Heavenly Honeymoon (Zoe Donovan Mysteries Book 15) (2 page)

I wondered what had happened to Zak. The last time I’d seen him was when the yacht docked and I was escorted away. He’d assured me that he’d have me out of jail in no time, but it had been at least a couple of hours and here I still sat.

“This occurred on Monday?” the interrogator finally asked.

“Yes.”

“And when did you see Mr. Jimenez again after the incident outside the restaurant?”

“The next day,” I admitted. “The next morning, to be more accurate. I don’t believe he saw me, but I can’t be certain.”

I coughed and tried to clear my throat. The room was veiled in a thick layer of dust that wasn’t helping my sinuses, which were already irritated due to the dry air.

“Do you need some water?” the man asked.

“No, thank you. I’m fine.”

I
was
thirsty, but I was pretty sure I’d rather die of dehydration than risk a revisit to the ladies’ room.

“Okay, then. Tell me about seeing the victim the morning after your encounter outside the restaurant.”

I took a deep breath and settled in for what I assumed was going to turn into an endless narration, based on the way the man kept interrupting the flow of the conversation. Why hadn’t I listened to Zak and stayed away from Ricardo, as he’d warned me to do? Even the most moronic of investigators was going to realize I had been at war with the man since the moment I’d arrived on the island.

“Charlie and I were out jogging,” I continued. “We’d been running on the sand, but it was already getting crowded on the beach, so we decided to circle back and take the path that parallels the golf course. It was early, but there were still a surprisingly large number of people out and about. I decided to cut through the wooded area that runs behind the clubhouse when I saw Mr. Jimenez arguing with a woman. I stopped running in order to figure out an alternate route. The last thing I wanted to do was have another confrontation with the guy. While I was looking around to see if I could spot a relatively brush-free route to take, the man grabbed the woman by the arm and pulled her into a breezeway. I was afraid he was going to hurt her, so I snuck quietly toward the building. I was afraid Charlie was going to bark and give away our location, so I was hesitant to get too close. I was trying to decide what to do when I saw Mr. Jimenez walking down the path toward the hotel. He was alone. I went over to the breezeway, but it was empty, so I continued on my way.”

The man narrowed his gaze. “You didn’t see the woman leave?”

“No. She must have used the breezeway to access one of the paths leading back toward the other end of the resort.”

The interrogator pulled a toothpick out of his pocket. He rolled it between his fingers before using it to pick something from between his two front teeth. He then stuck the toothpick between two of his back teeth and closed his mouth around it.

“Can you describe this woman?” the man asked after almost a minute of silence.

“Tall. Thin. Long dark hair. I didn’t catch her eye color, but her skin was a dark brown, so I imagine her eyes were dark as well. She wore a business suit. A knee-length skirt with a short jacket. I think it was dark gray. It could have been black. Her shoes were dark as well. To be honest, it occurred to me that she looked out of place. I mean, those heels? Really? She certainly wasn’t going to walk through the sand in those things.”

“It sounds like you’re referring to Chandella. She’s Mr. Ewing’s mistress.”

“Mr. Ewing has a mistress? He seems so nice.”

“Nice people can’t have mistresses?”

I thought about Zak’s tall and handsome friend. He had a petite wife with a welcoming smile who appeared to be at least six months pregnant.

“No,” I decided. “They can’t.”

“Mr. Ewing is a very wealthy man.”

“So?” I really didn’t see what being wealthy had to do with being a cheating lowlife.

“So he can afford to support many women. I believe Chandella is only one of his women.”

I frowned. I didn’t realize women were a commodity that could be collected based on one’s ability to provide for them.

“Don’t worry. He takes good care of the mother of his child. She won’t be left wanting.”

I wasn’t sure that was the point but decided not to say as much.

“When did you next see Mr. Jimenez?” the investigator asked.

“Later that afternoon. Zak and I took the kids to the pool.”

“You’re staying in the VIP section of the resort?”

“VIP section?” I asked.

