Death Sails In The Sunset: an Inspector Constable murder mystery (The Inspector Constable Murder Mysteries Book 3) Read online

  “No thanks needed,” replied Danni. “I'm only too pleased that we were able to sort things out. And it was the very least I could do after David's rescue efforts for a damsel in distress.” She leaned forward and deposited an impulsive kiss on the slightly surprised sergeant's cheek. “Right then, boys.” She resumed her customary professional briskness, leavened with a grin and a sideways flash of her eyes at Dave Copper. “Follow me, and we'll get you on your way.”

  “Boys?” murmured Constable.

  “Take what you can get, guv,” answered Copper out of the side of his mouth. “And stop talking about retirement. You don't get to be a miserable old sod again until we're back at the station, remember?” He cheerily picked up his hand luggage and fell in behind Danni's retreating form, leaving Constable to follow in his wake.

  *

  The twisting approach road through the mountains suddenly crested a rise, revealing the city of Cartagena spread below. Modern neighbourhoods studded with elegant apartments surrounded a red-roofed core, where a maze of streets with the occasional glint of glass-walled office blocks was dotted with the swell of church domes and the gleam of glazed tiles from the fantastic pepper-pots of grand municipal buildings. The battlements of a small castle keep on a crag overlooked a large inlet almost encircled by the embrace of steep hills on both sides, each promontory crowned with a formidable fortress, and along the quays of the harbour, crouched in readiness, the long low grey shapes of Spain's navy floated awaiting a call to action. And, at a pier only yards from the city's waterfront ramparts, dominating everything and towering a full sixteen storeys from the waterline, rose the huge but stylish shape of the Empress of the Oceans. One hundred and forty-two thousand tons of dazzling white steel, her elegance accentuated by a narrow line of gleaming gold along the full thousand-foot length of her hull, and punctuated by a row of scarlet lifeboat deck-housings, the vision was crowned by a proudly flared funnel bearing the gold and turquoise logo of OceanSea Cruises.

  “Holy moley!” breathed Copper from his seat next to the coach window. “Will you take a look at that?”

  “As you so rightly say, holy moley,” agreed Constable alongside him, trying his best to remain matter-of-fact in his reaction, and almost succeeding. “And you thought that Ewan's yacht in the harbour at San Pablo was impressive!”

  “I take it all back, guv,” responded Copper. A slow grin began to spread across his features. “You're never going to tell me we're going home in that?”

  “Ladies and gentlemen, may I please have your attention.” Danni's voice came over the coach's loudspeakers from her seat at the front. “As you can see, we are just arriving in Cartagena, and in front of you, I'm sure you've noticed the Empress of the Oceans which is going to be your home for the next few days.”

  “Happy to be proved wrong?” muttered Constable to his colleague.

  “On a scale of one to ten, only about twenty-seven.”

  “We shall be arriving in the port in a few minutes, and then we'll try to get you on board as quickly as we can. We've emailed ahead all your details, so if you can just have your passports ready ...”

  Descending from the coach, the detectives could see that the vehicle's hold was being rapidly emptied of its luggage by a team of baggage-handlers from the ship.

  “Don't worry about your cases.” Danni materialised at Constable's shoulder. “They'll all be taken direct to your cabin.”

  “Hang on, we haven't got a cabin.”

  Danni laughed. “You will have when you get on board. I gather they've got everything under control.” She held out a hand. “I hope your little cruise makes up for today's aggravations. Have a nice relaxing trip.”

  “We'll do our best.” Constable took the proffered hand. “And thank you again for looking after us.”

  “My pleasure. Goodbye, David.”

  “Do I get another kiss?”

  “Of course.” Danni obliged with another peck on the cheek and a slightly shy smile. “So, if you'd like to follow everyone else up the gangway there, the crew will look after you from then on. And I have to go back to the airport and get to work sorting out arrangements for the people on tomorrow's flights.”

  “Best of luck with that.” Constable looked up at the ship looming above him. “Come on, David - let's get aboard before they sail without us.”

