“I’m not pointing at anyone yet. I have no idea who killed Diego. That’s why I want you to help me in a covert investigation. I’ve brought cash to back up my request. We’ll need money.”
Threnody pulled a thick envelope from her shoulder purse and thrust it toward me. When I didn’t reach for it, she opened the envelope flap, pulled out some greenbacks. I still didn’t reach for it.
“I don’t know, Threnody.”
“You know you want to work on the case. I’ve sensed that since early this morning in Chief Ramsey’s office. So I’m offering the retainer to give you some extra motivation. I want us to work together. What do you say? If we solve the case it would be good publicity for you when you break out as a novelist.”
“You give a good reason for me to help you, but why are you so interested in finding the killer? In your case, the answer could fall very close to home.”
“You mean Brick or Jessie, of course.”
“Yes, that’s what I mean. Not that I’m ready to accuse either of them, I’m just talking possibilities. Why do you want to risk finding a killer that might turn out to be a family member?”
“Because I don’t think it will turn out that way. The killer could be Dolly—who saw Diego alive very close to the time that the police found him dead. It could be Pablo, his next of kin. It could be Kane who wrote all those fiery letters.”
“But it’s worth two grand for you to find out. Why?”
“I have to know because in my mind I don’t think either Brick or Jessie was involved in Diego’s death. And I don’t want this homicide to turn into a cold case, a case with no killer found and punished.”
“I wouldn’t want to see that happen either.”
“A cold case wouldn’t matter to tourists who come and go from the island, but a cold case would be remembered forever by the locals. The locals would be suspicious of someone, and they would gossip among themselves, probably blaming a member of the Vexton family. I can’t live with that, Rafa.”
“I can understand that.”
“We have to work fast.” Threnody leaned forward. She pushed the envelope closer to me. “The first few hours following a murder are crucial to the investigation.”
“The police are working on it.”
“I want more than that. I want us to be working on it, too.”
Waves murmured against the shore while I thought more about Threnody’s proposal. Waves seldom splash and roar in Key West. A reef a few miles offshore slows them down. Right now I felt like those waves—murmuring and slowed down, slowed almost to a stop but not quite. I picked up the envelope that Threnody slid toward me and tucked it into my shoulder bag.
“I’ll work with you, Threnody. And having some money to work with will certainly help.”
“I’m so glad. You’ll never know how glad. Now, please tell me where you think we should start the investigation. Tell me if there’s anything I can do to help—anything that won’t give away the fact that we’re investigating.”
“For starters, I’ll tell you that I’ve already started working on the case.”
“In what way? And how?”
I told her about getting a piece of the blue line and about being unable to find similar line here on the island.”
“We’ll find that line somewhere,” Threnody promised. “It’s a good starting point. I’ll help you look for it.”
“So far, I haven’t an idea of where else to start looking.” I wasn’t about to tell her of the blue line aboard Kane’s boat. I had no intention of trying to incriminate an innocent man and I felt almost sure Kane was innocent. Almost.
“Let’s go now,” Threnody said. “I told Brick I needed a few things from the twenty-four/seven grocery, but he’ll be suspicious if I’m away too long. I’ve insisted that Brick, you, and I meet at the marina early tomorrow morning to discuss Diego’s funeral. Chief Ramsey had no objection to that plan. I’m hoping you can be there around eight.”
“What about Pablo?”
“Of course we’ll include Pablo—if we can locate him—again.”
Chapter 20
(Monday, At Last)
Early Monday morning, and I didn’t disturb Dolly, knowing she needed some extra rest. We’d discuss last night’s accident in more detail later. I tried to make myself believe it was an accident in spite of Threnody’s take on it.
I drove to Daiquiri Dock Marina
and parked in a visitor’s slot next to Threnody’s Caddi. For a few moments I walked along the planked decking in front of the chandlery enjoying the salt taste of the sea air and absorbing the ambience of the area. Crafts of all kinds bobbed in their slips—sailboats, cruisers, runabouts. Two captains shouted greetings to each other, revved their motors, and managed no-wake exits toward open water in spite of their obvious eagerness to bait their hooks and wet their lines. The stench of gasoline hung in the air.
