The Daddy P.I. Casefiles: The First Collection by Frost, J (great novels .txt) π
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He leaves me in a little room down the corridor from the bridge. Thereβs nothing in it but a table and three chairs. Heβs left me with my bag and phone. I hope he wouldnβt do that if I were an actual suspect. But since he has, I take the opportunity to text Emily and Ed Isaak.
Ed texts back first.
Damn. I was holding out hope that guests were bringing it aboard. Keep me apprised on next steps.
Emilyβs text pings a moment later.
Everythingβs okay, Daddy. Iβm going to take a shower and write until you get back.
I text her a smiley face, a hand, and a peach emoji. Just to fuck with her head, I add a wolf emoji, so she knows to expect Wolfy-Daddy when I return.
She sends me back a heart-eyed smiley which makes me chuckle.
Reyes returns fifteen minutes later with the captain. When she enters, I stand and shake her hand.
βHow did it go, Mr. Logan?β she asks.
βDog spotted the brick in both solid and liquid form,β I tell her.
βOur securityβs solid,β Reyes grunts, leaning against the door like heβs blocking my escape route. Asshole.
βThat means guests arenβt bringing it aboard through your check points. So, drones aside, the brickβs been brought onto the ship and is being distributed to the passengers by your staff.β
Reyes goes white under his tan.
βAnd you need to have a talk with your guys. Ashton took my bag out of my sight for four minutes. Thatβs the end of any case you could make against a guest for bringing illegal substances on board.β
Blood rushes to Reyesβs face so fast it looks like heβs going to explode. He pushes off the door with a snarl. βMy guys know what theyβre doing.β
βGentlemen.β Captain Lopez raises her hand.
Reyes stops in his tracks and moves back, leaning now against the wall, leaving the doorway clear. Youβd think he wants me to leave or something.
βThank you, Mr. Logan,β the captain says. βIβm pleased the drugs arenβt slipping through our front-line security but sorry to hear the alternative. Is there anything you need from me?β
βWould you mind putting both bottles somewhere safe? I donβt want them in my cabin, but we might need to use the samples again, so I donβt want to destroy them yet.β
βNo problem. Iβll see thatβs done.β
βThanks. Iβm going to need to step up the interviews now. Thereβs not much hope that my investigation will stay quiet, just so youβre prepared.β
Captain Lopez nods. βYour next interviewees?β
βSecurity staff.β Starting with Ashton. βThen kitchen staff. Mr. Reyes has suggested a distribution route through the kitchens, so thatβs where Iβll concentrate initially.β
At least, thatβs where I want Reyes to think Iβm concentrating. Iβve been working on an alternative theory. Finding out that Rod McCall might be a professional top, one with a long relationship with the cruise staff, has moved that theory to the top of my list. The first place Iβll actually be concentrating is on staff who were on several cruises with McCall.
βUnderstood,β Captain Lopez says, and sheβs so accommodating I canβt help but feel a twinge of guilt at being less than forthcoming with her. But her crew cannot keep their fucking mouths shut, and I trust the man standing behind her not nearly as far as I could throw him. βIf thereβs anything else I can do, please just let me know.β
I make sure Dan Reyes hands the pill and sports drink bottles over to her, before I shake their hands and gather my things to leave.
βOne minute,β Reyes growls. βI want to sit in on your interviews with my guys.β
Does he have any idea how that paints him? Itβs not as a caring supervisor, at least, not to me.
βSure,β I say.
He narrows his eyes at me. βSure?β
βSure.β I shrug. βUnlike some, Iβm not trying to hide anything.β
I leave him red-faced.
* * *
I make a pit stop in my cabin to check my email and shower before joining my little girl. Still no message from Reyes with the staff rotas, but the Pink Pearl IT guys have been busy. Theyβve sent me a series of emails with CCTV footage from two other hall cameras, confirmation that the picture from the CCTV footage matches the guest ID photo of Sarah McCall, and all the receipts a forensic accountantβs cold little heart could desire, including Blackβs room service and spa bills. I fire back requests for room service and spa bills for the other victims and a list of staff who were on cruises with all five victims plus at least one previous cruise with Rod McCall.
Buried in emails from the IT guys, thereβs an email from Eileen Samuels, the helpful Manchester constable, responding to my message about Colinβs threat against Mirandaβs baby. Samuelsβs response is more detailed than I could have hoped for and sheβs included her cell number. After checking the time to make sure Iβm not calling her in the middle of the night, I dial it.
She answers on the second ring. βEileen Samuels.β
βThis is James Logan. Thank you for responding to my email.β
βNo worries. Any questions?β
βI want to do whatever it takes to have the threat investigated. I understand the Crown Prosecution Service may refuse to bring charges, but I want to proceed as far as I can. You said I could make a statement by Skype?β
βYes. Iβll forward the emails to my counterpart in Surrey and have them contact you for your statement. Theyβll likely bring Mr. Ainsworth-Porter in for questioning. You understand that all they may be able to do is give him a caution?β
βI understand. And this family solicitor you recommended, sheβs in Manchester but you think sheβs as good as any London solicitor?β
βI do,β Samuels says firmly. βAt half the price.β
βWell, I appreciate that.β
βAny custody battle is likely to get expensive, but Rona will give it to you straight. If she doesnβt think you can win, sheβll tell you rather than running up a big bill.β
βI appreciate that, too.β
βIn
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