Erica goes over to Sue's closet and brings out a beautiful red dress. She says, "This must be the dress Sue was going to wear for our dress-up night. It's the only dressy one in here."
We all look at it and then take a deep breath. It's a red maternity dress.
Chapter 16
We're all sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Paul is innocent. He and Sue were very much in love and about to get married. He is definitely not the murderer.
With tears filling her eyes, Erica holds the red dress in her hands, and tells us again how Sue said she had something special to wear on dress-up night, and that was going to be a surprise to all of us. It would have been several months before Sue needed that dress, but it would have made a great introduction to her news. We'll all miss Sue very much. She was a big part of our lives, someone none of us will ever forget, but I know that Erica and Paul will miss her even more. They both had deeper relationships with her, in their own ways.
At that moment a loud crash of thunder overhead makes us all jump. Before the echo has died away, we hear rain lashing against the window. As if things weren't scary enough when it was silent outside!
Kat says, "It's late. I think we should make sure all the windows and doors are fastened securely and get to bed. And let's not forget the kitchen door. It sounds like a big storm is brewing. Tomorrow we have a big day over on the Main Island, if we can get there in this storm. We need to be back before Inspector Charles gets here at three. We should try to get back here by two, just in case the Inspector's early."
We all agree. I say, "Let's plan on leaving here by seven-thirty. We can have breakfast on the Main Island, either before or after we pick up Paul. I forgot to ask him what time he's going to be released. Just as soon as we get on the Main Island, we can go to the police station and check. Either way, as soon as Paul is released we'll come back here with him and go over the things and see if he can help us. There's one more thing I want to do in daylight: go back to the spot where Kat and I heard the noise last night in the bushes. With the storm coming, we had to rush back here tonight."
A loud crash of thunder makes the room shake. The storm must be right overhead. "But I'm not going if it keeps up like this," I add. "I'm hoping Paul will want to go with me and give me some ideas, like if there's a shortcut between here and his aunt's house."
Everyone agrees that breakfast on the Main Island is a great idea. We need a change. We say our goodnights and hug each other. When I get to Kat, again our hug lasts just a few seconds more than usual. I'm truly enjoying those few seconds immensely. Together we lean forward toward each other and pray for our own safety and for the murderer to be quickly brought to justice. Kat gets her Bible and we spend a few minutes reading words of peace and comfort, knowing we can rely on the Lord to overrule in all things.
The storm seems to be passing already. Maybe we'll have a peaceful night.
Chapter 17
The next morning the storm has gone, and the sky is almost clear blue. The thunder clouds must have been blown away by the wind that was quite strong at times in the night, but now the air is still. The only signs of the storm are the small white tops to the waves, but they aren't going to cause us any difficulty with the boat I've rented. It must have been out in much rougher weather than this.
We leave right on time, 7:30, and reach the police station shortly after 8:00 to find Paul waiting for us. He hugs each one of us separately, saying to all, "Thanks for believing in me."
We walk over to Rachel's Restaurant for our breakfast. Paul has recommended it, and it's very busy. We start telling Paul about the things we found.
Steve says, "Paul, tell us about the stairway in the back of the house that goes to that large bedroom."
Paul smiles. "That's my bedroom. When I became a teenager, my folks had the stairs built so I could have my own entrance when we stayed here. That way when I came home late or brought my friends home, and my parents were having a party or entertaining important people, we could use the stairway and not disturb them. I never felt welcome when they had guests. After I went to the university, they boarded it up for security.
"I loved Sue so much, so I gave her and Erica my room. It's the largest bedroom and I knew they'd enjoy it. Besides, after Sue and I were married and returned to the island to visit my folks, that room would have been ours. I explained all this to Sue before we arrived, and she was excited to see the room we'd be sharing together."
