Murder on the Orient (SS) by C.A. Larmer

Author:C.A. Larmer [Larmer, C.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Larmer Media
Published: 2016-05-12T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Grilling was too good for Dr Anders, Alicia decided as she raced down four flights of stairs to the surgery. He needed to be roasted, slowly, in a boiling hot oven.

“You’ve just missed him, I’m really sorry,” said the nurse, a young man this time, one with a more sympathetic bedside manner. “He’s just on the way to his room, but if you want to take a seat, I’ll see if I can get him back for you.”

“No need, thank you!”

Alicia dashed out and up again, this time heading for cabin S38. Just as she reached the third-floor landing, she spotted Anders holding his door ajar about to step inside. She called out, and he stopped, spun around then stepped back out into the hallway, calling loudly, “Alicia Finlay, what can I do for you?”

She held a hand up, waiting until she got closer, then said, “We need to talk.”

She indicated the cabin, but he just pulled the door tighter behind him.

“Can it wait? I’m in the middle of something.”

She put one hand on her hip. “Yes, an investigation into some stolen jewellery, apparently.”

His eyes widened. “How did you—?”

“Find out my boyfriend is keeping a secret from me? Good thing my new bestie, Anita Monage, has a big mouth.”

Glancing around furtively, he lowered his voice and said, “Look, it’s not how it appears.”

“Oh, so you weren’t brought on board specifically to help investigate some missing jewels?”

“Well, yes, I was, but… well, I’m not an investigator as such.”

“Yah! As Anita would say. I know that! You’re just a family doctor, and we’re all just lowly book lovers. You’re always the first to remind us of that, to insist we butt out of other people’s mysteries because we’re just amateurs. But here you are investigating a mystery that I didn’t even know existed! I thought Corrie had just lost a few tacky kaftans.”

“No, well, yes. Corrie didn’t have any jewels stolen, not that we know of, but the others did.”

“Others? What others?”

“Look, I’m sorry, Alicia. I would have told you. I nearly did tell you several times, but Captain Van Tussi insisted on confidentiality. I wouldn’t have gotten this job if I’d blabbed to anyone.”

“Anyone? I’m not just anyone!” Then she stopped and folded her arms. “Although, you know, that’s exactly how I feel whenever I’m around you these days. No, it’s worse than that. I feel like nobody.”

“Oh, Alicia—”

“Sorry, but you have pretty much ignored me since we got on board, and I was supposed to be cool with that because you had a surgery to run. Turns out you’re off on some little adventure of your own and I am cordially not invited.”

“Alicia, come on, please. I…” He glanced towards his door again, then sighed heavily. “Look, I can’t talk right now, I’m really sorry. I’ve got to go. But let’s meet up… later.”

“Oh, great idea because that worked out so well last time.”

She swivelled around to storm off when something occurred to her, and she turned back, expecting

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