Murder on the Orient Espresso(21)

Old friend, perhaps, but this man had no intention of letting me get near his equipment.

Which was fine, I reminded myself. This was my vacation, after all. ‘I’m sure there’ll be a stampede for coffee once the cake is cut.’

‘That’s not going to be until after the program,’ Boyce said. ‘In the meantime, can I get you liquored up on an espresso martini and you can show these people what they’re missing?’

‘Gladly. And better make it a double.’

‘Yes, ma’am. Double espresso or double vodka?’

‘Both, please,’ I said as Boyce tipped the espresso shot into the plastic martini glass. ‘Do you know what kind of program is planned? Are we going to get clues and skulk around questioning suspects?’

A shake of the head. ‘I’m not sure how elaborate it’s going to be,’ Boyce said, adding the clear alcohol. ‘Missy told me her boss was willing to go along with the theme, but pointed out that the majority of the people – who are repeat attendees – would want to have a drink and catch up with each other on the first night.’

‘Well, she’s certainly right about the drink part,’ I said as the train lurched away from the station. I was relieved to see that, though the exit door was still open, nobody was marooned on the platform. ‘Let’s hope the engineer goes slowly enough that we don’t lose anyone.’

‘I believe “slow” is part of the arrangement, given the train route isn’t officially open yet. I have my fingers crossed we don’t run into something unexpected.’

‘You’ve heard about the pythons?’ Apparently Missy wasn’t overblowing this, either.

‘Oh, yes. It’s a real problem. Whipped cream?’ Boyce held the spray can poised over my incipient drink.

‘Load me up,’ I said, sliding over a twenty. ‘I hate snakes.’

He laughed, stuck a swizzle stick in my drink and slid the twenty back. ‘My treat. One professional to another. And don’t worry about the wildlife. They’re out there and we’re safe in here.’

‘Thanks, for both the drink and the reassurance,’ I said, raising the former. ‘Let me know if you need help.’

‘Will do,’ Boyce said, sounding like he actually meant it this time. ‘And have fun.’

‘Hey, gigantic reptiles that eat each other, an untested train track, and a storm raging toward us?’ I turned with my double-double, finishing over my shoulder with, ‘If that doesn’t spell fun, what does?’





EIGHT





Getting back to the dining car, I stepped inside its door. Zoe Scarlett was still to Pavlik’s left on the banquette, but Rosemary Darlington and Laurence Potter had joined them. Potter was seated next to Zoe and Rosemary was on the other side of Pavlik, effectively putting her diagonally as far away from Potter as possible.

Bookended by the two most important men at her conference, Zoe was understandably incandescent. I wanted to smack her one upside the head.

This despite knowing full well I should be more threatened by Rosemary Darlington. As the author of the most erotic work of popular fiction since Fifty Shades of Grey, she’d certainly know all the moves. Still, the woman managed to come across as a class act.

As the ‘Mary Debenham’ of the book, Rosemary was wearing a light gray coatdress. The vintage garment crossed over at the front, forming a ‘V,’ like Zoe’s, but in contrast to the red wrap Rosemary’s dress was entirely risqué-free. A row of demure buttons fastened the panels of the dress, supported from below by a belt at her waist. The fullish sleeves of the dress ended in bands just below the elbow and, on her head, she wore a matching beret.

As I drew even with the banquette, Potter was talking. ‘I’m not saying, Rosemary, that you haven’t done all of us a service by … shall we say, enlivening our sex lives? I have to admit that even I learned a trick or two from your book.’

‘How lovely,’ Rosemary said with a tight smile. ‘Shall I expect a thank-you note from your wife?’

Good deal. I may have missed the preliminary bouts, but it appeared I was still in time for the main event. Setting my espresso martini on the table, I slid in next to our female guest of honor.

‘Big enough for you?’ Pavlik was nodding at my drink.

‘No, but it was as much as the glass would hold.’ I clamped on the plastic stem as the train swayed and picked up speed.

‘What is that?’ Rosemary Darlington asked. Her tone didn’t convey disdain so much as envy. Rosemary didn’t have a glass in front of her, but looked like she could use one. Our female guest of honor was a tad green.