Depth of Deception (A Titanic Murder Mystery) (21 page)

Callum’s mind was reeling.
What scribble?
The claim had been taped to the file folder, and he never looked at the back of it. Not that he ever had a reason to do so. This was the second time he’s neglected to look at the back of something that turned out to be important, but he didn’t want to admit that now. He’d be sure to turn things over more often in the future.

"
What was it about the scribble that made
you
jump to that conclusion?
"
asked Callum cautiously.

"
The ink and handwriting didn’t match what was written in the claim,
"
said Percy as he seemed to be picturing it in his mind.
"
And the message itself: ‘Evidence in the Agatha Gilcrest murder’. Did you ever? A little too on the nose, don’t you think?
"

"
Not really,
"
Callum replied, then leaned in to ask the question that had been plaguing him.
"
Where did it come from?
"

"
What?
"

"
The claim itself. It was for a brooch that was stolen from a high profile murder case. Who filed the claim?
"

"
I don’t know. You saw the claim,
"
replied Percy.
"
It was smudged when it was sent to us.
"

"
Sent to you? By whom?
"

Percy hesitated before responding,
"
It was sent anonymously. I was still a clerk at the time.
"

"
When was this?
"

"
It was late 1963, I recall—it was around the time that President Kennedy was shot.
"

Callum remembered where he was when he heard that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. He had just received his first investigative assignment for Lloyds. Almost twenty years had passed but he could remember it as if it were yesterday. He looked at Percy,
"
Anonymous, you say?
"

"
Precisely. You can see why I was skeptical.
"

"
This information would have been useful to know before now.
"
He studied Percy for a moment then added,
"
You thought because it was the case that destroyed my grandfather, that I would want to be done with it as quickly as possible? I would rule it a hoax, and if they ever found the wreck of the
Titanic
, you wouldn’t have to worry about it. Didn’t you?
"

"
Well… not in so many words…
"
stammered Percy. Then added,
"
but… yes. I expected that was what you were going to do. Instead you took off as if it were some bloody crusade and wound up in a jail in the highlands, and this ‘Irish bastard’ had to fly in from London to save your Scottish arse.
"

Callum smirked,
"
I was doing quite well without you.
"

"
Oh, I can see that,
"
replied Percy. Then he leaned in.
"
There’s nothing to the case. It’s as cold as…
"

"
An iceberg?
"
asked Callum. He used Percy’s own metaphor against him.
"
You told me to look for icebergs… and I found several. It led me to re-open the case that destroyed my grandfather.
"

"
To what end?
"
Percy asked.
"
It was so long ago,
what does it matter now?
"

"
Ruthie McArthur died in my arms because she knew the truth. It matters to someone. Enough for them to silence her.
"

Percy stared at his tea for a moment. Then
he
asked,
"
What do you need?
"

"
Just a little more time,
"
replied Callum.

"
Very well,
"
said Percy.
"
But I caution you. Our company has a reputation to maintain. If you get into a position where you compromise our integrity, I will disavow you and your behavio
u
r.
"

"
Understood.
"

April 6, 1982

Chapter
XXV

Callum’s mind was back on
Titanic
as he traveled to Edinburgh. He had spent most
of
the previous day poring over his notes, trying to figure out where to proceed.

He decided he needed to find Alice Cleaver. Having worked for Agatha Gilcrest, murdered her own child, and taken another child off the
Titanic
, leaving the rest of the family to die, she seemed the best candidate as a suspect. Did she spend any time in jail for the murder of her infant son? And, what happened to her after the
Titanic
went down?

Callum made his way to the West Register House. It had at one time been St. George's church, but now it was the Scottish Record Office.

Finding the files he needed was not going to be an easy task, as all five floors of the renovated church were filled beyond capacity with file boxes. Having recently seen that American film,
Raiders of the Lost Ark
, he couldn't help but be reminded of its depiction of a massive storage facility.

It was going to be like looking for a specific snowflake on an iceberg.

. . .

Natalie sat behind her desk as an orderly brought Myra into her office. She had been returned to the clinic by two police officers in the middle of the night. Natalie had briefly glanced over their report as she waited for Myra to be brought in.

"
Is there anything else?
"
asked the orderly.

"
No, that will be all, Ralph. Please close the door behind you.
"

After the door closed, Natalie tried to maintain calmness as she spoke through gritted teeth,
"
I can’t believe you betrayed my trust like that!
"

Myra sat in the chair in front of Natalie’s desk, staring into space.

RING

The phone interrupted the line of questioning. Natalie’s reflexes reached for the phone, but she stopped herself. She was not going to let herself be distracted.

"
Myra? Do you have anything to say for yourself?
"

RING

Natalie ignored the phone as Myra continued to stare blankly. Natalie was about to say something else, when her answering machine clicked on.
"
You have reached Natalie…
"

She paused as her own pre-recorded voice echoed from the machine in the outgoing message.

BEEP

A female voice could be heard being recorded onto the answering machine.
"
Hello, Dr. Lindsay? This is Denise Tosia calling again. Could you please call me as soon as you can? My number is 555-5904.
"

Natalie had no time to call her back now, and as soon as the answering machine stopped she turned her attention back to Myra.
"
Look, I’m here to help you but if you’re not going to co-operate there is very little I can do.
"

Myra continued to stare and not say a word. A whole minute passed in the tense silence.

