Daiquiri Dock Murder (18 page)

“And you’re planning to investigate Diego’s murder makes me nervous. Very nervous.”

To tell him I wasn’t going to investigate would be a lie. To tell him I would be circumspect in my investigating would break my promise to Threnody. I chose my words carefully.

“We all need to do whatever we can to bring Diego’s killer to justice.”

“Leave it to the police, Rafa. You could blackball yourself and your future career in Key West by nosing into this case.”

“We’ve been over this before. Discussion closed.”

“Where are you going now?”

“Going to drive by Bayview Park. Pablo suggested we hold Diego’s service there. I’m not totally sure where it is.”

“You’re headed right toward it. It’s on the corner of Truman Avenue and Jose Marti Drive. It’s a beautiful area. Pablo’s made a good choice. Look!”

I looked, but not at Bayview Park. The small parking area at a tourist information office had an empty slot and I pulled into it. Bayview Park lay half a block or so behind us and we stepped from the car for a better look at the vast expanse of grass bordered by palms and seagrape trees. A small monument stood in the distance, but we couldn’t see it clearly. Perhaps a likeness of Jose Marti, I guessed. Three boys ran across the grass flying kites until one of them fell.

“Look, Kane. He’s hurt. But no. He’s getting up again. Guess he didn’t break any bones. Probably turned his ankle.”

“Maybe stepped into an owl’s burrow. Guess he’s okay. He’s chasing after his friends. Didn’t even lose hold of his kite string.”

“Burrowing owls? Never heard of that before. Florida owls don’t live in trees?”

“Some do. Some don’t. Many times conservationists rope off areas where the owls live in the ground—especially if they have young.”

“And when do they have young?”

“I don’t have the statistics on that. Want to look it up? The city might refuse to let anyone schedule a funeral in the park if it’s going to disturb the owls.”

“That’s not my problem. Pablo and Threnody were going to try to make arrangements to use the park—or at least some area of the park. Brick’s to arrange for a burial plot at the cemetery.”

“And what was your assignment?”

“I don’t have one. I planned to return to the hotel, check on Dolly, and see if everything’s going smoothly at The Frangi.”

“Expecting trouble?”

“No. But I wanted to make sure Dolly’s okay after the accident last night. Want me to drive you to your boat?”

“No, thanks. Just let me out at the next corner. I’ll run into Fausto’s for a few groceries, then I’ll walk on to
The Buccaneer
.”

“You’ll have things to carry. I’ll wait and drive you to your boat slip.”

“Thanks, Rafa, but not this time.”

I let him out at Fausto’s and drove on to the hotel.

Chapter 21

(Monday Morning)

I parked in my usual place behind the hotel. Sun sparkled on a few drops of dew still clinging to the scarlet poinsettia plants that ringed the fence around the pool. A coconut thudded to the ground near the gate, and another splashed into the pool. The lingering aroma of frying bacon that wafted from the hotel kitchen reached me as I left my car. Walking to poolside, I picked up a dip net and fished the coconut from the water and carried it to a trash can nearby before I took the elevator upstairs to my suite.

“Dolly? Dolly, are you ready for some breakfast?” Crossing the carpet to the guestroom, I rapped lightly on the door. No response. I rapped again. “Dolly? Dolly, you okay?”

The door opened so quickly, I stepped back in surprise.

“I’m up, Rafa. And I’m okay. But we need to talk.”

I peeked inside my guestroom. The bed lay in a tumble of pillows and sheets. It looked as if she might have thrashed about all night. But she was up and dressed in the silk jumpsuit I’d laid out for her.

“Sorry if I’ve overslept a bit this morning.”

“You deserved to sleep in this morning after what happened last night. I didn’t come to hurry you back to work. I came to check to see if you’re okay.”

“I’m fine. Skin’s a little red in spots, but no pain. None at all.”

“Let’s see your hair. How’s it look?”

Dolly pulled a hairbrush from the pocket of the jumpsuit and ran it through her hair.

