Waves of Murder (11 page)

They ordered breakfast from room service and sat up in bed, after which they had sex again. Then Jon went back to his stateroom to change, as he walked along the corridor he saw Katti’s escort walking towards him, still dressed in dinner jacket. They nodded, it was obvious where he had been and what he’d been doing with Katti.

St Lucia

J
on and Anna watched as the ship docked at the quayside at St Lucia, the dock went a long way out to sea, probably there was not enough deep water. Buses were lined up to take sightseers into the main town. Anna said that she would like to go because she had heard that the town is beautiful. “Okay,” Jon said, “get your stuff and we’ll catch a bus, I’ll wait at the gangway,” he said.

“Five minoots I’ll be,” Anna said.

Another town, another island, but this could be different. He was escorting £200,000 and that was definite, until he had done the deed. They rode on the bus which was air-conditioned, it was too high and quite cold, Anna cuddled up to Jon, she was only wearing a thin silk voile blouse and skimpy shorts. ‘Oh, those legs’ he thought. When they stepped down on to the side walk the heat hit them, probably about 90f, and her nipples no longer protruded. As he guessed, the usual traders called to them and pushed their ornaments into their faces. It was only when Jon looked into an elaborate mirror, that he saw the reflection of Katti’s escort from the previous night looking furtively behind him. Was he following them? he thought. His spine went cold, a fucking body-guard, of course. He was looking after Katti and Anna from a distance, they were very wealthy, Russian nouveau riche, loaded with diamonds. He had been hired to look after the girls, he hadn’t spent the night with Katti, and when he saw him the next morning outside Anna’s suite he was probably checking on her too. All this went through Jon’s mind, and he decided to leave well alone. There’s not a diamond in the world that’s worth my life. But perhaps there was a way .... get rid of the bodyguard.

Anna and Jon found a quite nice cafe for lunch and feasted on lobster, but Jon could still see ‘him’ lurking at another table doing his best not to be seen behind a pillar. Whoops, Jon thought, may be Russian mafia, and I’ve got no fucking plan’B’. Only one thing for it, the bodyguard had to go, now the follower would be followed, and at the right moment would go for a swim. Yes, thought Jon, and as soon as possible, he would soon be running out of time. That evening his plan would go into top gear, he made no date with Anna who accepted his reason of being tired and wanting an early night. He dressed in black, he didn’t know why, but he thought it was applicable for what he hoped to do. He would stalk the ‘bodyguard’ once he had found him on the vast ship. Eventually he spotted him walking alone along the inner promenade deck. Walking in the opposite direction, they just nodded to each other, then Jon dived into the nearest shop. Unfortunately it was the men’s boutique, and Anita was on duty, “Ola,” she said, blushing.

“Ola,” Jon answered in surprise, “how are you?”

“I’m fine,” she replied, “I am very unhappy with you, you are very bad man when you leave me with that woman in my brother’s bar.”

“I’m sorry,” Jon said, “but I had some business to attend to from London.”

“Can we meet tonight?” she asked.

Jon thought quickly, “Yes,” he replied, “I’d love to, shall we meet at the Crows Nest Bar?” she said.

“But you are ship’s staff, and it is not allowed.”

“Don’t worry,” she said, and produced a blonde wig from under the counter, she put it on and was immediately a different girl.

Jon laughed, and said, “Brilliant! shall we say 8 o’clock?”

“Yes,” she said, and blushed. Jon thought, sex or murder? Sex won hands down.

At 8 o’clock Jon walked into the Crows Nest Bar and saw Anita sitting in a booth next to the bodyguard and Katti. He nodded and smiled, mouthing to her ‘how are you?’ Katti smiled and nodded and cheekily blew him a kiss. I’m still in there, he thought. Sitting next to a new blonde Anita, who looked stunning in a red silk low-cut top and a short black mini skirt, legs to die for, he thought, he kept his eye on Katti and her escort. “We go and dance now, please?” Anita said.

“Yes,” he replied, as he took her hand to pull her to her feet. Entering the nightclub, Anita was already dancing as she walked in. Even though the lights were dimmed, heads turned at the sight of her, especially the men.

“Tonight we have a lot of fun, yes?” she asked Jon.

