Heather slid her arm around her father's as they left the bridge of the ship. "That didn't take long," she said as they made their way to the nearest elevator. "What do you want for lunch?"
"Nothing too heavy. I had a large breakfast at the hotel."
"I know just the thing," said Heather. "There's a Japanese restaurant on deck five. I'll send a text to Jack and tell him to meet us there if they're finished with Sid Green."
"Is your head cold any better?"
"It will be after I cauterize my sinuses with wasabi."
"I remember the first time I tried that green dynamite. Your mother and I flew to Tokyo the year after we married. No one warned me about its potential to set your nasal passages ablaze.” He chuckled. “Your mother never let me forget it."
Heather squeezed his arm. "You're not alone in missing her."
He nodded. "I know, and things are getting better. Taking these cruises with you has given me something to look forward to, not to mention the excitement of looking for a killer this time. The captain took the news in stride, but I wasn't expecting such a powerful reaction from the head of security."
"It was right to tell them. They'll do what they can to keep the two families separate, which shouldn't be difficult considering the Greens’ cabins are near the top of the ship while the Webbers’ booked in cabins on deck three."
They walked down a long hallway with cabin doors on each side. Heather stopped at the elevator, took out her phone and tapped in a text. Meet us on deck 5 at the Japanese restaurant.
Jack’s reply came in as the doors closed. She pushed the button for deck five. On our way. Work to do this afternoon.
Shops and restaurants lined both sides of a wide walkway as Heather and her father made their way to the restaurant that boasted a wide variety of made-to-order sushi and sashimi, as well as stir-fry dishes. Jack and Steve arrived several minutes later and she received Jack’s standard greeting of a quick kiss. She looked at Steve who stood with lips pushed tightly together.
Heather placed a hand on his forearm. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing. It's too noisy out on the walkway for my taste. Hundreds of people and loud Christmas music."
"People are excited. They're checking out the ship."
"If you can, find us a seat as far away from the crowd as possible.” Heather led him to a back corner of the room and placed him facing the wall.
"Much better," said Steve. "Everything was echoing."
Jack gave an explanation. "It's quiet in here because you have to pay a la carte. Many of the people on board are working class and on a budget. The first thing they do when they get on board is drink the complementary drink of the day and head straight for the buffet. I’m sure they saved a long time to take this Christmas cruise and want to get their money's worth."
"Is this the same ship you took earlier in the year?"
"The same cruise line, but a different ship. The restaurants are the same."
Heather snapped her fingers. "I know what's bothering Steve. He wanted a steak for lunch, not rolled up rice with tiny chunks of vegetables and meat.” She patted his hand. “Don't worry, you’ll have four days to eat whatever you want."
"Get me whatever you're having," said Steve with a touch of resignation in his voice.
After they settled, Jack turned to her. "You and I will be busy for the next few hours. Sid wants a new will with major changes, and he wants me to be the executor."
"Do we have time to get it finished and signed before we leave port?"
Jack winked. "If we don't get distracted."
Heather's father chuckled, but said nothing. He didn't need to. His grin spoke volumes.
"When you say major changes, how major are you talking about?"
Steve answered this time. "Sid better not come back from the dead. His family will likely kill him again."
A low whistle came from Heather, as she scanned the room and stiffened. "Karl Webber just walked in and is at a table by the walkway."
Steve didn't hesitate. "Is he alone?"
"There's no one else at his table. I almost didn't recognize him. The only time I’ve seen him was when we went to the Webber house and Ingrid told us to leave."
"What does he look like?"
"Fit and trim for a man in his seventies. A full head of gray hair, leathery skin, but spry." Heather waited a few seconds and added, "He seems to enjoy watching people pass by."
"Ask him to join us. Let's see if he knows if the rest of his people are on board."
Heather walked to his table and cleared her throat to catch his attention. "Excuse me, Mr. Webber, you probably don't recognize me."
Ice-blue eyes inspected her. "You and a blind man came to the house the day after Lucy Green died."
"You're very good at remembering faces. My name is Heather McBlythe. I'm here with my fiancé, my father, and my business partner."
He turned in the direction she held out her hand.
"I remember the man wearing sunglasses. I asked Ingrid who you were, but she told me to mind my own business."
“Steve Smiley and I own a private detective firm. Your wife requested an appointment with us, but we couldn’t come to agreement on the terms.” Heather smiled. “We noticed you're alone. Would you like to join us?"
"Why not? All I'm doing is watching pretty girls walk by." He paused. "By the way, you more than qualify."
His response caused her to take a small step back. "Thank you.” Heather quickly added, “Shall we join the others?”
Karl rose from his chair. "Lead the way."