“The VIP section is reserved for celebrities and very rich guests. It’s gated and can be accessed only with a VIP key.”

“Oh, yeah, I guess we are staying in the VIP section. I was wondering about the extra gate.”

“And the pool you were swimming in. Was it the VIP pool?”

“No. The kids prefer the bigger pool near the clubhouse. Is this relevant?”

The interrogator shrugged. “Go on.”

“Anyway, Zak and the kids were swimming while I caught up on some reading. We’d left Charlie at the house because dogs aren’t allowed in the pool area. I began to feel bad about leaving him alone in a strange environment, so I decided to head back early. I saw Mr. Jimenez speaking to a large man wearing a brightly colored Hawaiian-style shirt as I passed the clubhouse. The man with the Hawaiian shirt had a dog by his side. The dog looked as if it had been abused. I know I should have just minded my own business, but I can’t stand to see an animal in pain, so I approached the pair and suggested to them that the man really should seek medical attention for the large gash on the dog’s shoulder.”

“I take it the man didn’t welcome your advice.”

“No, he just laughed at me and told me to mind my own business. I threatened to report him to the authorities and he laughed harder.”

“While most of the citizens of the island are caring and responsible pet owners, I’m afraid we don’t have the same abuse laws here that you have in your country.” The man looked genuinely dismayed by that fact. I had to admit I was beginning to like the guy.

“So after the men laughed at you, then what happened?”

“I made a few comments about the humane treatment of animals and the man with the dog threatened to toss me in with a couple of the dogs I was arguing to protect, so I could see for myself that they weren’t the cuddly puppies I imagined.”

“Did the men physically injure or assault you?”

“No. They just made rude and threatening comments and blocked my attempt to continue on my way. Eventually, another man came along and told them to cool it.”

The interrogator frowned. “And this other man—can you describe him?”

“He was tall and portly, with white hair. He had a tattoo of a sea serpent on his shoulder.”

“It sounds like Captain Jack. Captain Jack pilots Mr. Ewing’s yacht.”

I knew Captain Jack had been on the yacht tonight. I hadn’t met him, but the man I met on the beach looked the type to be a crusty old sea dog. It was reasonable to believe they were one and the same.

The interrogator took out a pad of paper and made some notes before he continued. I really wished he’d move things along. All I wanted to do at that point was to go back to the house and wrap myself in Zak’s strong and protective arms.

“So the man in the brightly colored shirt—did you see him on the yacht tonight?”

“No. Although I didn’t meet all the staff.”

The interrogator jotted down a few more notes. “And after the incident on the beach, when was the next time you saw Mr. Jimenez?”

“Tonight on the yacht.”

“And how did you come to be on the yacht?”

“Jensen Ewing invited Zak and me to a dinner party. I guess Zak and Jensen are business acquaintances of some sort, although I never did ask specifically how they knew each other.”

The interrogator shoved a piece of paper in front of me. “These are the names of the people who were on the vessel when Mr. Jimenez was killed. Do they look right to you?”

I tried to remember who had been on the boat as I looked at the list. There’d been twelve diners that evening, sitting six to a side at a long table. Jensen Ewing and his wife Della sat in the middle of the table on the side nearest the kitchen. Ricardo Jimenez sat to Della’s right, and next to him was his date, Stefana. They didn’t seem to know each other all that well, so I’m going to guess she was a date of the escort variety. To Jensen’s left was a British couple, Charles and Piper Belmont.

Zak and I sat on the other side of the table directly across from Jensen and Della. To Zak’s left sat a delightful couple who were at the resort to celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary, Dezi and Lucinda Aquila. Seated to my right was a businessman from Korea named Park Lee, who was in attendance with his wife, Kim.

All twelve names were on the list, as were the names of the captain, chef, and staff. In all, there had been seventeen people on board when Ricardo Jimenez was stabbed.

“As I mentioned, I didn’t meet all the staff, so I can’t verify their names, but the names of the guests are correct, and the number of staff members listed looks right,” I confirmed.

“Okay, then, walk me through the evening.”

