“Yes, and very easy to hide.” I took the coin from Marco and slipped it back into the camera. “When I realized how valuable it was, I removed the coin from Dede’s bag and hid it in my room safe. And later, after someone had broken into Dede’s suite, I transferred it to my camera. I’m almost certain it was Greta who broke in, and I believe she found your bag. But I do know she didn’t find the coin, and I’ve been worried ever since that she and the Gang of Eight might suspect that I have it.”

“And you think they may be watching you?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve done my best to act like I don’t know anything, but after Ida’s murder, I’m worried. I don’t know what to think.”

“Well, I’ll tell you what I think.” Dede stood up and hobbled toward the kitchen. “I think we need something to eat. Who knows how long we’ll be locked up in here. Marco, make yourself useful. Call the kitchen. Use the house phone. Tell Chef Louie to send something up and make sure it includes some chocolate croissants. All this worry has me hungry. I’m starving.”

* * *

Thirty minutes later, Finn knocked on Dede’s door and rolled a food cart into the living room using his passkey to let himself in. The cart, covered with a white linen tablecloth, was piled high with fresh fruits and cheeses, a basket of rolls with jams and jellies, a chocolate croissant on top, and an elegant silver tea and coffee service. Enough food to last us for several days.

Marco and I stepped aside while Finn took one of Athena’s logoed china coffee cups from the cart, filled it with black coffee, and handed it to Dede.

“Dede, what’s going on? You never—”

“Ida’s dead, Finn.” Dede took the cup and sat down on the couch. “You didn’t hear?”

“No. No. That can’t be. Not Ida.” Finn put his left hand to his heart and stepped back as though he had been shot. “What happened?”

I explained how Dede and I had gone for breakfast at the Ivy when we saw Irene sitting with Captain Byard. “She looked worried. Ida hadn’t come home last night. Irene was frantic. Sully came in and asked us to come with him to the gym. Irene, Captain Byard, Dede, Marco, and I went downstairs. It was awful. Elli said she was setting up this morning when she found Ida’s body inside the immersion tank.”

“That’s awful.” Finn glanced back at the door. “And I thought the guard at your door was because Captain Byard wanted to lock Dede in her room until he could talk with Neil about Dede’s arrival last night.”

“There’s a guard?” I took a cup from the cart and poured myself a coffee.

“Yes, but I can’t say I’m surprised. Not after Dede slapped the Captain last night. However, when Marco called the kitchen this morning and ordered room service, I did think it was odd. Not so much the room service, but Marco calling for it. No offense, Marco, but you and Dede aren’t exactly friends. I couldn’t imagine why you’d be here. I told Chef Louie I’d make the delivery right away. What a way to start the day. Poor Ida, what was she doing in the gym?”

I could see Finn hadn’t grasped the severity of the situation. The idea Ida had been murdered escaped him.

“Ida didn’t just die, Finn. And the guard outside Dede’s door isn’t there because Dede slapped Captain Byard. It’s more serious than that. The Inspector. Camile. The Professor. Greta. Doctor Jon. Sully. Carlo. Antonio. They’re all part of a conspiracy to smuggle stolen antiquities across the Mediterranean, and anyone who gets in the way of their Gang of Eight ends up dead.”

“What are you saying?” Finn put his hand to his chest.

“I’m saying Ida didn’t die of natural causes. She didn’t have a heart attack and keel over, Finn. She was strangled. Murdered and stuffed inside the immersion tank. Probably because she knew something or saw something, and one of the Gang of Eight wanted her dead.”

Finn jerked his head. “Are you serious?”

“I’ve never been more serious. And we don’t have a lot of time. I need to talk to Captain Byard. Have you seen him this morning?”

“No. But I know he’s not on the Bridge. Captain Rob is. He called the kitchen while I was there and asked the chef to send up some fresh fruit.”

“What about the rest of the ship, the residents? Anything unusual going on?”

“Not that I can tell. There are a few early risers. But the first tender isn’t due for at least another hour. Most people are still inside their cabins.”

“So you don’t think anyone else knows about Ida?”

“Well, I certainly didn’t. Not until I walked in here. After last night, I expected that you might have wanted to sleep in.”

Dede answered. “I never sleep in. I was up and about, rummaging around the kitchen for something to eat. I was debating whether or not I should go up to the Café for a chocolate croissant when Kat came in, and I convinced her to join me at the Ivy Café. Other than Irene and Captain Byard, we must have been among the first there.”