Brick’s crayon-shaped dock pilings discouraged most water birds from perching. Today I smiled as 3 pelicans and 2 gulls left their calling cards on the sterns and motors of docked boats while they perched there waiting for handouts.
After squinting into the glare of sun on sea, it relieved my eyes to step into the dimness inside the chandlery. Where was everyone? I could have rung the bell for attention, but instead I speared a hotdog from the countertop mini-grill, wrapped it in a bun, and added mustard. Hotdogs might be falling off the tip of nutritionists’ pyramid of healthful foods, but I felt no guilt while I enjoyed the salty spiciness of one of my favorite foods.
“Morning, Rafa,” Threnody called, stepping from a doorway at the back of the store. “We’re going to meet here in Brick’s office.”
“May I bring you a hotdog?” I pointed to the grill.
“No thanks. My stomach balks at hotdogs before noon.”
“But mine doesn’t.” Brick grinned and stepped onto the selling floor. “Bring me one, okay? Catsup, please. No mustard.”
I wondered if anyone ever disobeyed Brick’s commands. I laid my hotdog on a napkin beside the grill while I fixed one for him and carried it into his office.
“Thanks, babe.”
Stepping into Brick’s office was like stepping back in time. Posters from past decades decorated the walls. The seventies? The eighties?
Star Wars. Arthur. Casa Blanca.
“Have you learned when the ME and the police will release Diego’s body?” I asked, pulling my thoughts to the present.
“Probably sometime today,” Brick said. “I told both officials I’d claim the body and pay any fees involved.”
“So shall we plan the funeral for tomorrow?” Threnody asked. “Tuesday? Maybe tomorrow afternoon?”
“The sooner the better,” Brick said.
“What mortuary will handle the service?” I asked. “We’ll have to schedule a time that suits the mortuary. A time and a place.”
“I’ll check the mortuaries,” Threnody offered. “I think Tisdale’s has a crematory. We’d want that, wouldn’t we?”
“I think so,” I said. “Maybe we should ask Pablo about that.”
“Only if he drops around,” Brick said. “I knew of no way to reach him this morning. Get prices as well as availability, Threnody.”
“Of course.” Threnody grabbed a telephone directory and turned to the yellow pages. “Maybe a mortuary will offer a chapel for their services. Or do you think we should hold the service in a church? Diego was Catholic, wasn’t he?”
“I wonder how big the crowd will be.” I said. “Diego may not have had many family members in this country, but he had lots of friends from Key Largo to Key West.
“And there’ll be the curious,” Brick said. “Either of you ever attended services for a homicide victim? Unless we plan private services, some people may attend out of curiosity.”
“Don’t think Diego would have wanted private services,” Threnody said. “He doted on his friends and acquaintances. I suggest an open funeral in a large church for his service.”
“St. Paul’s, perhaps?” Brick asked. “How cool would that be?”
“That’s Episcopal, not Catholic.”
“May I offer a suggestion?”
We all looked up, startled, when Pablo spoke from the doorway. Brick rose from behind his desk, but Threnody and I remained seated.
“Come in, Pablo.” Brick pulled up another chair, easing it between Threnody and me. “We’re planning Diego’s funeral. Of course, if you want to take over, you’re more than welcome to do so.”
Pablo remained standing behind the chair Brick offered. “Thank you. I don’t want to take over the planning of Dad’s ceremony, but I’d like to be a part of that planning. Dad and I had been estranged recently, but…but…”
Pablo’s eyes grew moist and I thought he might break down, but Brick came to his rescue.
“We understand, Pablo. We understand. Threnody and I certainly know how difficult it is for parents and children always to be in agreement, to keep their relationship on an even keel.”