“Yes,” he replied, as he saw Anna with Katti and the bodyguard sitting at an opposite table, they all nodded, the girls looking Anita up and down. Anita pulled Jon on to the dance floor and purposely danced close to their table, shaking her beautiful rear at the trio. The little minx, Jon thought, as he just stood there in admiration, just waving his arms about!

At about 2am they left the club, “Shall we have some love making?” Anita suggested.

Jon was slightly shocked, and said, “You are very naughty, but the answer is a big yes,” as they stood and kissed. He thought, the woman’s come on was a Russian thing, but then they were in this area once, he mused, and laughed to himself. Still, it would be nice to spend the night with a woman that you didn’t intend to kill. Their love-making was different to what he had become used to. She started kissing his genitals, but didn’t take his manhood into her mouth, perhaps Latin American girls didn’t, but the effect was amazing. She guided his manhood to her and thrust herself upon it, she did most of the work and screamed when she orgasmed. Jon thought it was one of the best he’d ever had. Her scream must have been heard beyond the door. She left, and went back to her small cabin at 4.30am, luckily she didn’t have to open her shop until 10.30 am, so she would be able to get some well needed sleep.

Jon now had to concentrate on the job at hand, get rid of that bloody bodyguard as soon as possible. Until early evening, he sunbathed on his balcony, then he dressed in a smart-casual outfit and went down to the shopping mall. He walked quickly past the men’s boutique and didn’t look in, he was on a mission, but he didn’t quite know what. A West Indian souvenir shop had a magnificent display, then he saw it, a beautifully engraved knife with a leather sheath, perfect, he thought as he looked at it. “Careful, that baby is very sharp!” said a young Hispanic man.

“I’ll take it,” Jon said, paying in cash so there was no credit card record of the transaction. Now, how would he use it? He would have to play it by ear, once again he thought, the follower would be followed, but this time Jon would be carrying his new 8” steel, very sharp, friend. He had no romantic meetings for two nights, then just as the ship was approaching Puerto Rico his chance came. At about 2am, taking a slow walk around the promenade deck, he saw the bodyguard alone right up at the bow rail, as per the scene in the film ‘Titanic’. Wearing soft soled shoes, he edged along the super-structure, he ran as fast as he could, knife in hand, and plunged it into his back, slightly right of the spine. His prey fell to the deck, grimacing in agony, Jon pushed the body through the rail with his foot, and then threw the knife and sheath into the sea. He looked up at the Crow’s Nest, there was no one there to have witnessed the deed. He started to shake as he walked back to his stateroom, he needed a drink, a very large and very strong one. He sat on the balcony with what was a quad brandy, still shaking, I’ve killed three human beings he thought, three people have met gruesome deaths because of me. He poured himself another large brandy, another two brandies followed, until he collapsed in an alcoholic stupor on to the bed. Mid-day saw him open his eyes, then a knock on the door confirmed that he was awake. He struggled from the bed, wobbling on his almost lifeless legs, “Just a minute,” he almost shouted. He put on a robe and opened the door.

“Sorry, sir,” said the room cleaner, “I’ll come back.”

Without a word, Jon shut the door quietly, but it still sounded like a canon being fired in his head. I must get myself together, he thought as he stepped into the shower. He stayed there for at least 20 minutes, not even thinking, just wishing his head would stop throbbing. It did, but quite a long time after. He had walked around the promenade, he passed the bow, scene of the killing. He checked to see if there was any blood on the deck, there wasn’t, the bodyguard’s clothes must have soaked it up. By dinner time he was his old self again, no formal night, just smart casual, not even a tie. Just a silk blouson in navy, and a pair of white linen slacks, he walked into the aft ‘Archipelago’ restaurant. Good he thought, no one he knew. He sat alone just studying the menu, when he suddenly heard, “Hello Jon.” He was surprised to see Katti standing there, looking fabulous. He stood and asked her to sit down, and offered her a drink, “Thank you,” she said, and sat down.

“No bodyguard tonight?” Jon asked.

“Bodyguard?”

“Yes, the greying man with the Russian accent.”

