* * *
Neil left me on the deck, and I finished my coffee, then decided to go inside the cafe and order a full breakfast. The café was busy, and I found a small table where I could eat and perused the menu. If I were going to dive, I’d need to keep up my energy.
“Kat! I’m so glad you’re here. Do you believe what happened?” Ida limped toward me, holding her left arm against her side with her sister Irene close behind.
“Are you okay?” I thought I detected a slight lisp.
“I’m fine.” Ida brushed aside my concern with a sweep of her hand. “But Oleg, you can’t tell me that’s a coincidence. Not after Dede.”
“Ida, please.” Irene grabbed her sister and started to pull her away from the table. “I’m so sorry, Kat. Please excuse us. Ida’s not feeling well. Call us later, will you?”
I promised I would and watched as the two sisters shuffled their way to the door.
“Poor dear. I don’t imagine she’s long for this world.” It was the Inspector who spoke. He and his wife Camile were seated at the table next to me.
I put my elbows on the table and leaned closer. No time like the present to do a little Q&A. “I was thinking the same. How old do you suppose they are?”
“It’s Ida’s 90th birthday on Saturday. I think Irene’s even older. Whatever they are, they aren’t in the best shape.” The Inspector blotted his mouth with his napkin.
“How long have you known them?”
Camile closed her eyes and shook her head. From the pained look on her face, she wasn’t happy being in her husband’s presence and couldn’t be bothered to discuss such things.
“Four years.” The Inspector patted his wife’s hand. “Camile and I came aboard about the same time the Professor did.”
“Did you two know each other?”
“Some. Over the years, the professor has been helpful to me when we had cases dealing with antiquities and stolen art. He’s quite an authority. I have a great deal of respect for him.”
“Excusez-moi.” The chef interrupted our conversation. In his hands, he held a black backpack. “Your lunch, Inspector. Exactly as you asked.”
“Je vous remercie.” The Inspector thanked the chef and stood up. “We’re going back to the Castle today. Camile insisted we pack a lunch. Would you like to join us?”
“No, thank you. I was going to try to squeeze it in this morning, but I’m doing the dive to Aenaria this afternoon at two p.m., and Neil suggested I take a scuba lesson.”
“Ahh, but of course. Wise idea. The dive’s the opportunity of a lifetime. You’ll never see anything like Aenaria ever again.”
Chapter Eighteen
Isaid goodbye to the Inspector and Camile and hurried back to Dede’s suite, where Finn stood outside my door with a bouquet of red roses.
“Flowers?” I wasn’t expecting anything. “For me? Who’re they from?”
Finn looked at the card and shrugged. “Card doesn’t say. Just, ‘Have a good day.’”
“That’s odd.”
Finn opened the door and waited for me to go inside. “Would you like me to put them in the living room?”
“Put them wherever you like. It doesn’t matter.” I had an uncomfortable feeling the flowers were from Captain Byard, and if they were, I wished he hadn’t sent them.
“Looks like you have a secret admirer.”
“I doubt that.” I walked Finn to the door, then realized I’d missed an opportunity to ask him about what I had just seen on the Lido Deck. “I noticed you with Neil this morning. It looked like you were arguing. Things okay?”
Finn looked up to the ceiling. “I’m fine. Or I will be once Antonio leaves. He’s not a good influence on Neil. Bad things happen when that man’s around.”
“What do you mean by bad things?” I put my hand on the door handle. I wasn’t about to let Finn leave until I knew more. “You can’t think Antonio had anything to do with Oleg’s death. He was in Neil’s apartment when it happened.”
“I’m just saying, this isn’t the first time Neil wasn’t around when—’’ Finn put his fist to his mouth.
“When what, Finn? When someone drowns. Like the last captain? Captain McKay? I heard he fell overboard. That he was drunk. Was Antonio onboard when that happened?”
Finn reached for the door handle. “I shouldn’t be talking like this. Neil would be furious if he thought I said anything. He already thinks I imagine things. He says I’m a jealous Nellie. Please, don’t say anything. I need to go.”
Finn opened the door and slid quietly out into the hallway. I waited until I heard the door latch, then locked it behind him. Whatever secrets Finn kept to himself, I had a growing sense of apprehension that I needed to keep my guard up.
* * *
It was almost 11:45 by the time I left the apartment. I had changed into my swimsuit, a simple red tank designed for serious swimming, slipped into my robe, and stuffed a tube of sunscreen and my camera into my backpack. Satisfied I had everything I would need, I set out for the indoor pool on the Marina Deck.
Rather than take the elevator and risk running into any of the residents in my robe and flip-flops, I decided to take the stairs. Poor choice. Captain Byard was coming up the stairs as I was going down.
“Morning, Kat. Off for a dive?” Byard stepped back and put a hand on the rail so I could pass.
“Actually, I’m off for a scuba lesson. I’ve never done any open-water diving before, and I’m joining the dive team this afternoon to Aenaria. Should be fun.” I started back down the stairs, then stopped mid-step. This was awkward. I owed the man an excuse for not following through on our dinner plans, and if Byard had sent the flowers, I should at least address it. “By the way, thank you for the flowers. They’re lovely.”
“What flowers?”
