Chapter 33
Starliner Athos Nexus Main Chat
Chattykaffi: Happy Wednesday morning, cruisers! The Supernova Buffet is featuring a waffle bar all day long, and trust me, you do not want to miss it. There’s karaoke in the Andromeda Lounge starting at nineteen hundred hours, led by the best voice on the Athos, the fabulous Twinnie Nguyen. Who wants to sing some Donna Summer with me?
1001Stories: Good morning, cruisers! This is Ellis, the Athos’s head librarian. Just a reminder that library cards are complimentary. We have a vast array of entertainment available. Books, audiobooks, movies, video games … If you’re looking for something to occupy your time, we can help.
Starliner Athos Nexus Chat 3
RealLifeLucy: Very glad to hear there wasn’t actually a murder on board. Still sad we lost a staff member.
DriverDan: Same here, RealLifeLucy.
Chattykaffi: I third that.
I t took the ASF one experiment and three full working days to come to the conclusion that things had happened pretty much the way I said they had. Sha’rossi silk and aconitum orbexilum tincture proved to be a deadly combination.
In a lab setting, using a tiny sample of the rug’s fibers and a drop of Woolsey’s tincture, an incredibly deadly gas cloud was created. It lasted barely sixty seconds before further evolving into a fine dust, but it was determined to have been enough to cause the damage noted on Woolsey’s autopsy report.
It was also determined that just like the glass from the broken vial, the dust left behind by the combination had been sucked up by the vuum.
Woolsey’s death was ruled accidental, Sarah Fenchurch messaged to say the Botany Department was making headway on the new hydrogel now that they had Andrew’s notes from his pin drive, Scotty was granted Andrew’s quarters, and. perhaps best of all for me, I was completely exonerated.
A great sense of relief filled me as I stood behind the desk in the library that morning. There had been a certain sense of excitement to the sleuthing Frank and I had done, the way we’d worked so well as a team, but I was thrilled not to be on the ASF’s most-wanted list.
A patron came in, and I smiled as soon as I saw who it was. “Good morning, Kaffi. How are you?”
“I’m peaches and cream, my dear Ellis. Very pleased to hear you are no longer being scrutinized by the ASF.”
“Thank you. So am I.”
He wiggled his fingers at Harry. “Good morning to you, Hieronymus.”
Harry meowed in response. I think he liked Kaffi’s brightly colored outfits as much as the rest of us.
“I am desperate for some new reads and shows.” His caftan, which was his usual wear as cruise director, was in various shades of blue accented with gold and featured a pattern of stars and planets, but none I recognized, as they were probably from his home galaxy of Redshift.
“I can help with that.” I took the library card he extended toward me and got him squared away. He loved funny books and DIY home renovation shows. Don’t ask me why. There was zero chance of renovations on the Athos .
The day was busy but seemed to drag all the same. Maybe because I knew Frank was joining me and my friends for supper in the dining hall this evening. I hadn’t seen him since Monday, although we’d texted a bit yesterday.
There was no small sense of accomplishment in what we’d done. My only worry was that we’d made some enemies in the ASF by figuring things out ahead of them.
Hazel assured me that wasn’t the case, even telling me that Admiral Alik Borisov had asked her if Frank and I should be awarded some kind of certificate of appreciation. I quickly assured her I did not need anything like that.
I really didn’t. I had only done what I’d done to clear my name, no other reason. I didn’t think Frank would be interested, either. Not when he’d told me himself he was trying to blend in. We agreed that calling attention to ourselves made no sense.
Harry and I headed home at our usual time. I changed, opting for slim black pants, a V-neck tunic of burgundy trimmed in black and gold, and black flats. I swapped out the scarf in my hair for one in wine and black.
Dressier than my usual dinner attire, but I was feeling myself today, what with being officially declared innocent and all.
I met Frank outside the dining hall. He smiled at me, taking his hands from his pockets as I walked up. He kissed my cheek. “You look great.”
“Thanks. So do you.” He’d changed into faded jeans and one of his many flannel shirts. I’d come to think of it as his look. The quiet, dependable, technology-savvy lumberjack.
Oddly, the dining hall doors were closed, and I heard no sounds from within. He pushed the nearest one open and waited for me to go through.
