“I don’t know for sure. But I do know it’s not just the Professor and Inspector. Near as I can tell, there’s a gang of eight. And I think Ida was on to them. It’s what got her killed. And maybe Oleg as well. Like you said, she didn’t climb in that tank by herself.”
Dede sat down on the couch. “I think you need to tell me what it is you think you know and what’s been going on.”
“Allow me.” Marco went to the bar and poured Dede a glass of scotch. “The Professor, the Inspector, their wives, Antonio, Carlo, Doctor Jon, and Sully. I call them the Gang of Eight. They’ve been pirating stolen artifacts from a Geneva Freeport to collectors around the world ever since they came on board.” Marco explained that while he was in prison, he had learned of a break-in at the Freeport and later was roommates with Camile’s ex. “He didn’t have a lot of flattering things to say about her other than she was a petite aerialist and a necessary asset. That is, until she wasn’t, and turned against her outlaw crew and married the Inspector.”
“And that’s how you know the Inspector’s involved?”
“The Inspector brought Professor Braun in as an expert witness to verify those items recovered from the heist. They siphoned off what they wanted for their private cache, along with what Camile had already taken for herself. With no public record of what had been stored in the facility or what was stolen, it was an easy move on their part and, I’m sure, very tempting. How else do you think Professor Braun and a public servant like Monsieur Inspector Garnier could afford to retire aboard Athena?”
Dede shrugged. “It never occurred to me. Like everyone else aboard, I assumed they had money.”
“Because people like you have always had it or managed to marry it.” Marco handed Dede the drink he had fixed for her, then returned to the bar.
Dede snapped back, “Well, at least I was honest with what I had.”
Marco shook his head. “That was a long time ago, Dede. And you never got the full story. You never wanted to hear it.”
“Look,” I sat down on the couch, my hands up, ready to referee.“Now is not the time for you to argue about the past. And, Dede, whatever differences you have with Marco, you need to put it behind you. Because what Marco is trying to say may explain why you were attacked in Naples.”
“You think it’s related?” Dede scowled at Marco.
“I do. And I think if Ida were here right now, she’d agree with me.”
Dede looked at me, her eyes narrowed. “What are you saying?”
“The black crocheted bag I found on top of the entry table. The one you left behind that Greta made for you. I believe she gave you the bag because there was a very rare and valuable coin inside.”
“What coin? I never saw a coin.”
“You wouldn’t have seen it. The coin was hidden in the lining.” I stood up, fetched my backpack from the dining room table, and fished inside for my camera. After Greta had searched my apartment, I moved the coin from the safe and hid it inside my camera’s battery compartment where nobody would think to look for it. The coin, no bigger than a small round button-sized lithium battery, fit neatly into the slot, and with the camera around my neck or tucked inside my backpack, I felt reasonably sure no one might find it. I opened the battery compartment, slid the coin from inside the camera, and placed it on the coffee table.
“And if I’m right, it’s one of three gold coins like it in the world today. It’s called the Ides of March coin or the Denarius of Brutus coin, identifiable by the letters E-I- D-M-A-R on the front. It was minted to celebrate the assassination of Julius Caesar. It’s estimated to be worth about four million dollars.”
“And you found it in the bag Greta gave me?” Dede stared at the coin like she was afraid to touch it.
“At first, I thought it might have been a good luck charm you’d hidden in the bag, and I put it back where I found it. But when I went to visit Procida, I met a shopkeeper who was advertising antique coins and jewelry. One of the coins pictured on a poster outside his shop was exactly like the coin I had found in your bag. The shopkeeper told me there were only three coins like it and that it was very valuable.”
“And very unique.” Marco picked the coin up and turned it over.
“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?”