“We’re glad you showed up last night at The Frangi
and approached us here this morning.” Threnody scooted her chair back to make more room for Pablo, should he decide to sit beside us.
Pablo eased into the chair Brick offered, and Threnody continued speaking.
“We’re pleased to have your input on planning Diego’s service. We had tentatively decided to hold it tomorrow afternoon. If we call
The Citizen
today we may be able to get an announcement in tomorrow’s paper. Of course, we’ll arrange for radio and TV announcements. We’d like your input on the place for the service as well as for the burial spot.”
“Care to share your feelings?” I asked. “Under the circumstances, I feel sure you and Diego never discussed these matters.”
“Right. Never.”
“So what do you suggest?” Brick sat again behind his desk. “Threnody mentioned the Tisdale Mortuary.”
“That’d be fine with me.” Pablo leaned forward in his chair. “Dad was never much for attending church, so I’d suggest an outdoor service.”
“Do you have a location in mind?” Brick asked.
“When I was a child, Dad and I spent many pleasant times in Bayview Park. We called it Jose Marti Park because it’s the place where Marti organized revolutionists to help defeat Spain’s hold on our homeland. Maybe we could arrange an outdoor service at Bayview.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” Threnody agreed. “We could check out that plan with the proper officials. Since Diego served as a councilman, getting permission to use the park should be no problem. Would you like to go with me to make those arrangements?”
“Yes. I would like that and maybe we can also discuss plans for some music. Would you sing, Threnody? Dad and I always liked to hear your voice. Would you do “Amazing Grace?” That was one of the few hymns Dad knew.”
“I would feel honored to sing,” Threnody said. “Perhaps we can arrange for a portable organ or piano and a pianist to play in the background before and after the service.”
“And the burial?” Brick asked. “If you go along with the cremation plan, we could scatter Diego’s ashes in a place of your choosing, Pablo. Perhaps at sea?”
Pablo shook his head. “After his escape from Mariel and losing his wife at sea, Dad’s never been fond of the ocean. I think he’d like to be buried in the Key West cemetery. It’s another spot we frequently visited when I was a child. Strange place to take a kid, right? Maybe. Maybe not. Dad liked to study the inscriptions and the art on the tombstones. That cemetery’s still in use, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Brick said. “I’m sure it is.”
“So let’s see if we can buy a burial plot there. Some people think a burial at sea has an ethereal appeal, even a glamorous appeal. But I’ve never felt that way. I’d like to see Dad laid to rest in a spot where I could place a hibiscus blossom on his grave marker now and then.”
Brick stood. “So why don’t you and Threnody secure a mortuary and get permission to hold the service in a secluded area at Bayview? Due to Diego’s Cuban heritage, we should have no trouble with the authorities in control of the park.”
“That’s fine with me.” Pablo looked at Threnody who nodded in agreement.
“Pablo, I suggest that I go to the cemetery officials and make arrangements for burial there,” Brick said. “As a respected businessman, I think they’ll agree to sell me a suitable plot at a reasonable price. Rafa, why don’t you join me? Two business people may get a better deal than one.”
I didn’t care to bargain over the price of a burial plot nor did I care to join Brick. I said so immediately. No way did I intend to fall into the category of one of the ‘ladies Brick had an eye for.’ I owed that to myself and to my covert partnership with Threnody.
“I have plans for the morning, Brick, and I know you’ll be able to make the necessary arrangements at the cemetery.”
Brick nodded in silent agreement.
I left Brick’s office quickly, glad to hurry back to my car, but was surprised to see Kane sitting on the passenger side waiting for me. We exchanged a deep kiss before I spoke.
“Great to see you here, and I hope nothing’s wrong at
The Buccaneer
.”
“Nothing wrong that I know of.” Kane grinned. “But there’s a murderer at large. Remember? I like knowing where you are and that you’re safe.”
“Come on, Kane! I won’t have you playing protector. Makes me nervous.”