Dead in the Water (Kate Ryan Mysteries Book 10) (21 page)

“That’s motive,” Maggie offered. “But no evidence.”

“No evidence,” I agreed. “And since we have no phones, no way of communicating with anyone…We need to find Larry Smith.”

“Do you think he jumped overboard?” Hannah asked.

“No, I don’t,” I said. And that meant only one thing…

“Then where is he?” Maggie asked.

“Good question. Another good question.” I looked around the table. “Any answers?”

Chapter 19

“The only plausible answer I can come up with was if he didn’t jump, then the elusive Mr. Smith was somewhere on the ship.” I picked up a strawberry off the tray and took a bite. I was ravenous. We had no breakfast to speak of. I was sad.

“Well then,” Simon said with a definite air of resolve. “Let’s start looking for him.”

“Hold on, Admiral,” I said, pulling him back into his seat. “We know nothing about this guy.”

“So?”

“So he could be dangerous. If he planned this, he had a reason and not a legal reason. And we all know what happens when we deal with something illegal.”

“We do?” Simon asked. “What?”

“We have a bad guy. And sometimes bad guys have guns,” I said slowly. “And we don’t.”

“Speak for yourself.”

We all looked up to see Mr. Sheldon standing by the stairs with Miss Markham right behind him.

“Why do we need a gun?” he asked.

“Have a seat. Kate will fill you in. I’m going to forage…” Simon offered Miss Markham his chair.

“For food?” she asked, sitting down.

“Good heavens, no. Champagne. Come along, Hannah. We’ll be the survivalists.”

“I like the way you think, Simon,” Hannah said, accepting his hand.

Maggie and I watched them walk down off the deck, hand in hand. “Don’t wander too far, Aunt Hannah,” Maggie called after her.

“So what’s been happening?” Mr. Sheldon asked.

I took the next few minutes to fill him in on our theories, which as I retold them sounded more and more plausible. Probably because I could not think of another logical reason for all this. When I was finished, Mr. Sheldon’s expression went from a doubtful frown to an eyebrow-raising nod.

“It seems farfetched, I agree,” he said. “But what other explanation could there be besides engine failure on a poorly run ship?”

Monty shifted uncomfortably in his deckchair. “Mr. Sheldon, I assure you this vessel was in perfect shape when we left the dock. And if it were simply engine failure, why then was the navigational system disabled? And everything else that runs on electricity, as well? There has to be an explanation for that.”

“And you think David Bledsoe is behind this?”

I explained our client Phil Bledsoe to him. He seemed to calm down after that. “So we’re thinking this is all connected, Mr. Sheldon.”

“Well, then let’s go find this Larry Smith. It’s the first logical thing I’ve heard. I’ll get my gun,” he said and started to rise.

Monty quickly intervened. “Mr. Sheldon, I must insist you not do that. I’m still the captain of this ship, and I can’t have civilians running all over with firearms.”

“I was in the army for twenty years, young man. I know how to handle a firearm. If what you say is true and this fellow is still on this ship, don’t you think he has a gun?”

Another good point. Geesh…

“Do you have any firearms, Monty?” I asked.

“No.”

Mr. Sheldon snorted sarcastically.

“Mr. Sheldon, we run a cruise ship on the Great Lakes. We don’t need a bazooka while storming the beaches of Normandy!”

“Well, after this fiasco, Captain, if I can call you that, you just might!”

I glanced at Maggie, who was wild-eyed as she listened. Miss Markham just examined her nails while sadly shaking her head.

“He’s always like this,” she said to me. “He needs a laxative.”

Maggie hid her barking laugh in her hand.

“Guys,” I said softly. “Can we all just sit for a moment and think before we start World War III?” I made a calming motion with my hands, and both men sat down, still glaring at each other. “There. Now let’s all take a deep breath and figure out a plan.”

“I understand you’re a private investigator,” Mr. Sheldon said. “Don’t you carry a firearm?”

“Not this weekend,” I said. “It didn’t go with my outfits.”

It was Miss Markham’s turn to let out a loud laugh. “Oh, c’mon, Billy. It was funny.”

Mr. Sheldon grudgingly smiled. “All right. What’s next?”

So many good questions kept flying around. I truly wished I had equally good answers.

“How many crew members do you have, Monty?” I asked.

“Ten, including the chef.”

“And how many levels?”

“Three. The engine room, the staterooms, and the main deck.”

“Okay, let’s gather the crew. We’ll split up and take an area to search. But I want them all to understand that this guy, if he’s hiding, is more than likely dangerous.” I regarded Mr. Sheldon. “I can’t stop you, Mr. Sheldon. I can only beg you to be careful.”

“Of course. And might I suggest those who are not involved in the search to stay locked in their staterooms?”

“Good idea.”

“Tracy, go to our room and lock the door.”

“But…”

“Oh, please don’t argue now,” he nearly begged.

“I’ll go get the staff,” Monty said. “Miss Markham, may I escort you to your room?”

