Ghost Writer(52)

“In contrast, Petty Officer Naire's prints have only shown up on his own belongings so far.”

Mike snorted. “Token black man. The others probably didn't want him touching their stuff.”

“Black cooties,” Mary Lou said, shaking her head.

“Huh?” I asked, taken aback.

“Still see it sometimes. Not as much and not so much blacks as other visible minorities now. People are treated like their colour or culture might be contagious if you touch ‘em.”

“Unclean!” said Jamal, waving his hands dramatically.

I decided to go back through Minton's journal to find references to Naire. This reminded me that I was withholding a vital piece of evidence albeit with the tacit consent of anyone who would charge me with a crime. That didn't make me feel better about not being upfront with the team.

“Is that your phone?” Tracy asked.

I listened. There was a low buzz I had assumed had to do with something in the lab. Since no one had called me on the phone Gravell gave me, I didn't recognize its ring tone.

“Hello?”

“I thought we were meeting in ops, Madame Kirby.”

“Yeah. Sorry. I got sidetracked. I'll be right there.”

I hung up and gave a sheepish shrug.

“Gravell?” asked Mike.

“Yep. For some reason, he needs to keep an eye on me.”

Mike grinned. “I could think of a couple of reasons. Only one of them is job related.”

Mary Lou rolled her eyes.

“He's with CSIS, isn't he?” Jamal half asked, half stated.

Mike shrugged. “Not necessarily. He could be Naval Intelligence or whatever you Canadians call it.”

I knew, but didn’t think it was for me to tell. More lies. “Whatever he is, he's going to come looking for me if I don't get going. See you guys at lunch.”



I didn't have to go outside, but I did. It had started raining. It wasn't a drenching downpour and it was worth the damp to clear my head of the lab smells. It felt so good I called Gravell to postpone work a little longer.

“Madame Kirby?”

“Want to meet me on the foredeck? My visit to the lab made me feel a bit icky. I don't think I can handle being inside yet.”

“It's raining, Madame Kirby.”

“There's the overhang. Please.”

I waited for his answer, wondering why I didn't just hang up and go. I had told him where I would be. Keeping an eye on me was part of his agenda, not mine.

“I'll meet you there.”

I hung up and sighed. I was relieved. Why?

“Minton?”

Nothing.

Maybe he was embarrassed. I realized that his prolonged absence was worrying me at some level. It might be why I wanted Gravell’s company. Should I? He wasn't just a nice looking man who felt the need to take care of me. When push came to shove, Gravell might end up my enemy.

I shook my head. Even if it was naive, I didn't really believe that.

“You look troubled, Madame Kirby. Did something come up in the lab?”

“Nothing unexpected. Mary Lou found blood from at least two sources. Tracy corroborated my belief that Minton went through his crew mates' belongings. Then there's the whole issue of the journal. It was catalogued when it was first recovered. No one's asked about it. I suppose they assume that it was kept by Captain Tinsdale. Dora is going to go ballistic when she finds out I've had it all along, but if I tell anyone right now…” I finished my sentence with a sigh.

“If you're worried about getting in trouble.”

“It's not that. It's Dora's trust and the trust of the others. I think I can make Dora understand once she sees that it was either keep it or lose it to Tinsdale. I'm not so sure about Mary Lou. The whole situation feels out of control, yet, it seemed like the only safe plan at the time.”

Was I trying to convince Gravell or myself?

He laid a hand on shoulder.

“You did what you thought was right at the time. When Dr. Leland returns, you can do what you think is right for now.”

I nodded. I can't have been very convincing.

“There's something else troubling you, what is?”

“I have a bad feeling. Geez, that sounds so Star Wars.”

“Someone is trying to kill you. You should have a bad feeling about that.”

“You're sure it wasn't an accident or me just being in the wrong place at the wrong time?”

He gave me a sorrowful grimace. “I'm sure. That's why I'm here. I think you're sure too.”

I nodded. “Someone aboard the Nottawasaga?”

“It isn't likely to be a member of the Nottawasaga crew, though I haven't ruled out the possibility completely. It could be someone here or one of the visitors from the Scranton. The Boremans and Lilian Dawes were aboard a few hours before the incident. For that matter, Reuben Dawes and Dora Leland could have done it before they left. Tim Neville is a possible suspect, as he stayed onboard. Captain Tinsdale didn't have the opportunity, but that doesn't mean he didn't give the order. There has been a US security contingent onboard since you were trapped. One of the reasons I agreed to you returning here was because it would narrow down the number of people I would have to watch.”