“Bodyguard! he’s my father, after all I am only 23 and he is 44, my mother went off with a very wealthy ogliarch last year and he is still grieving his loss. She sends me $200,000 a month so we both live very well.”

Jon’s blood turned to ice water, what have I done? he thought, killed a man who was just looking after his beautiful daughter and had no real interest in Anna, it’s just that she was always there with them. Oh my Lord, he thought again, and he’s at the bottom of the Carribean Sea. He composed himself, and smiled at Katti saying, “Oh, I see, shall we eat? I’m starving,” he added. He thought again, what will the poor girl do when she hears that her beloved father is missing, believed overboard? He ordered a small dinner as his appetite had diminished, and even then he just picked at it. All through an almost silent dinner he wished he could turn back the clock, just 24 hours. After dinner they went for a walk around the promenade deck, it was very busy, a warm balmy evening, moon shining on the water. With another frame of mind and a beautiful woman on his arm, he would feel good, but as they walked past the bow he shivered even though it was warm. Suddenly he saw himself plunging the knife into the man’s back.

Katti felt that there was something wrong, and said, “You are not very happy, tell Katti what is wrong.”

Jon shuddered again, and said, “I must have some sort of bug, I think I’ll go to my cabin and go to bed.”

“Would you like me to come with you, to keep you warm?” she asked.

He thought for a while, perhaps she would help to take things off of his mind, “Yes,” he said, “but I don’t think I’ll be very good for sex,” he admitted.

“That’s okay, we just cuddle, yes ?”

“Yes,” Jon said, “I’d like that.” His stateroom wasn’t quite Katti’s suite, but it had a kingsize bed and was comfortable. They were soon in bed, naked but without passion. She didn’t wear a lot of jewellery on casual nights, only two rings and the Cartier watch. Without the emerald necklace she was safe, that was the piece he really wanted.

In the morning they ordered a room service breakfast, Jon felt a lot better, and surprisingly, had slept well. Perhaps he was mentally exhausted or it was Katti’s presence, or both. Anyway, he must still continue with his quest. Anna would be first, he began to plan her demise.

Normally 48 hours would have to pass before anybody was considered ‘missing’, but Katti, after knocking at her father’s door, started to worry. She had the reception desk put a call out for him, ‘Will Mr Viktor Kalenko please contact the main reception desk as soon as possible’. The call went all over the ship, Katti waited, but there was no call from him. So she asked for an officer to open his stateroom to check if he hadn’t been taken ill and was unconscious, he didn’t drink so it wouldn’t be that. The second officer opened the door with a pass key card, the room was empty, and the bed hadn’t been slept in. The bathroom was tidy, but had been used, probably the previous night. Katti was now panicking, Jon put his arm around her shoulder, “I’m sure he’ll turn up soon, after all he’s still young and could be fast asleep in Anna’s bed or some other woman he’s met. there’s plenty to choose from, and he is a handsome man,” he said, comforting her. But his evil deeds were there and he felt worse being with Katti, his victim’s daughter.

St Kitts

O
ne of the smallest ports of call, tenders were lowered to transport passengers to the shore. The large liner had got as close as it could because of the lack of depth. Katti stayed in her suite, mainly crying and waiting for news of her father, sitting by the telephone. News of her father never came. Anna and Katti were questioned by the police as the islands were a British Protectorate. The Inspector was English and very thorough and, luckily, Jon wasn’t approached. Done it again, you lucky bastard! he thought. Then he thought again, he had become two different men, easy going Jon, and an evil cold-blooded murderer, he shuddered at the thought, but it was too late now to save his soul.

The ship left St.Kitts after dinner so that the serving was easier for the stewards. At 9.30pm the Carribean Star pulled away from the quay amid the usual noise of locals shouting ‘Come back soon’ and the obligatory steel band. Obviously there had been no sign of Viktor. Katti stayed in her suite, Jon thought he would not contact her for a day or two, in which case he would concentrate on Anna. Yes, her diamonds are magnificent, unfortunately she would be next, but when? She undoubtedly would be in the casino, she was. Sitting with a high pile of chips on the table, he sat next to her. Her face lit up, “Ello hensom, it is beautiful to see you,” her accent said, “are you playing tonight, yes?” she asked.