Chapter 19
I went back to my food, taking a bite of the eggplant Parmesan. “I know antifreeze can kill you and the sweet taste makes it easy to hide. What other potential poisons do we have on board?”
“I can’t speak for the Agricultural Department, but I’m sure they have a fair amount. Fertilizers can be dangerous. Your doctor friend in sick bay could probably give you a whole list of medications that could kill someone if administered in the right doses.”
“Trust me, I’m going to ask her. What else is there in engineering?”
“A lot of the cleaners we use are corrosive. There’s a good many of those that would do a number on the human body.” He gestured with his fork. “This is why we need to look at that coroner’s report. Besides more info, we need to see what state the body was in. The harsher the chemical, the more likely it is to leave signs.”
I nodded. “I agree. I still don’t like you doing it, but it would help a lot. Anything else you can think of?”
“The problem is really the possibilities we can’t think of. We have to remember that this is, at least in part, a military craft. No military goes anywhere without a variety of weapons. Some of which could be chemical or biological. Things so classified we don’t even know about them yet.”
That was a sobering thought. “But Andrew was a botanist.”
“Who could have had a hand in creating some of those weapons. Ricin comes from the castor oil plant.”
“True. I hadn’t been thinking in that direction, but I suppose I should be.”
“I assume you’ve seen his bio on the staff page?”
“I have. It says he specializes in cellular biology and molecular botany although he’s pursuing research in the field of theoretical botany.”
“Theoretical botany could be anything. Teaching plants to talk. Making them self-ambulatory. Turning them into deadly secret weapons.” Frank’s brows lifted as if punctuating his point.
“I see what you’re saying. The good news is, I already have a reason to talk to Sarah Fenchurch again. Maybe I can get more out of her. In fact, I’ll press her as hard as I can. If she wants that book, I’ll make her think I need a valid reason why.”
He nodded. “This discussion has made me believe that book and that plant are our best possible leads right now.”
“Same here. His rug might have been the killer’s motivation, but figuring out what poison is responsible for his death should narrow down the field of suspects.”
“We can do both. Still work the rug angle while also looking into the poison. Which reminds me, I struck out on talking to Vivak Diptha today. He wasn’t in his office, and I don’t know where his quarters are. But I’ll try at his office again tomorrow.”
“I can find out where his quarters are from my library list. Although that might be considered improper use.”
“Before you do that, let me see if I can catch him at his office tomorrow.”
“Okay.” I worried that we were taking on too much. It felt daunting. We were only two people with no real authority. What chance did we have of solving this thing? Maybe we should just let the ASF handle it. Except I was on their suspect list. My face must have shown the hopelessness and frustration I was feeling.
“Hey,” Frank said. “I know we’re up against it. But we can do this. We’re both smart, have years of practical experience, and I’m a little shady.”
That made me laugh. “No, you’re not. Are you?”
“Well, I’m willing to hack into an information system for you, so yes, I am, a little, but it’s for a good cause.”
“It’s incredibly sweet of you to do this for me. You certainly don’t have to.”
“I want to.” He sat back, his plate empty, but there was still a lot of food left on the table. “What do you say we get the rest of this packed up and get to work? I can make coffee, and we can have a little chocolate Bavarian crème cake if you want some dessert. I just got it from La Patisserie on Deck 31 today. You know, just in case.”
I smiled. He’d planned ahead. La Patisserie, much like Luna’s, was mainly for cruise passengers. For those of us who were Athos staff or crew, those places required credits. “When did you have time to do that?”
“On my way back from Diptha’s.”
“Sounds good to me.” Frank was proving himself over and over again to be a kind, thoughtful man. I felt incredibly fortunate to have met him and, at this moment in my life, to have him on my side.
Robinson packed up our leftovers for us, Frank paid the bill, and we left, Frank carrying the bag with our food.
I knew where Frank’s quarters were. I’d looked him up. Deck 14. But I didn’t let on that I knew, just walked alongside him, got into the elevator, rode to his floor. We chatted about The Duke’s Wicked Wish , something that made me blush a little. It was indeed a spicy book, but Frank seemed to be enjoying it. Or maybe he was enjoying making me blush.
I had only myself to blame.
At his quarters, he pressed his hand to the printlock, and the door whooshed open. “Computer, lights.” Illumination flickered on. He immediately stepped into the doorway, blocking my view. “Listen, there’s something you should know about my place.”
“Oh?” He was single and a mech. I had a pretty good idea what he was going to tell me. Some kind of apology for his quarters not being nicer. Or neater. None of that mattered to me.
“My quarters aren’t … typical. In fact, they’re?—”
“Doesn’t bother me what it looks like.” I shook my head. I did not want him to feel bad. “It’s just a place to sleep and shower, right?”
“Right.” One side of his mouth hitched up. He stretched his arm out as he turned to the side. “After you.”
I stepped in, not knowing what to expect but already surprised by his foyer. Instead of the standard blue-gray sound-absorbing textile panels, his was dark wood, polished so that it glowed with warmth under the lights. An oil painting of the Rocky Mountains was displayed on one side, and in the small niche that in my quarters held Ned’s urn was a bronze statue of a cowboy on horseback.
The door swished shut.
Not at all what I’d expected. I looked at the wood paneling, then looked at him. “How did you get this wood? It’s beautiful.”
