London could see that it actually was a beautiful view, withmoonlight playing on a forested riverbank. Just coming into sight were thecheerful lights of a German town.
Less cheerful was Amy’s expression when she turned to London andsnapped, “I hope you’re not here to tell me something else I’ve got to dotoday.”
London was a little startled by the suggestion.
“Of course not,” she said.
“Good. Because I’m off the clock.”
Amy let out an exaggerated sigh of exhaustion. She turnedslightly in her chair and kicked off her high-heeled shoes in a dramaticfashion.
“Honestly, London, you know how to work a woman half to death. I’vebeen on my feet nonstop since this morning doing your bidding. I’m dead on myfeet. I ache from head to toe.”
London was a bit nonplussed. She didn’t doubt that Amy had beenworking hard all day. So had London. But they’d had no one-on-one contact untilnow, and although London was technically Amy’s boss, she hadn’t given theconcierge a single order today. They’d both been going about their separatetasks.
It’s not like I’ve been cracking the whip, London thought.
“I just thought we could … visit for a little while,” London said.
“What about?”
London shrugged.
“I don’t know,” she said. “About … things, I guess. Nothing inparticular.”
Amy shrugged and took another sip of her daiquiri and looked outthe window again.
London wished she’d come prepared with a few items of meaninglesssmall talk to break this hard, deep, cold layer of ice.
Meanwhile, Letitia had finished singing “I’ve Got You Under MySkin,” and was making a segue into a swaying and finger-snapping rendition ofCole Porter’s “It’s De-Lovely.”
London was relieved to have something to talk about.
“Sounds like Letitia’s going to go through the whole Cole Portersong book,” London said to Amy with a smile.
“Huh,” Amy said. “I’d like to know whose idea it was for her todo this little act.”
London’s eyes widened.
Of course, it had been Letitia’s own idea to do a cabaret acthere in the Amadeus Lounge. But London herself had encouraged her and made allthe necessary arrangements.
“You don’t like the way she sings?” London asked.
“Oh, she sings just fine, I guess,” Amy said. “But somebodyshould have warned the audience to hang onto their valuables.”
She crossed her arms and added, “In fact, I don’t know why youhaven’t put out some sort of APB so that everybody aboard knows they’d betterwatch out for her.”
London was more than a little shocked by this remark. As far asshe knew, Bob and Amy were the only other people aboard the Nachtmusikwho knew about Letitia’s kleptomania. They’d all agreed to keep quiet aboutit—or so London had thought. London hated the idea of exposing the repentantthief to the judgment of everybody around her.
“She says she’s not going to steal anything else,” London said.
“And you believe her?”
“I think she deserves a chance, anyway. Besides, she doesn’tsteal personal belongings.”
“I know—just little items from restaurants and museums and such.As if that made everything hunky-dory.”
London squinted with worry.
“Amy, you haven’t told anybody about all that, have you?”
For the first time since London had joined her at her table, Amygrinned just a little.
“What if I have?” she asked.
“Please tell me you didn’t.”
Amy chuckled a little.
“Maybe I did, and maybe I didn’t. You don’t know, do you?”
Before London could say anything else, she saw Emil coming intothe lounge from the ship’s library. He walked with a spring in his step, so helooked more cheerful than he had when London had last seen him. He even smiledand waved slightly as he noticed that Amy was in the lounge, and Amy smiled andwaved back at him.
Emil headed toward them, but suddenly he hesitated. Lookingdirectly at London, he slowed his steps and frowned. Then he turned and walkedback toward the library. Amy looked disappointed to see him go.
“What do you suppose is wrong with Emil?” London muttered.
“Why do you ask?” Amy said.
“He’s been standoffish toward me since yesterday,” London said.
“Maybe he doesn’t like being accused of murder,” Amy said.
London’s mouth dropped open with shock and surprise.
“I never accused him of murder,” she said.
“Odd. I seem to remember you saying something like that.”
London’s mind raced as she tried to understand what Amy meant.But then she remembered the scene right here in the lounge just a few days ago,when she’d been questioning a group of people to try to determine who hadkilled Mrs. Klimowski. Emil had been one of her suspects—she couldn’t helpthat—but then so had some of the ship’s passengers. She hadn’t accused anybodyof anything, but she remembered how testy the historian had gotten towardher—even a bit sarcastic.
“I would be rather disappointed in your intellectual prowessif you did not include me among your roster of suspects.”
Unfortunately, she’d had a sharper confrontation with him justyesterday over the murder of the tour guide in Salzburg. He hadn’t reacted atall well to her admission that she suspected him.
“I think our little chat shouldend here,” he’d told her. “Kindlyleave me alone.”
Of course, London and Emil had been alone in his library at thetime, and Amy couldn’t possibly know about Emil’s frosty words toward her …
Or could she?
“Amy, what’s going on?” London said.
“About what?”
“Well, you to start with. I know we haven’t always seeneye to eye—”
“No, we really haven’t.”
“—but tonight you’re being very odd. What do you know that I don’tknow?”
Amy laughed outright.
“You don’t know, do you?” she said.
I wish she’d stop saying that! London thought.
Still laughing, Amy leaned across the table on her elbows.
“Honestly, London, there’s so much going on around herethat you don’t know about. Don’t you ever look right under your nose? Doessomebody always have to tell you about everything that’s happening? Can’t youfigure it out for yourself?”
“Can’t I figure what out?” London asked. She could feelher frustration rising.
“There. That’s just my point. You don’t know, do you?”
Amy was smiling ear-to-ear, all happy and gloating. She pushedher empty glass aside and put her shoes back on and got up from her chair.
“Well, I’ll just leave you to your unresolved curiosity.Goodnight, London.”
Amy walked out of the lounge, leaving London alone at the
