Currents Deep and Deadly by Arleen Alleman

Author:Arleen Alleman [Alleman, Arleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Arleen Alleman
Published: 2019-06-20T22:00:00+00:00

40

Paul Denezza sat alone at the small desk in his stateroom flipping through information he had downloaded and printed from the ship’s public computer system. He was studying air travel options from the ports remaining on the cruise. Sidney had not yet returned from her spa appointment, and he needed to complete this task before she did. He was, however, still completely distracted by thoughts about what was rapidly turning into a disaster for him and his well-thought-out plan. A sharp knock on the door made him jump, and when he opened it, he was shocked to see the same dowdy security officer who had visited him before, Tom Smythe.

He invited the annoying man in and sat back down in his chair at the desk trying to remain calm while he waited for whatever was to come. Smythe stood next to the desk looking down at him as he began in a friendly conversational tone. “Mr. Denezza, I am very sorry to say that there has been another death on board, and it has been called to our attention that you may have had a relationship with the deceased, so understandably, I have a few questions for you if that is all right.” It was not a question.

Paul tried to match Smythe’s matter-of-fact tone. “Oh, who has died?”

“Did you know a member of the crew named Plato?”

To his dismay, Paul actually heard himself suck in his breath despite his efforts to remain steady. “I don’t believe I have heard that name. It is unusual, so I think I would remember. Anyway, I don’t really know many members of the crew other than my own stateroom attendant.”

Smythe stood motionless for a few seconds. He had been holding his breath, and now he sighed and leaned down, bringing his face to within inches of Paul’s shoulder. “Well, that is odd because a witness has placed you in two conversations with this person, the latest one last night in the movie theater. Are you sure you don’t know who I am speaking of?”

Paul’s pulse leaped upward dangerously as he became aware that the documents before him on the desk were wet from his sweating palms. He willed himself to lean back and look up into Smythe’s face. “I did have a conversation with a crew member in the theater last night, but I didn’t know his name. It was just a chance encounter and small talk—nothing more. Is that the person you mean?”

“That crew member, Plato des Rameaux, died not long after your talk with him, and he left a note in which he confessed to having killed Ronaldo Ruiz. I am sure you can understand why we want to talk to you about your relationship with him. Please tell me what the two of you discussed.” Smythe was forcing himself to sound civil although he was feeling increasingly disturbed by Denezza’s obvious case of the jitters. Maybe I should have brought along the Ruger.

The blood had drained from Paul’s face, and he quickly stood to release some tension.

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