Bubbles poured from its mouth and it curled its tail under. Ha! You kidding me? Those bozos deserved it, I had beef with every one of ’em. He reached out a long arm and snapped at a passing lobster, who recoiled and scuttled away. And you’re next, Steve! Serves you right for taking over that rock. That was my rock!
I nodded. Great. I’d struck up conversation with the most unlikeable invertebrate in the tank.
I made little pincher hands again. Listen, uh…?
The little red guy snapped a pincher. Ted.
Ted. There was a murder earlier, of a wizard—I hurried to specify this wasn’t a crustacean homicide—and I’m wondering if you saw anything suspicious?
I figured there was about a 1 percent chance of learning anything useful, but with Daisy the canine lie detector always hanging about, I’d at least be able to truthfully report back to Peter that I’d done some questioning.
A crab scuttled over, its pinchers lifted skyward, and clicked them a few times. Apologies. Didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but it’s a small tank and I couldn’t help but overhear. Your conversation has me hooked. It broke out into what I assumed was laughter, its eyes squeezed shut and claws clacking together.
The lobster, Ted, and I exchanged flat looks.
He shook his head, mouth tendrils floating in the current, and snapped one claw, hard. Crabs.
The crab clicked it claws. We get a bad rap, you know, but most of us are quite cheery.
I lifted my brows at Ted. Clearly.
Anyway, just scuttled over to let you know that I did see two men in uniforms earlier. They came back here—the crab pointed to a spot to my left—and yelled at each other. I remember because their raised voices sent all the guppies scrambling.
I frowned. This actually might be a legitimate clue. I made grabby hands, tapping my fingers together, and jabbing my hands skyward. If anyone could see me now, they’d probably just think I was a terrible dancer. Do you remember what they looked like? Could you identify them?
The crab rocked side to side, apparently thinking. Hmm. It clacked its claw a few times. They both had on uniforms. One of them put an arm around the other one and dragged him away outside. It jabbed a claw to my left.
I gathered up my dress and moved further toward the center of the fish tank until a door came into view. Huh. I hurried forward and turned the brass knob. Cool sea air blew tendrils of hair out of my face. I leaned halfway out and looked left and right. A narrow corridor ran around the back of the ship here, the railing leading to a steep drop off to the rudder and sea below.
I ducked back inside and closed the door, then spun around to face the tank. There was another way out of the ballroom, one that probably few knew about, hidden as it was behind the fish tank. And two men in uniform? One of them easily could have been Davies, but who was the other? And had another cop pushed him overboard?
I leaned against the wall and faced the tank, though I wasn’t really seeing it. I tapped a finger against my bottom lip as I thought it over. Why would another cop have taken out Davies? He’d won Officer of the Year, something his fellow officers voted on—I had to assume he was popular. I frowned. Except with Peter… who’d seemed jealous.
Come again?
I blinked.
The crab and lobster waited expectantly. I glanced down at my tapping finger. Oh—oops. That was just absentminded fidgeting. I made a claw with my hand and clacked it together. One last thing though… I arched a brow. Have either of you ever seen this ghost pirate I keep hearing about?
Bubbles flew from the lobster’s mouth. Ghost? This ship is about as haunted as my rock. The one you stole, STEVE!
The crab’s eyes shifted to the lobster. Geez. He’s not even over here.
I made little claw hands. So to clarify, that’s a no on seeing ghosts?
The ship’s ghostless, I tell ya!
I gave the lobster and crab a little salute. Thanks! I hope no one orders crab or lobster for a long time.
I jerked as the ballroom doors swung open with a bang. Chief Taylor, flanked by officers, strode in, his hard eyes scanning the room. Snakes! I crouched lower, hiding.
The water blurred his features as he barked out orders. “Search the room!”
Oh crab. I edged to my left toward the semihidden door. At least there was a back way out. A few more officers strode in, escorting groups of witnesses, and despite the water blurring my view, I recognized Peter among them. He headed straight for me and the fish tank, with Daisy at his side.
He scanned the room and called out, “Jolene?”
Daisy lifted her nose and sniffed.
My heartbeat picked up. I doubted he’d seen me—he was probably just headed this way because I’d told him I was going to question the fish. My eyes slid to Chief Taylor. I’d have been happy to chat with Peter, of course, but I was sure the chief would insist on me removing my mask if he saw me. No, thank you.
I stretched my left arm out, patting around for the doorknob as I kept my eyes on Peter.
“Jolene?”
The crab turned around and raised its pinchers. Oh! That’s him.
I froze with the door cracked open, midway through my escape. I tapped my fingers. What?
The crab turned back around to face me, then pointed at Peter—quickly approaching—with its claw. That’s the man I saw drag the other man in the uniform away.
I shook my head. No way. I mean, I guess the thought had occurred to me for a moment, but the idea of Peter harming someone else was absurd. I bet he even had a good rap among