“Thank you, Captain,” she said, glaring at Mr. Sheldon.

“We have foraged!” Hannah announced as she climbed the stairs, holding a bottle of champagne and several glasses. “Where are they going? We’ve found goodies.”

“Good grief.” I sighed. “Where’s your partner in crime?”

“He’s coming up with a tray of assorted fruits and nuts.”

“I thought we were all here.”

“Ha, ha. What’s wrong?” she asked.

“We’re going to search the ship for the elusive Mr. Smith.” I explained what all that entailed. And of course, she pouted.

“But the champagne…”

Simon then bounded up the stairs balancing a large tray. “We shall not starve after all. What?”

“We’re going on a search,” Hannah said, setting the bottle on the table.

“For more food?” he asked.

“No,” I said. “Mr. Smith.”

“Oh.” He set the tray on the table. “How sad.”

Hannah reached over and snagged an apple, taking a crisp bite. “Drat.”

“Monty is getting the staff together. Mr. Sheldon and I will go with them. Why don’t you take your foraging and go back to our stateroom?”

“I’m going with you,” Maggie said.

And there was that tone I’d grown accustomed to—that “don’t even think of arguing with me” tone. So, naturally, I did.

“Maggie, please. I don’t want to worry about you…”

“And it’s okay for me to worry about you?”

“Here we go,” Hannah said, reaching for the bottle of champagne; she regarded Simon. “They’ve had this discussion before.”

“I believe I witnessed this when they were at my inn,” Simon agreed and grabbed some grapes. “Kate’s so butch.”

“That’s not what I’m saying. I’d feel better if you went with Hannah.” I turned to Simon. “And I’m not that butch.”

“Hold on,” Hannah said. “If Margaret gets to go, so do I.”

“I’ll stay in your stateroom, Kate,” Simon offered quietly.

I suppose Simon was trying to tell me I should have known better than to argue with the Winfield women.

“So this is what married life is going to be like?” I asked Maggie. “I tell you what do to and you…” Oh, that was so wrong.

The left eye twitched. “Tell me what to do?”

I ignored Hannah’s horrified expression as she slowly moved the bottle of champagne away from Maggie before she bounced it off my head.

“What I meant was, I-I…”

“Nice out,” Hannah whispered.

I stopped, not knowing what to say or how to get out of it. This, in fact, was probably what our married life would be like.

I noticed Mr. Sheldon staring at us like we were nuts. “I’m going to go find the captain.” He quickly disappeared.

“Kate,” Maggie said, taking a deep breath. “I understand what you’re saying. If you want me to stay in the stateroom with Aunt Hannah, I will.”

“What?” Hannah and I asked simultaneously.

Okay, what kind of reverse psychology was this? I gave Maggie a cautious and very suspicious look. “Okay. Thank you.”

“And if something should happen to you, I just want you to know I love you.”

And there it was.

“Maggie, honey. Nothing’s going to happen to me.” I saw the scathing “shame on you” glare from Hannah. Simon grinned and folded his arms across his chest.

“I know, I know.”

I heard her voice crack.

“Fine. Come with me.”

“No, no. You’re right.”

Now she sounded just like her aunt.

“No. I want you to come with me. If I die, I want you with me.”

She grinned like a little kid. “You do?”

“Yeah,” I said with a sigh. “Pretty selfish, huh?”

“I’ll say,” Simon chimed in.

“Don’t listen to him,” Maggie said. She placed her hand over mine. “I’ll stay in the stateroom. Really.”

“You’ll all stay in your staterooms.”

Monty appeared on the deck with his crew. “I’ve decided that I can’t allow any of you, including Mr. Sheldon and his pistol, to be part of this search party.”

“Monty—”

He held up his hand to silence me, which it did. “Kate, I appreciate you wanting to help, and I know you’re experienced in this kind of thing, but I’m responsible for all of you. And it would be very irresponsible to get you killed or injured in some way. I’m the captain, and along with my crew, we’ll find Mr. Smith. It can’t be that hard. Besides, we know this ship.”

He sounded very worried. “Monty, is there something else?”

“Yes. I just spoke with Patrick. He told me just before all this happened, Mr. Smith came to the bridge while Patrick was on watch. He told Patrick I wanted to see him, so he offered to stay on the bridge until Patrick returned. That was around midnight.”

“You’re kidding?” I asked. “Well, that really puts things in perspective.”

“Yes, it does. Patrick never thought anything of it because when this thing happened, all hell broke loose, and we’ve all been scrambling ever since. I just found out about this.”

My mind raced once again, trying to put all this together. Mr. Smith was at the helm when all this happened. That’s why—
 

“So you see why I can’t have passengers wandering around not knowing where they’re going. I’m not sure what this man is up to. And I want to conduct this search while there’s daylight.”

“I agree,” Simon said, picking up the tray. “Hannah, if you would.” He motioned to the champagne. “Let us retire to our staterooms and let Monty handle this.”