Dede slid the cup in front of me. “I’m glad to hear you’ll miss us. That’s why I wanted to chat before you left today. It’s not that I want to influence your story, but I hope your descriptions of life aboard Athena will be…shall I say, generous? And not too judgmental. We’re an odd group, but what group of seniors isn’t? My point is that I hope your story might encourage those who can, who are financially able, to consider a residency aboard Athena. We’ve a few too many empty cabins. I’m sure you’ve noticed.”
“I don’t think you need to worry. While I can’t guarantee the sale of any of Athena’s empty suites, life aboard is certainly enviable, and I’m sure my readers will be favorably impressed. It’d be hard not to be.” I took a sip of my coffee. I wasn’t about to let on that I had several stories I was itching to write about Athena’s cruise from Naples to Alexandria and couldn’t wait to get to a computer where I could file them. “However, I am curious. Last night, you said you wanted to share some things with me. Anything in particular? Something I might use for my story?”
Dede refreshed her coffee. “It’s more about what I hope you won’t use in your story. It concerns the Churchill sisters and some vicious gossip on board. Last night, Irene told me about Ida’s outburst at her party and how she attacked Greta. Irene was concerned you might have gotten the wrong idea about some of our residents. I hope you won’t let the actions of a few influence you. The truth is, much as I adore the Churchill sisters, Ida’s a jealous sort. Never approved of the Professor, and she’s given into some pretty wild ideas about him. Goodness knows I’m not exactly fond of Greta, but Ida never should have implied that—
“That the Professor’s smuggling stolen antiquities across the Mediterranean?” I raised a brow.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake! You can’t possibly believe that. Why would the Professor do that? He’s a well-respected man. An esteemed professor. A published author. Ida’s my friend, but I’m afraid she’s been influenced by Oleg, and everybody knows he was full of it! No offense to the Russians, but the man was always looking for a way to blackmail someone. My guess is Oleg had crossed someone he shouldn’t have and ended up taking his own life. I never did trust him. And, believe me, if Neil weren’t so loyal and Oleg hadn’t been with Neil from the beginning, he would have booted Oleg off Athena a long time ago.” Dede grabbed a rag and ran it over the countertop. “As it is, I’m not sorry to hear of Oleg’s death. I never did like him. Eh…there I go, sounding like an old person rambling on.” Dede threw the rag in the sink. “Enough of this crazy talk. It’s made me hungry. How about you and I go get some breakfast? It’s still early. Your shuttle won’t be here for several hours, and I haven’t had a chocolate croissant since before I left.”
* * *
It was ten-fifteen by the time Dede and I arrived at the Ivy Café, and I knew something terrible had happened the minute we walked in the door. The air was heavy, and the clatter of breakfast dishes and the hum of conversation had come to a standstill. It didn’t take but a moment to know why.
Across the room, seated in the same booth where I had High Tea my first day aboard with the Churchill sisters, was Irene. She looked to be in a state of shock, her face drawn, her skin as gray as her hair. Seated with her was Captain Byard. His back was to us, and he appeared to be trying to comfort her. He touched her shoulder while Irene dabbed her eyes with a wadded tissue.
Dede went immediately to the table. “What’s going on?”
“Ida’s missing!” Irene covered the corner of her mouth with her hand, her fingers trembling as she spoke. “She went out last night after you left. She said she wanted to go for a stroll to clear her head. She does that sometimes. I went to bed, and…when Ida wasn’t up this morning, I went and checked her room. Her bed was made, and I thought maybe she came here ahead of me. But when I didn’t find her at our table…I…I realized she didn’t come back last night. What if she fell overboard?”
Captain Byard squeezed Irene’s hand. “We’re checking now. Chef Louie was here when Irene came in, and he called me right away. I’ve alerted security, and Sully’s begun a search.”
Dede scooted into the booth next to Irene. “You mustn’t worry. I’m sure they’ll find her. You know Ida. She probably decided to take an extra lap around the Promenade Deck. Maybe got a little winded, sat down, and fell asleep in a deck chair. I’m sure Sully will find her.”