Kat tells Paul about the knife we found on the kitchen countertop last night. He's pretty sure it isn't the murder weapon. He thinks the Inspector has that one under lock and key. He says, "My mother loved that knife. She always said, 'I should buy another one just like it in case I lose this one.' My guess is she did just that, as she liked working in the kitchen. But we should tell the Inspector, because someone out there is still trying to scare us, and may still go through with the threat of killing two of us. I hope you haven't left the knife out on view for the murderer to find."
Kat assures him that it's safely under lock and key.
I say, "I want to go over to Gary's Rental to ask him who owns the boat that looks exactly like the one Kat and I saw at your aunt's pier."
I turn to Paul. "You say you've rented from Gary many times. Perhaps he'll talk to you about it."
Paul nods. "I'm sure he will. We're good friends and went to the same junior high and high schools. We played football together and wrestled on the same team. We even doubled-dated a few times. His wife is also a good friend of mine."
We finish breakfast and wander over to the boat rental. Gary is someone you automatically like right away; great smile, good handshake and pleasant looks. Paul asks him if we can look around, telling him about my and Kat's experience in seeing a small boat the night before at his aunt's pier, although there's no sign of it here today.
Gary remembers me from yesterday when I rented the boat from him. He says, "Sure, look around and take all the time that you need." He adds, "It's good to have you back on the island, Paul."
"Gary's business must be very good," I whisper to Kat. "According to the sign outside his office he has a list of boats for rent in all sizes, and many of the slips are empty."
She agrees with me by nodding her head.
Further along the dock we see a small boat, almost certainly the one I saw here yesterday, which I think is the one we saw on the island after Sue's murder. But Kat isn't completely sure, and says it was dark that night. But she agrees that it does have the two oars and an outboard motor, so it's very similar.
We ask Gary, "Has anyone rented that boat out lately?"
He shakes his head. "Most people think it's too small. I keep it around because I use it myself in case I have to go out looking for someone who might be in trouble. My larger boats have two-way radios. On occasion someone gets stuck somewhere and calls me, then I use that little chopper to rescue them."
At that moment I wonder if Gary smokes.
Gary adds, "Funny you ask about this little boat. Yesterday evening when I was cleaning up and checking my rentals before the storm came, I found a cigarette butt under one of the seats. I don't smoke."
My thought is answered.
He continues. "I thought someone was walking by and tossed the butt in there. Maybe some kid, so no harm done, but I like to keep my boats looking good."
Nice guy, I think, but I wonder if he could be the one who took that boat, or one like it, to Paul's Island. I ask, almost as a joke, "Do you have the cigarette butt here somewhere?"
I'm surprised when he says, "Yep, I do. Don't know why, but I threw it in the bin in the office. I'd already emptied the bin, so there's nothing else in there. Just as well I didn't throw it on the pier. That storm would have washed everything away. That was some rain we had. Come into the office and I'll show you where it is." He laughs, and says, "And if you want it, it's yours."
I wonder why Gary has kept the butt in his office bin. Why didn't he just throw it away? Does he have a motive be
hind all this? And why did he laugh and say, "If you want it, it's yours." We haven't mentioned anything about the other butts we found. Is he trying to throw us off? Can he possibly be the one who murdered Sue? All these thoughts are going crazily through my mind.
Or did he just bring the cigarette butt inside for tidiness, rather than toss it away outside?
We have the two butts Nat picked up on our walk last night. They are still in the zip-lock bag back in Paul's house. Excitement is surging through my veins. I don't know if it means anything or not, but I can hardly wait to get back to Paul's Island and compare the butts.
Chapter 18
On the way back to the island, Kat says, "Let's go around to the far side, and find the spot where we thought we heard someone. You said you wanted to check it out in the daylight."
I turn the boat and head for the pier by Paul's aunt's house. It's a little after 1:00 p.m., so we still have plenty of time to get back to the house and wait for the Inspector this afternoon.
I tell Kat, "That's a great idea. It'll beat walking there for over an hour and back again."
