Dead in the Water (Kate Ryan Mysteries Book 10) (19 page)

“You’re missing a member of your crew?” Mr. Sheldon asked. “What the hell is going on here, Captain?”

“I assure you, Mr. Sheldon, we’ll get to the bottom of this. Whatever it is.” He looked at me with a helpless expression. “Won’t we?”

“Of course, we will.” Hannah regarded the passengers. “Do you have any idea who this woman is?” She pointed at me; I shrank back. “Kate Ryan is one of the most respected private investigators in Chicago. Of course, she’ll figure this out. Why, we’re working on a case right now…”

Maggie reached up and gently pulled Hannah back in her seat. “They get the idea, Aunt Hannah.”

“What do you think caused this?” Shirley asked.

“I have no idea,” I said, watching her.

She glanced at her husband, who shook his head rapidly. “Honey…”

“I think it’s possible,” she said quietly.

“What’s possible?” I asked.

“My wife has a theory…”

“Don’t talk as if I’m not here, Paul. We listened to your astronomy theory last night.”

“It wasn’t a theory, Shirl. It was a fact. Constellations are not open to theories.”

The rest of us sat there listening to their bantering.

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, who cares?” Mr. Sheldon exclaimed. “What’s your theory, Mrs. Adams? At least you’ve come up with something.” He gave Monty a superior glance.

“Well,” Shirley looked at me. “I read this article the other day in some survivalist magazine.” She must have seen our blank looks. “I was in the doctor’s office. It was on the table.”

When she didn’t elaborate, I felt compelled to question her. “What was the article about…?”

“Surviving an EMP, nuclear or man-made.”

Paul groaned and hung his head. Simon raised an eyebrow, but I could tell he, like myself, had no idea what an EMP was. Hannah sported an amused but very intrigued smile. Things began to slip away, as they always seemed to do… I could be home right now in bed with Maggie, reveling in our imploding marriage, er, impending marriage. I painfully rubbed my forehead.

“Isn’t that what ghost hunters use?” Miss Markham asked.

Shirley cocked her head. “No…”

I could tell she wasn’t too sure. I really had a headache.

“That’s an EMF detector,” Maggie chimed in. She looked at me then. “What? You know I love that show.”

“I hate to sound unenlightened, but what’s an EMP?” I asked, not completely sure I wanted to know.

“It’s an electromagnetic pulse.”

“Which is…?” I looked at Maggie, who shrugged. That she didn’t know made me feel better.

“It’s very interesting. This is how the magazine described it. An EMP is a very powerful but very quick burst or blast of electromagnetic, um...energy. Mostly from a nuclear weapon. Now this article said that in the near future, maybe even now, the EMP could be used as a powerful superweapon…” Shirley leaned forward, and God help me, so did I. “A superweapon that could disable any sophisticated electronics in a country or even continental area.” Shirley looked to her husband. “Paul, you know you’ve studied this kind of thing in college. Help me.”

Paul sighed deeply and grudgingly agreed. “An EMP from a nuclear blast is what knocks out everything. If it has enough energy from the detonation, it could in fact disrupt electronics in a huge region. The world’s militaries have tested prototypes of this type of weapon, but it has not been widely deployed. We know the EMP mostly in fiction or games as a weapon suitable for use against machines, cyborgs, or that sci-fi nonsense. But in reality, an EMP can cause serious damage to machines and anything that’s electric. Computers, cellphones, anything that runs on electricity for the most part. You know how an enormous magnet can erase tapes and such? It’s the same principle, but with electricity and not magnetism. It can really cause havoc unless the objects are encased in a Faraday cage. You know, a metal cage that would prevent them from being affected by an EMP.”

“What?” Miss Markham asked, slack-jawed.

“Oh, please don’t make him repeat that,” Simon whispered.

“So, Shirley,” Maggie said thoughtfully, “what you’re saying is someone deliberately destroyed all the electronics on board.”

Shirley shrugged. “Possibly.”

“Why?” I asked. “For what reason?”

“That’s not possible,” Mr. Sheldon said.

I could tell Paul was thinking about it. “Paul?” I asked.

“As I’ve said, I’ve heard of such things. It’s really an easy thing to assemble. It’s all online. You can devise something to fry a computer or a cellphone or a stereo system. But to do it to this extent...” He scratched his head and laughed. “I mean, you’re talking about the navigational equipment on a ship, for god’s sake. You’d need a pretty powerful, ya know, device.”

“And that’s what?” I asked.

“Well, it’s kinda hard to find someone who has the knowledge and the technology to make something that powerful and…”

“Small enough to bring on board a ship unnoticed,” I said quietly.

Suddenly, my mind started racing, as if I was trying to catch up with something—but what? I wasn’t sure about anything.

That wasn’t exactly true. I did ask Maggie to marry me. She did say yes, didn’t she?

