Killer Knots (22 page)

“I talked to the museum gang today to set things straight,” she told Kate, along with Dalton and John, who occupied the other seats at their round table. Brianna had gone to a farewell party with her new friends. “Too bad Eric didn’t make it to the final art auction this afternoon. He would have been proud to see Irene win the bid on Alden’s triptych. Oliver’s wife plans to donate the set to the museum for its permanent collection.”

“You didn’t answer Mom’s question about the countess,” Vail remarked. He leaned back, arms folded across his chest, legs spread wide. A sexy grin curved his sensuous mouth.

Marla’s skin tingled. She knew what he wanted to do in their cabin on the last night of their cruise.

“Eric Rand engineered bringing everyone from the museum aboard,” she explained, starting from the beginning. “He’d been convinced Alden’s death wasn’t an accident and felt he had been wrongly fired from his curator position. He spent the past few months collecting information on each person present in the museum on the day Alden died.

“He’s the one who swiped the center triptych painting after the artist’s death, having realized its significance. However, Eric couldn’t identify the person molesting Alden, nor did he know who played the flute, even after Martha mentioned hearing the music. So he devised this scheme to flush out the killer. Using his connections at the cruise line, he bought the tickets and sent one to each person involved.”

“Wait a minute,” John said, drumming his fingers on his chair arm. “Where did he get the money?”

“From Irene. She wanted to learn the truth, even fearing her husband might be involved. Eric hired investigators to find out all he could about the people at the museum that day. He unearthed quite a few secrets.”

“So Eric Rand wrote those notes found on everyone’s door?” Kate said, wearing a puzzled frown.

“That’s right. He hoped his message, ‘I know what you did and I have what you want,’ might spook the guilty person. Kent Harwood was aboard, not because of his role as an exterminator, but because he’s an insurance investigator. He’d been sent to learn who was pilfering paintings at the museum and substituting fakes in their place.”

“Thurston Stark,” Vail contributed in a wry tone.

“Right.” Marla nodded. “The foundation chair didn’t want his wife to find out he was living above his means. He worked in collusion with Cliff Peters, the security guard, but what Thurston didn’t know was that Heidi was having an affair with Cliff in order to assist him. She was just as interested in maintaining their status quo, so she seduced the guard to secure his cooperation.”

“Kent told you this?” Vail raised an eyebrow.

She nodded. “Cliff confessed to Kent after the investigator put the heat on him. Both Thurston and Cliff will be met by the authorities tomorrow morning, same as Oliver and Bob Wolfson.”

Kate sat up straight. “Yeah, what’s Bob’s role? And you still didn’t explain where the countess fits in.”

“Bob, the museum’s business manager, has been embezzling funds for years. He wired the money to his bank in the Cayman Islands, withdrew cash during his yearly cruise, and bought property in Mexico. Helen Bryce caught on to his scheme and offered to run away with him. Sandy, who couldn’t help noticing Helen’s attentiveness toward her husband, got jealous and ‘accidentally’ shoved Helen down the stairs.”

“Oh my,” Kate exclaimed, clamping a hand to her mouth.

“Countess Delacroix met Eric Rand when he was curator at the museum. He used to go on European trips to meet art collectors and donors. Or maybe she made it her purpose to meet him to get at Bob Wolfson,” Marla continued with a weary sigh.

“The countess wanted to buy Bob’s property,” Vail elaborated. He rolled his eyes at Marla, as though imploring her to finish. Now that the crisis was over, he wanted to enjoy their remaining free time.

I’m trying
, she mouthed back. “Anyway, the countess encouraged Eric to seek the truth about Alden’s death. If he implicated Bob, she’d offer to buy Bob’s real estate in exchange for attorney fees. As it turned out, Bob was guilty of embezzlement, not murder. He and the countess reached a deal in Cozumel, and she left.”

“What about the rest of the people in Eric’s message?” John inquired with a note of mild curiosity.

“He’d bought Helen’s life insurance policy. He’ll give it back, along with the watch owned by Betsy’s father that he picked up at a pawn shop. Eric just needed leverage to use on people if necessary.”

The auctioneer had gotten what he’d wanted: justice for Alden Tusk and restoration of his honor as curator.

Marla had never found any of Tusk’s ballet portraits on board, but she intended to track them down from her home computer. No matter—she’d gotten several free pictures that would look good on the walls of their new home, as well as remind them of their first cruise together as a family.

“Here comes Brie,” Vail called, then stood to greet his daughter. “How was the party?”

Brianna glanced at him with doleful eyes that glistened in reflected light from the globes situated around the deck.

“It’s hard to say good-bye to people. Some of them live across the country.”

“You got everyone’s e-mail address, right?” Marla said, rising to give her an affectionate hug.

“Yeah, but I’ll miss my friends. What’s going on with you guys?”

“Have a seat.” Vail yanked a chair over for her. “We’ve been saving the best news for last.” He nodded at Marla. “You tell them.”

Three pairs of eyes swung in her direction.

“Dalton and I have decided on a wedding date,” she announced.

“Awesome,” Brianna yelled.

“At last,” John droned. “Now Kate can stop nagging.”

“I’m so excited,” Kate said, beaming, “when is the joyous event?”

Marla watched sparkles of moonlight gleam on the waves like the diamond on her hand. “The eighth of December. The weather is usually good in South Florida that month. We don’t want to get too close to the holidays, though.”

“That’s marvelous. John and I definitely have to rent a place so we can help you make plans.”

Marla smiled at her. “I must say that I am eager to join your family. You’ve made me feel so welcome. I love you all.”

Vail reached over and squeezed her hand, while her heart swelled with affection. This trip has served its purpose. She’d grown closer to her soon-to-be family, and now she had many happy experiences ahead: marriage, a new house and expanded salon.

Their cruise might be over, but her next voyage had just begun.