Cruise to Murder (Z & C Mysteries, #2) Read online

“Dumbledore!”

  The old lady’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “Uh, heh… heh heh heh.” She leaned back into a full gut of laughter. “If you don’t beat all! Here, let me fix you a banana split. You’re crazy. I like you.”

  “Mother, may I see you over here?” Claire gestured with a finger.

  Zo came over to her.

  “Are you having fun?”

  “Absolutely. As much as I can, after what we’ve experienced today.”

  “Speaking of murder…,” said Matilda.

  “No one is speaking of murder,” interjected a petite woman in a red baseball cap.

  “We are all thinking it. Now let me make my point. There are caves on that island that have a reputation of Night Walkers, a tribe of Koona Cannibals that run along the hills and come down into those caves with their victims.”

  “No way!” disputed the petite lady.

  “Way, my dear, and you would be considered a tasty hors d’oeuvre with that hat as a cherry on top.”

  “Oh!” exclaimed Kathryn. “I heard that story. They come down out of the hills and mix with people, but they always have something about them that doesn’t seem quite right.”

  “It wouldn’t be somebody wearing purple with red? That just ain’t right!” A red-sequined woman laughed, jingling the ice in her glass.

  They continued their fun—gossiping, speculating, joking. They didn’t even glance at the two card games Zo had purchased from a shop.

  “Well, ladies,” Matilda finally said, standing up, “the casinos are just getting going good and I think I will go on a man hunt.”

  “Good luck on that one.” Somebody laughed. “You bring a love potion?”

  “Maaaaaybe.”

  The other ladies made a dash for the door with her. “Thanks, it’s been fun…,” a couple of them remarked. They all had smiles as they departed.

  The next morning, after a superb breakfast, Zo and Claire were mostly over their jitters. Curiosity started to take over, so the two decided to go back to the beach and look around. For what, they weren’t sure.

  “All you need is some common divorce sense,” Zo said.

  “Don’t you mean horse sense?” Claire had asked.

  “Let’s face it. If one has enough sense to know they’re in a bad relationship, enough to get out, that’s all you need to figure out other crummy problems.”

  “Hee hee.” Claire laughed. “I guess you’d be the expert on that one.”

  After looking around the beach in the bright noonday sun, where the body of Mrs. Belmont had washed up, they decided it told them nothing.

  “Look, Mom, down the beach. Aren’t those the Koona ‘Cannibal’ Caves the ladies were telling us about? How far away are they?”

  “I’m thinkin’ maybe three miles. Give or take a couple of miles. The horizon is deceiving.”

  “Want to walk? What else do we have to do? I’m oiled and you’re slathered.”

  Zo raised an arm and then lowered it toward the direction of the caves. “Walk on!”

  As they approached the beach front of the caves, Claire announced, “I once walked nine miles at Yosemite Park.”

  “Is that the one the ranger had to sit you down in the shade and give you water? Then give you a ride back?”

  “You ruin a good story.”

  Zo laughed. “You are my hero, you know that.”

  Upon reaching the last of the caves, Zo assessed, “Cave number one was smelly; cave number two was wet and drippy; and this is the largest.”

  As they entered the last cave, it was truly impressive, with high natural ceilings going back a ways for much opportunity to search among the many crevices and rock formations.

  “This is my kind of cave,” Zo admired.

  They spent quite some time combing it over, scrutinizing the walls—and mainly—there was nothing eventful about any of it.

  “Everyone likes this cave. Look at the footprints in the sand. There isn’t one unstepped spot in here. The Destination de Jour,” said Claire.

  Then suddenly something out of the ordinary caught Zo’s attention. Brushing off sand and blowing on her discovery, she remarked, “Oh boy, look what I found! I won a prize.”

  “Whatcha got?” Claire jogged over, her curiosity piqued.

  “It’s a broach… a cameo. Kinda pretty. I think it’s framed in real gold.” Zo showed her the two-inch pin. “It’s got a house with a well and words that say, ‘Go The Second Mile.’ This is nice and it’s mine now.” Zo looked around just to make sure there was no one looking for it.

