Darkest Journey (Krewe of Hunters #20)(78)

She caught Alexi looking at her, and they exchanged a smile. She realized Alexi understood how much this moment spent singing just for the shades of the dead meant to her. She wasn’t sure if happiness was something the dead could still feel, but she had to believe they could, because based on the sense of peace she felt in that moment, she and her friends had indeed made these men happy.

She saw Ethan in the audience, too, sitting with Jude and Thor. He looked grave, and something in her heart sank.

She saw her father, as well. He was sitting by himself, and he smiled at her each time he caught her looking his way.

But when he didn’t notice her watching him, he looked irritated, even upset.

At length, the evening came to an end. Her father came up to kiss her and congratulate them all. He was quick to leave, though, which disturbed Charlie—especially since she still needed to talk to him alone.

She left the dining room with Ethan and the others, pausing to look back at Ellsworth Derue. He saluted her with a nod, as if promising that he would be there for her if and when she needed him.

It was late, so they all said good-night and headed for their cabins.

Ethan seemed preoccupied as they got ready for bed. He didn’t ask her about the ship’s long-dead doctor, though she was sure he must have seen Derue and all the rest of the ghosts.

She didn’t say anything, not that she wanted to lie, but because she wanted to talk to her father first. Instead she asked him about the animal shelter.

“Thor’s going to get a new husky.”

“Well, he is an Alaskan, and I think Clara told me they already have one husky, his dog that he brought with him when he moved down to Krewe headquarters,” she said. “What else?”

He looked at her. “The head of Doggone It, Mr. Hayworth, told me that both Corley and Hickory were passionate about something going on at Sane Energy. Apparently the two of them were talking about a man they planned to ask to set up a meeting with one of the oil companies for them.”

“Who?”

“Your father.”

She had no idea what to say, so all she could manage was “Oh...”

“I talked to him. He said he knew there was talk about setting up some kind of meeting, but no one had approached him yet. He said he didn’t even know that Albion and Farrell would be the two men doing the talking.”

“I’m sure he’s telling the truth.” When he didn’t respond, she let out a sigh and sank down on the bed. “So I have something to share,” she said.

“What’s that?” he asked as he shrugged out of his jacket, took his holster and gun from his waistband and set them by the bed.

“The doctor paid me a visit today,” she said softly.

“The ship’s doctor?” he asked.

“Yes. His name is Captain Ellsworth Derue,” she said. “He thought both Farrell and Albion were good men, and he adores my father. He saw people talking and arguing with Corley. Saw them, Ethan. And he actually heard Albion and Farrell talking about a ‘situation’ and saying they wanted to talk to my father.”

“I see.”

“No, you don’t see. They died before they could talk to him. Dammit, Ethan, my father is not a murderer!”

“No, I don’t believe he is. But he has held back important information.”

“What did he hold back that would have changed anything? Yes, Farrell Hickory was going to marry Shelley Corley, and he kept that confidence, but it doesn’t matter. No one involved in the investigation believes that it was a hate crime.”

“That’s true, but the way an investigation works, you often have to find out what things weren’t before you can find out what they were. If your father had just been open about what he knew—”

“Your friend Laurent might have arrested him!” Charlie snapped.

“Charlie, I don’t want to fight about your father.”

“Then quit acting as if he’s a criminal.”

He let out an explosive sound, finished taking off his shirt and walked over to check the door and turn out the lights. She didn’t move. When he slid into the bed to join her, she said, “My father is not a criminal.”

“Charlie, I’m not treating him like a criminal. I’m just trying to find out everything he knows.”

She fell silent, and for a few minutes, neither of them moved, neither of them spoke.

Then she scooted toward him and curled up on his chest and said, “Want to hear something great my father taught me when I asked him why he and my mom never seemed to fight? Might be clichéd, and I’m sure you’ve heard similar, but it’s all so true!”

“What?” he asked her.

“My dad told me that he and my mom never went to bed angry.”

“He can be a very sage man,” Ethan said.

And then he took her into his arms. For a while, the world was sensation, the scent and feel of him, the wonder of making love—with someone you truly loved.

But then she lay in the darkness again. Even held by him, even close...she was worried. And she knew the worry would stay with her—until they discovered the truth.

*

“Vicksburg, Mississippi,” Jonathan said. “All of you heading to the National Military Park with me, let’s talk about Vicksburg. ‘Vicksburg is the key.’ Who knows who said that?” he asked the group.