Chapter 14 #2
“Magnificent!” he exclaims, gesturing wildly at the fjord backdrop. “This is exactly the dramatic natural setting we need after last night’s food fight footage. The contrast is perfect—civilized savagery against primal beauty!”
I’m not entirely sure that makes sense, but everyone nods as if he’s just quoted Shakespeare.
“Now, here’s today’s shooting schedule,” he continues, consulting his ever-present clipboard. “We’re splitting into groups for maximum dramatic potential. Trixie, you’ll be paired with Harper for the Flam Railway excursion.”
I glance at Harper, who’s currently documenting the exact angle of the morning sun as it hits the fjord water.
Perfect. I’ve been paired with the human calculator.
But at least we have art as the common denominator.
And she just so happens to be the very next suspect on my list. It seems fate is on my side, after all.
“Val and Beth, you’ll be doing a traditional Norwegian cooking class in the village.”
Val looks like she’s just been sentenced to clean toilets with her diamond rings. “Cooking? Me? I haven’t turned on an oven since 2007.”
“That’s the point,” Boomer says gleefully. “Fish out of water makes great television.”
“And Ransom,” he continues, “you’ll be accompanying Captain Crawford on his inspection of the Stegastein Viewpoint safety features.”
I narrow my eyes at this transparent attempt to separate me from my handsome hubby. I’d bet my last chocolate lava cake that Quinn had something to do with this arrangement.
Ransom growls under his breath, then frowns at me in an effort to let me know he’s not pleased.
“What about us?” Nettie demands, gesturing to herself, Bess, Elodie, and Tinsley. “Are we just supposed to stand around admiring Norwegian knitwear all day?”
“Not that we’d mind,” Bess offers.
“You four will be background extras for the railway scene,” Boomer explains. “We need some familiar faces to react to whatever drama unfolds between Ice Queen and Everywoman.” He gestures between Harper and me.
“Ice Queen?” Harper repeats without looking up from her notebook.
“Just a working character label,” Boomer assures her. “Much like Accidental Corpse Magnet for Trixie.”
“Thanks for that,” I mutter.
Ransom winces and shrugs. “They know what they’re doing,” he whispers, and now it’s me frowning at him.
Marlie floats between us, her ghostly shoulder pads looking particularly prominent against the mountain backdrop.
“Watch that one,” she warns, nodding toward Harper.
“Behind all those calculations is someone who knows how to cover her tracks. Trust me, I’ve seen enough soap opera villains to recognize the type. ”
As if on cue, Harper steps away from the group, pulling out her phone and having what appears to be an intense conversation. I lean my ear that way and manage to catch fragments of it.
“No, not yet,” and “I need more time,” and something that sounds suspiciously like “evidence.”
Before I can eavesdrop further, Quinn appears from nowhere, like a security vampire who can sense when fun might be happening. And she really is just that.
She takes a moment to sneer at me. “Ransom, we have an urgent situation that requires your attention,” she announces, her tone suggesting the urgent situation might be something akin to I don’t want you anywhere near your wife. And I don’t doubt that’s the case.
Great. I’ve got both Boomer and Quinn working against me today.
Ransom gives me an apologetic look. “I’ll catch up with you later. Do me a favor and steer clear of trouble.” He lands a kiss on my lips before following Quinn back toward the ship.
“Places, everyone!” Boomer calls. “We’re burning daylight and Norwegian scenery!”
As our groups begin to form, Bess sidles up to me. “Just so you know, Nettie and I plan to thoroughly investigate the gift shop situation while you’re busy with the human spreadsheet.”
“And I’m investigating that tour guide’s knowledge of local attractions,” Elodie adds with a wink as she follows the burly Viking with her gaze.
Tinsley huffs, checking items off her clipboard. “Some of us are actually working, you know.”
“Yes, we can all see how hard you’re working to get Boomer’s attention,” Nettie points out the obvious. “That top button seems to have worked itself loose again.”
More like the top three.
Tinsley’s hand flies to her neckline, and she glares at Nettie with the intensity of a thousand scandalized cruise directors.
As we head toward the famous Flam Railway station, I can’t shake the feeling that this excursion is going to be about more than just scenic views.
Harper’s mysterious phone call, her constant note-taking, the way she keeps glancing at the other trophy wives when she thinks no one is looking—something doesn’t add up, and for once, it’s not just my suspicions running wild.
“Trixie,” Boomer says, falling into step beside me. “Try to get Harper talking about Madison. She’s been the least forthcoming about their relationship, and viewers love a good ice queen meltdown.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” I reply. “I’m pretty sure Harper would need a blowtorch and a miracle to melt. The woman sort of is made of ice, and, well, far too much knowledge of statistics.” Did I just say that out loud? I’m really becoming one with the fold, aren’t I?
“That’s why we paired you two,” he says with a laugh. “Oil and water make for excellent television.”
As our little group approaches the historic railway station, with its quaint wooden architecture and backdrop of towering mountains, I steel myself for what promises to be an interesting ride.
In my experience, ascending mountains often leads to unexpected revelations—and when you’re investigating murder, the higher you climb, the further there is to fall.
The Flam Railway awaits, its tracks winding up the mountainside like a metal snake. Somewhere in those twisting tunnels and breathtaking vistas, I suspect Harper Bailey is planning to reveal something—whether it’s to me or about me remains to be seen.
And I know one thing for sure—it’s hard to admire the scenery when you’re sharing a train car with a possible killer.