  A balding, swarthy man in glasses entered the cave, wearing swim trunks and a flowery island shirt.

  “You weren’t looking for this pin, were you?” Zo asked. She walked forward and showed him the broach.

  He had a moment of surprise cross his face, and then an uneasy smile, before saying, “No, not my style.” He licked his lips and hurried out of the cave.

  “Okay, it is official. It is my pin. Have you looked around enough?”

  “I think so. Let’s go.”

  As the two walked out on to the beach, there were people playing with a blue and red beach ball and a couple of kids ran into the cave. “Mom, don’t be obvious, but look past the people with the beach ball to a man looking right at us.”

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Zo looked over her shoulder, feigning adjusting a strap to her top.

  “Would you be talking about the islander with a blank stare.”

  “Yep. He’s the one.”

  “There are creepy people in the world. Lots of them. But, I do have to admit he is one nasty-looking dude.”

  The two walked back the way they had come, turning and looking every once in a while behind them. After they had spent some time shopping for souvenirs, they decided to get back on ship for a late buffet lunch.

  “I want to go see if our pictures are ready,” said Claire, munching on an eggplant salad. “Did you know that all these photographers with the different backgrounds—flags, ship, flowers, oceans, palm trees—are employed by the ship line? They ought to make some good money on that. Everyone wants pictures.”

  Zo was going through her shopping bags, looking over her treasure of goodies. “I don’t remember buying this,” she said, pulling out a grass-woven doll. “I’ll have to take this back. I didn’t pay for it. I don’t know who’d want it. It has no face.”

  “Hello, pretty ladies… one with soft flames for hair,” a man said, his gaze focused on Zo. He was holding a tray, broad in the shoulders and a little paunch under his beige shirt.

  “Oh, you are the fire dancer,” acknowledged Claire.

  “That would be me. I’m in a show here on the ship, too. No fire.”

  “Would you like to join us?” asked Zo.

  “Can’t, but thank you. I have to practice my twirls, leaps and slides.”

  “What is your name, if we are going to be seeing you around?” asked Zo.

  “My name cannot be pronounced by tourists, so call me Butch. What are your names?” He smiled.

  “Zo, and this is my daughter Claire.”

  “What have you there?” He pointed to the pile of trinkets, and then picked up the grass doll.

  “Souvenirs. That one I didn’t buy; it just got mixed into the bag somewhere. I’m going to see if I can find the shop that has them and take it back.”

  “I’ve actually been looking for one of these. What say I give you ten bucks for it and you can pay the shop that has it.”

  “I think you are paying too much, but sure…”

  “It is now mine, right?”

  “Yes.” She nodded.

  Butch held the doll by the foot and began to unravel the woven grass. He then started chanting and touching the doll against each of Zo’s shoulders, until there was no more figure of the doll. The grass was in a heap of strings in his hand.

  “That was a little bizarre, Butch.” Claire was astonished.

  “Believe me, that was very good luck
for me to do that. I’ve got to go now.” He picked up his tray and left.

  “Why do I keep getting chills at the back of my neck?” asked Zo. “This cruise is giving me the creeps.”

  “Me, too. That was just too, too weird. Let’s go find The Red Hat Ladies and hide out in the middle of them tonight.” Claire shuddered. “You can’t date him, Mom. I think he’s a Koona Cannibal.”

  “Why do cannibals have to be so cute?! Okay, but we have to pick up our pictures first.”

  The two strolled the eighth level of the atrium; walkways connecting the forward to the aft of the ship. One could look up and down stories of the ship’s decks. Glass elevators would take you to whatever deck level you wanted. At the bottom was a bar, Customer Service and entryways to other bars, casinos, shopping and restaurants.

  The eighth level displayed all the different ship’s vendor photos on walls and photo boards. Customers could find their photographer by the back drop and props used for their pictures. Cashiers were conveniently stationed nearby.

  “I feel like I have met everyone, having looked over all these pictures along the way,” Claire noted.

  “Hey, there’s us at the Sail Away Deck Party!” Zo placed a red fingernail against the photo—Zo’s eyes were closed with her mouth agape; Claire’s eyes were squinting and she looked as if she was about to sneeze.