“Hair’s okay. I had to trim off a few scorched ends here and there, but for the most part I don’t think anyone can tell.”

I motioned toward a bedside recliner, but Dolly remained standing.

“Your upper arms. Push up your sleeves. Let’s see all of your arms. I hope there aren’t any blisters.”

“No blisters. None at all. I tell you, you’re a good nurse, Rafa. My elbows are a bit tender to the touch, but I massaged lotion on them and I’m feeling fine.”

“I’m very relieved about that, but perhaps you should see a doctor to be sure everything’s all right. I could call my doc. I’m sure his receptionist would put you on fast forward to see him if I asked her to.”

“No doctor, thank you. My blouse and bra are ruined, but I have extras and I can order replacements from Burdine’s in Miami. I know they carry them.”

“You send me the bill. I’m sure Mother carries fire insurance. Now that it’s daylight, I’ll take a careful look around The Frangi. There may be some fire or smoke damage that we overlooked last night.”

“I’ll go with you and help you inspect. You’re right. In all the excitement, we may have missed seeing some destruction.”

I led the way from my guest room and Dolly followed. The Frangi smelled of smoke, and I raised the side curtains to allow more air to circulate. After we made a thorough inspection, we sat at one of the glass-topped tables.

“The fire was an accident wasn’t it, Dolly?” I stared into her face, forcing her to meet my gaze.

“Why, Rafa! Of course it was an accident. What else could it have been? I was trying to help Brick extinguish the torches and I got too close to one of the windswept flames. Nobody was to blame. Unless you blame me for carelessness.”

“Nobody is blaming you. Nobody.”

“Maybe Threnody. I saw her scowl at me. You told her to go get something inside the house, but she didn’t move. She seemed angry and she stood there scowling.”

“I doubt that you really remember that. How could you recall, or even notice such a small thing when your hair was about to go up in flames?”

“I can’t answer that. People remember strange things in times of crisis, and I do remember Threnody scowling. Sometimes I think she doesn’t like me.”

“She wouldn’t hire you to help clean their mansion if she didn’t like you and your work.” I wanted to tell her that she might make brownie points with Threnody if she stopped flirting with Brick. But this was no time for that.

“Dolly, I’m glad—relieved that you’re okay. If you need more rest, do take today off. I feel sure the Vextons will agree to that, too.”

“I’ll work as usual.”

I tried to change the subject. “Have you made any decision about your poem? You going to buy some copies of the vanity book?”

“I haven’t decided yet. If everyone knows about the kind of a scam that makes writers think they’re professional when they’re not, I may say no. I don’t want people laughing at me.”

“I think that would be a good decision, Rafa. If you keep writing and submitting your poems they will find their place in legitimate venues. I like your poems—especially the ones about cats.”

“Thank you, Rafa. I appreciate knowing that. But enough about me. What about Diego’s murder? Police have anything new to say this morning?”

“All Diego’s friends are ‘people of interest’ at this point. Threnody, Brick, Pablo, and I were at our morning meeting.” I told her about the tentative funeral plans.

Dolly looked at the floor and spoke softly. “There’s something I didn’t tell Chief Ramsey at yesterday morning’s meeting.”

“What’s that?” I tried for a casual tone, but now I held my breath.

“I know I’m a person of special interest because I was the last one to see Diego alive.”

“The chief knows that. What didn’t you tell him?”

“I didn’t tell him that before I saw Diego that evening, I heard him and Pablo arguing.”

“Where were they?”

“They were inside the chandlery, but their voices carried to me. Very loud. It would have been hard not to have heard them. It surprised me because I didn’t know Pablo was back on-island.”

“What was their argument about?”

“Money. Their talk didn’t make a lot of sense to me.”

“You sure it was Diego and Pablo talking?”

“I’m positive I heard Diego and Pablo arguing. Diego told Pablo he’d given him enough money. Told him it was time he began looking for a job, began supporting himself instead of hanging out with a bunch of beach bums.”

