The Stein & Candle Detective Agency, Vol. 1: American Nightmares (The Stein & Candle Detective Agency #1) (41 page)

I crossed the lobby and moved towards the woman. “Catherine?” I raised my voice. “Catherine, is that you?”

My younger sister stopped in her tracks. “Edwin?” she asked, and then broke away from the man holding her arm. She hurried to my side. “Edwin, what are you doing here? Webster and I were planning on arriving at your apartment tonight as a surprise, but I think that’s spoiled now. Why are you at our hotel?”

Catherine Crowe was very dear to me – but she could be frightfully annoying at times. She shared my dark brown hair, worn in a simple and elegant bun. She was a slim girl, with an upturned nose and very bright, clear eyes. My father did not believe it was her place to join him on our expeditions. He and I visited Acheron Island together. She remained at our estate in England.

“I’m dropping off some of my clients,” I replied. “What are you doing on Acheron Island?”

“Well, I came to visit you.” She turned to the man who had arrived with her. The fellow now hurried to join us. “And dear Webster wanted to visit the island as well. It for our studies, you understand. Mine is paleontology and his is anthropology.” She looked from me to Webster. “And I wanted to introduce you to Webster. I think I’ll do that now. Edwin, this is Webster Belknap. I believe he is the man I am going to marry.”

“What?” I couldn’t believe what I had heard. “Marry?”

Webster exchanged a glance with Catherine. He had black hair, split neatly down the middle, and round spectacles. His blue checkered suit and vest was neatly folded, and he tucked his bowler hat under his arm when he addressed me. He fidgeted slightly, like he was a light-legged herbivore, about to run from a bigger predator. “I would like to wed your sister, Mr. Crowe,” he said, each word leaving his lips with difficulty. “I love her, sir. I deeply love her and I—”

“I don’t doubt it,” I replied. “But it all seems rather sudden.” I turned to my sister. “What would father—”

“What does it matter what he would think?” Catherine asked. “And what does it matter what
you
think, Edwin? Do you think I need your permission?”

I did not know what to say. I loved Catherine, with all of my heart. But she had always remained somewhat far away, as someone to be provided for. Now she wished to start her own life. She was changing and I did not quite know how to respond. Luckily, James seemed to notice my plight. He and the Whipples walked over and James nodded to Catherine.

“Hello, Catherine,” he said. “You look well.”

“So do you, James.” Catherine extended a hand to him. “Webster, this is James. I told you about him, remember?”

“Yes. The civilized Ape Man.” Webster stared at James in sudden awe, like my friend had sprouted wings or a third eye. “Egad, James, I’ve longed to interview you, ever since Catherine told me about your presence. You seem to be the most amazing specimen – fellow, I mean – and the mind boggles when I think of everything I can learn about you – and from you!”

“It boggles?” James asked, raising an eyebrow. He seemed more amused than offended by Webster’s buffoonish manner.

I decided to introduce the Whipples. If nothing else, it would end the awkwardness between James and Webster Belknap. “Catherine, this is Meyer Whipple, and his wife Rose and their son Nathan.” I turned to the Whipples. “This is my sister, Catherine and her friend, Webster.”

Rose gave Catherine her best smile. She was all grace. “It is a rare pleasure to meet you, Miss Crowe,” Rose said. “Your brother has been like a brother to us, almost, with his excellent services as a guide and friend.”

“He saved us from raptors today,” Nathan added. He still held the sleeping Max. “He’s a hero.”

“You almost got them fed to raptors?” Catherine glared at me. “You should know better, Edwin. I’m sure father taught you that. And I know very well how dangerous raptors are. It’s one of the topics of a paper I presented. Perhaps I’ll let you read it. You may learn something.”

“I’m sure I would,” I replied evenly.

But before any of us had a chance to respond, I became aware that someone else had joined our little circle. He had slipped in like he belonged there, standing between Rose and Meyer Whipple so that he looked down at Nathan. He was a tall man, completely bald, wearing a lime green suit, vest and matching bowtie. A diamond stick pin twinkled in his lapel and he seemed to be constantly smiling, like his face could assume no other shape.