“Not quite. I was there before you came in.” Marco took a banana from the cart and began to peel it. “The Professor and Greta were already there with the Inspector and Camile. They had a table together in the corner.”

“Now that is odd,” Finn said. “The Brauns usually sleep late. Especially Greta. She’s not much of a morning person.”

I glanced at Marco. “I think it’s safe to say, based on the guard outside Dede’s door, that Sully’s doing what he can to contain the situation. He doesn’t want anybody on board talking about it.”

“I would agree, “ Marco said, “but I doubt Sully intends to contain the situation as much as he plans to manage it for their benefit. Think about it, Kat. We’re locked in here and—”

“The Professor, the Inspector, and the rest of the Gang of Eight are all free to roam about. For all we know, it wasn’t Elli who found Ida’s body, but the Chief who led her to it.”

“Because he knew where the body would be.”

I went to the sliding doors and stared at the water. Dede may have surprised us all by coming back so unexpectedly. But with Ida dead and Dede’s unexpected return, it didn’t take a lot to think that whoever had killed Ida would find Dede a convenient scapegoat.

“They’ll blame you for Ida’s death, Dede. You admitted you thought you were the last to see Ida alive. And if they think you have the Brutus Coin or know anything about it, they’ll threaten you with Ida’s murder until you turn the coin over to them.”

“And if you don’t,” Marco made a fist and hit the palm of his hand, “the Inspector will threaten to charge you with murder, and you’ll be dragged out of your comfortable quarters here and be the subject of a murder investigation before the sun sets tonight.”

“Can the Inspector even do that? He’s retired, and this is Italy, not France.” I had no idea what rules would apply to a murder on the high seas.

“Doesn’t matter. If Camile killed Ida, the Inspector would try anything. You saw how Camile reacted when they pulled Ida’s body from the tank. She would have fled if the Inspector hadn’t held her hand. What’s he got to lose? He’s done it before. He’ll do it again.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Bzzt…bzzt. The wall phone in the kitchen rang, and Dede asked Finn to answer. From the living room, we could hear Finn chatting on the phone. Then poking his head out the kitchen door and with the receiver in his hand, he announced, “Dede, Tatiana’s on the phone.”

“Oleg’s daughter?” Dede’s eyes narrowed.

Finn clasped the palm of his hand over the phone’s mouthpiece. “Captain Byard gave us all firm instructions we weren’t to bother her. But she’s on the phone and insists on talking with you.”

Dede pushed herself up from the sofa, toddled to the kitchen, and took the phone from Finn. “Tatiana?”

Whatever Tatiana said, Dede responded in a welcome tone. “Of course, dear. You know I’ll do whatever I can. I want to speak with you, too, but for reasons I won’t get into right now, I have a guard at my door, and I’m not permitted to leave my cabin.” Dede paused and whispered to us. “Tatiana wants to see me. What are we going to do?”

“Not to worry. I’ll fix it.” Finn took the phone back from Dede. “Tatiana, darling, stay where you are. I’ll come to get you and explain everything. But do me a favor, luv, don’t talk to anyone.” Then, hanging up the phone, Finn spun around and waltzed into the living room. “We’re going to need more food. Marco, would you mind helping me clear the cart? I’m going to make a second run.”

While Marco and Finn cleared the food cart, transferring what we hadn’t eaten to the refrigerator, Dede explained how she had come to know Tatiana.

“We met years ago when Oleg was helping Neil and my late husband negotiate with the Russians to buy Athena. Back then, Oleg and I were friendly. Tatiana was barely out of her teens, a pretty girl, and anxious to see the world. Her father spared no expense to see she was happy. I don’t know what kind of education she’s had, but she speaks Russian, French, English, and Italian. And she has an apartment in Paris, Milan, and undoubtedly something in Moscow.”

“And her mother?” I asked.

“Tatiana never talked about her, and I’ve never asked. My relationship with Oleg was strained at best. I never trusted him. But early on, I took an interest in Tatiana and taught her to make Sharlotka. It’s a Russian dessert, like a sponge cake filled with baked apple pieces, cinnamon, and vanilla. You’d think she might know, but no one ever took the time to show her.”

“Did she say what she wanted to talk about?”

“I imagine she wants to talk with me about her father. And if she’s willing to risk seeing me, I’m pretty sure it’s because she doesn’t believe he died of a heart attack.”