  “Nice!” Claire snatched it and hid it behind photos of others.

  “Good idea. I would hate for Butch to see that one.”

  “Mother, what did I just say about him?”

  “Yeah, yeah…”

  They laughed, strolling to the next photo board.

  “And look! There’s one of Marilyn.” Claire pointed.

  “Pretty darn good, except didn’t the real Monroe have blue eyes? This one has brown eyes.”

  “I didn’t catch that. Good one, Mom. Wait! Wait a minute…” She pulled the picture out of its slot.

  “What?”

  “Look at those earrings.” She lowered her voice. “Gold starfish, just like the one I put on the coffee table from off of Mr. Belmont’s floor.”

  “That means Marilyn was in the Belmonts’ room?”

  They stood there speechless a moment, trying to make sense of it. “Oh, my gosh! Maybe that was Marilyn with Mr. Belmont, Mom.”

  “On top of the waterfall?”

  “Yes…”

  “And for that matter, has anyone seen Mr. Belmont since then? We might have a love triangle murder.”

  Zo raised her eyebrows. “Let’s take this picture with us. Who do we get a hold of…?”

  Claire considered, then said, “Customer Service!”

  “Why didn’t I think of that? I wonder if the President and the CIA know about Customer Service?!”

  After a long line of people asking questions and trying to straighten out room problems, they finally reached a uniformed lady with an Italian accent. She was thoroughly entertained by the explanation Claire was giving for why she needed help to contact the right people about their hunch.

  Claire thought the woman probably thought she was crazy and wouldn’t have any idea of how to handle their issue; but, Elsa immediately called Ship Security.

  Security spoke to Claire and Zo, asking questions and telling them the picture and info would get given over to the Island Detectives who were handling the Belmont case.

  Right when the discussion seemed to be coming to a close, one asked, “How was it that you were in the Belmonts’ room?”

  “Woo, didn’t see that one coming,” exclaimed Claire, later.

  “It’s a good thing he accepted the door was open and we were calling to Belmont to give him information. We didn’t have to tell them that I went and stole a magazine from his bathroom and then you broke a picture, did we?” She batted her eyes in a look of innocence.

  Claire laughed. “Well, you breaking down in tears in front of security, mistakenly taken as sympathy for the Belmonts, didn’t hurt any.”

  “Did I look guilty?! Because I felt guilty!”

  “You can relax. It’s time we had some fun. Let’s go to the dinner show and see what has become of our Marilyn entertainer. Maybe they’ve got her down at the police station.”

  The Starlight Room’s stage was dramatic with its sparkling backdrop of curtains and soft music. People were already looking for seats. The Kanes ended up choosing a corner table, looking the length of the stage. Compared to other open seating, it afforded the best view. Zo moved in first and gave Claire the outside part of the red vinyl, buttoned and padded bench.

  The ship began to rock in slow motion, side to side. The waiters started taking orders. Claire ordered lobster and Zo had turkey with dressing.

  When the dinners arrived, they were artistically arranged on their plates. Claire’s green beans were bundled and tied with an edible vegetable string. The turkey had cranberry zigzags across the white meat, with a bit of dark meat in the center. The dressing was neatly placed in a small ceramic container. Zo added a desire for onion soup when her plate was delivered. It was brought hot, cheesed with melted Swiss on toasted cubes.

  “Mom, I feel like my brain is being pulled every time we rock one way or the other.”

  “Interesting phenomenon, isn’t it? Oh look, our Red Hat friends. Hi, ladies!” Zo and Claire waved.

  Several hands went up in waves with giggles in return.

  “Laaadies and Gentlemen. It is time for our favorite magician, Larry Potter!” A big drum roll promised a spectacular entrance. When the curtains opened by five feet, the bunny was sitting quietly by himself in the middle of the stage, his nose twitching. Then a large Vaudeville hook was interjected from stage-right around the rabbit’s haunches and he was scooted off. He didn’t even blink.