I sighed. “Have you spoken to my husband?”

“I have. He’s been waiting in the lobby since you were brought in. Other than spending an inordinate amount of time on his phone, he has mostly just been pacing.”

“Can I see him?”

“Perhaps when we’re done. So, again, walk me through the evening.”

I shifted in my chair. Would it kill them to provide padded chairs? I looked around the filthy room. On the other hand, maybe metal was better. Nowhere for creepy crawlies to hide. The staff at the resort had been friendly and clean-cut. I had to wonder if the entire village of Hades was as dingy as the jail.

“Do you mind if I ask you a question before I continue?” I asked.

The interrogator shrugged. “Ask away.”

“What’s your name?”

The man looked surprised by my question. “Talin. Why do you ask?”

“It seems like we’re in for a long discussion and I like to have a name to go with a face. Talin is a nice name. Very rugged. Is it okay if I refer to you as Talin?”

“Are you flirting with me so I’ll go easy on you?”

“No,” I assured the man. “Not flirting. I’m just trying to make the best of a really bad situation.”

The man narrowed his gaze. I could see he was as ready for this interview to be over as I was. I tried to figure out how long I’d been in this hellhole. Several hours at least. Maybe more. When they’d first brought me in they’d tossed me in the dark cell without so much as a window. There really hadn’t been any way to gauge the passage of time.

“As long as you get on with your story, you can call me anything you like,” the man finally answered.

“Can I ask one more thing?”

The man sighed. “Very well, but just one more question and then you continue.”

“The man who escorted me to the room—I believe his name is Toad—indicated that the local population lives in a village known as Hades. He indicated that most of the citizens of the settlement work at the resort. Everyone I’ve come into contact with at the resort has been extremely nice and helpful, yet I get the feeling there’s disquiet between the locals and the resort’s owner.”

“When Mr. Ewing bought the land on which the resort is now located he forced everyone who was living there to move to the east side of the island. On one hand, he provided both jobs and housing for a very poor society. On the other, he completely disrupted the existing culture and social structure. He now sits on a throne of his own making and rules over those he can. Some of the locals love him; others hate him. Now, can we continue?”

“Absolutely. I’m sorry. Where were we?”

“You arrived at the boat. . . .”

“Yes, the boat.”

I tried to visualize the huge yacht that was larger than most peoples’ houses. It had three levels. The top deck was outfitted with tables, chairs, and loungers on which a passenger could soak up the sun. At the back of the top deck, behind the bridge, was a helicopter pad. The level below the deck held a common area that consisted of a large seating area, a dining room, an office, a bathroom, and a kitchen. Below that were bedrooms and bathrooms. I never did have the opportunity to venture to the lowest deck, but I got the impression that there was plenty of sleeping space for both a large crew and many guests.

I took a deep breath and dove in. “Zak and I arrived at the boat at seven thirty, as we were instructed to do by Mr. Ewing. When we boarded I believe everyone except Ricardo and Stefana were already on board because the boat pulled away from the dock just after they boarded. When I saw Ricardo I almost bolted, but Zak encouraged me to ignore the man. He assured me that we would have a wonderful time, that we shouldn’t let him ruin our evening. I know Ricardo recognized me, but it appeared he’d likewise decided to play it cool. When we were introduced he acted as if we’d never met and I did the same.”

“Did you speak to him after you were introduced?”

“Not at that point. The waiter brought us drinks and we mingled with the other guests, all of whom seemed very nice.”

“Did you speak to anyone?” Talin asked.

“I hit if off right away with Dezi and Lucinda and spent most of my time talking to them, while Zak mingled a bit more extensively.”

“Dezi and Lucinda were the couple celebrating their wedding anniversary?”

“Yes. When they found out that Zak and I were on our honeymoon they were more than willing to share small bits of advice on marriage and relationships in general. It was really a very enlightening conversation. I have to admit I learned a lot about what it means to really commit to a relationship from this very sweet couple.”

“And the victim—did he appear to have engaged in any extensive conversations?”