The moment I stepped inside, applause and cheers rang out. I stopped cold in my tracks, mouth open, and stared at everyone who was, in turn, staring at me.
I closed my mouth and looked at Frank. “Did you have something to do with this?”
He shook his head.
Vashti stepped out of the crowd. “We all wanted you to know how much we appreciate your efforts in solving the mystery of Andrew’s death.”
It was a lot to take in. “I just … did what anyone else would have done.”
“I don’t think so,” Vashti said. She held up her hand and the crowd quieted down. “Let’s give Ellis the floor, shall we?”
Oh, no. Did they expect me to say something? I swallowed as I faced all those assembled. As much as I did not want to talk, I realized the sooner I got it over with, the better. “Thank you for your support. I’m very touched by it. I have to tell you that I had a lot of help in figuring out what happened. It wasn’t just me. But thank you all the same. Now please, eat. Because that’s what I plan to do.”
Everyone laughed, and Vashti escorted me and Frank to the front of the line. Dinner was roast chicken with mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes, and gravy. Frank and I got our plates and went to the usual table, where Zanya, Benni, and Vashti were seated.
There were a lot of kind words and pats on the back as we made our way there. I was honestly overwhelmed. I’d never imagined this many people were invested in what had happened to Andrew, but he had been the Morning News Report anchor.
Maybe he’d been better liked than I’d realized. Or maybe people were just happy that the truth had come out.
Frank and I sat. The girls had all kinds of questions, which we answered as best we could. Certain details, we’d already agreed, were best not shared.
I splurged on dessert because one of my favorites was available. Chocolate cake with whipped mocha ganache icing. I picked a medium-size piece and had it with coffee, but I wasn’t alone. Everyone had coffee and dessert, opting to linger at the table and enjoy each other’s company.
Lots of folks came by to talk to me. It was, as I might have mentioned, overwhelming. Sweet, though. Still, I was no celebrity and had no interest in becoming one.
Finally, we called it a night. I hugged the girls, who were clearly proud of me, thanked them for being such great friends, then Frank walked me home.
Twice on our way through the corridor, I was given a head nod, and once I got waved at.
“This is weird,” I said softly to Frank. “Was this what it was like when people found out you had money?”
“Sort of. Give it a few days and things will cool off.”
“I hope so.”
As we approached my door, I said, “You know what I really want to do?”
“Get some laps in?”
I laughed. “Yes. How did you know that?”
“Just did. You want company? Or have you had enough of people for the day?”
“I’ve definitely had enough of people.” I smiled at him as we stopped at my door. “Present company excluded.”
He smiled back. “I’ll go change and meet you up there. Might bring Gracie, if that’s all right.”
I pressed my hand to the print lock. “You know I’ll have Harry, so of course it’s all right. See you in ten?”
He nodded, leaning in to kiss me on the mouth this time. “See you in ten,” he said as he broke away.
Smiling for so many reasons, I stepped inside. The door closed behind me.
“Welcome, Ellis. You have two messages.”
“What are they, Computer?”
“First message. From Vice-Admiral Hazel Perry: Hi, Mom. Sorry I missed you. I guess you’re at dinner. I know you don’t want a big fuss made, but Admiral Borisov wants to host a dinner in your honor this Friday. You can bring a guest, if that helps. Let me know that you can make it, okay? ”
Of course I would make it. I’d bring Frank, too. There was no way I’d miss a dinner with the Admiral. He was a nice man, and I wouldn’t do anything to cause problems for Hazel.
“Second message. From ASF Officer Chan Lu: Good evening, Mrs. McFadden. I just wanted to say that your work on the Woolsey death was … well done. I don’t think we could have cracked it without you. Thanks .”
I grinned. I wasn’t sure if he’d sent that of his own volition or if a higher-up had asked him to send it, but either way, it was nice to hear. “Computer, archive both of those messages.”
“Messages archived.”
I changed into my walking gear, collected Harry, and we headed for the elevator. Everything had worked out in the end, and for that I was extraordinarily grateful. The recognition in the dining hall had been very touching. It was nice to know my friends and shipmates appreciated the effort.
But now I was still ready for some time with Frank. And a little breathing space.