Dead Man Docking - Mary Daheim [96]
Biff didn’t look convinced. He glanced at Buzz. “You hear that? What do you make of it?”
“Um…” Buzz fidgeted with the ballpoint pen he’d been holding. “I guess I don’t see why they’d hide the jewels in their own safe. I mean, there must be all sorts of other places they could’ve put them. That is, if they knew they had to leave the ship, why would…er…ah…” He grimaced and dropped the pen.
“Because,” Biff barked, “that’s what they want us to think! Holy moley, it’s a trick!”
“Some trick,” Renie said. “Why didn’t we just wear them and parade around Union Square like the rest of the nuts?”
“Hey!” Biff shouted. “Lay off the locals! Aren’t you the creeps who got all the serial killers?”
“Not quite all,” Judith said. “With three murders in three days, you seem to have one of your own.”
“Yeah, well, maybe,” Biff mumbled. “How do we know you two didn’t do those jobs yourself?”
Renie held up a finger. “Motive, anyone?”
“Not to mention,” Judith put in, “why would we steal Mrs. Giddon’s jewelry? I assume you’ve checked to see if either of us has a rap sheet.”
“Don’t mean a thing,” Biff declared. “You could have stolen somebody else’s identity. Happens all the time these days. You’re the perfect types for a jewel heist—muddle-headed middle-aged dames who may seem harmless, but are really a pair of smart crooks, fooling your victims with the old housewife-and-mother act. Besides, you don’t fit in with the rest of the snooty crowd who were at the boat party. I figure you finagled your way into that bunch to get at the jewels.” Biff pointed his stubby thumb at Renie. “The original invite was for a Mr. and Mrs. William Jones. If that’s not a phony name, I don’t know what is.” He swung his thumb in Judith’s direction. “And you don’t look like Mister Jones to me. Though,” he added, more to himself than to the cousins, “around this place, sometimes it’s hard to tell.”
Renie sighed. “We’ve been through this before. My husband couldn’t come on the cruise. My cousin came instead. And I work—worked—for Mr. Cruz. Mrs. Cruz and Paul Tanaka can vouch for me.”
“Sez you.” A tap on the window caused Biff to give a start. “Buzzy, see who that is.”
Buzz went to the door, immediately admitting Rick St. George.
“Good Lord,” Rick said to Biff, “can I ever leave you alone for five minutes? What are you doing here with poor Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Flynn?”
Biff struggled to his feet. “The loot was in their safe on the ship. Their fingerprints were all over the—”
“Calm down, old son,” Rick urged. “I think you jumped the gun. I can assure you, these ladies are above reproach.” He turned just enough to smile reassuringly at Judith and Renie.
Biff’s face was getting very red. “Yeah, well, maybe, but evidence is evidence. And if they didn’t stash the jewels in the safe, who did?”
“An excellent question,” Rick responded, “and one, I might add, that perhaps I can answer for you quite soon.” He chuckled and tapped his temple. “I have a hunch who really stole Mrs. Giddon’s glittering glory.”
“No kidding!” Biff exclaimed. “Who?”
“Not yet, not yet,” Rick replied with a wink. “We’ll get together for a drink in a day or so. For now, let me escort Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Flynn back to their hotel. They must be very tired. First, though, I’m sure you want to apologize to them for the inconvenience.”
“Uh…” Warily, Biff peered at the cousins, who were already on their feet. “Sorry. Anybody can make a mistake. In fact,” he continued, raising his voice and looking over to the place where Buzz had been standing, “this goes to show that good police work requires you to eliminate suspects before—hey! Where’s Buzz?”
Judith had noticed that Buzz had left as soon as Rick entered.
“I believe,” Rick said in his casual manner, “your partner departed.”
“Oh.” Biff shrugged, obviously relieved that the junior officer hadn’t witnessed the recent turn of events. “Just as well.”
“Shall we?” Rick said to Judith and Renie.
“We shall,” Judith said. “Good night, Detective.”
Biff didn’t respond.
“We’ll go out the back way and miss the riffraff,” Rick said after they