“What did you find?” Marco clutched Dede’s bag in his lap.
“Wait here. I’ll show you.”
I left Marco in the living room while I retrieved the Brutus coin from within the safe. When I returned, I handed him the small, clear plastic baggie with the coin inside.
“If it’s real, it’s worth four million dollars.”
Marco held the baggie up to the light. “You found this inside?”
“It was sewn into the lining. Dede probably had no idea. But when Greta searched the cabin, I’m pretty sure she found the bag. It looked like it had been moved. But she didn’t find the coin. And Neil—”
“Neil?”
I explained that after I had met the Churchill sisters for tea, I returned to Dede’s cabin and found Neil in the kitchen. “I’m still not certain why he was here. He said he had stopped by to restock Dede’s spice cabinet. Maybe so, but it wasn’t until he left that I saw Dede’s bag on the table behind the door and wondered if Neil might have been looking for it.”
Marco walked to the patio doors and peered through the blinds. Slivers of the morning light pierced the horizon. In another thirty minutes, the sun would be up.
“I don’t think Neil has a clue what’s going on. He’s not on board enough to know. But Antonio? From what I heard last night, as soon as he heard the drop hadn’t been made, he took the first flight he could to Ischia. Trust me, it’s no accident Antonio’s on board. He’s here to ensure the shipment’s secure and the group has no more problems.”
“Then it got to be Antonio who’s using Athena as a cover and Neil as his excuse to be on board.
“That’s how I see it.”
“And this shipment? Just, what is it?”
“Probably artifacts like those the Professor picked up in Procida and displayed for his lecture. Antiquities that Antonio managed to transfer from Camile’s hidden cache and laundered through various collectors. It’s how collectors make their money. They agree to sit on whatever’s been smuggled, take pictures of the items and include them as part of their collection, then phony up the docs to make it look like they’ve had them for a long time.”
“Things small enough to bring on and off the ship in a backpack, then?” I thought about the backpack I had seen with the Professor on my first day and the stack of black knapsacks inside Inspector Garnier’s storage cage. All of it in plain sight.
“Probably. And once we finish our cruise around the Amalfi Coast, Athena’s headed to Alexandria. From the excitement I heard in Antonio’s voice, I think the Gang of Eight is planning for a big payday.”
Marco looked at his watch. “It’s getting late. I should go. I wouldn’t want anyone to see me leaving your cabin. But, if I were you, I’d put Dede’s bag back in the drawer.”
“I was planning on it.”
“And the coin?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of the coin.” I wasn’t going to put the coin back in the safe. I didn’t know where I’d hide it at that moment, but I wasn’t about to tell anyone. “And hopefully, since Greta found the bag and not the coin, she’ll have convinced the Gang of Eight that Dede must have it and will leave me alone.”
“Let’s hope so.” Marco moved to the door. “What are your plans today?”
“I’m going ashore as soon as possible. There’s a lot to see, and if the Gang of Eight is going to believe I’m here to cover a story, I need to continue doing what I can to keep my cover.”
Marco reached for the door knob. “Be careful. You may think you’ve convinced Neil you know nothing, but I’m pretty sure someone from the Gang will be watching you. Stay out where people can see you. Better yet, get back on board as soon as you can. Chef Louie will be teaching a cooking class this afternoon. It might make a nice addition to your story. The class starts at two p.m. And if there are any doubts about your safety, I’ll be your taster.”
“I’m sure I don’t need it. But you’re right. It would be a nice addition to my story. Meanwhile, do me a favor. If you need to get back in my cabin, ring the bell.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ihad hoped that if I took the first tender to Capri, I might avoid running into any of the Gang of Eight. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way. Camile, the Inspector, and Carlo were onboard when I arrived. The three of them appeared ill at ease with each other’s company. Not that Camile ever looked happy, but she looked more discontented than usual, with a definite scowl on her small face. I had an uneasy feeling the Inspector might have interrupted a tryst and noticed the fingernails of her left hand were digging into the flesh of the Inspector’s as they sat side by side at the stern of the small ship while Carlo stood off by himself, near the helm.
The Inspector greeted me. “Off for another day of sightseeing, Ms. Lawson?”
I reached into my backpack, slung casually over one shoulder, and took out my camera. “Just another day in paradise to report on.”
“You do seem to enjoy your job.” The Inspector dropped Camile’s hand, and she snapped it away like a petulant child.
“It’s hard not to when there’s such beauty everywhere.” I put the camera up to my eye and framed a shot of the Isle of Capri, peppered with sprawling villas clinging to her white limestone cliffs. So different from Ischia’s black volcanic rock or Procida, Capri’s grittier sister island.
“Well, I do hope you enjoy yourself. This is the island to see and be seen. Lots of beautiful scenery and people everywhere. The perfect place for lovers. Wouldn’t you say, ma cherie?” The Inspector put his arm around Camile.
I moved toward the rear of the tender and busied myself with my camera, adjusting the focus and light settings, doing my best to avoid conversation while the rest of those going ashore filed in behind me.
“Good morning, Ms. Lawson. I was hoping you’d be going ashore this morning. Mind if I tag along?” Doctor Jon put his hand on my shoulder to steady himself as the tender bobbed in the water. I nearly gagged. The Doctor reeked of cologne and wore a cotton shirt he had buttoned mid-chest, exposing the top of his potbelly and graying chest hair. “If you’re unfamiliar with the island, perhaps I might show you around.”
“That’s a lovely offer, but I have a lot of quick stops planned. I need to be back on board for Chef Louie’s cooking class this afternoon.”
“Such a shame. Perhaps a quick lunch then or maybe a glass of wine?”
“I’m really sorry. I don’t have time.”
The Doctor positioned himself directly in front of me, blocking my view of the island. He wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
“You know I wanted to be a journalist myself once.”
“Did you?” I held my camera between us like a shield, tight to my chest.
“Yes, but it doesn’t really pay well, does it.” The Doctor stroked the side of my face. “But then, I suppose, an attractive, single woman like yourself must find other ways to pay the bills?”
