Depth of Deception (A Titanic Murder Mystery) (43 page)

"
I’m sorry but I don’t want to talk about this anymore,
"
Edward said curtly as he picked up the menu.
I need a drink to survive this trip,
he thought. Just then a steward came in, saw them sitting at the table and marched over to them.

"
Mr. Hoffman?
"
asked the steward as he neared.

"
Yes?
"
replied both Edward and Archibald at the same time.

"
Mr. Edward Hoffman?
"
the Steward asked, embarrassed.

"
Yes,
"
Edward replied, holding up a finger.

"
There is a telephone call for you,
"
said the steward.
"
They said it was urgent.
"

"
Thank you,
"
Edward said as he rose, trying to hide his relief behind his linen napkin which he then placed on the table.

Archie Hoffman hurriedly remarked,
"
Don’t forget we’re having dinner at the Captain’s table tonight.
"

"
I know,
"
replied Edward as he turned and followed the steward out of the lounge.

_ _ _

Deep down in the hull of the ship, a digital clock attached to an explosive detonator blinked to life: 24 H 00 M

23 H 59 M

. . .

Percy Winthrope was done for the day. As he cro
ssed the marbled lobby of
Lloyd’s of London, he paused and looked back at the clock behind the front desk to check the time. It had been a long day. Not that it had been a productive day. He had found it difficult to concentrate since receiving the call about Callum Toughill. He was…

CLANG-CLANG!

His eyes drifted down from the clock to the Lutine Bell, which was suspended in the lobby from ornate wrought-iron, in front of the black marble wall. Recovered from the wreck of the
Lutine
which sank two hundred years ago, the bell was rung on eventful occasions only. It was struck once for good news, and twice for bad news, such as a ship in peril. It had been at least three years since it was last rung.

Percy blinked. And looked again. The bell could not possibly ring without someone on a stepladder next to it, pulling the chain. Percy looked about. Judging from the confused expressions on everyone else’s face, he hadn’t imagined it.

What did it mean?

April 11, 1982

Chapter
LVI

03 H 45 M

_ _ _

Commander Pamela Toughill and her team waited to board the first ferry boat to take them to the RMS
Titan
. Pamela had no wish to travel to New York and back but duty demanded her presence aboard the ship. While they waited, she couldn’t help but overhear the nearby tour guide speaking through a loud hailer to the passengers that would be waiting a little longer for the second or third round of ferry boats to taxi them to the
Titan
.

"
Welcome to Cobh, Ireland,
"
said Jaclyn, the young Irish tour guide.
"
When the town was founded in 1750, it was called Cove… for obvious reasons.
"

The people listening chuckled as Jaclyn gestured to the large cove harbor that the town was built to overlook.

She continued,
"
Our forefathers may not have been original in their choice of name, nor were they in 1849 when it was renamed Queenstown in honour of Queen Victoria who visited our fair town that year. When Ireland became a free state we went back to the original name, but in Gaeilge tongue, so we are now Cobh… which is not actually a bloody word in any Irish language.
"

More laughter. Pamela glanced over to see the war protesters that had gathered and were being segregated by the police. They were the reason Her Majesty the Queen had cancelled her original plan to tour Cobh. It would have been the first visit of the Monarchy since Ireland became a free state. For safety reasons the security detail insisted that Their Royal Highnesses should remain aboard the
Titan
.
Just as well,
Pamela thought. At least the town wouldn’t have to go through another name change.

"
This was the final port of call for the
Titanic
before it sailed on her ill-fated maiden voyage,
"
contin
ued Jaclyn. Then she pointed ou
t to the waters. There was an audible murmur of approval as the crowd marveled at the awe-inspiring sight of the RMS
Titan
as it sat anchored majestically in the cove.

"
As it was in 1912, the waters next to the docks are too shallow for large cruise ships to dock. So the large vessels have to drop anchor in the cove and shuttle ferries are used to take passengers to and from the ships.
"

Three boats were en route to the shore as Jaclyn spoke,
"
The city is talking about a new ‘cruise berth’ to be used for docking large ships and we hope that one day it will get past the ‘talking’ stage. Look
,
we have a treat for all of you…
"

Pamela followed Jaclyn’s gesture and saw a group of actors in Edwardian costumes mingling along the queue and posing for pictures as the crowd waited to be tendered to the
Titan
.

One of the actresses caught Pamela’s attention. She was an elegant lady with jet black hair, a very pale complexion and piercing blue eyes. She was the only one who seemed perfectly comfortable in the cumbersome dress.

. . .

Since Myra was blending in with the actors she had to wait for the important people to board first.
Class distinction still exists,
she thought to herself. She looked about and noticed a woman carrying a tabloid newspaper. The headline read,

"
Titanic Survivor from 1912 found on an Iceberg!
"

Myra shook her head, picked up a leather bag that she had purchased in London and walked towards the shuttle ferry.

