Page 62 of Hearts Aweigh

T HE MAIN THEATER SAT EMPTY except for the bright red disappearing box at center stage. Darkness enveloped the space, with a single spotlight illuminating the trapdoors on the top and front side of the magic trick. The front panel was open, revealing the long black-and-white stripes inside.

Emily, Gerry, and Seamus descended the middle aisle of the shadowy room. At two in the morning, most passengers were asleep in their beds.

Emily set the tip of her cane on each step as she carefully climbed to the stage. “Will it work, Seamus?”

“You can be sure of it.” The sprightly redhead vaulted up beside her and clapped his hands. “People give magicians far too little respect. We can put that tendency to our favor in this instance.”

“You’re a dear to play along.”

“Think nothing of it. I figure I might like having the Shippers owe me a favor.” He wiggled his eyebrows at Gerry. “Especially the tall, beautiful one.”

Gerry turned up her nose, but Emily noted the quick swipe of the woman’s fingers to fix a stray hair.

They should do something about poor Seamus.

He was funny, clever, and an avid reader.

All the qualities their dear bookworm, Gerry, should desire in a man.

If they could just get their friend past her ridiculous height prejudice.

Everyone deserved a chance at love, no matter their age or stature.

“We brought him!” Althea shouted from the entrance.

She and Daisy propelled Barney over the threshold, their arms linked around his. His shirt was untucked on one side, and bewilderment covered his round face.

“What’s going on?” he squeaked. “I was about to get some shut-eye.”

Emily squinted through the bright light. “Barney, thank heavens you’re here. We need your help.”

His chubby cheeks bunched in a grin. “Anything.”

“Wonderful. I knew I could count on you.”

He and the other two Shippers passed rows of navy-blue couches as they made their way to the front and joined the others onstage. Daisy and Althea released Barney and stood with Gerry on the right side of the red box. Everyone formed a half circle around the magic prop.

Gerry checked her wristwatch. “It’s almost time. I’ll stand guard outside and inform you when he’s coming.”

“When who’s coming?” Barney asked.

Seamus scurried to Gerry’s side. “I’ll come with you, m’darlin’. Wouldn’t want you to encounter the brute alone.”

“What brute?” Barney’s body constricted.

Emily laid a hand on his forearm. “Were you aware”—she lowered her voice—“there’s a blackmailer on board the MS Buckingham ?”

His cheerful countenance drooped, and his brow furrowed. “A … a blackmailer?”

She leaned forward. “Some scoundrel has been extorting passengers by threatening to reveal their shameful indiscretions.”

He laughed. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Windsor, but that … that sounds unbelievable.”

“Doesn’t mean it’s not true. We’ve done our research. Someone has been leaving note cards for people. Demanding that they pay five thousand dollars or else he’ll reveal their”—she grimaced—“indiscretions.”

Daisy rubbed her eyes with trembling fingers. “He threatened to make my marital infidelity public.”

“That’s harsh.” Barney picked at the thinning hair on the side of his head. “Who do you think is behind it?”

Emily sniffed. “I don’t have to think. I’m certain. It’s—”

“This plan worries me.” Daisy fanned herself. “Suppose he’s dangerous.”

Althea smacked her lips. “The man’s a blackmailer. Of course he’s dangerous.”

“Who?” Barney asked again.

She grabbed his arm. “Baby, have you got a gun?”

He jerked and tried to shake her off. “A gun?”

“Yes.” She kept a firm hold. “For protection.”

Daisy fluttered a handkerchief. “Mercy me. I might never see New Orleans again.”

Emily placed her body between Barney and the exit. “Be strong. We can catch this criminal.”

His laugh sounded slightly hysterical. “I still don’t have a clue who you’re talking about.”

“Why, Mr. Everson.”

“Sarge?” Barney turned the color of leftover oatmeal. “You think he, he … I mean, how could Sarge be a blackmailer?”

Emily gripped the nervous man’s shoulder. “It’s shocking, but someone’s been spying on the passengers with security cameras, and the evidence confirms it.”