Heather passed out introductions then she and Karl took their seats. He was the first to speak. "Before things get too awkward, I'll tell you what you and Mr. Smiley want to know. I didn't kill Lucy, shoot Howard, or know who did."
"Thanks for being so direct," said Steve. “Do you mind if Heather and I are also direct?"
"Go ahead."
"What about your wife? Do you think Ingrid could have hired someone to commit either of the crimes?"
Karl let out a long breath, which bought him time enough to either plan a good lie or give a genuine answer. "There's no doubt Ingrid is mean enough to do it, but she didn't."
"Are you sure?" asked Heather.
On this response, he didn't hesitate. "If Ingrid was to kill someone, she'd have a real good reason, would do it herself, and she'd enjoy watching them die. Lucy did nothing to our family other than marry Howard. As for shooting that worthless piece of humanity named Howard Green, Ingrid couldn't have.” He paused. “Ingrid has cataracts and refuses to have the surgery she needs. I'm not sure she could hit an elephant at fifty yards.”
A worker behind the counter hollered out Jack's name, saying their order was ready for pick up. Jack responded with a quick, "I'll be right back."
"As for the rest of my family," said Karl without being asked. "There's my son, Kurt, and his wife. They're overeducated underachievers. All that hogwash they swallowed in college and graduate school made them allergic to work. They think money is evil, but they have no problem spending it. There used to be plenty until Sid and Howard swindled it away from us."
"You sound bitter," said Steve.
"I am, but I'm getting over it."
"Oh?"
"Bitterness has a way of sucking the life out of you.” He shook his head. “I’ve carried it a long time; ever since a slick guy talked his way into our home and convinced me he was a telephone repairman. That was back in the days before people worried about computer security. I had a meeting downtown and left him there to install a separate phone line, dedicated to the computer. He stole all my log ins and passwords, which were then relayed on to Howard, giving him access to everything. That included bank accounts, stocks, oil wells, taxes, you name it. He took his time, but eventually used every trick in the book to steal almost everything.”
“What about your home?”
“That's still in my name."
"Didn't you report it to the police?" asked Heather.
"Of course I did, but not until it was too late. That was in the early days of computers and not many people used them. I was what they call an early adopter. The police hadn't caught up with the technology and all my money was taken out of my accounts, or frozen in the few banks they didn't get to. They converted everything to cash and moved it offshore. What they didn't get in the first haul, they had access to because all my records were on the computer. Knowledge is power. Howard got by with it until I finally changed all the sign-ins and passwords. By that time, I couldn’t afford to hire the attorneys needed to go after him."
"Are you sure Howard Green did that to you?"
Karl's blue eyes were the color of a glacier, and just as cold. "I know he did, but I couldn't prove it. It was that private investigator buddy of his who pretended to be the telephone line installer. Besides, who else would want all the wells I had, even the poor producing ones? Look at the Greens’ portfolio of oil and gas. Half the leases used to be Webber wells."
Karl glanced out to where throngs of people walked by. He didn't seem to see them and said, "I've been around a long time. Things have a way of changing when you least expect them to."
"Speaking of change," said Steve. "I'm not really in the mood for rolled-up sticky rice with pieces of bait in it. Karl, how would you like to help a blind guy find a steak you can cut with a fork? My treat."
"I can watch people in a nice restaurant as good as I can sitting here."
"Perfect." Steve rose. "After we eat, you can either give me a tour of the ship or lead me to my cabin where I'll take a nap.”
Karl smiled a toothy grin. "I say we tour the ship. I'll describe all the pretty women."
"That will take you all afternoon," said Heather.
"Only until four," countered Steve. "That’s when the sail-away party starts on the pool deck. I plan to lead the conga line."
"I'll be right behind him," said Karl. "Someone needs to make sure he doesn't fall in the pool or go overboard."
"By the way,” said Steve. “That maid Ingrid fired this week named Bella? We had her in your home snooping. She's with your grandson, Adam, along with the bride and groom."
"Another private investigator? I knew she was too good to be true. I hope you’re not going to tell me she's going to break Adam's heart."
It was Heather's turn to take over. "She's not a private investigator, and if we have our way, she never will be. Search Bella Brumley online. She’s been a popular sports celebrity the last few years. I'd say there's a better chance Adam will break her heart than her breaking his."
"I doubt that. She reeled him in before he knew he'd been hooked."
Karl's gaze shifted from Heather, to Jack, and back. "Anything else before we leave for parts unknown?"
Steve asked, "Do you know if Ingrid, Kurt and Monica are on board yet?"
"Don't know and don't care about Ingrid. Let me send a text to Kurt."
It wasn't but a few seconds before the response came and Karl read it out loud.
In terminal. Mother on warpath. Hide.