"
Fine,
"
sighed Natalie.
"
You leave me no alternative but to restrict…
"

She was suddenly interrupted by a knock at the door, followed immediately by the swaggering entrance of a heavyset man with a long ponytail
and a
long black leather jacket.

"
May I help you!
"
snapped Natalie who was not impressed by the intrusion.

"
Are you Doctor Lindsay?"
asked the man as he fiddled with a gold chain around his neck.
"
I’m looking for…
"

He then saw Myra.

"
Mary!
"
he exclaim
ed. "
Thank god I found you!
"

Myra backed away as the man approached her. Natalie placed herself between them.

"
You are?
"
challenged Natalie.

"
Sorry, Doc.
"
The man extended his hand to Natalie,
"
I’m Ian Kybartis. I’m Mary’s husband.
"

Chapter
XXVI

Natalie had reviewed all the paperwork that Ian Kybartis had given her. Everything seemed to be authentic.

"
Here’s her drivers’ license,
"
said Ian as he handed her the Canadian-issued identification. Natalie looked at the license. The name under the photo card was ‘Mary Kybartis’, and her date of birth was listed as ‘October 31, 1957.’ This was the definitive proof that this patient was not around in 1912 when the ill-fated ship had sank.

Myra, or Mary rather, sat staring at Ian. Natalie skimmed through the medical records that were enclosed in a manila envelope, as Mary kept tapping the arm of her chair with her fingernail. It was making it difficult for Natalie to concentrate. From what she could make out, it seemed that ‘Mary’ had been most recently a patient at a private clinic in Ontario, Canada.

"
How long had she been there?
"
Natalie asked Ian.

"
She’s been in and out of clinics for the past five years,
"
shrugged the young man, popping his gum.
"
She’d always go back to this weird
Titanic
fantasy. Even spent a bundle to buy this elaborate costume dress from that era.
"

Satisfied, Natalie picked up the phone and dialed. Then said into the receiver,
"
Could you have someone accompany Mary
.
.. Myra… to her room and help her pack up her belongings?
"

. . .

Edward sat at his lake house, staring at one of the canvasses. Roger Zisholm sipped his wine as he surveyed Edward’s work.
"
When did you paint these?"

Edward gestured generally in the direction of each painting, never taking his eyes off the canvas in front of him
.
"
This one I’ve been working on since last week. That one I did during the Nixon administration. And that one over the fireplace I did when I came back from the war.
"

"
Why didn’t you tell me about these before?
"
Roger asked. He gestured too far and spilled some wine on the floor. He quickly set his glass down on the table and went back to the kitchen to grab a paper towel.

"
I didn’t think it was important. Until now…
"

RING

Roger jumped as he was just passing the phone
which sat
on the pass-through window ledge, when it rang loudly. He stopped and reached his hand out toward it.

"
Don’t answer it,
"
Edward said with an eerie calm as he continued to stare at the canvas.

"
But what if it’s important?
"

RING

"
Most people know not to disturb me while I’m here. There are only two people who ignore that request. One has just spilled wine on my floor. Serves him right for drinking this early in the day…
"

Roger shifted uncomfortably, as he quickly grabbed the paper towel and began his task of mopping it up.

RING

The outgoing message of the answering machine started up as Edward continued.
"
And the other would be my father, who has no regard for anyone but himself.
"

Right on cue, the gruff voice of Edward’s father, Archibald Hoffman snarled from the machine.
"
Edward are you there? Pick up the phone! Your mother and I haven’t heard from you. Your mother wants to know what day you’ll be arriving. Hopefully in time for the Anniversary dinner on
Titanic II
… er… I mean
Titan
… you know what I mean. Call us.
"

The call ended abruptly. The silence went on for a long time.

"
Well, are you
going?"
Roger finally asked as he picked his glass up again.

"
No.
"

"
But, they’re your parents. Besides, you’re missing out on a historic event.
"

"
I’ve had enough historical events in my life. I’m finished with
Titanic
ships.
"

_ _ _

Natalie waited as Ian Kybartis signed the release forms at the reception desk.

"
Tell me,
"
Natalie asked quietly.
"
Did she ever experience… losing a child? A miscarriage perhaps?
"

"
No, not quite,
"
Ian replied as he signed the last form.
"
She found out that she was…she said 'barren'. You know, never going to be able to get knocked up.
"

Natalie nodded,
"
And that’s when this
Titanic
fantasy started?
"

He looked at her with amazement,
"
That’s right. How’d you know?
"

"
That’s my job.
"

At that moment, Mary returned with a few bags in her hands, escorted by Ralph.

Natalie forced her face into a smile.
"
Well Myra…I mean Mary. I wish you the best of luck and hope you recover fully soon.
"

"
Thank you, doctor,
"
whispered Mary.
"
I do appreciate everything you tried to do for me.
"

Natalie placed a business card in Mary’s hand.
"
If you ever need anyone to talk to
..
.
"

She shook Mary’s hand and was startled to find it ice cold. Almost like a corpse’s hand. Ian’s gum popping interrupted.