Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
T he ghost of Beatrice Fiddlefae and I follow along with the group just as the tour guide announces we’re heading to Ben’s Cave, right here on sunny Grand Bahamas.
The cavern looms ahead with its dark maw set into the lush landscape while promising us mysteries that are both ancient and recent. As we near it, the guide begins his spiel with enthusiasm and a touch of reverence.
“Ben’s Cave is one of the longest underwater cave systems in the world,” the guide, a lanky older man with a deep complexion and gorgeous teeth, explains as he gestures toward the entrance. “It was named after Ben Rose, a legendary diver. The cave features a unique halocline, a layer where freshwater and saltwater meet. These caves are home to rare crustaceans, and dare I say the fossilized remains of the Lucayan people, who were the original inhabitants of these islands.”
A collective gasp culminates in our small group as we take a steep staircase down and end up on a wooden platform with just enough room for the lot of us. I note Bess and Nettie have made their way down here as well—with Bess’ wide-brimmed straw hat they were easy to spot—but that doesn’t stop me and my friendly ghost by proxy from moseying on over to where Hetty stands admiring the view from the front row.
The smell of mustiness takes over, but that doesn’t take away from the crystal aqua waters below that seem to have mesmerized us all.
“Legend has it”—the guide continues as his voice booms inside the cave and gives a slight echo—“that these caves were used by the Lucayans for shelter and, some say, for sacred rituals. The combination of the freshwater lens and the saltwater makes it a unique ecosystem, attracting divers from all over the world. But those are the pros. We bid you to look at the waters but not enter them. Swimming is strictly prohibited, as the tunnels which go on for miles can be dark and disorienting. Please take your time and enjoy the natural beauty of the wonder before you.”
Everyone pulls out their phones at once, and soon the cave is lit up with enough bolts of faux lightning you’d think the paparazzi were on the hunt for a famous celebrity.
The crowd breaks out into murmurs as I sidle up next to Hetty.
“Enjoying the tour?” I ask, trying to sound cheerful as if I’m not about to threaten to toss her over the railing and send her to the water below if she doesn’t confess everything she knows about Lucy Taylor and her would-be killer.
Hetty jumps slightly, her eyes darting to mine before she forces a smile. “Oh, Trixie, hi!”
She gives a little laugh and it looks painful with her face so bloated and full of fillers. Her lips are pretty puffy, too—and not in a good way. It’s what Stanton used to call the deflated balloon look. He said it was a sure sign that they had too much plumper injected into their lips at some point, and continued to do it for years. In other words, she stretched them out like overblown tires. But despite the fact, Hetty is a beautiful woman. Her short dark locks are pulled back with a bright green visor sitting over her head and she’s donned a matching dress with the pattern of palm fronds decorating it.
“Oh wow,” Beatrice muses as she leans and inspects the woman closely. “She looks awful. Why does she insist on doing this to herself? I swear, when she first came to town, she looked like an entirely different person. Ironically, she looked much younger.”
I give the hint of a nod her way.
It’s true. Stanton even admitted that some procedures meant to give the patient the dew of youth could have the opposite effect if overdone. Case in point.
“Yes, I’m really enjoying this,” Hetty says, nodding back to the crystal waters below, and looking rather angry at them as she struggles to smile. “Stuff like this has always fascinated me. Believe me, when I was younger, I had dreams of wanting to run off to a tropical place like this and just start over.” She shakes her head wistfully as she stares below, mesmerized. “And not too long ago, I almost pulled the trigger.” She laughs at the thought. “Of course, I had to end up in boring ol’ Connecticut, but if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have met such great friends as these.” She glances toward her cohorts as they busy themselves with taking an abundant amount of selfies. “And I had no idea there was so much history here.”
“Me neither,” I say, glancing down at the water. “And the thought of fossilized bodies being down there somewhere? Who knew this cave could hide such secrets? I suppose caves have something in common with people in that respect.”
Her smile falters for a split second. “I suppose so,” she says lightly. “I guess you never know what people are hiding.”
“Ask her about Jennifer,” Beatrice whispers as if anyone else could hear her, and since no one is touching me, she’s more than safe in that department.