Barney rubbed at the freckled bald spot on the back of his head. “How is that possible? There’s always two guards on duty in the control room.”

“Always?” Althea squeezed herself between them.

“You mean no one ever slips outside to make a phone call, goes down the hall for a soft drink, visits the bathroom to tinkle?” With each suggestion she moved closer until she was right under his nose.

“Admit it, Barney. Hasn’t there been a time when someone left you alone at the board? ”

“I guess.”

“So Mr. Everson had the same opportunity. All it requires is a few seconds to hear a deep, dark secret. He pulls out his phone, records the conversation, and makes himself a sweet bonus.”

Emily flanked his other side. “It takes a despicable person to do something so low. Dig up people’s painful secrets and threaten to expose them.”

“Th-this is crazy.” Barney’s gaze swung from Emily to Althea. “You must be mistaken.” He broke away and paced the stage. “Why don’t you leave the investigation to me?”

“We’ve already investigated.” Althea slapped a palm against the giant red box. “Haven’t you been listening? We’ve got the evidence.”

Barney paused. “What evidence?”

Emily lifted her chin. “We caught him dead to rights, messing around in the lost and found, hunting for a body.”

“Not a real body, of course.” Daisy dabbed her cheek with her handkerchief. “It was a mannequin we planted to entice him. Does anyone else find it stuffy in here?”

“You ain’t kiddin’.” Barney swiped beads of sweat from his forehead. “But how does that prove Sarge is guilty?”

“We recorded it on a cell phone,” Emily said. “He was wearing a hoodie and mask, but I’m sure the authorities will be able to pinpoint something on the video to identify him.”

“Have you got it with you?”

“It’s on Daisy’s phone.” Emily waved to her friend.

Daisy pulled up the video and passed him the device.

Barney held the screen close. “Have you got it on a bigger screen?”

“That’s the only copy,” Daisy said.

He shook his head. “The lighting’s too dark on this. Makes it hard to distinguish anything. I doubt the police can use it.”

“Emily!” Gerry rushed into the room. “He’s on his way.”

Emily crossed the stage and grabbed Barney’s hand. “He’s coming. He’s coming!”

His gaze snapped to the exit as Seamus and Gerry joined them onstage.

“Saints preserve us.” Seamus shook his head. “He’s mad as fire.”

Barney, still clutching the phone, moved behind Daisy and Althea. “It’s not too late,” he said. “Why don’t we tell him it was a mistake and wait until we find real proof?”

“He already knows!” Emily stomped her sandal. “Would he be stupid enough to let us catch him again?”

“What do we do?” Althea scurried in a circle. “We can’t let him get away with this.”

Emily thumped her cane against the wooden floorboards. “It’s now or never.”

“I vote for never.” Barney glanced at the phone, shoved it into Emily’s hands, and headed for the stairs.

Emily grabbed him. “Where are you going?”

“I don’t believe a word of your crazy accusations against Sarge.”

She released him. “Could that be because you have a good reason for knowing he’s innocent?

” Emily brandished the phone. “Did you watch the whole video, Barney? Right at the end, the culprit’s hood falls back.

There’s a bright, shiny bald spot with some very familiar freckles pointed straight at the camera.

” Emily pointed her finger at Barney’s head.

“You’re always so self-conscious about your hair. I would think you’d have noticed.”

Barney rubbed the bare patch on his head. “Wh-what? Now you say I’m the blackmailer? There’s lots of bald guys on this boat.” He swung his arms wide. “Is dementia contagious? The pack of you belong in a nursing home.”

Seamus thrust himself in front of Gerry. “Stay behind me. This could get ugly.”

The tall woman blinked in surprise, and her cheeks reddened.

“You’re right, Seamus.” Barney’s easygoing smile was nowhere to be seen.

“You’ve chosen some ugly company.” He sneered at Emily.

“Let’s suppose I was guilty. If you turned me in, your friends would go down with me.

