“Good to know.” I nodded slowly. I wasn’t sure where Marco was going with his story, but it felt close enough to what I suspected was going on that I wanted to listen. “So… you’re a thief with a moral compass.”

“I am, but we’re not here to talk about me. I’m here to tell you that you need to be careful. The group you went diving with this afternoon is worried Oleg might have told you that Athena’s carrying a bounty of stolen artifacts. It’s worth millions. Their biggest yet. And if anyone were to find out…well…let’s just say that’s why I think you’re in danger and why I finagled my way on board your pontoon this afternoon.”

“To save me.”

“Yes, I told them I had to go on the first dive with the Doctor because I was concerned about diving without medical assistance. You wouldn’t have come out of the water if I hadn’t been with you.”

I swallowed. I was inclined to share that opinion. “And you don’t think anyone suspected you?”

“Everyone who knows me thinks I have dementia and am easily riled. They didn’t want to risk me throwing a temper tantrum and not let me onboard the dive boat. Which is lucky for you. If not, you might not be here.”

I pushed my cup away. “Let me get this straight. You don’t suffer from dementia? And you’re not a kleptomaniac? What you’re telling me is that this is all an act?”

“Not all. I do enjoy the occasional moon bath now and again.”

I rolled my eyes. Why me?

“It doesn’t matter what you think. What I’m trying to tell you is you’re in trouble.”

“And that these men, all of whom I was on the dive with this afternoon, the Professor, the Doctor, Chief Sully, Antonio, and Carlo, you believe them to be thieves and murderers?”

“You can add to that list the Inspector and his wife. I believe they’re the reason why Oleg was murdered. He uncovered what the Inspector, his wife, and the rest of them were doing, and Oleg wanted in. At the end of the day, it was easier to get rid of Oleg than cut him in.”

“How do you know this?”

“Like I said, it takes a thief to know one. And I know the Inspector and the Professor knew each other long before they took up residence aboard Athena. It’s no coincidence they’re here together.”

“Explain.”

“Years ago, I served time at Fleury-Merogis, a French prison in the suburbs of Paris. While there, a group of thieves were arrested for breaking into a Freeport in Geneva, Switzerland, and stealing rooms full of Greek and Roman antiquities. It was the talk of the prison yard. Perhaps you heard of the break-in?”

I shook my head. So far away, on the other side of the world, news of the break-in hadn’t made the nightly news in the US.

“Doesn’t matter. Although it was very dramatic. The thieves used an aerialist…but I’ll get to that in a moment. What does matter is that Inspector Garnier, who had a reputation for investigating some of the world’s largest art thefts, had been called in to investigate, and he asked Professor Braun to work with him to verify the authenticity of the items stolen. Things like gold jewelry. Statues. Coins, and such. All were believed to have been looted from museums and private residences during the 2nd World War and secured away in a Swiss Freeport in Geneva, in what, for all practical purposes, is a warehouse for stolen art and antiquities. There’s probably more art hidden away in that Freeport than in some museums. Ultimately, the Inspector was successful in helping the prosecution to obtain a conviction against those charged. But he could never have done it without the help of one attractive young woman he convinced to turn evidence against the thieves she worked with.”

“Camile?”

“Mademoiselle Garnier. Yes. And mademoiselle’s plea came with a marriage proposal from the Inspector.”

“And you know this because—”

“After the trial, one of my cellmates happened to be her ex. And because her ex was French, he was extradited back to France to serve out his sentence.”

“Small world.”

“Even smaller, considering the Professor and the Inspector bought luxury suites aboard the Athena several years ago.”

“And you don’t think that’s a coincidence.”

“Not at all.”

“What about Neil? Is he involved?”

“I couldn’t tell you what Neil knows. But I do know Neil’s been friends with Antonio for years and that it was Antonio who taught the Professor to dive. He worked with the Professor on his underwater research. He got even closer to the Professor when he heard he was advising Inspector Garnier about the break-in at the Geneva Freeport.”

“So, you think Antonio saw an opportunity—”

“And jumped all over it. There’s no record of what was hidden, or for that matter, stolen from the Geneva Freeport.” Marco sat back and stirred his tea slowly. “During the war, the Germans kept records, but afterward? It’s anyone’s guess what was stolen or where the records might be. As I see it, Antonio learned about the break-in and convinced the Professor and Inspector to siphon off some of what was stolen and work with him to find buyers on the black market.”

“And knowing Neil, you think it was Antonio who suggested they take up residence on Athena.”

“Exactly. And, if I’m right, the antiquities you saw the other night at the Professor’s lecture are nothing compared to what I believe they have hidden away and are likely onboard right now.”

“I don’t get it. If you’re right, why would the Professor display any of what they have? Why risk it?”

“Money. And lots of it. Plus, who’s to say what’s real and what’s not? The Professor’s not stupid. I’m sure he’s got some kind of certificate of authenticity. Easy enough to get…or make. Believe me, I know. A collector takes a picture of his collection, claims he’s had said items in his collection for years, then fakes a certificate of authenticity to prove its provenance. In some cases, collectors are as bad as the thieves.”

“And you know this because—”

“Prison, my dear, what else is there to discuss?”

“I see.” I picked up my spoon and tapped it nervously on the table. “And the Doctor and Chief Sullivan? They’re all part of this, too?”

“Why not? They’re getting on in years. They’re bored and probably easily bribed. As I see it, they’re a group of senior citizens who’ve gone rogue. Mutineers who have decided to cash in on a bounty of previously stolen antiquities in hopes of subsidizing their retirement. All they need to do is pirate them across the Med to an awaiting market of black marketeers.”

“It’s a Gang of Eight, then?” I counted the names on my fingers. “Inspector Garnier, Camile, Professor Braun, Greta. Chief Sully, the Doctor, and the Muse’s Captain, Carlo.”

“That’s how I see it?”

“What about Captain Byard?

“I don’t think so. The last captain, maybe. But things didn’t work out so well for him. You heard he drowned?”

I nodded.

“Captain Byard’s been with the ship less than a year. I doubt the Inspector or the Professor would trust him. He’s a recovering alcoholic, and after the last captain got himself drunk and fell overboard, I doubt they’d want to risk pulling Byard into the fold.”

Marco’s theory aligned with my thinking and explained how Inspector Garnier and Professor Braun could afford such a luxurious lifestyle. Not to mention how it might help Neil plug a big hole with the loss of his inheritance. The sale of a single gold coin, like that in Dede’s bag, could go a long way to keeping Athena afloat.

“If you know this, why haven’t you contacted the police?”

“You’re assuming, Ms. Lawson, the police would do something about it and not be bought off and look the other way. I’m not willing to risk that. The fact is, I like my life. But I do have a past, and as it is, I’d rather not get into how I afford such a lifestyle. If I expose those onboard, I’d likely have to disclose my financial assets. Which, by the way, have nothing to do with the sale of stolen antiquities, but still might be…shall we say… touchy?”

“How touchy?”

“I’ll only say that I was never into getting my hands dirty. My specialty was more white-collar crime, securities fraud, and such.”

“If I understand you correctly, you’re telling me all this because—”