Of course, London thought, holding back a sigh.
She and Bryce wrapped themselvestogether in one of the blankets they’d been given, and London tugged on SirReggie’s leash. As the three of them started to walk back toward the ship,another worrisome matter occurred to her.
She turned and said to DetektivErlich, “There’s something I need to tell you more privately. Could you walkwith us for a moment?”
“Certainly,” the detective said.
London spoke to him cautiously asthey separated themselves from the crowd.
“Detektiv, I’ve got something … well, a bit strange to tell you.”
“Well?” Erlich asked.
London gulped hard.
“This, uh, isn’t the first deadbody I’ve come across during the last few days.”
Erlich’s eyes widened as he lookedat her.
“Oho! That does come as rathera surprise.”
London continued, “You see, one ofour passengers, Lillis Klimowski, was killed in Gyor about a week ago. I foundher dead in the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady. Then a coupleof days ago I found a dead tour guide in the House for Mozart in Salzburg.”
Erlich nodded.
“I heard something about whathappened in Salzburg. I didn’t hear many details, except that it was a case ofhomicide. Was the woman’s death a homicide also?”
“I’m afraid so,” London said.
Erlich clucked his tongue andspoke with a note of wry understatement.
“Well, that certainly casts aninteresting new light on things.”
“I thought I should tell you rightaway,” London explained. “Since your investigation will involve me and the Nachtmusik,you were sure to find out about these deaths sooner or later. And naturally,you’d be suspicious.”
“Naturally.”
“So I wanted to set thingsstraight as soon as I could and save you time and confusion. May I jot someinformation down for you?”
Erlich passed her his pencil andnotepad.
London said as she wrote, “Theseare the names and contact information of the lead investigators in both cases.If you call them, they’ll certainly confirm that neither I nor anybody elseaboard the Nachtmusik were in any way culpable for those deaths.”
Erlich took the notepad back,looked at it, and tucked it into his pocket.
“Yes, this should be very helpful,”he said. “I will certainly check in with these two investigators. Of coursethis won’t resolve any questions about your role in Herr Forstmann’s death.Meanwhile, I expect you to be ready for further questioning tomorrow. The samegoes for the other woman who was with you when the beer-spilling incident tookplace.”
Erlich turned and headed backtoward the crime scene.
Other straggling passengers joinedLondon and Bryce and Reggie on their way back to the boat. London’s shoessquished with her every step, and the weight of her soaked clothes made herslouch. The situation reminded her of Gyor, when she and Bryce jumped into theDanube to rescue Sir Reggie from drowning after the dog had tackled a fleeingcriminal.
At least that episode had endedwell, with Sir Reggie alive and the criminal in custody. London had no idea howthis new adventure was going to end.
Apparently offended by the smell,Sir Reggie kept a few feet of distance from them. Although London and Brycekept huddling under the same blanket, their physical contact felt anything butromantic.
London found it hard to believethat, just a little while ago, they had been on the verge of sharing theirfirst kiss.
How fast things change, she thought.
The day had certainly takenunexpected turns.
And London was pretty sure theworst was yet to come.
As London, Bryce, and Sir Reggieclimbed up the gangway, an anxious group of passengers awaited them in thereception area. They were greeted by a cacophony of voices.
“Is it true what the captain justannounced over the PA system?”
“Has there been another murder?”
“Are we not allowed to leaveBamberg?
“Why does this keep happening tous?”
“When are we going to set sailagain?”
London felt dizzy from the barrageof questions—and also from the stench of the beer, which now made her gag.Before she or Bryce could think of anything to say, Captain Hays came stridinginto the reception area.
“No questions right now, if youplease,” he demanded of the group. “Give these two good people some room tobreathe.”
The crowd dispersed somewhat, andCaptain Hays looked London and Bryce over.
“You two look rather worse for thewear,” he said. “And you don’t smell especially good either. Detektiv Erlichtold me about your dunking.”
Looking down at the dry SirReggie, the captain said to the dog, “At least you seem to have beenspared the worst of it.”
Then he added to Bryce and London,“Go to your rooms, get yourselves cleaned up, and try to rest. Take as long asyou need to recover your wits. From what Detektiv Erlich told me, we probablywon’t have to deal with the repercussions of this dreadful episode untiltomorrow.”
London and Bryce thanked him forhis consideration.
With a nod and a shrug, thecaptain said, “Bit of a run of bad luck we’re having, isn’t it?”
He turned and headed up the stairsto the bridge. London and Bryce took the elevator down to the Allegro deck.Before they parted in the passageway, they stopped and looked at each other andsmiled shyly.
“I hope … sometime soon …” Brycesaid, his voice trailing off.
London’s smile broadened. She knewwhat he was leaving unsaid—that he hoped they’d soon pick up where they’d leftoff.
“I hope so too,” she said.
They exchanged chaste,beer-flavored kisses on the cheek and headed off to their staterooms.
Sir Reggie hopped through thedoggie door to London’s stateroom before London could open the door. Once theywere both inside, the dog headed over to his water bowl and drank thirstily, asif trying to wash away the smell.
“Consider yourself lucky, pal,”London said as she gave him some fresh dog food. “Not only are you not soakedin beer, nobody suspects you of murder. Or at least Detektiv Erlich didn’tsay you were. You’d better be on your best behavior until we know for sure.”
London stood dripping for amoment. She didn’t dare sit down anywhere for fear of soaking the bed or thefurniture. She kicked off her shoes, hoping they weren’t ruined, and gatheredtogether a bathrobe and slippers, holding them at arm’s length as she went intothe bathroom.
She didn’t bother taking off herclothes until the shower was running. She stepped
