Part 32 (1/2)
”What?”
”In his heart? Bob is a really sweet man; I mean he's a p.u.s.s.ycat. He's generous, he's smart. There are so many good things about him. He's a true visionary in so many ways. He can be so thoughtful and on and on the list goes. He just has this one fatal flaw.”
”Which is?”
”He doesn't understand love, with the exception of the affection he feels for Gladdie.”
”Well, you've known him long enough to know how he ticks. Do you think it's too early for a beer? The combination of warm weather and salt water makes me crave beer.”
Olivia looked at her watch. It was after eleven-thirty.
”We're on vacation. I'll go get you one. You just stay right there.”
”Thanks, my love. I'm too tired to get up.”
”Me too. Too much excitement.”
Olivia felt so good then, luxuriating in the warmth of the sun. In that moment she felt she could've lived out the rest of her days in that very deck chair, but her own heart ached with Maritza's pain. She prayed Maritza was safe and that she would return or be returned as soon as humanly possible. Olivia got up to find a crew member and ask for a beer for Bob.
By lunchtime there was still no sign of Maritza. They all gathered at the table hoping Bob had some news to share, except for Gladdie and Ellen, who was cleverly avoiding Colette.
”Okay, folks. Here's the latest. I found her cell phone and her pa.s.sport,” Bob said in a somber voice.
”Oh G.o.d! Bob! No!” Olivia burst into tears.
”This is not good news,” Nick said and handed Olivia his handkerchief with a compa.s.sionate look that said Compose yourself.
”Who leaves home without their pa.s.sport and cell phone?” Mich.e.l.le said. ”Right?”
”Right,” Buddy said.
”What does that mean?” Dorothy said.
”Well, it greatly lessens the likelihood that she left voluntarily or that she planned to leave,” Sam said.
”Hey, Bob?” Buddy said.
”Yeah, I know. It's time to call the police.”
Olivia felt ill and she looked up to see Betty's face. Betty was completely aghast and gripping Ernest's arm so firmly he was grimacing in pain. Dorothy was baffled. Mich.e.l.le poured herself and Dorothy a large gla.s.s of wine. Mich.e.l.le looked bewildered, which would explain her uncustomary hospitality toward Dorothy. To no one's surprise, Colette was amused.
”I just asked Jack to call them. But let's eat quickly, because once the police get here, we're not going to have a moment's peace for who knows how long?”
”What's going to happen?” Ernest said.
”We're probably going to file a missing persons report and ask the police to help us find her,” Bob said. ”They're probably going to search the s.h.i.+p looking for clues. I can't get into the vault to see if anything's missing because Maritza changed the code and I don't know the new one. So I asked Jack to get one of the guys to drill it open, but Jack said, and he's probably right, we should wait and do that with the police present.”
”Absolutely! This could be an active crime scene for all we know!” Colette said. ”Watch your fingerprints, ladies!”
Colette laughed. Everyone, even Dorothy, was shocked by her callousness.
Within the hour there were a dozen or more Spanish policemen on the Le Bateau de l'Amour. Most of them had never been on such a glamorous s.h.i.+p, and they could barely contain their awe. A few policemen even snapped selfies with their phones. Bob was in the main living room with the head police officer answering questions.
Olivia and Nick discreetly watched them from the table on deck through the gla.s.s doors and windows. After about thirty minutes Bob, Jack, and two officers went with a technician from the engine room and drilled open the vault.
”The vault's empty,” Bob said to the group, who had all remained at the dining table drinking coffee and iced tea. ”All of her jewelry is gone.”
”Oh, dear heavenly Father! Do you think . . . ?” Ernest said. He couldn't bring himself to say the words.
But that's why Colette was there-to say the unsayable.
”Robbed and kidnapped?” Colette said. ”Looks like it.”
”Sweet Jesus, Colette, you'd just love that, wouldn't you?” Bob said. ”You are so easy to dislike.”
Everyone drew in a collective gasp. It was the first time Bob had really taken Colette on.
”Maybe, but it's a distinct possibility, isn't it?” Colette said with a completely unflappable att.i.tude.
”Just shut up, Colette. So the police want to interview everyone,” Bob said. ”And Colette, I'd strongly advise you to be extremely civil and courteous. Spanish jails are notoriously dark and dank.”
Colette c.o.c.ked her head to one side and gave Bob the evil eye.
”I can't stand to think of Maritza in a dangerous situation like that,” Olivia said.
”Well, what else is there to think?” Dorothy said.
”Who wants to go first?” Bob said.
Betty and Ernest jumped to their feet.
”I stand ready to clear my good name!” Ernest said.
”This is a terrible business,” Betty said. ”I'll be glad to sleep in my own bed again.”
Olivia and Nick shared a psychic moment in each other's eyes. For as terrible as the situation was, Betty and Ernest were the only ones keeping it real.
The police left before dark after all the questioning of the captain, crew, and pa.s.sengers. Jack vouched for his crew in a sworn affidavit. The police took some DNA samples from Maritza's hairbrush, razor, and toothbrush and asked everyone to remain in the vicinity for the following seventy-two hours or until they were notified. They took the names of the musicians and the photographer from the wedding and said they would be brought in immediately for interrogation. And the highest-ranking police officer, who spoke English, promised Bob he would stay in touch, and if he learned something of value, he would contact him right away. Bob promised the same.
In the evening, things were very quiet. Out of respect for Bob and Maritza, the partying was over. Even Colette retracted her talons. After a simple dinner of roasted fish, everyone began to drift back to their cabins to let Bob have the deck to himself. He seemed to be very unhappy. He should be, Olivia thought.
Olivia and Nick remained there at the table with him. He seemed to want to talk.