  *

  “... and so I said, 'What we really need is another body', and the guv here said, 'David, you're a bloody genius!', and he sussed the whole thing pretty much on the spot.”

  “Yes, well, sergeant, I think that's quite enough about your genius. And I'm sure Derek doesn't want to know the whole story of our alleged holiday.”

  “Don't believe a word of it, David,” retorted Derek good-humouredly. “Nothing makes me happier than when the evil-doers get their comeuppance, especially when it's at the hands of my old mate here. He used to show us all up when we were at college because of his dazzling deductive skills. I'm only jealous that you two still get to do good work at the sharp end of things. I have to admit I got a bit jaded after I'd done my years in the force, and that's how come I was seduced by the power of money and the glamour of a life on the ocean wave. But the worst I seem to have come across on my previous ships is the odd case of petty pilfering from the ship's shops, or one of the grease-monkeys tries to sneak his girlfriend on board, or else a couple of the waiters decide to go berserk and have a howling scrap down in the crew's quarters over something completely incomprehensible.”

  “Well,” said Constable, “You know the old Chinese curse. 'May you live in interesting times.' Think yourself lucky that you've said goodbye to those three-o'clock-in-the-morning phone calls which end up with you scrambling around in a muddy ditch looking at somebody with their head bashed in.”

  “You're probably right,” agreed Derek. “I suppose it's not such a torture to wake up every morning with a new set of palm trees outside the cabin window. Not long to wait now. Back to Southampton, then a couple of quickie two-day Channel-hops to finish bedding the crew in, and then it's off to the Caribbean on the official maiden voyage.”

  “So isn't that what this is?” asked Dave Copper.

  “Lord, no!” replied Derek. “This is just what they call a shake-down. We always do it with every new ship we commission, and this one's fresh out of the yard. Can't you smell the new paint?”

  “So what's it all in aid of, then? I mean, you've got passengers, haven't you?”

  “Free-loaders,” smiled Derek. “Somebody at head office had a bright idea. They thought that, instead of spending a fortune in world-wide advertising, they would let other people do the work for us. So somebody put together a list of a thousand or so of the great and the good from various different countries – TV celebrities, media people, supermodels, sports stars, business leaders, that sort of thing, plus several hundred travel agents - and they've been invited along for a free cruise, all-found, courtesy of the company. No expense spared. We've got all-sorts - Americans, Brits, Germans, Japanese - even some Russians. The idea is that they will all be so impressed by the ship and the service that they will rush home and go on TV and into the press to tell everyone who will listen how marvellous we are, and the world will then beat a path to our door with bookings.”

  “And is it working?”

  “We'll see. So far so good. Everybody came aboard in Genoa on Saturday and Sunday, and then yesterday we were in Barcelona taking people out on trips to see the sights. And then tomorrow we're round to Cadiz, and then it's straight back to the U.K. - two days at sea, and into Southampton on Saturday. And touch wood ...” Derek tapped the arm of his chair, “it's all going fine so far. People seem to like the ship.”

  “I'm not surprised,” remarked Constable. He looked around the bar the three were seated in, perched six decks above the floor of the atrium, where the brightly lit scenic lifts were swooping up and down in a perpetual ballet over the nine-storeys. Everywhere was the gleam of Venetian glass and the glint of mult
i-coloured mosaics, the swirl of figured marble columns and the massive loom of striking statuary, the delicacy of painted panels and the plump opulence of luxurious leather upholstery. “She's quite a work of art.”

  “No surface knowingly un-decorated, by the look of it,” put in Dave Copper.

  “That's Italian designers for you,” replied Derek. “But when they're on a cruise, people like to see their money - even if they're not spending any! Right, you two.” With a brisk change of pace, he sat upright and drained his coffee cup. “Sup up. Let's get back down to Guest Relations and get you your ship cards, then we can get you to your cabins and you can unwind a bit. I've got things to do - today's excursions will be back before long, so I'd better cast a friendly eye over my team to make sure they don't let anybody unsavoury on board.” He grinned. “Not that we haven't got a few of those already, but that's another story, and you didn't hear me say it. Come on - let's go back and see the lovely Lydia.”

