“Brick, maybe you can help me.”
“Be glad to. In what way?”
“I’m planning to write a column about Kane. Although it’s not to be a surprise, so far I haven’t mentioned it to him.”
“Think he might object?”
“No. I think he’ll go along with it, but in addition to his facts, I need the thoughts and feelings of other local citizens. And since you know the local boating people, you’re a logical one for me to approach.”
“Glad to help if I can. A few quotes would give me some welcome publicity, right?”
“You flatter me, but yes, it might. Lots of people read my column. It wouldn’t hurt to have your name appear in it.”
“So what do you need to know?”
“Since the ‘working water’ problem has been under community discussion recently, I thought readers might welcome some insight into the life of a working shrimper. A commercial fisherman.”
“That sounds like info you could get from Kane with no problem at all.”
“You may be right, but I’d like to know more about
The Buccaneer
and I thought you might be able to tell me more about that boat since you’ve known lots of boaters and their boats.”
“Might not be able to help you there. Kane’s owned the boat since I’ve known him. Don’t know who owned it before that.”
“Kane mentioned Capt. Red Chipper as one captain who had owned the boat. Did you ever know Capt. Chipper?”
“Well, yes. I did meet him years ago. Don’t think he lives in the Keys any longer. I heard once that he’d moved to the Carolinas.”
“Drat. I’m sorry to hear that. I wanted to actually interview some of the former boat owners. That would add depth and interest to my column. Lots of people are interested in the history of ships and boats.”
“Sorry I can’t help you there. I’ve only owned this marina a few years, compared to the number of years
The Buccaneer
’s been around. That craft has a long history.”
Brick pulled his cell phone from his shirt pocket as if in a hurry to make a call. I didn’t intend to let him get away so easily.
“Do you know how long it’s been around? Got any dates I can relate to?”
“Can’t really say.” Brick looked toward the door. “Rafa, please excuse me. I see an old friend getting ready to leave and I’d like to say a few words to him before he goes.”
“Of course, Brick. But keep me and my column in mind. If you remember anything else about the former boat owners, give me a call, okay?”
“You’ve got it, Rafa.”
Threnody startled me when she came up behind me.
“Not flirting with my husband, are you?” she asked, laughing.
“Trying to, but he wasn’t interested. You’re the one I really want to talk to.”
“What’s up?”
“I want to get going on our investigation.”
“Our?”
“Yes.
Our
. I’m going to need all the help I can get, and Kane’s being very uncooperative. He wants me to leave all investigating to the police.”
“You got a lead of some sort?”
The reception was slowly drawing to a close, and the Tisdale workers began clearing away the table and chairs. Threnody drew me aside.
“Tell all, Rafa.”
“You mustn’t repeat what I’m about to say, Threnody. Promise?”
“Promise.”
“This involves Kane, and I don’t want the police to start investigating him.”
“You have reason to think they might?”
“They shouldn’t, but, yes, they might.” I told her about being on
The Buccaneer
and seeing the old blue line that matched the line around Diego’s feet.
“Where did Kane get it?”
“It came with the boat when he bought it. We need to find out where the previous boat owner got that line. Knowing its history might put us closer to the killer. Kane says a captain named Red Chipper once owned the boat. Kane told me Red Chipper still lives in the keys. I talked to Brick about it. He said Captain Chipper moved some time ago, but he didn’t seem too sure of that.”
My mind whirled. Had Kane lied to me about Red Chipper or had Brick lied? Maybe neither one had deliberately lied. Maybe neither was absolutely sure, neither having a real need to keep track of Red Chipper. Or maybe the captain had moved without either of them being aware of it.
Threnody led the way to Brick’s office and we searched the phone book. No Chippers listed.
“Dead end here, Rafa.”
“Look up Snipe Gross. Kane told me Capt. Chipper bought
The Buccaneer
from Snipe Gross.”
I waited while Threnody flipped to the G listings. In minutes, she looked up smiling. “Hey! I’ve found Snipe Gross. Strange name and the only one listed. He’s in Marathon. Maybe he’s the guy we need to talk to.”
“I’ll key in his number. Talk to anyone who answers.” I pulled my cell phone from my shoulder purse. Threnody read the number to me and I had hardly had time to punch it in before a male voice answered.
“Hello. Hello?”
I made no response.
“Hello? Gross residence. Hello?”
I broke the connection, feeling a bit guilty because I knew how I hated a dead line.
“We know he’s home.” I replaced the cell in my purse. “We have his address from the phone book. Let’s go see him. A phone call would only warn him something’s up. A surprise call would be more effective.”
“Right.” Threnody shoved the phone book back into the drawer where she found it. “Too late today. Let’s go first thing tomorrow morning. We can call again to be sure he’s home.”
It sounded like a good plan until we left Brick’s office and headed to the front of the chandlery. Mama G came striding toward us, her Birkenstocks snapping against the concrete floor at every step.
Chapter 28
“Rafa! Rafa! Need help.”
“Of course, Mama G What can I do for you?
“Car won’t start. Need ride to hotel. Spend too much time here preparing for this party.”
I didn’t bother to tell her this reception in honor of Diego could hardly be considered a party.
“Of course, Mama G. Let me help you with your things. Maybe Brick or one of the dock masters can start your car. In the meantime we’ll go on to The Frangi.”
“Sandwich makings in refrigerator. I think ahead. I plan for tonight. Early this morning I plan for tonight.”
“We appreciate your thoughtfulness. My car’s out front, so we can go whenever you’re ready.” I followed her to the small area behind a sales counter where she picked up a cooler of sandwich fillings. Jessie stepped from an office behind the counter.
“I’ll carry the cooler to the car for you.”
I spoke for Mama G who seemed even more surprised than I at seeing Jessie. I said nothing about his abrupt flight from Diego’s funeral. “Thanks, Jessie. We’d appreciate that.”