All the actors boarded the ship as security checked their names off a list.
"
Name please?
"

"
Leonard Winslow,
"
answered the performer in front of Myra. While the steward searched though the names on his clipboard, Myra glanced up and saw Roger pacing on the deck above. As he turned his head toward her direction, Myra turned away sharply. The momentum of the bag over her shoulder knocked Leonard Winslow off the platform and into the water.

"
Man overboard!
"
a voice called out. The crowd happily applauded, assuming it was all part of the show.

During the sudden commotion, Myra moved ahead out of Roger’s sight.

"
Boarding pass?
"
asked a sailor in uniform. Myra handed over the boarding pass that Edward had given her on the plane. He scanned it. There was a moment of waiting.

"
Is there something wrong?
"
a woman in a completely dark military uniform asked. Myra looked at her name badge: Toughill
.

"
The scanner seems to be having a problem with the boarding pass, Ma’am.
"

"
Name please,
"
asked the female officer named Toughill.

"
Mary Sloan,
"
answered Myra.
"
I’m on a list. Edward Hoffman hired me to be part of a special performance…
"

"
May I see your bag?
"

Myra complied as Toughill opened the bag and rummaged through it. Myra’s eyes watched closely as the female officer picked up the teddy bear, looked at it and placed it back. After a few more seconds of poking around, she closed the leather bag and handed it back to Myra.

"
Here it is,
"
the sailor read aloud from the list.
"
Mary Sloan, and her boarding pass has the VIP colour.
"

"
Try the pass again,
"
Toughill asked.

BEEP

The light over the scanner illuminated green. The sailor handed Myra back her boarding pass.

"
Break a leg, Miss Sloan,
"
Toughill said with a nod.

Myra nodded back,
"
Thank you.
"

A few minutes later, Myra made her way to the aft stairwell. She took the bag off of her shoulder and reached in.
Where was it? Ah there, under the false bottom.
Myra’s hand grasped the gun.

"
Can I help you?
"
asked a porter, approaching her from behind.

Myra quickly shoved the gun back into the bag, and then turned to the porter with sheepish eyes.
"
Yes, I’m one of the actors. I’ve been hired by Edward Hoffman to do an anniversary presentation for his parents, but I can’t remember which cabin they’re in.
"

"
Actor?
"

"
Yes, you didn’t think I’d dress in this tight corset and itchy knickers for fun did you?
"
Myra asked, smiling at him.

"
Do you have a boarding pass?
"

"
Of course,
"
replied Myra as she pulled the pass out of her bag and handed it to him.
"
Now can you tell me?
"

"
Um… I’m not sure if I’m supposed to tell you.
"

"
I understand.
"
Myra replied as her lip started to quiver and her eyes welled up.
"
I’ll probably get sacked. I can never do anything right.
"

"
Don’t, don’t cry. Um…
"
The porter checked his clipboard.
"
Here it is. They’re in Cabins B-94 and 95. Adjoining suites.
"

"
Now I remember. The largest suites,
"
Myra smiled.

"
Actually the second largest, the largest is on the other end of the deck being used by the Queen and…
"
The porter grew pale, with an expression that he may have said too much.

"
Thank you so much.
"
She smiled sweetly, then
,
as she continued up the stairs to
"
B
"
deck, her hand reached back into the bag for the gun.

_ _ _

01 H 00 M

00 H 59 M

. . .

Edward waited respectfully as Their Royal Highnesses left The Café Parisien where they had enjoyed a late breakfast on the RMS
Titan
. Protocol dictates that no one leaves before Her Majesty.

The Queen, Prince Philip, their security and their entourage, travelled up one level to the upper deck for a photo opportunity with the press before the ship left the Irish coast for New York.

The ‘B’ deck became much more quiet without the royal presence. Edward sighed as he walked toward his parents’ suite. Back in 1912 the Hoffman family had stayed in three adjoining suites aboard the
Titanic
. Naturally, his father would insist on similar accommodations.

Suddenly, a pile of luggage on a dolly emerged from Cabin B-94, nearly running Edward down.

"
Watch what you’re doing!
"
barked Archibald from within the suite at the steward pushing the dolly.
"
And you too,
Sonnyboy!
"

"
What is going on here?
"
Edward asked as he entered the spacious, luxurious executive suite, which was decorated in an Art Nouveau style with modern amen
ities including a King size bed,
private balcony, a separate sitting area featuring a sofa bed and desk, television, refrigerator, mini-bar, a roll-in closet, and wheelchair-accessible bathrooms with spa tubs.

Mrs. Hoffman’s magnified eyes looked up at Edward reprimandingly as she pulled off her oxygen mask and scolded,
"
I can’t believe you wouldn’t tell us that that horrid woman was on the loose!
"