LITMIR.BIZ

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on this list could have been in each city where the murders took place,” Jackson went on. “These are the entertainers who were between contracts. As far as the two passengers go, both are businessmen with deep pockets. And judging by the number of times they’ve sailed on Celtic American ships, there’s every chance they were in the port cities where the previous victims were killed.”

      “Wow,” Jude murmured, reading. “The list also includes the ship’s head of security, our friend, David Beach.”

      “I’d put him toward the bottom of the list,” Jackson said. “The man has an impeccable background.”

      “Which may or may not mean anything.”

      “No, but because of his size—”

      “He’d be noticed wherever he went,” Jackson agreed. “And the last one we have here is the cruise director, Jensen Hardy.”

      “Two passengers, Roger Antrim and Hank Osprey. One security man, David Beach. No regular crew members—dishwashers, stewards, mechanics. Three entertainers. Ralph Martini, Simon Green and Larry Hepburn. Plus the head of entertainment, Bradley Wilcox. And last, but for the moment we won’t say least, one cruise director, Jensen Hardy.”

      “Eight suspects,” Jackson said. “I’ll talk to Beach. We’ll give him the list—minus his own name, of course. And we’ll keep a sharp eye on him, but he and his staff need to be on the lookout. You should go and see Alexi Cromwell again. Actually, I’d like to speak with her, too.”

      Jude stared down at Angela Hawkins’s report, which included pictures of the suspects. “I don’t believe any of these men are the one we followed on board,” he said.

      “No?” Jackson shrugged. “Ghost or not, I haven’t really seen his face yet. I don’t get it. I don’t get what he was wearing. It wasn’t a mask. But he was disguised.”

      “A killer would want to disguise himself,” Jude said.

      “Well, we’ll see, won’t we? How’s your cell working out here?”

      “I’m set for international. Should be fine.”

      “Let’s head out. Don’t forget, I want to talk to Ms. Cromwell later.”

      “We can arrange that,” Jude said.

      “All right. I’ll go chase down David Beach. You see what you can do with the entertainer group and we’ll send for more info on our two passengers.” Jackson rose. Like many law enforcement officers in the field, he’d taken his coffee black and finished two cups.

      Jude picked up his own mug of black coffee and finished the last couple of swallows. He rose, too. “I’ll find Ms. Cromwell. But all in all, you might do better in dealing with her. I’m not sure she was...comfortable with my response to her last night.”

      He was surprised Jackson smiled at that. “I think you’ll do fine.”

      They parted ways.

      Jude used the stairs to reach the crew and entertainment level of the ship. He paused at her door. The entertainers slept late, he assumed, since they worked late.

      He raised a hand to knock on the door.

      It opened.

      Alexi Cromwell seemed very bright and attractive for someone who’d been up until at least 3 a.m. the night before.

      She glanced up at him warily—and yet as if she’d expected him.

      “Ms. Cromwell, I’d like your help,” he began.

      “To meet the ghost?”

      He didn’t answer that. Instead, he asked, “How well do you know your fellow entertainers—and do you ever get to know the passengers?”

      “Some of the entertainers I know quite well, but some are here on their first contract with the Destiny. Maybe you’d like to meet a few of them yourself?” she suggested.

      “I would, thank you,” he said.

      “Come to the employee cafeteria and lounge with me. I can introduce you to some of the people I know.” She looked at him anxiously. “Do you really believe the killer is on the Destiny?”

      He decided not to lie to her. “Yes,” he said.

      “Because your man—my ghost—came on the ship?”

      “Yes.”

      “But since you don’t believe me and you think this guy is alive... Maybe if that’s true, he was watching what was going on, and then realized he was late for the sailing.”

      “No.”

      “Why do you say that?”

      “His behavior.”

      “It’s still just a hunch.”

      He didn’t admit that she was nearly right.

      She smiled. “So you believe in gut feelings and not much else.”

      He shook his head, almost smiling, but he wasn’t willing to discuss it. “My partner on this case wants to meet you, by the way. We’ll get to that later. Meanwhile, I’d appreciate going to the employee cafeteria with you.”

      “Follow me,” she said. As they left her cabin and walked down the narrow hallway, she added, “You’re aware that there are quite a few entertainers on the ship, aren’t you?”

      “Of course.”

      “Anyone in particular you want to meet?”

      Jude had memorized the names. “Simon Green, Ralph Martini and Larry Hepburn. And your head of entertainment, Bradley Wilcox.”

      “Oh!” she said.

      “You know them?” he asked her. “Well?”

      “Bradley Wilcox was the head on my first contract with Celtic American, too,” she said. “He’s talented at his job.”

      “And?”

      She shrugged. “To my mind? A jerk. Rude. He seems to think we’re all lesser individuals. His servants. But as I said, I have to admit he’s good at his job.”

      “What about the others?”

      “This is the first time I’ve been on the same ship—same contract—with Simon Green and Larry Hepburn. Ralph Martini, I do know. I’ve worked with him before. He’s a nice guy and, again, very talented.” She glanced at Jude sideways and he was surprised to realize once more how attractive she was, with her head of sunset-tinged hair and amber eyes.

      Just the type the Archangel might choose...

      “Be careful around these people,” he said, his voice gruff.

      “They’re really suspects? Is there a reason for that?” she asked.

      “Proximity,” he replied. “They might’ve been in all the locations where murders took place. And you really shouldn’t know what we’re thinking, and I shouldn’t be speaking to you about this at all. At the moment, though, you’re about all I’ve got.”

      “So, I’m all you’ve got. Great,” she murmured.

      But he could tell that she did intend to be helpful.

      “Grab a tray,” she told him, leading him to the buffet. “I see Simon and Ralph—they’re over there.”

      He selected a bagel and a plate of eggs from the buffet and followed her to the table.

      Ralph and Simon greeted her with friendly smiles and she introduced them to Jude. “Company bigwig,” she said lightly. “Watching us on board.”

      Ralph stood up to shake Jude’s hand. He was a stocky middle-aged man of about six feet. “He’s a great tenor!” Alexi said in a cheerful voice.

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