  Down on the atrium floor, the snaking queue and the previous faint air of stress had been replaced by a calm serenity modulated by the leisurely tones of soft jazz music provided by the musician seated at the glass-lidded white grand piano in the middle of the central dance floor. Waiters from the curving bar wrapped around the foot of the spiral staircase were serving coffees or cocktails to couples dotted about on sofas and in cosy niches. And behind the Guest Relations desk, Lydia looked up with a well-practised smile as the ship's officer and the two detectives approached.

  “Good afternoon again, gentlemen. I hope Mr. Crane has been looking after you.”

  “Of course I have, Lydia,” said Derek. “You know I can schmooze the punters with the best of them, especially if they happen to be old friends.” He turned to Andy Constable. “Right, guys, I'm going to leave you in the tender care of Lydia while I go and pretend to work. Just remember to do everything she tells you, and you won't go far wrong. Well, it works for me.” He leaned across the desk and flashed a roguish wink.

  “Derek ...” began Lydia in protest.

  Derek held his hands up in mock surrender. “All right, all right, I know. I'm a very bad man. Look, I've gone already. Catch you later, chaps.” He disappeared through an adjacent door marked 'Crew Only'.

  Lydia drew a slightly flustered breath. “So, gentlemen, if I can just give you these ...”

  “You and Mr. Crane seem quite good friends,” remarked Constable blandly. “I thought from what he was telling us that this was a brand new ship.”

  “Yes, sir, so it is, but the crew has mostly been drawn from the experienced staff of our other ships. And Derek … Mr. Crane and I both used to work on the Countess of the Oceans before we were transferred to the new flagship for the first voyage. So if I can just show you ...” Lydia made a renewed effort to return to the matter in hand, but was forestalled by Dave Copper.

  “So how does this all work, then? Derek was telling us that everybody on the ship is on some kind of freebie.”

  “That's correct, sir. All our passengers are on board as guests of the company, but apart from that, it's just like a normal cruise. Everything is all-inclusive - you can order anything you like in the bars, there is entertainment in the theatre and in the lounges, and we have a programme of excursions if you wish to join any of our trips ashore. My colleagues across at the Excursions Desk will be happy to arrange things for you.” She pointed to another desk across the atrium, where a display of large illuminated photos of various tourist sites indicated some of the wares on offer. “So I just have to give you this …” She handed over a small coloured card. “This shows you your table number in the Imperial Dining Room - that's on this deck, just through that lounge there. We have one dinner seating at 7.30 for this cruise instead of the usual two, so if you show this to the maître d' at the door he will have you shown to your table. And lastly, your ship cards. I'll just process them with your names.” She produced the Britons' passports from beneath the desk.

  “What are they for?” asked Copper.

  “They're like your ship's passport, sir. They act as your stateroom key, and for your safe as well, and you have to show them every time you order something in the bars and when you come back on board after you've been ashore. Otherwise Security won't let you on to the ship ...” Lydia laughed. “And then I'm afraid you really would have to walk home. So please don't lose it, sir. So, it's Mr. Copper, first name ...” She leafed through the passport pages. “David. Now if you could just look towards the camera here, sir ...” She gestured to a small eye mounted on the desk. Click. “That's fine. So now we have your photo on the system, and nobody else can use your card.” A few swift clicks at the keyboard, a muted whirring, and a plastic credit-type card adorned with Copper's name and a picture of the ship was handed over. “Now yours, Mr … Constable. First name ...”

  “Andy is fine,” interposed Constable swiftly. “Don't worry about the full thing - I never use it. So, I look here, do I? Great. Thanks very much for all your help, Miss ...” Constable leaned forward to read the name-badge adorned with Canada's maple leaf flag. “Miss Carton.”

  “You're very welcome, sir. And please, call me Lydia. And do let me know if there is anything else I can do for you. Now, if you wanted to go up to your staterooms, I'm sure your luggage will have been delivered by now. You're on deck six, and if you go round to the elevators in the hall there, you'll be there in no time.”

