The Missing Heiress Affair by Rick Adelmann

Author:Rick Adelmann
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: erotic fiction, private investigator series, murder mystery series, private detective series, jazz age mystery, 1920s mystery fiction, roaring 20s mystery fiction, wealthy tycoons in fiction
Publisher: Columbine Publishing Group, LLC

Chapter 20

The Persia Maru

Friday, January 6, 1922

Anneka and I slept in late on Friday morning. We should have risen earlier to prepare for our search; however, we were exhausted from all the running around we had already done the days before. We dressed and descended to the lobby. After that, we went to the restaurant for breakfast.

We looked toward our usual table for Vicky and Garth. To our surprise, we only found Vicky sitting there. She wore one of the new outfits she’d bought the day before, a dark blue silk knee-length dress that looked great on her. Even from the entrance, I could see that she was troubled. Vicky was picking at her scrambled eggs and her normal smile wasn’t there.

“What’s troubling you, Victoria?” I asked as I pulled out Anneka’s chair.

“Your friend, Woodie, is troubling me,” she hissed.

“What did he do now?”

“I don’t know what he did because he’s not here.” She folded her arms tightly and scowled. “He left the hotel and told me nothing about it.”

“He’s gone?” Anneka leaned on the table. “Was there a note, or did he tell the maître d’ where he was going?”

“No, nothing. I’ve been sitting here, eating cold eggs all alone. I must look like a vagabond.”

“Don’t worry about what you look like,” I scoffed. “I’m concerned about where Garth ran off to.”

I didn’t believe he was in any trouble. He was just being Woodie Garth.

By ten o’clock, we’d finished breakfast and returned to the seventh-floor conservatory. I suggested the return to our floor for the sake of all our emotions. Most importantly, Vicky needed to calm down. The assortment of statuary, and flowers in large, white urns circling the white stone wall might help.

We found a set of lounge chairs against the vestibule’s outer walls. We sat and waited. No one spoke. We just sat, our eyes wandering above us to the glass ceiling and the sky beyond it. I found myself becoming impatient to get down to the docks to see the ship’s captain before noon.

Finally, a bell rang, and the elevator door opened. Vicky jumped to her feet once she saw Woodie in his tan day suit. “Where have you been all day?” she scolded. “We were all worried about you.”

“It hasn’t been all day, dearest. Please don’t exaggerate.” He removed his fedora and ran his fingers through his dark hair. “I didn’t want to disturb you at such an early hour.”

“So, you left without a word?” I asked, standing behind Vicky. “With that thug, la Fata lurking around, do you think it wise to go sightseeing alone?”

“I didn’t give it a thought. He’s busy running his organization. He hasn’t time for me. As to sightseeing, you got that wrong. I was visiting old friends from the Sacramento area. You know them, old man. An older gentleman and his three daughters. The fourth daughter is in the Los Angeles area, as you know.” He nodded at me with a knowing wink.

“I see,” I returned the nod. “How are they?”

“Doing well, Major.

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