Before our short drive to the hotel I called the bell staff office, asking for help in unloading the cooler. With the fragrance of barbecue sauce wafting about her, Mama G sat stiff and straight in the passenger seat of the Prius like a dignitary being escorted to a place of honor. I couldn’t argue with that. Much of The Frangi’s
success depended on Mama G’s sandwiches and her ability to keep a trio of musicians performing on the combo platform each evening.
Once we reached The Frangi, I snapped on the lights. A faint fragrance of frangipani barely masked the scent of the cleaning crew’s lemon oil. We stood aside while a bellhop set the cooler in the kitchen.
“Is there anything else I can help you with, Mama G,” I asked after the bellhop left.
“Nada. Nada. Thank you for ride. Muchas Gracias. Mama G no like asking favors.”
I left Mama G scurrying about in the small kitchen while I went to my suite, slipped from Threnody’s dress and dropped onto my bed for a brief rest. This long day wasn’t over yet. I had wanted to talk more with Threnody at the marina, but Mama G’s request for help intervened. When my cell rang, I thought Threnody might be calling me.
I jumped up and headed for the bedside chair where I had dropped my purse—and phone.
“Hello.” No response. “Hello? Who’s calling, please?” Still no response. I closed the phone, holding it and waiting to see if it would ring again.
It didn’t, so I stretched out on my bed, relieved that we’d located Snipe Gross, yet wondering about the strange call. Few people had access to my cell number. Close friends and business associates. I set my alarm clock, thinking I might nap for a few minutes before I geared up for a night of greeting guests.
My mind hazy with sleep, I jumped startled when my cell rang again. This time I’d placed it under my pillow. Groping for it, I answered after only 3 rings.
“Hello.” No response. “Who’s calling, please?” Another dead line. I turned the phone off, irritated and upset at the person playing phone games with me. I eased the phone under my pillow and tried to drop off to sleep again, but once alerted, my mind refused to drop into relax mode. Turning the phone on again, I tried to call Threnody. No answer. Surely she’d had time to get home from the marina.
I started to close the phone again when it rang. I hesitated. Why give the prankster another chance? But curiosity overcame caution.
“Hello.”
“Hello, Rafa Blue.”
I didn’t recognize the voice. Male? Female? I couldn’t tell. Androgynous. It could be either. “Who’s calling, please?”
“A friend calling with a friendly warning. Watch your back tonight in The Frangipani Room.
Your life is an hourglass. The sands of time are dropping one by one. When the last one drops, you’re a dead woman.”
When I broke the connection, my hands shook. Dry breath snagged in my throat. I waited to see if the caller would try again. After a few minutes I closed the phone. I’d been a fool to answer that last call. I rose and paced. What to do? Someone had threatened my life. I knew I should call the police. But no. I refused to run scared. Surely this threat related in some way to the call to Snipe Gross. But how could that be? Could cell phones be bugged?
Dusk veiled the sky and I pulled the draperies across my picture window. Although I had no appetite, I ordered an entrée from room service. On most evenings, that was my custom and I adhered to it. I hoped my secret caller would notice and think he/she hadn’t frightened me. After the tray arrived, I set it on my coffee table, dropped onto my couch, and clicked on the TV. Watching the evening news was a poor way to relax.
When someone knocked on my door, I froze.
“It’s me, Rafa,” Kane rang my bell and then called through the door. “They let me come up unannounced. You home?”
“Just a minute, Kane.” I stalled, trying to sort out my feelings, to hide my panicky thoughts. Could Kane have been my secret caller? I mustn’t let him know about the threatening message. I’d keep it a secret between me and the caller. I took three deep breaths, releasing each one to a count of 10. That helped calm me. Not entirely. But the deep breathing helped.
I slipped into a robe before I opened the door to let Kane step inside.
“You doing okay, Rafa?”
“Of course. And you? I missed you at the marina this afternoon.”
He enfolded me in a deep embrace and I didn’t struggle against it. I melted into his arms and we exchanged deep kisses as he pulled me even closer. I felt much of my fear dissolve in the safety of his warmth and his nearness. When at last we eased a few inches apart, I looked into his eyes, knowing he would never threaten me. No way. Not Kane. I smiled.
“I really did miss you at the reception, Kane, but Tisdale’s had the event well under control. I’m guessing over a hundred people stopped by. Mama G reigned in glory, providing sandwiches, urging everyone to enjoy seconds.”
“I would have made it if I could. The engine parts I needed came in and I spent the rest of the day working on the engine, tinkering with the new parts.”
“Good.” I forced my voice into steadiness. “Then you’re ready to go on another shrimp run? How long’s it been?”
“Too long. I have a crew ready to go out Thursday or maybe Friday at the latest, but I wish you’d spend a day on the water with me tomorrow. I need to give that motor a thorough test.”
“Why me, Kane? I’d be no help if something went wrong, if for some reason the motor malfunctioned.”
“I’m not really worried about my fixit job, but I never go on a shrimp run using new repair parts without testing them on open water first. The real reason I want you along’s because I love you, Rafa.” He kissed my earlobe. “I like having you near, and I also want to entice you away from Key West for a few hours. You need to get your mind off Diego’s death and his funeral. You need to distance yourself.”
“And I’m thinking you’re also wanting to make me forget about investigating Diego’s death. True?”
“That, too, may be behind my invitation, but not entirely. Humor me, okay? We haven’t spent a day on the water in a long time. Please say you’ll come with me.” He pulled me close again, dropping kisses along the back of my neck before he stood back and met my gaze. “I’ll pack our lunch. I’ll take us out near the reef for some trolling. See what we can catch. Weather’s supposed to be great tomorrow. And only a bit of wind. That spells calm seas.”