I thought about the movement of the guests that evening. I’d been trying to ignore the dog abuser, so I hadn’t paid any attention to him or who he spoke to, but I did remember he went up to the top deck with Della at one point. They weren’t gone all that long and when they returned he grabbed Stefana and sat down at the bar. I explained all of this and more in great detail to the rugged man, who kept interrupting my narrative. I swear, at the rate we were progressing I was going to die of old age before this interview concluded.

“So after speaking to Della, Mr. Jimenez stayed at the bar with Stefana until dinner?” Talin asked.

“Yes. I never saw him leave the bar.”

“And then?”

“Then we enjoyed a delicious meal.”

I could feel my throat becoming raspy. There was no way around it; I was going to have to risk another trip to the ladies’ room.

“You know, maybe I will take that water you offered earlier. I don’t think I can go on if I don’t wet my throat.”

“Very well. I will fetch you some water, but you are to remain seated. I could handcuff you to the chair or I could trust you to do as I say.”

“I’ll stay seated. I promise.”

That seemed to satisfy him because he left my hands free while he exited the room. I wished I could talk to Zak. In spite of the fact that Talin seemed to be nicer than I’d originally thought, I was really scared. If Zak had been on the phone the entire time I’d been locked up I was pretty sure the cavalry was on the way. I seemed to make a habit of getting into trouble, but Zak was equally skilled at rescuing me. I only needed to wait for my knight to break through the door and whisk me to safety.

While the outcome of this endless conversation was directly tied to my freedom, which terrified me, I’d learned a lot of interesting facts as well. Prior to my discussion with Toad, and now Talin, I’d never once stopped to consider the socioeconomic reality that had to exist to make a five-star resort such as Heavenly Island possible. Talin indicated that there was a level of unhappiness among the people who had lived on the island before the resort had been built, but I had to wonder if the unrest wasn’t just a tad more intense than he’d indicated.

I didn’t have long to ponder that question because, surprisingly, Talin returned quickly with not only water but bottled water. I wanted to hug the man for his generous gesture but decided not to make a fuss that could end up backfiring.

“Thank you.” I opened the bottle and took a sip. It tasted like manna from heaven.

“Please continue with your story,” Talin directed. “What happened after your lovely meal?”

“After dinner some of the men went up on the deck to smoke cigars, and many of the women followed them. Zak doesn’t smoke, but he wanted to speak to Charles about a business opportunity, so I agreed to meet him on the deck after I used the ladies’ room. While I was washing my hands I heard Ricardo speaking to another man in the hallway just outside the door. I honestly don’t know who the second man was; I didn’t recognize his voice. The men seemed to be planning to engage in some sort of betting operation that revolved around a dog fight. I’m afraid I went just a tiny bit ballistic. I had let that particular wound fester all afternoon and I was determined to speak my mind. By the time I dried my hands and left the ladies’ room, Ricardo had made his way up to the deck. I don’t know where the other man had gone off to, but I’m afraid I totally laid in to the dog-hating Mr. Jimenez.”

“Laid in to him?”

“Verbally. I didn’t kick him again, although I wanted to. I guess I said some things that might be considered to be threats.”

Talin looked down at his notes. “Three of the other guests reported that you threatened to beat him with a chain.”

“Yeah.” I blushed. “I guess I did say that.”

“Five of the guests reported that you called the man ‘bottom-feeding pond scum’ and you hoped ‘he’d wake up the next day with an advanced case of leprosy.’”

“Yes, I said that as well. I said a lot of things I actually meant but shouldn’t have said in public. I also said I hoped his man part would shrivel up and fall off. That actually got quite a few snickers from the people who witnessed my meltdown.”

Talin smiled but didn’t respond. He looked down at his notes. “I understand your anger. I too have no patience for animal abuse. However, there were eight guests on board this evening who reported you told Mr. Jimenez that he should sleep with one eye open as long as you were on the island. Given the fact that Mr. Jimenez didn’t make it through the cruise alive, that’s a threat I must take seriously.”