“It, uh, was a little upgrade.”
A little upgrade? I had a feeling it was more than that. I went into the living area and found a sumptuous leather couch and recliner overtop a rug woven in a Southwestern design that had been laid on a wide-planked, rough-hewn hardwood floor. The room seemed themed around the colors of the sunset with touches of navy and brown.
Under his viewing screen, where I had cabinets I used for storage, he had a fireplace. Not a real one, obviously, but it was a very believable replica. On the mantle above it flickered a trio of LED candles in a long, narrow copper bowl.
I turned in amazement to look at him. “Your place is … I’m not often out of words, but I am now. I’ve never seen anyone’s quarters that looked like this. If it weren’t for the view out that window, I’d think I was in Montana.”
“That’s kind of what I was going for.” His expression said he was pleased but also slightly nervous. Or maybe that was embarrassment?
I frowned. “What’s wrong? Was I not supposed to like it?”
“No, it’s just that … I know it’s different. But I, uh, I wanted…” He sighed, then shook his head. “It’s just a lot of upgrades.”
“Obviously. But like I said, it’s beautiful. You made good choices.”
“Thanks.” He went to the kitchenette and stuck the leftovers in his fridge, then got out the box from La Patisserie. When he turned around, he had the same unsettled look on his face.
“Okay, what is it? Something’s bothering you.”
“I don’t want you to get the wrong impression of me.”
“Based on how your apartment looks? My impression right now is that you have a definite sense of style, a clear aesthetic, and you put some money into what you wanted. What’s wrong with that?”
“It’s just that … I have money, and sometimes that makes people think certain things.”
“All I’m thinking is that you probably spent a lot of it on this place.”
“I did. That doesn’t bother you?”
“Should it? You can spend your money on whatever you like.”
“Okay. Thanks for understanding.”
I laughed, not sure I really did understand but willing to let it go. “You’re welcome.” Did he think I’d like him less because he’d splashed out on upgrades? I supposed that might make some people jealous. Or make a certain type of woman think she’d hit the jackpot, but I had money of my own and a good-paying job. I wasn’t about to bleed him dry for fancy trinkets and nightly dinners at Luna and other restaurants like that.
I thought about telling him as much when a pink and gray streak flew into the room and landed on Frank’s shoulder. “Papa’s home!”
“Hiya, Gracie.” He rubbed her breast with his knuckle, and her eyes closed. “Gracie, this is Ellis.”
She opened her eyes, cocked her head, and looked at me, her accent quite a change from Harry’s. “Lovely to meet you, Ellis.”
“Hi, Gracie. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m a pretty bird.”
I smiled. “Yes, you are.” Gracie’s accent was a softer, posher version of Harry’s. She sounded like she could have easily come from tea with the duke of something.
Frank finally smiled. “She’s pretty and humble.” He laughed as he gave her one more scratch. “Go to your perch, Gracie.”
She took flight again, landing on an object I had mistaken for a sculpture on one of the Craftsman-style end tables.
“You want coffee now or in a few minutes with cake?”
“With cake,” I answered.
“All right. Let’s go into the study. That’s where my computer is.”
I expected him to go toward the open doorway that led, in my quarters, to the bedroom, bathroom, and a small office. He walked past me to the other side of the apartment and touched a small panel I hadn’t noticed. Probably because it blended in with the wall covering.
A door slipped open with a quiet breath of air, revealing his study. It was the size of my bedroom and office combined, but the décor was sleeker. Still masculine, but the dark wood was accented this time with touches of metal and black leather.
The desk was dark wood. The floor looked like slate, but I knew it would be some kind of composite. Soft recessed lights in the ceiling gave the room a warm glow. In front of the desk was a cozy black leather love seat and ottoman that faced the enormous viewing screen covering the opposite wall.
“Wow,” I said quietly. His place was about the size of Hazel’s quarters, although hers weren’t this luxurious. “How did you score this place?”
He swallowed as he turned to look at me, reluctance in his eyes. “I don’t want you to think differently of me.”
“Why would I?”
“Because my net worth is a bit above average, and I know that can change a person’s opinion pretty fast.”
I pursed my lips, crossed my arms, and gave him a serious look. “Do I strike you as that kind of person?”
“No, you don’t. And it’s nothing against you personally, Ellis. Just based on past experiences.”
I relaxed my expression and dropped my arms to my sides. “I can understand that. For the record, whatever you have or don’t have, I don’t really care. I have my own money. And I’m certainly not looking for a man to take care of me.” Even if he was as handsome as Frank.
Not only did I still have a good bit of Ned’s life insurance, but I’d sold everything when I’d taken the position aboard the Athos . Just because I lived frugally didn’t mean it was out of necessity.
He gave me a quick smile. “That’s the kind of woman you strike me as. Independent and very much able to take care of herself.”
“With no plans to change either.”
His smile broadened. “Sorry about this. All I can say is I’ve been burned before.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you, but you don’t need to worry about me. No matter how much money you’ve got. We’re good, right?”
“We’re very good.”
“Just tell me one thing.”
He seemed to kind of mentally brace himself. “All right. What is it you want to know?”
“You’re not actually Bruce Wayne, are you?”
He snorted. “No.” Then he tipped his head toward the study. “Come on. Let’s see what we can find out about how Andrew Woolsey died.”