I clear my throat a touch.
“Hetty,” I lean in, “how are you guys holding up? Especially Jennifer? It can’t be easy for her, going on with everything after all of you lost a friend.”
“Oh, it’s been hell.” She sighs hard. “And with Jennifer, she’s managing the best she can. But you’re right, she’s taking this the hardest because she feels, well, responsible ,” she says slowly. Someone breaks out into a high-pitched laugh across the way and we look over to see it’s Jennifer herself. “But then, Jennifer has always been good at putting on a brave face, even when things get tough.”
“Sounds like you know her pretty well,” I say.
“Oh, she does,” Bea confirms. “Those two have been thick as thieves right from the beginning.”
Thick as thieves? She may not have said they were thick as killers , but my interest is piqued nonetheless.
“Hetty,” I say the woman’s name below a whisper. “I saw Jennifer and Lucy share some sharp words the first night on the trip. Do you have any idea what that could be about?”
Beatrice gasps and swallows about six stars in the process. “Do you always come on so strong? I like you more by the minute.”
I wince at the thought and immediately regret the question.
“You don’t have to answer that,” I say quickly to Hetty. “I’m so sorry. That was way out of line.”
Hetty scoffs. “It sure wasn’t. I mean, someone killed my friend in cold blood. Out of all of these witches, I was closest to Lucy. She was like my sister.”
Beatrice nods. “It’s true. Closer than sisters if you can believe it.”
“Oh, Hetty,” I say. “I’m so sorry.”
“Believe me, I’m even sorrier. Once I get home, I just know the floodgates are going to open. We’re all trying to stay strong and enjoy what’s left of the trip—for Jennifer’s sake mostly. And, of course, I know that Lucy would have wanted it that way.”
“I’m sure she would have.”
“But back to your question.” She shoots an icy glance in Jennifer’s direction. “Yes, Jen and Lucy had some sort of argument brewing these last few weeks. I think it centered around Marcus—that’s Jennifer’s fiancé. I’m not sure exactly what was going on, and to be truthful, I was afraid if I dug around I’d find out that Lucy had slept with him, too. She was such a little slut when it came to men. Let’s just say the poor girl had daddy issues and an entire string of abusive boyfriends before she landed in Connecticut. Anyway, in some way, shape, or form Lucy had wrangled an opinion about Marcus and that’s what was brewing between those two women.”
“That’s too bad.” I rock back on my heels and consider it. “You know, the night I saw Lucy and Jen going at it, the strange part is that Lucy looked like the one who was outraged. And Jennifer looked as if she wanted nothing to do with the conversation. I would think if Lucy seduced Marcus that Jennifer would be the one reading her the riot act.”
“I guess you’re right.” Hetty shrugs. “Poor Jennifer has had a rough time when it comes to matters of the heart. Her ex-husband really did a number on her. She’s got trust issues, and I can’t say I blame her. She so badly wants things to work out with her and Marcus. She’s the type of woman who hasn’t been single since she was sixteen. She wouldn’t know how to breathe if she didn’t have a man by her side telling her how to do it.”
I grimace at the thought. “I’ll admit, it sounds familiar,” I say, pointing to myself. “Although I couldn’t pass up my chance with my fiancé. He’s the perfect man as far as I’m concerned.”
“Oh, honey”—Hetty belts out a laugh—“I’ve seen your man. He’s the total package.”
“Amen to that,” Bea says, fanning herself and blowing an entire solar system of miniature stars into her face.
I can’t help but smile. “I did get pretty lucky. But I’m sure Jennifer got lucky, too, or she wouldn’t be marrying this new guy.”
Hetty is back to shrugging. “I guess so. Anyway, I don’t really know too much about her ex, though. All I do know is she’s forever worried he would come after her for more money. Jennifer has a thriving interior decorating business. And Dan, that’s her ex, well, he’s just a loser who was suckling off her financially for years. But as far as Lucy and her enemies go…” She glances out at the crowd. “Of course, then there’s Amber.”
Now this I’ve got to hear.