Ask a Shadow to Dance (30 page)

A thought stuck in his mind. Why hadn’t he seen it before? Up until now, he’d assumed the only place where they could actually move from one century to another and stay there for any length of time was the Peabody fountain. But they’d met on the third decks of the
Memphis Queen III
—and the
Cajun Star
. Lisette didn’t go back to her own time until they entered the ballroom—on the second deck. The third deck had to be another portal—a link allowing them to walk back and forth between centuries.

“Joe, I may be onto something.” David tried to fasten it firmly in his mind before saying it aloud. Could it be so simple?

“What?” Joe glanced around the deck at the milling crowd. “Did you see her? What’s going on?”

“This boat—this deck—is the key.” David had to get this deck cleared. “Let’s find Jim. We can’t have people appearing and disappearing in front of everyone, can we?”

“You think—Hey, wait up!”

David threaded his way through the crowd, down the steps and inside the ballroom packed with people. No wonder they were spilling out onto the upper deck. He eased his way around the edge of the room with an odd sensation of deja vu, went through the front doors and found Jim at the bow, yelling at someone up above.

“Jim, any chance the third deck will clear out pretty soon?”

“Shouldn’t take long.
As soon as we get under way, the wind will be too cold for most folks. They’ll head inside.”

“That room is already full.”

“You weren’t the only one who called late and asked to join the party. We’re really overloaded for that room but nothing dangerous. This boat can carry a lot more people than we have on board, but that room may get a little close before the evening is over. If that sorority hadn’t already booked the
Showboat
, we would’ve moved over to it.”

David breathed silent thanks to the sorority. They had to be on
this
boat tonight.

Jim squinted into the breeze. “We have a south wind, so it’ll go with us on the way back. Once we reach our farthest point south and head north again, the wind won’t be a factor. People will come out for a breather and to escape the crush.”

“Then we have until that southern-most point. How long before we get there?”

“It’s two hours down and four back.
Gotta go.”

“Thanks.” David went back to the third deck. Once the boat was up to full speed, the wind blew as briskly as Jim had predicted, slicing across the deck, chilling everyone in the open. Before long, only a couple of stragglers remained.

Bob joined David on deck, pulling his coat tighter. “Any chance we could get behind something or do this inside? I’m not sure any of us can concentrate if we’re freezing to death.”

“Hypnosis may not be necessary, Bob. I have an idea this will be easier than we thought.”

“Sounds great to me. The idea of putting you under again goes against my better judgment.”

“Both of you can go below. I have to be alone.”

“No problem.” Joe tugged at Bob’s sleeve. “Let’s give him a chance to do this by himself. If he can’t, you can zap him back like you did before.” Without protest, Bob followed Joe down the port staircase.

David stood at the bow, the cold south wind blowing straight into his face. In a few seconds, his skin felt numb. He closed his eyes, remembering when he’d stood with Lisette on the bow of the
Cajun Star
. The railings had not been brilliant, freshly painted white, as they were on the
Queen III
, and they weren’t iron filigree, but wood. The deck had also been wood instead of metal. There was no wood on the
Queen III
at all, but nineteenth century riverboats had been heavy with wood. Floating firetraps.

David focused on that difference, imagining a wooden deck beneath his feet and wooden railings.

The pulsing of the diesel engine, turning the paddlewheel at the stern, changed suddenly. He smelled the smoke of burning coal.

Chapter Twenty

Standing by the rail of the
Cajun Star
, Andrew never took his eyes off Lisette, daring her to make a move. For a moment or so, she glared back, but then looked away, disgusted with what she saw in his eyes and in the smirk she’d seen repeatedly since he produced the marriage license.

She couldn’t help wondering what had happened to the person who had come to the house, asking forgiveness, rendering aid to her father when he was stricken. She still had difficulty reconciling the two as one man. If only Andrew could let that kinder self surface and dominate, he might become a decent human being. Could she reach that other personality?

He was staring at something on the dock. She rose slowly, hoping to escape notice, but he instantly pinned her with his gaze. She sank back into the chair. Before long they would pull the plank. Andrew would no doubt disembark at last call for going ashore, leaving them on board. She urged time to move faster, knowing she would not be able to get to Jacob and Aunt Portia until they were away from the dock. It was agony to think of them packed in trunks like cargo, while Andrew forced her to sit idle. They might be dying.

The Captain came on deck, just past the boarding plank. Her breath came harder and faster. There were too many people between them for a shout to reach him. She would have to wait until he came closer.

Andrew saw him too. He inched closer to her chair, blocking her view of the Captain.

“Don’t even think about it,” he muttered, and gripped her shoulder.

She shook her head once and clamped her lips tightly shut, demonstrating she understood the warning. Andrew withdrew his hand.

“All ashore that’s goin’ ashore!” the purser called, one hand cupped around his mouth.

“That’s me. Why don’t you go inside now, Lisa.”

“The envelope.
You promised.”

He reached into his coat pocket and drew it out slowly.
“This envelope? I almost forgot. How good of you to remind me.” He gripped her elbow tightly, pushing her toward an entrance just aft of her chair. He opened the door. She held out her hand. He gave the envelope to her, shoved her through the door and slammed it closed. By the time she regained her balance he was gone.

Lisette tore open the envelope and jerked out a single sheet of paper. Her hands shook so badly she could hardly read the few words scrawled there:
If you really thought I would tell you where those trunks are, you’re not as bright as I thought. Have fun looking for them.

She crumpled the paper into a tight wad. Tears of anger and hatred spilled from her eyes. She threw the paper against the floor,
then hurried outside. They were well away from the dock, away from Andrew. The realization gave her a surge of strength and new hope. She had to find the Captain.