  *

  The scenic lift disgorged the two detectives into a hall richly adorned with gleaming brass and glass light fittings, shedding a warm glow on the frescos on the walls of the double staircase leading up and down to adjacent decks.

  “It's all a bit O.T.T., all this decoration, isn't it, guv,” commented Copper.

  “Oh, I don't know,” replied Constable. “I suppose if you're going to call your ship Empress of the Oceans you're going to want something a bit palatial. And anyway, I dare say the passengers appreciate a bit of luxury. As Derek said, if you're going to spend a lot of money on a cruise, you'd want to see some evidence of it.”

  “Except that this lot on board aren't paying a bean, according to Lydia.”

  “Well, lucky old them. And lucky old us, come to think of it. So I'm not going to start complaining.”

  “I wonder what sort of people they've got on board.”

  “I dare say we shall find out in due course. Anyway, why are we standing here nattering? Let's sort out where we are. You're in …?”

  “6220, which looks as if it's ...” Copper consulted a plan on the nearby wall. “Through here.” He led the way into the corridor behind the lifts, inserted his card into the slot in the appropriately-numbered door, and pushed it open with his foot. “Oh yes - I think this'll do nicely.”

  The cabin, in subtle tones of cream and peach, was surprisingly roomy. A double bed, on which Copper's suitcase was already waiting, occupied the central area. A door to the left revealed a compact but smart shower room with marble walls and an abundance of chrome fittings, while at the far end of the room, beyond a sofa and a coffee table on which stood a basket of fruit and an ice-bucket with a bottle of champagne, patio doors opened on to a balcony which looked straight across to Cartagena's castle ramparts.

  “Very nice,” approved Constable. “And this is what they're giving the other ranks. I'm almost afraid to think what Derek has rustled up for me.”

  “Tell you what, guv - you go next door and find out, I'll get some of my stuff unpacked, and then I'll come and find you. That way, you won't have to be embarrassed by the unwarranted luxury they've lavished upon you.”

  “Not only that, but I shall be spared the sound of you grinding your teeth in paroxysms of jealousy.”

  “Something like that, guv,” Copper grinned. “Go!”

  Constable's suite next door was twice the size of Copper's cabin. The bedroom area was partially curtained off with velvet drapes held back with gold tasselled ties, and a dressing room led to the en-suite bathroom containing a full-size bath with an array of
controls for the numerous water-jets. The living area was furnished with sofa and armchairs, a desk, and a dining table set for two with crystal glasses, silver cutlery, and a tall vase containing an elegant arrangement of roses and willow twigs. More champagne - a finer label, the inspector noted - waited alongside.

  “Bloody hell!” murmured Constable to himself. “How the other half do live!”

  A tap on the door heralded the arrival of Dave Copper.

  “Bloody hell, guv!”

  “That's what I said,” returned Constable with a smile. “Want to swap?”

  “You know, I don't reckon I do. I shall be quite cosy in my little crib next door, thanks all the same. This is a bit above my pay grade. Have you had a look outside?”

  “Not yet. That's next on the list.” Constable slid open the patio doors and led the way out on to the double-width balcony, where teak steamer chairs and a table were laid out alongside a chest which, on inspection, revealed contents of soft cushions and red check blankets. “Every comfort provided.”

  Copper leaned over the rail to look at the quayside far below. “Wow, that's quite a drop. How's your head for heights, guv?”

  “Not a problem,” replied Constable, as with a sigh and a slight groan he settled himself into one of the chairs, stretched out his legs, and let his eyelids droop. “It's not heights I'm afraid of - it's the ground. Or in this case, the water. So please try not to go over, because I'm not jumping over afterwards to save you.”

  “That's a deal.” Copper altered his focus. “Hallo, hallo, what's all this then?”

  Constable winced. “Sergeant Copper, would you do me the inestimable kindness of not doing your impression of a village policeman in a comedy whodunnit, at least until we get back on to British soil?”

  “Sorry, guv, it just slipped out by accident.”

  “So what is all this then?”