Darkest Journey (Krewe of Hunters #20)(38)

He followed more slowly.

As he showered, he thought about the fact that they were both naked. Wet. Slathered in soap bubbles. And mere feet away from each other.

And he wondered...

If it didn’t seem imperative that they actually make it to the café that night, so he could have a chance to study the whole group in one place, he might have been tempted to make his way to her shower.

What was the worst that could happen? She could demand that he get away from her. She could be indignant and incredulous. Admittedly, she’d had a schoolgirl crush on him a decade ago. But that was all over now.

Or was it?

Maybe she would feel even better about him, like him more, once she’d had her chance to turn the tables but, he hoped, decided not to take it.

No, he couldn’t take that chance, because something could happen that would be much worse than her simply telling him she was no longer interested. She could ask him to leave, and then someone out there, someone watching, might think that she knew more than she did.

He twisted the knob and made the water cold. Very cold.





7

Cold showers were good. They didn’t tempt a man to stay beneath the steaming hot water and think equally steaming hot thoughts.

Ethan quickly got out and dressed and was ready to go. He grabbed his phone and dialed Jackson Crow before he headed downstairs.

As soon as Jackson answered, Ethan gave him a quick rundown of the case. The fact that a replica bayonet was missing from the film set was the best new information they had.

“That does seem to point toward someone working on the film being our killer. Still, I wish we had some idea of motive,” Jackson said.

“There is a motive, there always is, and I’ll figure it out,” Ethan promised.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. You’ve only just begun your investigation. We’ve spent months—years—working some cases,” Jackson reminded him.

And some cases, as Ethan knew, were never solved.

“We’re working out some things here,” Jackson said, “but more of us will join you by the day after tomorrow. Meanwhile, I’ve got Angela digging up more detailed information on the key players from the Journey and everyone involved with the film. Yes, there was some kind of an argument about history. We can’t figure a motive for the murders based on that. The men didn’t kill one another. Someone killed them. And though they might have worked together—and argued—on the ship, that’s not the only place where their lives collided. They both belonged to the local Masonic lodge, and they were both Shriners, as well. They contributed to and worked for a number of the same charities. But we’re still considering the riverboat, of course, and Charlene Moreau’s conviction that something connected to the riverboat can lead us to the truth. We’re also still considering the plan to have her and the others work aboard the ship.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“I guess she hasn’t spoken to you about it, then. At the moment, it’s only on the drawing board here. When Charlene contacted us to ask for you to be assigned to the case, she went through her friends Clara Avery and Alexi Cromwell. The three of them were talking again recently, and Charlene seemed to feel strongly that the answer can be found aboard the Journey. The three of them have proposed a plan to work aboard the boat as part of the entertainment staff. Clara and Alexi have an in, having worked other cruises for Celtic American.”

“I see,” Ethan said. “No, Charlie hasn’t mentioned this to me. Just what exactly is the plan?”

“They can accept a week’s contract and go aboard as a trio of singing Southern belles performing Civil War–era songs. They proposed it as a test run to see whether the line would like to hire them for future cruises, not that the details really matter. Adam could have gotten them on board if necessary. Anyway, they’ll probably join the staff for the Journey’s next cruise. And with the situation as it is, I’ll come down and probably take over in St. Francisville while you tackle the riverboat.”

“The murders happened on land,” Ethan reminded him.

“Yes, I know. But from what Charlene told Clara and Alexi when she asked them to intercede, there’s a local ghost who’s appeared to her several times.”

“Captain Anson McKee,” Ethan said.

“Charlene feels he’s indicated that the riverboat holds the answers.”

Ethan had felt his temper simmering before; now it was boiling over. But Jackson was still speaking, so he kept his mouth shut, though it was a struggle.

“The Journey leaves in three days out of New Orleans. And you’ll have plenty of coverage. Jude will be coming down with Alexi Cromwell, and Thor Erikson will be down, too, though he’s not a Southerner like you and Jude. Alexi and Clara aren’t agents, but they’re smart, and they’ve been through a hell of a lot themselves. Also, they have the same talents we all share, and their perceptions might prove to be handy.”

“Jackson, you’ve been with the Bureau a lot longer than I have,” Ethan said, “but the missing bayonet does point to the film crew.”

“You just said it’s missing, and that means anyone could have gotten hold of it.”

“True enough. And there is a connection between a number of the actors and the Journey. It turns out that some of them took part in the same special reenactment as the victims,” Ethan said. “So I suppose the likeliest explanation is that the killer is involved with both the ship and the movie.”