“Fate, I suppose. I was working at a gym as a masseuse in West L.A. when a client came in and left a copy of Investor’s Daily in the lobby. I was about to throw it away when I saw an ad for Webster’s International with a picture of Neil. Neil looks a lot like the pictures I’ve seen of my father. There’s a strong family resemblance. Anyway, I was curious and called the number in the ad and left a message with a female receptionist. Said I thought Neil Webster and I might be related and asked if she would relay my message to Neil that I wanted to talk. To tell you the truth, I never expected a callback. He probably had no idea who I was. I could have been some nut, but he called back several weeks later, and we talked on the phone. I told him my story, and he said he had always wondered if he had any family other than my father and that he was delighted I had called. Before we hung up, he had arranged for me to fly to London and to have a summer job aboard Athena. I really wish I had grown up knowing Neil. It’s not fair my father cut him out of our lives.”
“Not that it’s any of my business, but if your father cut you and your mother off, do you think he did the same to Neil?”
Elli rested her hands on my shoulders. “I don’t know. All I do know is that Neil says they haven’t spoken in years.”
“Then Webster’s International isn’t part of your father’s business?”
“I never thought about it. And I wouldn’t ask. As far as I’m concerned, my father’s been dead to me for years. He made my life and my mother’s very difficult. When I met Neil, I told him I didn’t want to talk about him, and Neil agreed. He’d be upset with me if he knew I had mentioned anything to you about my father or Neil’s past. Neil’s very private, and I wouldn’t want to do anything to unsettle our relationship.”
“Well, I’m sure he enjoys getting to know you and having family around. From what I can see, he’s loyal to the Churchill sisters.”
“He is. And you’re right about family. Neil’s loyal to those loyal to him. I probably shouldn’t have said anything about Neil’s past. I hope you won’t say anything.”
“I’m not here to do a story about Neil Webster. I’m here to do a story about Athena and her Seniors at Sea, peacefully sailing into their sunset years. And, as far as Neil goes, he’s already told me he didn’t want to talk about himself. That his business affairs and personal life were off-limits. So, whatever you’ve told me, it stays between us.”
“Good, ‘cause I wouldn’t want something like that to get around. There’s enough excitement around here already. You heard what happened this morning?”
“No. What happened?”
“Frau Braun accused Marco of stealing her husband’s red signet ring last night during his presentation. I was in the café early this morning when she started yelling at him. What a Scene! She attacked him, and security had to come and pull her away.”
“That couldn’t have been good. How’s Marco doing?”
I couldn’t believe I had missed the scene. It must have happened before I joined the residents going ashore.
“Strange, like usual. But I’m not sure he took the ring. Between you and me, Marco gets blamed for anything that goes missing. He wouldn’t still be here if he was crazy and guilty of things everyone says he is.” Elli tapped me lightly on the back. She’d finished my massage. “Anyway, let’s hope Chief Sully finds the ring. Frau Braun is frantic. She says the ring is one of a kind. It was used by some Roman dignitary to sign documents. It’s probably worth thousands.”
Chapter Fifteen
No wonder Neil was so guarded about his past. If Webster’s International wasn’t as well funded as Neil liked to let on, it shed a different light on Athena’s Seniors at Sea program. It might explain why Neil didn’t want to talk about his personal life or business affairs. I thanked Elli for the massage and suggested we get together again, then headed directly back to Dede’s cabin. After learning about the Professor’s missing signet ring and that Frau Braun thought that Marco might be responsible, I was anxious to check that the Ides of March coin was still neatly hidden beneath the safe’s lining.
Finding everything as I had left it, I closed the safe, pulled my journal from within my bag, and walked barefoot to the living room, where I poured myself a glass of red wine. I then retreated to the outside deck, where I planned to make a few notes about some of Athena’s more interesting residents, starting with Neil Webster. Was he the mega-rich billionaire the world thought him to be or a fraud? And while his relationship with the Churchill sisters appeared to be one of extended family, was that all it was? And then there was Professor Braun, his wife Greta, and Inspector Garnier and his wife, Camile. I put a few dollar signs and question marks behind their names. None of them had the type of money to afford such a luxurious lifestyle. The more I thought about it, the more I began to believe that the picture-perfect Athena with her gleaming white hull, sailing through the Mediterranean’s turquoise blue waters with her happy Seniors at Sea program was more of a cover for a group of geriatric smugglers than innocent seniors sailing peacefully into their sunset years.