She told the first deck hand she passed she had to see the Captain about a matter of life and death. With a doubtful expression, he took her toward the bow where the Captain stood, waving to someone on the bank.

“Captain! You have to help me!”

“Mrs. Westmoreland! I had no idea you were on this boat. What’s wrong?”

“My father and my aunt. They’re somewhere on board.”

“And you’ve become separated. Don’t
worry, I’ll help you find them.”

“You don’t understand. They’ve been locked into trunks. We have to find them before--”

“Trunks! Who would do such a thing?”

“My stepson.”

Eyes narrowed and mouth tightened, his chest swelled with a deep, angry breath.

He yelled to several men, explained quickly,
then sent them running through the boat.

“You wait here, Ma’am. It won’t take long. They know every inch of this boat.” He offered her a chair, but she was too overwrought to sit. What if they were too late? There was no way to know when Andrew had put them into the trunks, if that’s actually where they were. He might have lied about that too. Please, God, let them be all right, she prayed, squeezing her eyes tightly shut.

Seconds crept by like hours. She paced the deck, desperate for a glimpse of someone coming to say they were all right.

The Captain was pacing too, but in a much tighter circle. Lisette could tell he wanted to join the search, but felt his duty was with her.

“Sir!” A man on the deck just above us leaned over the rail.

“Report!”

“We found them.” He hesitated. “You’d better come up here, Sir.”

Chapter Twenty-One

David turned around slowly. His heart pounded and his breath came in gasps. The deck was rimmed with wooden rails that had not been painted in a long time. The insignia on the pilothouse bore the name of the boat.
Cajun Star.

The boat hadn’t cast off. He didn’t see Lisette anywhere. Had she already boarded? The Captain—David guessed his position from the matching insignia on his cap—issued quiet orders to deck hands running around like ants.

David eased around the rail, watching for anyone he might recognize. If he’d told the truth, Andrew would be bringing Jacob and Portia on board just before six. David’s watch indicated it was two minutes of.

Andrew emerged from a door about twenty feet away on the starboard side. Anger knotted David’s gut when he saw Andrew’s self-satisfied smirk—an expression David had come to expect from him.

With his head bowed slightly to prevent Andrew a direct view of his face, David made his way through the tangle of deck hands and passengers until he stood only a few feet away. Andrew headed for the plank, intending to leave the boat. That meant Lisette, Portia and Jacob were already on board.

When Andrew turned to head down the plank, David edged past a deck hand, rushed forward and grabbed Andrew’s arm.

“Excuse me?” he blurted. “You!”

“Before you go ashore, Mr. Westmoreland …” David pulled his arm behind him and jerked once to emphasize the willingness to break his arm if necessary. “I have a few questions for you.”

“Let go of me! I have to—” He stopped his protest when David lifted his elbow an inch higher.

“Deserting the ship like the rat you are? I don’t think so.” Seeing no one looking their direction, David took the opportunity to land a solid punch in Andrew’s gut and let go of his arm. Andrew gasped and doubled over, clutching his middle with both hands.

“Now, you bastard, we’re going to have a talk.” David dragged Andrew around and through the first door on the port side and dropped him into a straight-backed chair. His face had turned a ghastly shade of gray. David knew he shouldn’t feel good about causing pain, but he did. Let the bastard taste a bit of what he’d dished out to Lisette and Portia. David had the urge to punch him again, in the face this time, but didn’t. He wasn’t worth the damage it might do to David’s hand.

“Have to—get off—” Andrew wheezed and coughed. His face reddened with the strain of speaking.

“Off this boat? Not on your life. The fun is just beginning. Aren’t you curious to know what’s going to happen to this grand old lady?” David tried to sound flippant. The truth be known, he wanted to find Lisette and her family and run down that plank with them, away from the doomed riverboat. Since he could feel movement, he knew the opportunity had passed. They were under way.

A deck hand spotted Andrew, bent double, and came to investigate.

“He’s all right,” David told the hand. “Just a little stomach discomfort. I’m a doctor. I’m taking care of it.”

“Very good, Sir.”
He left.

David spoke softly into Andrew’s ear, which was still quite red, matching his face. “Do I need to treat your stomach again, Mr. Westmoreland, or do you think you’ve had enough medication for today?”

Andrew’s face was livid with pure hatred. His eyes had watered to such an extent that David almost felt sorry for him.

David had to find Lisette, but couldn’t leave Andrew alone. In a few minutes, he might be recovered enough to jump overboard and try to swim for shore.

The deck hand David had spoken to came through the far door with the Captain and pointed.

“Sir, Clancy tells me you’re a doctor.”

“I am. What’s the problem?”

“I don’t know yet, Sir. If you’ll come with me, we need your help.”

“I can’t leave this man unattended. He may try to jump ship.”

The Captain studied Andrew carefully. His eyes widened with recognition. “Westmoreland. Your stepmother has told me what you’ve done on my boat.” He signaled for the nearest hand,
who came straight away. “This man is not to move from this chair. If he tries to get up, knock him out. If necessary, kill him.”

“Aye, Captain!”

“Follow me, Doctor.”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Frantic to find Jacob and Aunt Portia, Lisette followed the Captain to a stateroom at the far end of the fourth deck. Twin smokestacks belched great volumes of thick, acrid black smoke, now that the boat was moving downriver. The farther they went down the walkway, the harder it was to breathe in the dense smoke.
The idea of Jacob and Aunt Portia being in one of these airless rooms, imprisoned in trunks, filled Lisette with dread and grief. How could Andrew do this to anyone? The deck hand refused to tell her anything, no matter how she prodded him for information.