We dock our boat in the same place we saw the little boat a couple of nights ago. In daylight, everything looks much more friendly. As we get out of the boat, I tell our friends, "Search for anything. Remember what the Inspector said, 'Sometimes the smallest or most irrelevant things can help solve a case.'" Kat and I had also learned that in our criminology class.
We search the long, narrow pier. It all looks different in daylight. Most of us are sure we're going to find another half-smoked cigarette, just like the two we've already found. But maybe the storm has washed any useful evidence away.
I hadn't realized before how beautiful the path up to the house is. When Kat and I were here on the first night it was dark, and we were concentrating on the boat and the different noises we were hearing. And the same thing last night when we the six of us came here with flashlights and had to hurry back because of the storm. But now in the middle of the day we can see how beautiful this side of the island is. The pathway to the house is long, so the incline isn't steep.
There are big cement stepping stones in different sizes, set close together, making them easy to walk on. There are railings on both sides that look like long metal pipes painted white. Along each side of the path, all the way to the top where the house stands, we can see myriads of flowering plants, displaying an amazing array of bright colors.
As I look up the walkway, my breath is almost taken away with the sight of freesia, larkspur, primrose, pansies and impatiens in full bloom. In between are hints of green: mint, sweet basil and ivy. I'm wishing I had a camera, as I know I'll never see anything like this again.
Now I'm thankful that I took a course with Nat and Steve on plants and flowers. It was a non-credit evening class. I didn't want to go, but they insisted, and it was only for four weeks. I'm glad I went. I appreciate the beauty of flowers and plants so much more now. Just knowing their names gives me great satisfaction. Who knew that class would prove so beneficial!
As the sun and the shade are in their perfect setting, I'm wondering what the path to Paul's parents' house, the castle, is like in daylight. I've only been along it at night.
I look over at Kat, wanting her to take in the incredible beauty. She is clearly with me on this, and not only her, but everyone seems spellbound. I can tell by their faces that their breath, too, is being taken away, if just for a moment. We smile at each other and then begin our search.
Kat goes over to the bushes where we heard the noise the other night. She hollers out, "There's been someone here. There are broken branches and a flat spot where someone's been standing. It's nothing to do with the storm."
She comes out and looks over at me. "Do you realize, Kit, someone was watching every movement we made?" She shakes her body as if a big chill is going through it.
While she's saying this, I notice that her hands are clenched like two fists ready to fight a battle. She opens her hands, and in each one is a half-smoked cigarette. "Look, they're soaked through, but you can see they're the same kind as the other three. Whoever our killer is, he's a smoker."
I say, "We'd better head back in our boat. It's after two. The Inspector will be at the house soon. We can show him the knife and the five cigarette butts and see what he thinks. They're all the same brand. He may know of someone who smokes them. It could be a start to solving who killed Sue – the person who still wants to kill one of us."
I suddenly wish I'd not said that last bit.
Chapter 19
When we arrive back at Paul's family home, I make a point of looking at the landscaping, especially the path that leads to the house. Unlike the walkway to Paul's aunt's house that's filled with many beautiful flowers, this path is tropical and striking in a different way.
The railings are made of bamboo poles, while the steps that lead to the house are heavy wooden railroad ties. A variety of ferns line the path, especially abundant Australian ferns, resembling the haiku fern I've seen while visiting Hawaii. They are tall with thin trunks, their leaves bursting at the top, almost like an umbrella. In between are lower-growing ferns, Boston and hapuu. Everything is lush and green. Here and there I can see impatiens, cyclamen and pansies hiding under the shade of the larger ferns, giving the pathway just the right hint of color.
I don't know which pathway I like best. They both have a soothing effect on my mind and body. The gardener, whoever he is, has done an outstanding job in placing every plant and flower perfectly, creating a beautiful work of art.
We head for the kitchen and put the latest cigarette butts on the counter in their zip-lock bag, along with the other two bags. Kat carefully gets the knife that's been locked in the pantry all night. We have something to drink and wait for the Inspector in the living room. In the meantime, I ask Paul if there's a shortcut to his aunt's home from here.