” He waggled his finger Daisy’s direction.

“Your secret wasn’t illegal, but it would still be embarrassing if someone revealed it to your precious son. ”

A blush infused Daisy’s pale cheeks. “I’ve already informed Spencer of my past sins. He was the only one who mattered. Inform anyone else you please.”

His finger dipped. “You can’t seriously want your fancy friends at home knowing you were a cheater.”

“As unpleasant as the experience might be, it will provide the perfect opening to tell them, as Althea says, it’s ‘under the blood.’ I’m sure they could also benefit from God’s forgiveness.”

Barney rolled his eyes. “Spare me the Sunday school lesson.”

Emily glared. “You need it the most. It’s not too late, Barney. God can even fix a greedy rat like you.”

“Be a little nicer to me,” he snapped. “The police won’t care if a murderer has confessed their sins to a priest or not. That dummy with the creepy mask in the lost and found might have been fake”—he leered at Gerry—“but the corpse you wrote the letter about must still be there.”

“What’s he talkin’ ’bout, darlin’?” Seamus’s eyes held a disbelieving twinkle. “Have you got a husband buried in the backyard?”

Barney chortled. “You might not want a date so bad when I tell you what she did to her last suitor—dumped him at the bottom of a lake.”

Gerry leaned over Seamus’s head. “It was a wishing well, you dolt. A lake is far too prosaic.”

“I don’t get it.” Barney waved between Emily and Gerry. “Your friend’s a psychopath, but you want to send me to jail for a few black envelopes.”

Althea bustled to Gerry and placed an arm around her. “She’s not a psychopath. She’s a writer.”

“You’re a bunch of fruitcakes.” Barney clasped his hands to the top of his head and laughed. “Go ahead and tell everyone your suspicions. They’ll think you’re senile. And don’t bother trying to use that video you shot. The app I installed should be finished erasing the footage.”

Daisy’s fingers scrambled as she swiped at her phone screen. “It’s gone! My whole photo gallery is empty.”

Barney shrugged. “That’s what you get for accusing an honest man.”

Emily rapped against the giant red box. “Did you hear, Adrian?”

“Yep,” a muffled voice answered.

The false mirrored door at the back of the magic box popped open, and Adrian Everson emerged from the hidden space inside.

He crawled out, brushed off his black pants, and straightened.

His eyes—for once not covered by his reflective sunglasses—drilled the junior officer who cowered in front of him.

“An honest man, you said?” Emily counted off on her fingers. “You’ve admitted to spying on a letter my friend wrote when no one was around. The only way you could have seen it was through the surveillance cameras. You also said you checked the lost and found.”

“I did no such thing.” Barney held his hands out to Mr. Everson. “They’re making this up, Sarge. I saw their video. That’s how I knew.”

Gerry stepped around Seamus. “The video never showed the mannequin we used. How did you know it was wearing a mask? It’s understandable why you screamed when you discovered the repulsive thing.”

“Hey”—Althea propped her hands on her hips—“you’re talking about my grandson’s birthday present.”

Daisy patted her roommate’s arm. “I’m sure he’ll love it.”

Emily continued. “You also mentioned the black color of the envelopes, which I didn’t specify. Another unintentional slip.”

The beads of sweat on Barney’s forehead grew more pronounced. “I … I … uh …”

“And the most conclusive proof, why would an honest man delete evidence?”

Adrian’s muscular arms crossed in front of his barrel-like chest. “I don’t see why this skit was necessary. We’ve already searched his room and found the blackmail stationery.”

“But a confession cinches the noose tighter.” Gerry stacked her fists and clinched them together.

Barney cringed. He shouldered his way out of the Shippers’ circle. “I-it was just a few times, Sarge. Really. And I never asked for much.”

Everson’s stony appearance matched the granite in his gaze. “You’re a disgrace, Bosko.”

Emily elbowed Gerry. “Get your notebook ready. I’ve got a feeling this guy’s toast.”