Tap. Tap. Tap. “Hello?” From the entry, I heard Finn enter the apartment. “Anyone home?”
I closed my journal and, holding it against my chest, entered the living room. Finn had let himself in and had a tray of chocolates in his hand.
“Oh, there you are.” Finn waltzed by me and put the chocolates on the dining table. “I was hoping you might be in. I brought these. I thought perhaps you might like them. It’s lonely with Dede away, and Neil’s so busy this week with plans for Ida Churchill’s party, I was hoping we might chat.”
“I’m so sorry. It’s very thoughtful of you, Finn, but I can’t, not tonight.”
Finn picked a chocolate up from the tray and put it in his mouth. “Forgive me. I should have known. I’m sure you’re busy.” Finn started for the door, then stopped halfway. “Will you be going out this evening?”
“Yes. Neil invited me for dinner.”
“Oh?” Finn looked surprised. “Strange he didn’t mention it.”
I shrugged and walked to the door. “I don’t know why.”
“Well, then. I’ll not keep you. Have a nice evening.”
Finn shut the door behind him, and I stood staring at the door with my notepad against my chest. Finn was close to Neil, and as a butler, he was in and out of the Brauns’ and the Garnier’s apartments as much as Dede’s. I would need to keep Finn close if I hoped to learn what he knew about Neil and some of Athena’s more interesting residents. I scribbled Finn’s name on my pad, then returned to the bedroom, where I decided it might be a good idea to lock my journal inside the closet safe, just in case anyone came looking.
After dressing quickly, I chose a pair of black Palazzo pants and a sleeveless tank top, something that showed off my tan, and headed out of the apartment to the elevator, one floor up to Neil’s cabin. Halfway down the hall, I passed Camile. She rushed past me, head bowed, arms wrapped tightly around herself, and said nothing. I watched as she stopped in front of the elevator and pounded the button. She looked as though she were about to cry. Then, giving up on the elevator, ran to the other end of the hall and disappeared behind the door to the stairs. Moments later, the door to Neil’s cabin opened, and Professor Braun entered the hall.
“Good evening, Ms. Lawson.” The Professor shut the door behind him. “I understand you’ll be joining Neil for dinner tonight.”
“I am.” I forced a smile while trying to process Camile’s rushed exit and the Professor’s unexpected appearance from Neil’s apartment. Was there a connection? Fearing my suspicion might suddenly play out on my face, I blurted the first thought that came to mind. “And from what Neil tells me, he’s quite the gourmand.”
“The best. And I happen to know Neil’s planning one of his specialties for tonight. You won’t be disappointed.” The Professor patted me on the back and started toward the elevator, then stopped suddenly as though a second thought had occurred to him. “You haven’t forgotten about tomorrow’s dive, I hope. I’m looking forward to showing you.”
My throat tightened. If the Professor had any idea that I thought he might be involved in a high-stakes smuggling operation, I might never get off this ship alive. Still, I had a job to do and needed to keep my cover. I could barely get the words out.
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Good. Until tomorrow, then.”
I waited until I saw the Professor enter the elevator, then walked further down the hall and tapped lightly on Neil’s door. Whatever I was about to walk into, this wasn’t going to be a casual, friendly dinner. With everything I had learned about Neil and suspected about the Professor and the Garniers, I felt tonight’s dinner was more of a game of chess, and I’d need to keep my concerns hidden well beneath the surface.
Neil answered the door. “Kat, I’m so glad you came. Please, come in.”
I stepped inside, and Neil hugged me hello. When he let go, I was dumbfounded. I had never expected such a suite, particularly on a ship. Two-story, glass floor-to-ceiling windows looked out onto a deep wooden deck facing the ship’s stern. And directly beyond it, the sun was just beginning to sink slowly into the water like a yellow ball on the horizon. To my left, a dramatic, black-lacquered spiral staircase wound from the great room to the second story. Directly in front of me was a spacious living area with an oversized circular couch facing the windows, a baby grand piano on one side, bookshelves, and a full bar on the other, and further to my right, a formal dining room complete with a crystal chandelier and candelabras.
“Kat, you remember Antonio from this morning. I invited him to join us. I hope you don’t mind.”
Antonio handed me a glass of red wine and lifted his glass to me. “We’ve white wine if you prefer, but I figured you to be more of a red wine type of woman.”
“I’m not sure I have a type. But thank you.” I held the glass up to the light and then took a sip. Smooth. Dry. And dusty. With just the slightest hint of blackberries.