  The curtains closed and there was another drum roll. The curtains re-opened to find the bunny there again, sitting quietly, staring at the audience. People laughed. This time Larry walked out in a black suit and red tie. He picked up the bunny and stroked his back, handing him to someone behind the curtain and whispered, “Get him a carrot… and fifty bucks!”

  “Hello, everyone. As some of you recall, I am Larry Potter. No relation to Harry. Yada yada yada… You can call me Larry the Great, as well. Tonight, I am selecting a brave person to enter into a special cabinet.” The stage hand rolled it out, black with gold ornate hinges.

  “This cabinet here is no ordinary cabinet; this has special qualities. It will take you just this side of the underworld where werewolves and ghosts exist side-by-side in a chilling, grasping world of the undead.” His voice lowered to a menacing tone of warning. “All manner of horrible will confront you and only the very bravest can survive the experience of the awful damned!” He breathed heavy, as if exhausted with just the thought of it. “Now, who would like to be first?” he asked in a delighted tone.

  “No one? How about you, in the little red hat and purple feathers?”

  The dark-haired woman’s friends began pushing her to get her to move. She finally walked up the stage with a nervous laugh.

  “Okay, we have our hero volunteer!” He handed her a writing pad and asked her to write her next of kin on it. “That’s good enough,” he said. “Your friends will take care of the rest for you.”

  They laughed.

  The woman stepped in his magical box and Larry shut the door. He pulled out a wand and said, “Mother’s pie!” He turned to the audience and said out of the side of his mouth, “That was always a disaster.”

  The cabinet gyrated, then stopped, remaining motionless. He looked at his watch and said, “We better bring her back.”

  He called off stage, “Bring a gurney and an IV for this braaave woman.”

  After the gurney arrived by stage hand, and the IV was rolled out hanging on a hook, Larry tapped the cabinet with his wand. It vibrated again. “Please, ladies and gentlemen, do not gasp or faint at what we are about to see.” He pulled open the door all of a sudden, and there… sat the bunny with a red hat and feat
her boa across its neck.

  “What are you doing here?” he angrily whispered. “You’re supposed to be over at the twenty-one table in the casino. Remember? Joan Rivers is expecting you!”

  The contrary rabbit hopped off stage-right.

  Larry closed the door again and tapped the cabinet, saying, “Please come back. Please, please, please.” Then he jerked open the cabinet door for all to see the smiling face of the lady, wearing her red hat and boa again. The audience applauded heartily and everyone was smiling.

  He turned to face the crowd with a wide smile. “Okay, now, who would like to be sawn in half?!”

  The waiter stood before Claire and Zo. “Would you be ready for dessert? There is melted chocolate cake and hot apple pie.”

  Zo took the apple pie. Claire chose the melted chocolate cake; it was a fudgy brownie filled with a chocolate pudding.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Larry announced, “The Monroe Show has been cancelled for tonight. But another Bingo Extravaganza will begin in fifteen minutes. So, stick around.” He then disappeared behind the curtain.

  “Do you think the police nabbed her?” Zo asked.

  “Oh, look, Mom. There’s Mr. Belmont.” He was walking up an aisle of tables and going out of the restaurant.

  “Claire, dear. You have someone very interesting sitting next to you.” Zo looked very amused.

  Claire looked over to her right and there sat the bunny staring at her and chewing. He was wearing a black satin bowtie. “He is so cute. Do think he might bite?”

  Larry peeked from behind the curtains, looking across the restaurant. “I don’t see him anywhere,” he quietly said to an unseen someone.

  Claire raised her hand and waved it to get the attention of the magician. Instead, another man came out from behind the curtain and looked across the restaurant, spotting Claire waving. “There!” he was heard to say.

  Soon Potter was approaching their table with smiles. “He is so independent,” he said. The rabbit made his way along the table’s bench so he could pick him up at the other end.

  “We so enjoyed your show,” Claire complimented.

  “Thank you.” He moved a little sun highlighted hair off his forehead. He wasn’t wearing his stage glasses. “I’m having a little private party this evening. Would you two care to join us? It will be backstage at eleven p.m.”