“I’m sure Diego’s words weren’t what Pablo wanted to hear.”

“Right. Pablo shouted that he would choose his own friends. That he didn’t need Diego’s help. He shouted that he’d hang out where he chose to hang out, that he didn’t need Diego’s input on that, either.”

“What then? Did you actually see Pablo?”

“Yes. Just a glimpse of him. I didn’t let on that I’d heard the argument because I couldn’t see either of them, but I heard Pablo walk from the chandlery. You know how shoes scrape on sand. I heard him, but I didn’t turn to look. And I didn’t let on that I’d seen him. From the corner of my eye, I saw Pablo.”

I smiled. “Not the right time then to make your presence known.”

“Right. I went on sipping tea and musing about the poem I wanted to write. I don’t believe either Pablo or Diego saw me, and I think their argument spoiled my concentration.”

“You’re probably right. But why didn’t you tell Chief Ramsey about that?”

“I guess I didn’t tell because Pablo scares me.”

“Intentionally scares you? I mean… I mean, do you think he might have killed Diego?”

“I’m not pointing a finger at anyone, Rafa. Nobody. But Pablo always has scared me. He never smiles. I like to smile at people because most of them smile back. But Pablo? No. When I’ve tried smiling at him, he looks past me as if he hasn’t even seen me. I always wonder why he’s so grim.”

“You’re more afraid of him since Diego’s death?”

“Right. I didn’t want to tell everyone in the chief’s office I’d heard the argument. Didn’t want Pablo to find out. Didn’t relish giving him reason to take out one of his death wishes on me.”

“This story will come out sooner or later. You might want to consider making it sooner by going to Chief Ramsey and telling him what you’ve just told me.”

Dolly said nothing, but she shook her head and her eyes said, ‘I don’t think so.’

Chapter 22

(Monday Noon)

“Rafa? Rafa? Are you home?” Threnody’s voice on the intercom snapped me to attention. “Got good news.”

“I’ll be right down, Threnody. We need to talk.”

“I’ll be out front in the Caddi.”

Minutes later, even with her convertible top down, the scent of gardenia traveled with her. Her smile told me of her morning’s success with Pablo.

“I’ve brought sustenance, Rafa.” She held up a box from Pier House. “Got time for a mushroom salad? Portabello with garlic and feta cheese?”

“Wonderful, Threnody. Why don’t we drive to Mallory and enjoy a picnic beside the sea?”

“My thoughts exactly.”

The dock and the harbor were close by and Threnody wove through the heavy mid-day traffic, turning onto the bricked alleyway that led to the parking lot. At this time of day we had our choice of parking places. An on-shore breeze blew in from the Gulf and we found a bench close to
The Wreckers
sculpture and began enjoying both the breeze, sun glinting on sea, and our salads.

“Threnody, the blended flavors of portabella, feta cheese, and garlic sum up my favorite taste of Key West.”

“I agree—until I remember how much I love grouper fillets and coconut shrimp. But let me tell you about my morning. I talked to the owner at Tisdale Mortuary, and by hiring extra workers Mr. Tisdale managed to schedule Diego’s outdoor service at mid-afternoon tomorrow—Tuesday.”

“That’s good. I have my cell phone with me. If we call right away, maybe we’ll be in time to get a notice in tomorrow morning’s
Citizen.
And what about Bayview Park?”

“Pablo can turn on the charm when he wants to. Too bad he doesn’t want to more often. He talked to the mayor and received permission to schedule Diego’s service at Bayview. He chose a secluded place behind the Jose Marti statue with its flags and fern plantings and far from the tennis courts and the Truman Avenue traffic

I followed a bite of salad with a sip of the pina colada Threnody had included in her lunch box.

“Pablo had the mayor in his pocket the moment he mentioned Diego’s name and their father-son relationship. Three o’clock. No time limit. And under the special circumstances—no charge.”

“That’s great news, Threnody. Hope Brick had success at the cemetery. Wish we knew for sure.”