable.’

I stared at him. I had no desire to be adorable. The one problem with Lew Taylor was that on the odd occasion, like now, he veered into patronising big-man-little-woman syndrome. If I’d had a stick on hand, I would have jammed it into his wheel spokes.
Pulitzer Prize-winner arrested for disabling the disabled. Forced to hand back award.

‘Hey, Phoebe!’ Lew was looking over my shoulder. ‘What’s up?’

‘Nothing much.’ She came over to join us. The spa treatment didn’t seem to have done as much for her complexion as for Petra. She looked a little sallow, and her white fringe was plastered to one side of her forehead. She was dressed in her usual layers, mostly of cheesecloth.

‘I’m off to meet the wife,’ said Lew, swivelling his chair in readiness. ‘But you two girls both seem at loose ends. Why don’t you grab a drink together?’

Having made this brilliantly irritating suggestion, Lew said his goodbyes and wheeled off happily. Phoebe and I stood there awkwardly. Finally, I spoke. ‘Ah, did you want a drink?’

‘Okay.’ She shrugged. ‘Why don’t you grab a table while I get them? Wine?’

‘Thanks.’ I tried to sound enthusiastic. The truth was that there were quite a few people that I would have been happy to have a private drink with, but Phoebe was not one of them.

I found a table by the balustrade so that at least the view would be nice.

Phoebe came over with two glasses of wine. She sat down, flipped her long plait over her shoulder, and gazed at the sea.

‘Ah, how was your spa?’

‘Lovely, thanks.’ She turned, her face lightening. ‘So nice of Deb and your sister. I didn’t realise how tense I’d been feeling. Really found my centre again.’

‘Excellent. Always good.’ I sipped the wine. ‘Have you enjoyed the trip?’

She gave this some thought. ‘Not as much as I expected. It didn’t help that one of my best friends died in the first few days.’

‘Oh, god!’ I stared at her, aghast. ‘I’m so sorry! I totally …’

‘Forgot? That’s okay, every now and again I do as well. And then I feel guilty for forgetting, and horrible for remembering. But you can’t go back and change things. There’s really nothing that can be done. Except meditation. That helps.’

‘I’ve always wanted to try that.’ I grasped at the change of subject. ‘I was thinking of taking classes. Is it hard?’

‘Not for some people.’

‘Ah. Um, well maybe I’ll be one of them.’ I smiled brightly.

‘Maybe,’ she said doubtfully. She gazed at me for a moment and then put her glass down. ‘Listen, I hope you won’t think me rude, but I have to ask you something. Deb’s a good friend, you know. Were you flirting with Lew just then?’

‘What? No!’

‘I heard him say he loved you. And that you were adorable.’

I blinked, stunned by the sharp left turn. I thought back over my conversation with Lew and then shook my head. ‘First, he always talks like that. That’s just his way. And second, if you overheard him saying that to me, then wouldn’t it be
him
flirting? Not me?’

‘That depends,’ she replied curtly. ‘On the person.’

‘I see.’ I frowned at her. ‘Have I done something to offend you?’

‘You mean, apart from flirting with my friend’s husband?’

I felt a surge of annoyance. ‘As I just explained, I wasn’t flirting with him. And Deb’s my friend too.’

Rather than answer, Phoebe simply raised her eyebrows quizzically. She went back to staring at the view.

I shook my head, bemused. My annoyance dissipated as quickly as it had risen, leaving behind a groundswell of pity. I suspected that Phoebe was a lonely woman who had been looking forward to the trip of a lifetime with old friends, only to have one bring her husband, along with a crowd of extras, and another fall to her death in Rome. Those remaining had spent far less time with her than she had expected, and at times had gone out of their way to avoid her.

Phoebe flicked a glance in my direction and away again. She placed a hand on her sternum and then closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

I marshalled my thoughts before speaking gently. ‘Listen, Phoebe—’

She held up her spare hand and continued to breathe steadily. The hand remained in place until she finished, opening her eyes to gaze at me. ‘Yes?’

‘I just wanted to say that you have it all wrong. You can even ask Deb. Lew and I are just friends.’

‘Like you are with that Ashley?’

‘Well, no. Not quite. Ashley and I are sort of involved.’

‘Sort of involved,’ she repeated stiffly. ‘Is that another word for temporarily focused attention-seeking? Meanwhile, you had lunch with Donald yesterday, and you’ve flirted with Scott and that Nick, and every other man who stood still long enough. And now Lew as well.’

‘
What?
Hang on, what are you trying to imply?’

She shrugged indifferently, but was betrayed by the tremble that coated her words. ‘I’m not trying to imply anything. I’m just stating the facts.’

I drained my glass and stood. Enough was enough. My legs felt wobbly with anger. ‘You are a stupid, offensive woman. Now I know why people are trying to avoid you. You’re a sad case of desperate. And your hair is ridiculous.’

‘Drinks?’ asked a waiter, materialising by the table with a sunny smile.

‘No thank you,’ I replied crisply. I treated Phoebe to my most withering glare and strode away. I was shaking with fury, and more than a sliver of shock. How
dare
she? And where on earth had that come from?

Going back inside the ship raised the likelihood of running into someone I knew, so I took the stairs to the upper level and grabbed a scotch from the bar before going around to the back, out of sight. I needed to regain control. Or, in words that stupid woman would have understood, I needed to centre myself.

What particularly incensed me about our conversation was that I had actually tried to be friendly. Despite not finding her particularly good company, I had made a genuine effort. And in return I’d been called an attention-seeking tramp. More or less. I had
never
flirted with Lew or Scott or Nick, or indeed anyone at all. Donald had asked
me
to lunch, and had in fact coerced me into joining him. And my relationship with Ashley was absolutely none of her business.

I drained my scotch and put the glass down on a low table, beside a stack of dirty plates and cutlery. I leant against the railing and gazed unseeing towards the horizon. I would need to get changed for dinner shortly, and was beginning to look forward to telling someone what had just occurred. Petra would be furious.

So now I’d succeeded in having two arguments in one day, and there were still several hours to go. I’d also managed to offend complete strangers who quite understandably had looked around when they had heard me yelling like a banshee. None of this was typical of me. I was fairly mild-mannered and most definitely non-confrontational. Apart from my mother, I hardly ever entered into disputes with anyone. I generally
liked
people. Almost the same moment as I thought this, Tessa came around the corner. My stomach tightened. She was peering about, as if searching for someone, and I knew instinctively that it was me. My day couldn’t possibly get any worse.