Chapter 18

“Okay, let’s see what we know.” I paced by the table while everyone watched me. I noticed Maggie’s smiling face. Was that a look of admiration? Oh, boy. I felt my face get red hot, and other parts of my anatomy felt like Shirley’s EMPs… I gave her a quick wink.

“Now you’re talking,” Hannah said with enthusiasm. “Shall I get my pen?”

“No, I think we’re fine right now, thanks,” I said.

“So what do we know?” Simon asked.

I took a deep breath and started. “Exactly at midnight last night, everything went dark. Somehow, the navigational system was destroyed…”

“And everyone’s cellphone is fried,” Maggie offered.

“Right.”

“And my computer is the same,” Mr. Sheldon added.

“And the ship’s engine is completely dead,” Monty said thoughtfully. He looked deflated and actually very sad. The melancholy look on his face had me feeling very bad for him.

“Basically, everything that runs on electricity is fried,” Paul said, gently pulling at his earlobe.

“And we can rule out the weather causing this?” I asked him.

“Yeah. The night was clear. Not a cloud in the sky.”

“So if it wasn’t lightning or some nature anomaly…” Maggie gave me an enticing smile.

God, she’s beautiful. I shook my head. “Then it had to be man-made.”

“Agreed,” Paul said, looking around the table.

Everyone agreed with him with silent nods and worried expressions.

“So we can move forward with this hypothesis of EMPs. The question now is why,” I said, pacing once again. I stopped at the window and looked out at the calm lake with no land in sight. We were really dead in the water and off course. I had forgotten about that point. “We’re off course. And can’t get in touch with the Coast Guard, and a member of your crew is still missing.”

“Along with our emergency supplies.” Monty tiredly rubbed his neck.

“Monty, do you know the missing crew member?” I asked.

“No. He signed on at the last minute.”

“And the others?” I asked softly.

Monty’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head as he nervously glanced at the passengers. He looked terrified. I walked over to him, placing my hand on his shoulder.

“Monty,” Simon started before I could. “I think it’s time to admit to the others…”

“Admit what?” Mr. Sheldon asked. “What’s going on?”

Monty let out a deep sigh of resignation. “I was informed just before we left that my captain wasn’t on board, and I had no word from him. The same situation happened with the ship’s doctor.”

“What?” Mr. Sheldon angrily shook his head. “This is unacceptable. How did you propose to run this ship?”

“Mr. Sheldon, I’m a licensed captain. There was never a problem there…”

“And I’m a medical doctor, Mr. Sheldon,” Maggie said quickly.

I thought Monty would start crying with relief.

“So there is no problem there, either,” Maggie finished.

“Yet Mr. Whitehead is dead,” he added angrily.

Well, hell. He had a point…

“Okay, let’s keep our heads here,” I said. “What you say is true, Mr. Sheldon. He did have a heart attack, but no one could have foreseen that.”

“Unless…” Shirley whispered.

Uh-oh.

“Unless what?” I asked, taking my seat next to Maggie.

“Unless my theory is right, and it was an EMP, and it affected his pacemaker.”

“But,” Maggie said, “a pacemaker is encased in metal.” She looked at Paul. “Didn’t you say if something were in a…what did you call it?”

“A Faraday cage.”

“Yes, then it wouldn’t be affected.”

“But didn’t you say he was using an experimental pacemaker? Something high-tech?” I asked. Shirley nodded; her eyes grew wide with anticipation. “Maybe it wasn’t your run-of-the-mill pacemaker.”

“I don’t know…” Maggie said, scratching her head. “But at this point, anything is possible.”

“We still haven’t figured out, given that all of this was true, why?” Hannah asked.

We sat there looking at one another, contemplating Hannah’s question. Finally, I couldn’t take it any longer. I stood and stretched.

“Why don’t we take a break and get some fresh air? We have plenty of it,” I said with a laugh. I got no response. “Yeah, well. If anyone comes up with something, let me know. I’m going for a stroll on the poop deck.” I reached for Maggie’s hand.

“Good idea,” she said, grabbing my hand.

 
“I’m told as long as the freezer and refrigerators stay closed, we still have some food. I have the chef trying to salvage something for lunch and dinner. By then, I’m sure the Coast Guard will realize we’re overdue, and if they can’t communicate with us, they’ll do something to come and find us. I-I can’t tell you how sorry I am for this.”

“It’s not your fault,” Shirley said. “No one is blaming you.”

“Or financing you,” Mr. Sheldon said angrily and walked out with Miss Markham right behind.

Monty sighed sadly. “I can’t say as I blame him.”

“Well, if someone did this, they couldn’t have planned it better,” Paul said, patting Monty on the back. “Don’t worry. We can’t stay out here much longer. We’re due in Duluth tomorrow morning. When we don’t show up, you’re right. They’ll find us.”

Paul took Shirley by the hand, and they too walked out of the dining hall.

