“That’s not an insult from where I sit,” Clarissa noted. “Morality is a seat belt for those terrified by their own animalistic nature. Those of us who embrace our complete right to seek pleasure—well, we don’t need a seat belt. We find it constricting.”
Who in the heck were we working for? The best thing to do was finish the case as quickly as possible and put the barracuda who’d hired us far behind.
I eased closer to her. “Why did you hire us, Clarissa?”
She looked around for another waitress with fresh drinks, and when she didn’t see one, she sighed. All around us smiling people were singing and laughing and enjoying the Christmas spirit. Not Clarissa. She was like a big spider, waiting for a fly in her web. At last she looked at me. “I enjoy life. A lot. I take what I want and I don’t make apologies. Someone is trying to punish those of us who live life to the fullest. They haven’t targeted me—yet. But they will in time. I don’t want to take a tumble or have a snake put in my bed. So find out who is doing this and put a stop to it before someone is really hurt. That’s what I’m paying you for. There’s no ulterior motive. I just want my normal life to resume. You’ve been paid, make it happen.”
And we had deposited her check. There was no way around that fact. So much for the efficiency of modern banking and our cynical decision to make sure the check cleared. Now we were obligated to dance with the devil.
“Who do you think is behind the karaoke shocking and Bart’s fall?” Tinkie asked Clarissa. “It would help if we had a direction, and since you’re all up in this, who’s been talking?”
“I gave you all the tips I had. It isn’t me. I’m not responsible. So who is?”
“Is there anyone who lost a spouse or fiancé to cheating recently?” Tinkie asked.
Clarissa considered. “Sunny Crenshaw is at the top of that list. She hasn’t lost Bart, but he views her as an old shoe. You know, something to wear when the yard is full of mud. That must cut her to the quick, though I have no illusions that she truly loves him. He pursued her hot and heavy, with all the charm and romance any woman could want. She brought the money to that marriage. She set him up in business. He gave her the royal treatment until the marriage license was signed, and then he was tired of her.”
“We do need to talk to Sunny,” I said. “Thanks.” We’d been remiss in not getting to Sunny Crenshaw before now, but I’d hoped to have more facts when I did talk to her. Her husband might be a serial cheater, but she remained married to him.
“She isn’t on Darla’s boat, but Darla will know which boat she’s on. Darla has the passenger list.”
“Where can we disembark?”
“Downriver there’s a marina.”
I looked downriver and saw the glittering lights of the boat parade. The river was broad and slow-moving in this stretch. The night was calm, with no wind. The multicolored lights reflected on the water, creating a fairy-tale illusion. A burst of brilliant fireworks flared from the bank, and spangles of color illuminated the night. Any minute now Tinker Bell might appear.
Coleman came up behind me, and his arms captured me for a kiss. With the fireworks and the lights and the gentle motion of the boat, I closed my eyes to drink in the experience. Coleman held me safely against him. Just then there was a cry from the wheelhouse and the boat lurched hard to the left. Coleman grabbed the railing and held me safely upright as passengers tumbled in all directions. Women and men stumbled around the deck, grasping for anything to hold on to as the boat rolled slightly. Those who couldn’t find something to grab hit the deck and slipped toward the side. Bodies slid toward the rail.
A cry arose from the bow. “Man overboard!”
“Tinkie! Cece! Millie!” I called out, immediately concerned that they’d accidentally gone over the side. To my relief, my friends answered. Jaytee, Harold, and Oscar were also safe. We helped other passengers to their feet as a flustered Darla held a clipboard with the names of all her passengers, trying to take an inventory.
“What happened?” I asked.
“I don’t know. The skipper thinks we hit a log or something in the water. At least that’s his best guess right now, without having a chance to really examine anything. The motor is gone. He thinks the propellers are broken.”
“Did someone really go overboard?”
Darla was clearly upset. “I’m trying to check off the passengers against my boarding list now. If someone fell in the river, they could freeze.” She hailed a man I’d seen working in the wheelhouse. “Get all the lights you can. Radio the other boats. We have to start searching.”
“Shouldn’t you check the list?” I suggested gently. “Maybe no one went over.”
“You could be right. I just think of someone in that cold water. Even a strong swimmer might not last long.”
Coleman approached Darla. “What can we do to help?”
“Check belowdecks. No one should be down there, but people are curious, and a lot of people have been drinking heavily, which is another concern if they went in the river. Since the motors are locked up, I’ve put in a call for someone to come tow us.” She looked up from the list. “Have you seen Kathleen?”
Tinkie had also joined us. “No. Nor Clarissa.”
“Oh, dear.” Darla put a hand on Coleman’s arm. “There’s a high-beam light in the wheelhouse. Can you get it and scan the water?”
“Sure thing.” Coleman was gone in an instant.
I went belowdecks to the small living quarters, hoping to find the two missing passengers, but the living space was empty, as was the head and galley. With the motors quieted, the only sound was the gentle creaking of the boat. Cece
