“Moscow? How did that happen?”

“Schliemann got greedy. He smuggled much of what he found out of Turkey and into Germany, where it disappeared after World War 2 and ended up in the hands of the Russians.”

“Enough ancient talk.” Neil waved us away from the buffet. “I invited you here to gloat over my culinary skills, not my collection of ancient art. If you want to see my piece de resistance, it’s in the kitchen. Follow me.”

Neil led the way to the kitchen. A large marble center island had been set up with three placemats, enough silverware, and wine goblets for an eight-course meal. In the center of the bar was a long, slim, white dish ornately displayed with olives, cheese, nuts, and prosciutto, enough that by itself could have easily been a meal. Neil filled two of the empty glasses on the table with red wine, then handed one of them to Antonio and the other to me while he sauteed a filet of fresh sea bass with lemon grass and ginger.

I don’t remember how many glasses of wine we had or how often Neil refreshed my glass, but when Neil plated our dinner, and we sat down, the conversation flowed as easily as the wine.

When we finished our meal, Neil tempted us with a chocolate souffle he had prepared throughout our dinner. As he stood up from the table and cleared the dishes, there was a long, loud blast from the ship’s horn.

Neil immediately went outside to the deck, and we followed. The blast continued. Three long, continuous blasts. A red flare had been launched into the dark sky from the sun deck above us.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Someone’s overboard.” Neil went back inside and picked up the cabin phone. From the shocked look on his face, I knew the news wasn’t good.

Chapter Sixteen

Antonio and I leaned over the railing, our eyes searching for some sign of a body below. From the sun deck above, a spotlight aimed into the inky black water swirling beneath Athena’s white hull.

Antonio was the first to spot the body. “Look. There beneath the tender ladder.”

I strained to see the ladder flapping against the side of the ship, then spotted the body, lifeless in the water, floating face down. Neil came running to join us.

“Do you know who it is?” I looked anxiously at Neil and then back at the water.

“No.” Neil put his arm around my shoulder, and we watched as a crew member wearing a life vest climbed out from the open hatch beneath us, threw a life preserver into the water, and then jumped in.

Moments later, a second crewman appeared at the top of the ladder and tossed a rope to his crewmate in the water. The first crewmember grabbed the rope, swam to the body, looped it around the man’s chest, and then signaled to the crewmember to pull. Slowly, the body was dragged limp from the water.

“It’s Oleg!” Neil put his hand to his mouth.

“Who?” Antonio did a quick head click to Neil.

“The Russian.” Neil’s eyes snapped to Antonio like he should know who Oleg was, then back to me. “Kat, we should go back inside. Come.”

I followed Neil into the cabin while Antonio, ahead of us both, went directly to the bar and poured himself a drink.

Neil closed the drapes behind us. “Kat, I apologize. You shouldn’t have to see something like this. It’s highly unusual.”

Even in a state of shock, I knew better. Captain Byard had replaced the previous captain who had fallen overboard, and if what the Churchill sisters told me about Dede was true, then Oleg was the third person to fall from Athena’s decks.

“Do you think he fell?” I asked.

“Either that or he jumped. We won’t know more until Doctor Jon has had a chance to look at the body. Oleg liked to drink. Might be he slipped.” Neil joined Antonio at the bar and poured himself a drink. “Do you think you might need one?”

“No, I need to go. It’s getting late. Let’s talk tomorrow.”

* * *

Exiting the elevator on Dede’s floor, I noticed Finn headed toward me. “You’re working late. I’m surprised you’re still here. It’s almost midnight.”

“Frau Braun called and ordered something from the pharmacy. Her stomach’s upset. She and the Professor were on the Lido Deck enjoying a nightcap when Oleg went overboard. I assume you heard?”

“I watched the crew fish Oleg out of the water from Neil’s deck. Did Frau Braun see it happen?”

“I don’t think so. The Professor said he and Greta had gone up to have a nightcap on the Lido Deck. They passed Oleg on their way to the bar. They said Oleg was talking to himself, leaning against the railing, and that he looked drunk. After that, they said they heard a splash, and when they looked back, Oleg was gone.”

“Did the Professor think Oleg jumped?”

“He must have. It’d be nearly impossible to fall over the railings. They’re five feet high. Oleg couldn’t have gone over unless he wanted to.” Finn started for the elevator. “Forgive me. I should ask, do you think you’ll be needing anything?”

“No, I’m fine. Just shaken, that’s all.”

“Well, don’t hesitate to call if you need to. By the way, how was dinner?”

“Dinner?” I had almost forgotten. All I could think about was the crew pulling Oleg’s limp body from the water and my last conversation with him. If anything, the Russian had appeared anxious to meet, saying he thought it was important we make time for one another. Hardly the ramblings of a depressed or suicidal man.

“Did Neil serve anything special?”

“I’m sorry. What with Oleg falling overboard, I barely remember eating. But, yes, the meal was wonderful, and so was the company.”

“Company?” Finn cocked his head curiously.

“Neil had a friend in. Antonio. He’s planning to stay for a couple of days. Until we get to Sorrento.”

“Humph.” The news Neil had a guest was obviously a surprise and not a welcome one. Finn crossed his arms and clenched his jaw.

“You know him?”

“Antonio De Luca? Oh, yes, I know him. Antonio’s been aboard a couple times. Not one of my favorite people. I suppose that’s why Neil didn’t bother to tell me.”

“I’m sorry.” I could see the news upset Finn. “I’m sure there’s nothing to it. But if you don’t mind, I need to rest. This has been a tough day.”

“Of course. Have a good night, Ms. Lawson.”

I bid Finn goodnight and let myself into Dede’s apartment, then closed the door behind me and, with my back against it, sank to my heels.

I didn’t need to wait for the doctor’s report in the morning to know Oleg hadn’t had a heart attack and accidentally fallen from the Lido deck. And I was sure the Russian hadn’t committed suicide. If he had wanted to take his own life, he could have just as easily jumped from his own deck. No. Someone had pushed Oleg Sidorov overboard. Just like I was beginning to think someone had pushed the previous captain overboard, and possibly Dede as well. Maybe because they knew too much. Or knew as much as I did.

Chapter Seventeen

Ispent a restless night in my cabin, my mind like a ping-pong ball going back and forth from the four million dollar Brutus gold coin I had found hidden in Dede’s bag to Oleg’s death, the Professor’s missing ring and back to the very charming Neil Webster, who I was now beginning to suspect was head of an international smuggling operation, using Athena as a modern-day pirate ship to ferry stolen artifacts along the Silk Highway for personal gain. No wonder he didn’t want me asking personal questions.

By seven a.m. I was dressed and ready to begin my day. I wanted to be up on the top deck early enough to grab a coffee and walk to the spot where Oleg had fallen overboard. But by the time I arrived on the Lido Deck, I wasn’t alone. Neil and Finn stood mid-ship next to yellow tape that had been draped by the railing where Oleg had last stood. They appeared to be in a heated argument. Neil had his back to me. Finn shook his head and pointed back to the island. From the looks on their faces, this was a lover’s spat. I filled my cup from the coffee urn the Ivy had set aside for residents who wanted to serve themselves and waited for Finn to leave. Once he was gone, I approached Neil.

“I wanted to thank you for dinner last night. I’m sorry I left so abruptly, but—”