“Alone at last,” Simon said quickly. “Kate, do you know what I think?”

I backed up. “No, and I’m not sure I want to.”

“I think someone did this on purpose. I think Shirley is exactly right. What other explanation is possible?”

“I don’t know. It’s just so farfetched.”

“Again, why?” Hannah asked.

“That’s the simplest answer!” Simon said with a wide grin. He looked at Monty. “Your ex-partner. What’s his name? Oh, it doesn’t matter.”

“What are you getting at? You think David Bledsoe is responsible for this?” Monty asked.

“Hold on,” I said quickly. “What’s his name?”

“David Bledsoe,” Monty said. “You know him?”

“No. Does he have any children?” I asked.

It suddenly dawned on Hannah and Maggie. “Oh, my God. No,” Hannah said, putting her hand to her heart.

“No, what?” Monty asked. “I think he has children, but I really don’t know. What are you getting at?”

“Could this be related, Kate?” Maggie asked. “What are the odds?”

“As usual, sweetie. Rotten.” I concentrated on Monty. “Monty, listen to me carefully. We have a client whose business partner had been killed in an apparent robbery. Our client’s name in Phil Bledsoe. And he owns a high-tech company that makes components, and well, he calls himself a technogeek. His partner, Chad Henson, was killed, and Phil came to us because he believes Chad was murdered. It’s the case my partner is working on right now back in Chicago.”

“That has to be a coincidence, Kate,” Monty said. “I’ll grant you David and I did not part on good terms, but I highly doubt he’d…”

When his voice trailed off, I knew he thought it was indeed possible. Simon sat back and preened like a cat as he folded his arms across his chest.

“I’ve solved the case,” he said, very pleased with himself.

“Really? Then you have proof and evidence?” I asked.

“Well, now you’re just getting picky,” he said in full pout.

“Yeah, the police are funny that way,” I said to him. “Monty, do you have the name of the missing crew member?”

“I can get the crew log. It has names and addresses. I’ll be right back.”

“Do you think it’s him?” Maggie asked after Monty left. “And if it is, I’m sure his name and address are bogus.”

“You’re getting good at this PI stuff, Dr. Winfield,” I said.

“I had a good teacher,” she said, sporting that damnable dimpled grin.

It was now Hannah’s turn to preen. “Oh, Margaret, don’t go on so. I…Oh.”

“So, Maggie. That is a beautiful ring you’re wearing,” Simon said, reaching for her hand.

“Isn’t it?” she said. “Some wonderful woman asked me to marry her last night before all hell broke loose.”

“And did you say yes?” he asked, lightly examining the ring on Maggie’s finger.

“I did.”

“Are you sure that’s wise?”

Maggie leaned in and kissed me on the lips. “I’m willing to risk it if she is.”

“Oh, it’s Kate?” he asked.

“Hardy har,” I said, gazing into Maggie’s blue eyes. “This isn’t exactly how I wanted this weekend to go.”

“Well, given our track record, how else could it go?”

I laughed and kissed her. “Good point.” I leaned back and held her hand. “At least I feel like we’re a little closer to figuring this out. I wish I could get in touch with Costello and let her know what we think is happening. Maybe she’s tried our cellphones.”

“True. If she tried yours, it’s not unusual that you wouldn’t answer,” Hannah said. “She would try mine and Margaret’s.”

“She’s a smart kid. She’d know something was wrong if none of us answered our phones.”

“And she’d probably get things going to find us.” Maggie held on to my hand. “Right?”

“Exactly right. It’s what I’d do. Costello and I are likeminded there.”

“Do you think Phil Bledsoe knows what’s happened? Or is he an innocent dupe?” Hannah picked up a bunch of grapes. “At least we have fresh fruit.”

“I hope the champagne is still chilled,” Simon said.

“It’s not like we’re stranded on a desert island,” I said to him. “By tomorrow morning, when we don’t show up in Duluth, they’ll know and call the Coast Guard. And I’m sure Costello will be right there with them. So you’ll have to tough it out for the next twenty-four hours, Simon.”

He let out a dramatic sigh. “I suppose.”

“You’ll live,” Hannah said. “I don’t know how, but you will.”

Monty returned with the clipboard in hand. “His name is Smith.”

“Oh, brother. Are you kidding?” I asked, taking the clipboard from him. There it was. “And you didn’t recognize him?”

“I can’t remember what the man looked like. With all I had to contend with, just getting us out of Sault Ste. Marie…Well, I wasn’t concerned with the kitchen help.”

“He worked in the kitchen?” I asked.

“Yes, it’s right there. Not a chef or cook…Why? Is that important?”

“I don’t know,” I said slowly. I looked up to see Maggie watching me.

“Kate, remember at dinner last night. The crash from the kitchen?” she asked.

“I certainly do,” Simon said. “What a clatter.”