His eyes darted to me. “Hello there,” he said, his voice a pleasant chattering. “I’m Cornelius Carroon. You must be Sir Edwin. I’m with Titan Amalgamated.” He glided over to stand in front of me. “Now, I understand your father discovered this marvelous place? Is that right? You must be extremely proud to have such an auspicious forebear.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Carroon, but this really isn’t the time.” I tried to be as polite as possible. “You see, I just got reacquainted with my sister and—”

“Now, I understand you had the displeasure of meeting Colonel Montgomery Griffin on the trail earlier this afternoon,” Carroon continued. “He might have been a little rude. That’s understandable. The colonel is a rude person, and he’s suited for the rude task he has. But the owner of Titan feels a little bad about what had happened.” He reached into his coat. “He sent me to give you a token of his respect and admiration.” Carroon pulled out a small stack of white tickets. “There’s a little formal gathering at the Thunder Lizard Lounge – and all of you are invited.”

Before I could stop him, Carroon slid a ticket into my lapel pocket. He did the same to Meyer, Webster and then handed one to Catherine and Rose. He finally took his last ticket and pressed it into Nathan’s hands. “Now, I do certainly hope you attend. And so does the owner of Titan Amalgamated, my wonderful employer, Selwyn Slade.” He offered no ticket to James.

Catherine noticed it. “You have none for James?”

“Your Ape Man servant would have no place at a fancy dinner.” Carroon grinned widely at James. “Would you, my boy? No, he’d be more comfortable waiting outside. Or squatting in some jungle.” He let out a little cackle at his joke before James or I could respond. “Well, can I count on your attendance? I certainly hope so. I must go now, no time to chat I’m afraid. Business is a cruel task master and he doesn’t care for long breaks, with even the most pleasant of company.” Carroon stepped back and slipped away, like he had never been there.

I stared at my ticket. The Thunder Lizard Lounge was the finest jazz club and music hall on Acheron Island. It was a thoroughly modern, American establishment, which had but recently opened. The dinner was for tonight. I looked up at Catherine. “Should we go?”

“Well, Webster and I will – despite Mr. Carroon’s rudeness towards James.” Catherine tucked the ticket into her purse. She nodded to James. “You should have struck him, you know,” she said. “You’d be well within your right.”

James looked back at her. His smile was faint. “I was considering it,” he explained. “But this did not seem the place for a fight.”

“That is a wise decision, perhaps,” Catherine agreed. “I’ve heard of Titan Amalgamated and Selwyn Slade. He fills up the papers in the United States and he seems to be the most interesting sort of person – though he’s also a shrewd and ruthless tycoon of the highest order. I wouldn’t miss a chance to see him in the flesh for all the world. And if you’re there, so much the better. We can use the opportunity to talk about things.” She extended her parasol, making it snap open over her head. “Let’s go take the air, Webster.”

They strolled outside, leaving us alone in the lobby. “It was nice meeting you, Miss Crowe!” Nathan called after her.

I watched Catherine and Webster go, still unsure what to say – or what I thought of the matter in general. I looked back at James and the Whipples. “Do you think I should go to this little event?” I asked.

“Do you what you want,” James suggested. “But it may be worth learning why a man named Slade is marching armies through the Hadean Hills.” As usual, he thought of practical matters first.

“We’ll be there, Sir Edwin,” Meyer added. “We might leave early, for Nathan’s bed time, but we’ll at least make an appearance. We’ve no other plans for the evening.”

“And I don’t either,” I said. “So I suppose I’ll attend.”

And that was that. I would be going to this dinner Selwyn Slade and Titan Amalgamated were throwing at the Thunder Lizard Lounge, to see what exactly this businessman was doing on Acheron Island. I had the terrible feeling that there was something lying in wait for me, a hungry predator preparing itself to strike. Yes, for all my experience, I could not detect when a deinonychus is stealthily approaching me –or when other dangers are drawing near.

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