I groaned. “I know I should never have said that. It really wasn’t my finest moment. I said a lot of things I regret. But I was mad.
Really
mad.”

“Did you take your anger one step further and stab the man?” Talin glared at me in a less than friendly manner.

“No. I swear. Zak suggested we go inside, so we did. The others wandered back inside shortly after that as well. After my outburst Zak pretty much glued himself to my side for the rest of the evening. We would have left, but we were in the middle of the ocean, so there was really nowhere to go.”

“I have seven witnesses who stated that Mr. Jimenez left the room soon after everyone came back inside. You left the room alone sometime after that.”

I closed my eyes and prayed for mercy from this rigid man. There was no way around it. Things were going to look bad.

“Mrs. Zimmerman . . .”

I opened my eyes and looked at him. “I’m sorry; I was praying. What I’m about to tell you is going to make me sound guilty, but please keep in mind that I really am innocent.”

Talin didn’t say anything, so I decided to take a leap of faith and plunge ahead.

“Dezi surprised Lucinda with a cake for their anniversary,” I began. “One of the waitstaff left it on the table while we were all on the deck, but only a small portion of it had been sliced. The knife that had been left to cut the remainder of the cake, should we need it, had disappeared. Park decided he wanted a second piece, so I volunteered to go to the kitchen to find a knife to replace the one that had vanished.”

“The knife that had vanished where?”

“I don’t know. It was there one minute and gone the next. Maybe one of the staff came in while we were all talking. Anyway, the kitchen was deserted when I got there, so I picked up a knife that was sitting on the counter and started back toward the dining area. I passed one of the waiters in the hall who told me I had the wrong knife. He took the knife from me and then offered to bring the correct utensil out to the table. I returned to the lounge and waited, but he never brought the knife, so I decided to go back for it. When I was on my way back to the kitchen I found Ricardo in the hallway with a knife in his back. I’m pretty sure it was the same knife the waiter had taken from me. I pulled the knife out and turned Ricardo over with the intention of trying CPR. That was how Kim found me: kneeling on the floor in front of Ricardo’s body with the bloody knife in my hand. But I didn’t kill him. I swear.”

“And the man you gave the knife to? What did he look like?”

“He was a tall, thin man with dark skin and dark hair. He might have been the man I saw Ricardo speaking to that first night I was on the island, but I don’t know for certain. I honestly didn’t pay all that much attention to details. I do remember that he had on black pants and a black shirt, which was what the man on the beach had been wearing. I imagine he must have been one of the kitchen staff who I hadn’t met yet.”

“I spoke to every single person on board as they left the boat,” Talin informed me. “There were no passengers on board who fit your description. The only members of the staff or guests with dark skin were Rosa and Jerrell, and they both wore white.”

“No, it wasn’t either Rosa or Jerrell. It wasn’t anyone I’d met that night.”

Talin shoved the list in front of me again. “Who hadn’t you met?”

I studied the names. “I met all the guests of course. Jerrell tended bar and Kai and Rosa served the meal. I didn’t meet the chef, Sebastian, or the captain. If Captain Jack is the man I saw on the beach, as you indicated, the man I saw must have been Chef Sebastian.”

“Sebastian is Polish. He has fair skin and light hair.”

“So it wasn’t him. It had to be someone who isn’t on your list.”

“There was no one aboard who isn’t on this list. I had the entire vessel searched when it docked. I interviewed each person as they disembarked. I asked every person to list the people with whom they came into contact that evening. I can assure you there was no one aboard fitting your description.”

“There had to be. I saw him.”

“I’m afraid you are mistaken.”

I frowned. “Something isn’t right. I know what I saw.”

“Were you drinking during the cruise?”

“Yes. Everyone had drinks before dinner and wine with dinner, but I wasn’t drunk. I remember what I saw.”

“According to everyone other than you, the man you say you gave the knife to doesn’t fit the description of anyone on the yacht. The only conclusion I can come to is that you are the one who used the knife.”