Chapter Eleven

As I left the conference room, the man I had seen arguing with the Professor earlier that night pushed past me, bumping my camera from my shoulder as he reentered the room. I felt like I had been hit by a linebacker.

Realizing he had knocked me aside, he stopped and addressed me. His voice was gruff. “Kat Lawson?”

I stepped back and noticed several people exiting the conference room had stopped to watch.

“My name’s Oleg Sidorov. You are visiting journalist, correct?”

I nodded. My hand gently massaged my shoulder.

“I saw your name in paper this morning. Please, I need to speak with Professor Braun before he leaves. Is urgent. But we talk. I’ve stories about Athena you need to know. Call me. My number is in the ship directory.” Then, patting my hand on my bruised shoulder, he left me standing in the doorway and hurried toward the podium.

Whoever Oleg Sidorov was, I made a mental note to take the Russian up on his offer. If Oleg knew stories about Athena’s past or had information about some of her residents, I sensed he’d be a good source, and I looked forward to talking with him.

But until then, I planned to visit with as many of Athena’s residents as possible and headed to the lobby, where a group had gathered to discuss tonight’s lecture. I was pleasantly surprised when I noticed Byard standing beneath Athena’s statue.

“Are you looking for me?” I repositioned my camera from my bruised shoulder and smiled.

“I could be if you wanted me to be.” Byard’s grin suggested he had been waiting for me despite our canceled dinner.

“You have time for a stroll? I was hoping we might chat.”

I led the way through the Promenade doors to the deck and stopped at the railing. The water was smooth, like black glass beneath a full moon, and the evening breeze felt like silk against my skin. I would have welcomed a romantic stroll beneath the stars any other time, but tonight, I needed information. I curled my fingers around the railing.

Byard pointed to the lights beyond Athena’s stern. “Peaceful, isn’t it?”

“It’s like another world.”

“The Romans would have agreed with you. They named Procida the first of the Poet Islands. They considered her the stomping ground for poets and writers. Tomorrow, we’ll visit Ischia, and after that, Capri.”

“You enjoy this, don’t you? Being captain of a luxury cruiser? Sailing around the world, charting your own courses. Making your own timeline.”

“It’s not always easy. There are days when catering to the whims of our residents can get difficult.”

“Like herding cats?’ I chuckled. “Don’t forget, I’ve met several. Between a few peculiarities and conspiracy theories, you have your hands full.”

“I’m not complaining. We have a few oddballs. But most of our residents are quiet retirees. Some are a little grumpy or opinionated. Fact is, they want what they want, but they’ve earned the right.”

“Have they?”

“You don’t think so?”

“I would agree that retirees are entitled to their opinions and their proclivities. I live with my grandmother. She’s a child from the Depression, and she has a host of habits I disagree with. She still splits a stick of gum in half to save a dime. Which makes me wonder. How can someone like the Professor afford such a luxurious lifestyle?”

Byard bit his lip and shook his head. If he knew anything about the Professor’s financing, he wasn’t about to say.

“I’m afraid I can’t answer that. It’s not my job to screen residents. If you’re curious about any of them, you should talk to Oleg Sidorov. He handles the sale of Athena’s suites, the association dues, and management fees. He’s had that job since he first came aboard. Neil calls Oleg Commandant of the Pepsi Navy.”

“The Pepsi Navy?”

“Ever hear of it?”

“No. Should I have?”

“Maybe not, but back when the Soviet Union fell apart, their fleet, or a lot of it anyway, was like everything else in Russia, broken, falling apart, and not worth a crap—just a bunch of rusted hulls. Some of it was barely able to float. But Oleg saw an opportunity. Several years before, he had arranged for Pepsi to be distributed in the Soviet Union and introduced the soft drink to Russia. The Russians loved it. But when it came to paying the bill, Russia was strapped. Oleg went back to Pepsi and negotiated for Russia to give Pepsi seventeen rusted Russian subs, along with a frigate, a cruiser, and a destroyer, in exchange for their past due bill.”

“You’re joking.”

“No. Not a bit. In fact, this was also about the time that Oleg was negotiating with Neil for Athena’s hull. I think Pepsi got the better deal, but Neil’s done okay. Pepsi turned around and sold what they had of the Russian fleet to the Swedes, who used it for scrap metal. I don’t imagine Pepsi lost so much as a dime, and it kept the Russians drinking Pepsi. To this day, if the Russians are loyal to anything besides their vodka, it’s Pepsi.”

“And Oleg? What did he get out of the deal?”

“What do you think? In addition to a cushy job as Athena’s resident bookkeeper, he negotiated a four-thousand square foot luxury suite directly across from Neil’s.”

“And family? Does he have any?”

“He’s got a daughter in Lucerne and homes in Moscow and London. I don’t know much more than that, but rumor is he’s one of the wealthiest residents aboard. Anyone else you want to know about?”

“Neil Webster. I get that he’s pretty much a closed book when it comes to his personal life, but listening to the Professor talk about Aenaria tonight, I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe Neil was involved in the discovery.”

“Sorry, I don’t know. It was way before my time. But I do know Neil’s not the type to want a lot of publicity, and if he doesn’t want to talk about it, that’s fine with me.”

Chapter Twelve

Ileft Byard on the Promenade Deck and returned to Dede’s suite. Much as I wanted to think Captain wasn’t involved in Dede’s disappearance or that he might be a party to bootlegging antiquities across the Mediterranean, I felt something wasn’t right. I could understand why Byard would be loyal to Neil. Neil had given Byard a fresh start. But Neil? The more I thought about him, the more doubts I had.

Neil was very closed mouth about his personal life, particularly his financial dealings, and if I was right in suspecting he was involved in the discovery of Aenaria, his explorations as well. As to whether that secrecy might also include a connection to the gold coin I had found in Dede’s bag or her whereabouts, I had no idea. But I had to admit, despite all the good things I heard people say about Neil, I was growing ever more suspect that Neil Webster’s plans for Athena included more than a quiet retirement community for Seniors at Sea.

I’m no financial wizard, but if Byard was right and Athena required a guaranteed wealth analysis of five million dollars, then how could a retired history professor and his wife, plus a former private investigator and a young aerialist, afford luxury suites aboard a private ship like Athena? The more I thought about it, the more I couldn’t let the thought go. The numbers just didn’t add up, and I was anxious to return to Dede’s cabin, where I could pull my notepad from my backpack and organize my thoughts.

I had barely put my key in the door when Finn poked his head out from behind the Braun’s cabin door across the hall.

“Ms. Lawson. I’m glad I caught you. Elli dropped by. She wanted to slip this under your door, but I told her I’d take it.” Finn handed me an envelope. “I had come by to do a turndown for the Professor and his wife. They’re still upstairs having a celebratory drink for their anniversary.”

“Elli?” I looked at the envelope and wrinkled my brow.

“From the spa. Are you sure you don’t want me to turn down your sheets? It’s no problem.” Finn appeared to be in no hurry to rush off.

“You’re working too hard, Finn. I’m quite capable of turning down my own sheets. But I thank you for the offer.”

“It’s my job. And I do enjoy it.” Finn folded his arms and leaned back against the door jam. “To be honest, I miss when Neil and some of my regulars like Dede go ashore and take leave of the ship. Particularly, Dede. She and I have a special relationship. Sometimes, she invites me in for a nightcap. She likes to chat before she turns in.”

“Not that I’m judging, but isn’t that a little irregular?”

“It is, but with Dede, irregular’s the norm. She isn’t big on rules.”

“You know what, neither am I.” I opened the door and nodded for Finn to go in. “And I could use a drink. There’s an open bottle of red wine on the bar.”