Chapter 32
Bert couldn’t take his eyes off Mary.
She was beautiful tonight, dressed in dark pants and a soft, deep-emerald sweater that made her appear luminous.
Her hair was swept up in a way that showed off the graceful line of her neck.
But it was more than just her appearance.
It was the confidence she carried, the way she laughed at something Diane said, and the ease with which she navigated the conversation at their table.
This was the woman he loved. Strong, brilliant, capable. And his.
Part of him couldn’t believe that he had waited so long to work up the courage to let her know how he felt. But then… maybe the long months they spent getting to know each other as friends allowed them to reach this moment.
They were seated at dinner with Diane, George, and another woman on one side of the table, while Mary sat between Bert and Colin on the other.
The six of them made easy conversation while the ship’s dining room hummed with the gentle activity of the evening meal.
Outside the windows, storm clouds had rolled in during the afternoon, turning the sky gray and bringing a steady rain that drummed against the glass.
Bert glanced over at Colin, still wondering if he was Frank.
The man who might be an impostor was increasingly animated tonight, his gestures expansive, his laughter perhaps a shade too loud.
He seemed keyed up, energized in a way that set off every alarm bell in Bert’s tactical mind.
He hadn’t seen Colin drink much, but tonight, he was talkative after his third glass of wine.
“The forecast says the storm should clear by morning,” Diane was saying, her voice bright and engaged. She seemed more alert tonight than she had in days, more like the sharp, cultured woman Mary had described. “I’m looking forward to our stop in Lunenburg. The historic district is beautiful.”
“I’ve been there before,” George added. “Wonderful town. Very picturesque.”
Colin leaned forward, his smile warm. “We should all go together. Make a day of it. What do you say, Aunt Diane?”
Bert’s phone buzzed in his pocket. Checking it discreetly, he recognized the number. Logan was calling, so it must be important.
“Excuse me,” Bert said, standing and pressing a kiss to Mary’s temple. “I need to take this. I’ll be right back.”
He moved quickly toward the exit, aware of Mary’s eyes tracking him, of the way her expression had sharpened with understanding. She knew something was happening.
The hallway just outside the dining room was quieter, though still populated with crew members moving between service areas. Bert positioned himself where he could still see anyone standing nearby while maintaining enough privacy for the conversation.
“Logan,” Bert answered, keeping his voice low. “What’ve you got?”
“Fingerprint identification came back from the RCMP.” Logan’s voice was grim. “It’s not Colin Morrison. The man with Diane is Frank Marcone.”
Though they’d suspected it, and even though Mary’s theory had made horrible sense, hearing it confirmed made Bert’s chest tighten with vindication. They’d been right. The man they’d been watching for days was an impostor and possibly Colin’s murderer.
“Frank,” Bert repeated, testing the name. “Okay. What’s the plan?”
“RCMP is boarding early tomorrow morning. The storm tonight has delayed the ship from docking, but they’ll be there first thing. They’re treating this as a priority… identity theft, fraud, suspected murder. They’ll have a full team.”
“Tomorrow morning. Copy that,” he said, frustration bleeding through despite his best efforts to stay professional. “And if there is a change?”
“Then you intervene. But Bert, if at all possible, let the RCMP handle this. They’re the legal authority, they have the jurisdiction, and they’re equipped to make an arrest that will stick.
” Logan paused, then added more softly, “I know you want to move now. I know every instinct is telling you to get Diane away from Frank immediately. But we’re so close to having everything in place for a solid case. Don’t blow it by acting too soon.”
“Understood.” Bert glanced back through the doorway, making sure he could still see Mary and Diane. “What about Mary? I want to keep her out of the line of fire.”
“Agreed. When Canadian law enforcement boards the ship, you and Mary stay back. Let the professionals handle Frank.”
“That I can do.” Bert checked his watch. “We’ll keep eyes on him till we retire for the evening.”
“In the morning, RCMP takes him into custody, and Diane finally gets away from the man who’s been planning to steal from her for years.” Logan’s voice was firm. “You’ve done good work, both of you. Just a few more hours.”
They disconnected, and Bert took a moment to steady himself before returning to the dining room. A few more hours. They could manage a few more hours of playing this role, of pretending they didn’t know Frank was a murderer, of keeping Diane safe without alerting Frank to their suspicions.
When Bert returned to the table, Frank was just coming back from the men’s room, his expression pleasant and relaxed. He slid into his seat and immediately engaged Mary in conversation. Bert couldn’t quite hear over the ambient noise of the dining room, but Mary’s laughter sounded genuine.
She was good at this. Playing her role, she kept Frank comfortable and unsuspecting. But what Bert really wanted to do was let Mary know what was going on. Unfortunately, that would have to wait.
Frank turned his attention to Diane, leaning forward with his solicitous manner. “How are you feeling, Aunt Diane? You seem happy tonight.”
“I feel wonderful,” Diane said, her smile warm. “Much better than I have in days.”
Of course she did, Bert thought. Frank probably hadn’t dosed her as heavily today, realizing that too much would make others question Diane’s behavior.
“I’m glad.” Frank’s hand covered Diane’s, the gesture appearing affectionate but making Bert’s skin crawl. “You know what we should do? Go to the lounge on the next level for coffee and dessert. It’s cozier up there, and with this rain, there won’t be a moon to see from the deck anyway.”
Bert thought that was a good idea since it would give them the opportunity to keep an eye on Frank for a little longer tonight.
“That sounds lovely,” Mary said, her tone warm. “I could use some coffee. Bert?”
“Sounds good to me,” Bert agreed.
They finished their meal and prepared to leave, the group gathering their belongings and heading toward the exit. Bert kept close to Mary, his hand on her wheelchair, hyperaware of Frank’s position relative to Diane.
The elevator was near the grand staircase that connected the ship’s decks, a beautiful rising of brass and wood that passengers could use if they preferred stairs to the lift. As they approached, George spoke up.
“I’ll take the stairs,” he said, gesturing to the staircase. “No sense crowding the elevator when there are four of you plus wheelchairs. I’ll meet you in the lounge in a few minutes.”
He bent toward Diane with a warm smile. “See you shortly.”
Diane returned the smile, and Bert noticed the way Frank’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. He didn’t like George’s attention on Diane. At the elevator, Frank turned to Diane with sudden concern. “Aunt Diane, do you have your purse? I thought I saw you set it down near your chair.”
Diane checked, her hand patting the small bag in her lap. “Yes, right here. I have it.”
“Oh good. I was worried you’d forgotten it.”
Then Mary made a small sound of realization. “Wait, I don’t have mine. It must have fallen out of my lap.”
Bert immediately moved to help. “Wait here. I’ll run back and grab it.
Colin, you and Diane can go ahead to the lounge.
We’ll meet you there after catching the elevator on its return.
” Bert hurried back toward the dining room, just as the elevator arrived with a soft chime, its doors sliding open to reveal the elegant interior.