Dede wasn’t wrong. I’d reported on enough missing persons to know that older people sometimes get lost. It’s not unusual for seniors to walk away from their familiar surroundings, and they’re often found. Maybe sleeping in someone’s backyard, or as I hoped, in this case, like Dede said, a deck chair. I scanned the restaurant. Marco stood at the breakfast bar, his plate in his hand. When he caught my eye, he shook his head.
I addressed the Captain. “Did you ask Marco? Maybe he saw her last night.”
Byard shook his head. “Marco was with Irene when I came in. He said he didn’t see her.”
“What about them?” I tilted my head to one of the other tables, where the Professor, Greta, the Inspector, and Camile sat huddled in whispered conversation. “Did you ask them?”
“They came in after I arrived. Said they hadn’t seen Ida or Irene since Ida’s party.”
“You’ll excuse me if I say I don’t believe that. A ship like this where everybody knows everyone’s business.”
The Captain didn’t respond, and I walked out to the deck and looked over the railing. It was still early. The first tender wasn’t scheduled to arrive until eleven. No one could have left the ship without notice. Somebody had to know something.
I went back into the café and was about to take a seat in the booth next to Dede when Chief Sully entered the room.
“Captain.” Sully moved anxiously toward the captain. Perspiration stains had begun to form beneath the arms pits of his heavily starched white shirt. The room quieted. Not so much as the sound of a teacup tittered on a saucer. All eyes were on the Chief. “I’m going to need you to come with me.”
The color drained from Irene’s face as she stood. “I’m coming too.”
Captain Byard offered Irene his hand, and Dede and I followed the Chief to the elevator, where we rode silently down to the Marina Deck. When the doors opened, the Chief led the way to the pool area, where we were met by Doctor Jon. Behind him, Elli stood with a towel in her hand. Her head bowed.
“I’m afraid I’ve bad news.” The Doctor went to Irene and, putting his hands on her shoulders, looked her in the eye. “Irene, you should go back upstairs. I don’t think you should see this.”
Irene pushed the doctor away. “I’ll see what I need to see, Doctor. What’s happened to my sister?”
The Chief turned to Doctor Jon. “You might as well show her.”
Doctor Jon grabbed the towel from Elli and went to the flotation tank. “Elli called me early this morning. She was setting up when she found the body.”
Irene gasped.
“Irene, you’re sure you want to stay?” Captain Byard put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.
“I need to know what happened to my sister. And don’t tell me she came down here voluntarily and climbed into that…that monstrosity.” Irene pointed to the floatation tank. “She wouldn’t dare.”
The Doctor glanced at Sully and waited for approval before lifting the tank’s lid. Sully nodded, and slowly, the Doctor opened the tank. When I saw the body inside, I knew this was no accident. The red scarf Ida had worn for her birthday was wrapped tightly around her neck like a garrote.
Captain Byard and Chief Sully exchanged a look. Nobody needed to tell them Ida hadn’t climbed into the tank herself. She was too frail. The lid alone would have been too heavy to lift.
Behind us, the elevator doors opened, and the Professor, Greta, the Garniers, and Marco rushed in.
Greta was the first to speak. “What’s happened?”
“Someone’s murdered Ida. That’s what happened.” Dede put her fist to her mouth and turned her back to us.
“Oh, my God, no.” The Professor put his arm around his wife, and Greta buried her head in his shoulder.
“Camile.” Inspector Garnier pulled his wife close, gripped her hand, and laced his fingers through hers. While Camile stood rigid beside him, the fingers on her hand splayed.
“Chief, can you help me?” The doctor reached inside the tank and, with the Chief’s help, slowly lifted Ida’s body from the water.
I had seen dead bodies pulled from pools before, but this was different. Ida hadn’t drowned. The red scarf she had worn loosely wrapped around her neck and shoulders had been drawn tight around her throat like a garrote. She had been strangled and stuffed inside the tank. Her dress clung like wet wallpaper to her limp body, and as Sully and Doctor Jon laid her gently on the towel, Ida’s hand fell open, and Professor Braun’s gold signet ring rolled out onto the floor.
“Ahh! My husband’s ring.” Greta stepped forward to pick up the ring, but the doctor grabbed it before she could get it.