"A shortcut? Yes." Paul seems remarkably composed after his ordeal of being arrested. "When I was young, I'd sneak over there and climb a tree to watch my aunt's parties on the deck. I'd sit there for hours watching them, wishing I'd been invited."
I ask him, "How much time do you think the shortcut would take, compared to the long way we all took? Walking along the coastal path took us the best part of an hour, although we ran it back here faster last night."
Paul thinks for a moment. "It would probably take half that time. Thirty minutes maximum."
"How many people know of it?"
Paul shrugs. "It's no secret. People use it, especially the servants when they're needed at my aunt's. Sometimes my parents and my aunt combine a special party together. But it's not so good in the dark. There are rocks to negotiate and some soft ground."
Kat says, "So someone could park a boat on the other side and take a shortcut here. They could plant a knife on the counter, pin a note on the umbrella or even kill Sue, and then return to the Main Island without being missed."
Everyone is silent.
Paul says, "Yes, it must be someone from the Main Island. But who? I've been wondering if I'm being set up, to make me look guilty. Or are all of these things just coincidences?"
While Paul is speaking, I think I can hear a boat. It doesn't sound like Henry's barge. We go out on the deck and see the Inspector arriving in a smaller, louder patrol boat. Henry is at the wheel, maneuvering it, closing in on the dock. Paul runs out and slips the ropes over the posts, something he's probably done many times for visitors.
The Inspector and Detective Donna walk over to us. The Inspector's first words are, "Whose boat is that?"
I'd forgotten I'd left the boat I rented from Gary tied to the pier. I'd intended to hide it, but instead there it is, parked where everyone can see it.
The Inspector starts to cough. He goes into the kitchen and returns with a glass of water. "Don't worry, I don't have a cough or cold. It's an allergy. Something that blooms this time of year causes havoc to my sinuses."
He reaches into his shirt pocket and pulls out
a pill. "I have to take two of these each day. It helps a little, but as you can see, I still cough and sneeze without warning." He takes a handkerchief out of his pocket and wipes his eyes and nose.
I'm hoping he's forgotten about the boat. But he hasn't.
Turning to me, he says, "Why did you feel it necessary to rent a boat?
I explain that I rented it so we won't have to bother Henry all the time.
He grunts. "Didn't I tell you not to leave the island?"
"Yes, but after you arrested Paul we thought we were free to go to the Main Island to look around. We weren't going to leave this island for good, just for an hour or two. This morning we picked Paul up and had breakfast at Rachel's. We know we're still under your jurisdiction."
"I know about every move you make," he says impatiently. "I might have been away, but plenty of people tell me what's going on."
And with that, I'm glad I forgot to hide the boat. It would be a big mistake to try to deceive this man.
I must have a startled look on my face because he says, "Remember, Kit, I've been the Inspector here for over twenty years. Nothing gets past me."
I change the subject quickly, and say, "Inspector, we want to show you something."
We take him into the kitchen. The cigarette butts are there in the three plastic bags, but the knife is gone!
Chapter 20
We quickly explain to the Inspector about the cigarette butts on the counter and the missing knife, each one of us trying to say something at the same time. The Inspector nods in my direction, as though he's chosen me to speak.
I say, "We put the knife by the side of these butts, then went into the living room to wait for you. Someone must have come into the kitchen and taken the knife, but why not these?" I point to the cigarettes still in the zip-locks.
The Inspector examines them. "I found one exactly like those in the patrol boat the other morning. Here it is." He pulls a plastic bag from his pocket. "I brought it over to see if any of you smoke this brand."
We show him the two soggy ones Kat has just found, plus the other three. Nat says, "They're nothing to do with us."
"What about you, Paul? I seem to remember seeing you smoking a few times."
Paul shakes his head, looking startled by the Inspector's accusation. "Not me. Well, not any more. I tried it a few times one holiday. That's all."