Chapter 26. I Thought There Were Only Supposed to Be Three Bodies? #2
“Wait,” I say. “Your source … You said two days ago that you had one. And you knew things that you shouldn’t have known … It was Marta, wasn’t it?”
His eyes sparkle. “Bravo, Ms. Dash. That is a, how do you say, good catch.”
“You were in touch with Marta?” Oliver says. “How?”
“She approached me. After she learned Mr. Charles was coming here … she wanted to make, how do you say, a deal.”
“What kind of deal?”
“She wanted immunity.”
“For turning in Guy?”
He nods.
“Holy shit.”
“Is that how you ended up at the conference?” Oliver says. “That’s it, isn’t it? You came here on purpose. You knew we’d be here.”
“I knew Mr. Charles would be here, yes. And of course, your presence was announced on the website.”
“Why not tell Officer Rolle, then? Why not arrest Guy when you got here?”
“I did not have any evidence of anything. Marta promised she would supply it.”
“But something went wrong?” I guess.
He nods again. “Once Mr. Charles was killed, I knew I was not safe.”
Oliver cocks his head to the side. “How did you do it? Fake your death?”
“I used a beta-blocker.”
“What’s that?” Harper asks.
“A medication that is used for many things. It slows down your heart rate.”
“You overdosed on purpose?”
“I took a sufficient dose to pass a cursory exam.”
“You took an awful risk,” I say.
“He didn’t do it for you, Eleanor,” Sandrine says. “My God.”
I ignore her. “Did you find anything while you were dead?”
His eyes track back to mine. He looks tired. “I did.”
“What is it? And where is Vicki? Did you kill her?”
“No, no, no. I did not kill her. I saved her.”
“She’s alive?” I say, the relief making my knees weak. I lean against Oliver for support. “Where is she?”
“Somewhere safe.”
“Inspector Tucci, I swear to God.”
“I had to come be certain before I released her.”
“Wait,” Oliver says. “Released her? You kidnapped her?”
He shakes his head. “She was about to do something very foolish.”
“What?”
“Confront the Giuseppes’ accomplice.”
“They had an accomplice?” Harper asks.
“Of course they did,” I say. “Brian.”
Inspector Tucci rights his fedora, brushing his finger along the rim. “He was not the only one.”
“Who was it then? Honestly, Tucci, I am so sick of your obfuscation.”
He points to the doorway.
“What does that mean?”
“Ms. Ben. That is who I saved Vicki from.”
“What?” Harper says. “No way.”
“It is very much the way.”
“But Elizabeth is dead,” I say, my mind spinning, then screeching to a halt.
“Yes, a tragedy.”
“If she’s dead, who killed her?”
Inspector Tucci scratches at his chin. “Ah, yes. I did not know that until I arrived.”
“Honestly,” Connor says, “I can’t believe anyone is listening to this.”
But I’m listening. “Why was Vicki going to confront Elizabeth?”
“It was something you said, I believe. When you were talking at the bar. That is what she kept saying.”
“When?”
Inspector Tucci tucks his head down. “I was listening to your conversation.”
“You were there?”
“I was, how do you say, incognito.” He makes a motion like he’s mopping the floor.
“Why were you listening in?”
“As I have said, I was investigating.”
“So you followed Vicki to her room?”
“I did. I already had my suspicions about Ms. Ben. And when I heard Vicki and saw where she was headed, I acted quickly, yes?”
“Wait,” Harper says. “Why were you suspicious of Elizabeth?”
“I saw her speaking to Marta earlier in the day.”
“How were they speaking?” Oliver asks.
“As if they knew one another. Elizabeth appeared to be giving her orders.”
“Maybe she was just asking for fresh towels?” Harper says. “Besides, what motive would Elizabeth have?”
“I did forget to give her a blurb,” I say slowly.
“No one kills someone because of something like that.”
“It was a joke.”
“Honnêtement? Still making jokes at a time like this?”
“Really? Still attacking me?”
“El,” Oliver warns.
“Sorry. But that’s not enough. Them talking. It has to be something more. Elizabeth is dead. She isn’t the killer. We need to speak to Vicki.”
Inspector Tucci shakes his head. “I am not sure that is safe.”
“You will bring us to her immediately,” Officer Rolle says. “Or there will be consequences.”
A shiver goes down my spine. “You left her alone?”
“Obviously.”
“But what if she’s the villain?” Sandrine says. “You said it, Eleanor. Elizabeth is dead. Vicki is not.”
“Maybe they were in on it together,” Stefano says with too much relish. “The plot thickens.”
“No,” Inspector Tucci says. “Not Vicki. She could not have fooled me like that.”
Officer Rolle flicks his finger at Inspector Tucci. “Let’s go.”
“Can we come?” Stefano asks.
“No! Return to your rooms. All of you. Lock the doors. Do not answer them. Anyone found outside of their room will be arrested immediately. An officer will escort you shortly.”
He leaves us in silence.
But silence abhors a vacuum.
Especially among this bunch.
“You think they’ll bring us room service?” Connor says.
And I can’t help it. I burst out laughing because why the hell not?
If you can’t cry, laugh.
Did I say that?
I’ve written so many things I can’t even tell anymore.