Murder on the Orient Espresso(59)
Boyce didn’t look too worried. He was sitting on the stool we’d found for him, leaning against the door of the vestibule leading to the sleeping car, arms crossed. ‘I’m afraid not.’
‘Are you blind?’ She waggled the barrel to prove her point. ‘I have a gun.’
‘And a permit for it?’ Pavlik asked quietly from behind her.
Audra turned, startled, which is when Boyce stood and pushed down her wrist so the muzzle was pointing to the floor before he pried it from her hand.
‘Of course I have a permit,’ Audra said to the sheriff, rubbing her forearm and seeming dazed by his question. ‘This is South Florida. Santa and his reindeer can carry concealed weapons.’
‘Unfortunately, that’s true,’ Boyce said, handing Pavlik the gun, butt first. ‘It’s easier to get a CCW permit down here than a driver’s license.’
‘Or a Resident Beach Parking permit,’ contributed Danny.
Absently, I wondered how he hyperlinked to that connection. And which of the two permits Danny had attempted to get.
The young man stepped past me to take hold of Audra’s non-shooting arm. ‘She’s really upset,’ he told Pavlik. ‘Can we go to the club car, maybe find her something to drink?’
‘As long as she doesn’t expect to get this back anytime soon.’ The sheriff held up the gun and we watched Danny and Audra shuffle/stumble off.
‘Interesting,’ I said under my breath. ‘A variation on the Deathtrap twist, perhaps?’
‘What?’ Pavlik asked.
‘Never mind,’ I said, linking my arm with his. ‘We’ll watch it together some time. What’s next?’
‘Excuse me, Sheriff.’ Carson/Count Andrenyi was standing in front of us.
‘Yes?’
I couldn’t remember if Pavlik knew who the man was. ‘This is Carson, the lit—’
‘Of course,’ the sheriff said. ‘I saw you in the club car earlier. You’re Mr Potter’s and Ms Edmond’s agent.’
But when Pavlik extended his hand, Carson leaped back like a two-legged gazelle.
‘He doesn’t shake,’ I whispered to my lover.
The sheriff lowered his hand. Slowly, I thought, so as not to embarrass Carson any more than the man had himself. ‘What can I do for you?’
‘I do understand that you’re interviewing people in order and I should wait my turn.’
‘He’s Count Andrenyi,’ I said to Pavlik. ‘In Christie’s sequence, the second to last.’
The sheriff shrugged. ‘It sounded like a good idea at the time, but I think that moment has passed. Why don’t you follow us?’
I led the way and got Carson a glass of water while Pavlik settled in across from him and opened his notebook. ‘Do you have something you’d like to tell us?’
I tried to hand Carson the water, but he just waved me off, refusing to touch the glass.
I set it down and picked up the smart phone. ‘Do you mind if I video our conversation?’
‘No, I suppose not,’ Carson said. ‘Though I’d appreciate both of you keeping this confidential unless it has a bearing on Larry’s death.’
‘I’ll do my best,’ Pavlik said, ‘but you have to understand that I don’t have jurisdiction here. We’ll need to answer the authorities’ questions when they arrive, just like everyone else on this train will.’
Carson thought about that for a second. ‘Understood.’ He leaned forward. ‘I’m a little concerned about Audra and that young man.’
Pavlik rocked three inches backward. ‘That “young” …?’
‘Danny,’ I interjected. ‘The one who was so interested in your workshops and who just escorted Audra to the club car.’
Mystery 101’s principal forensics speaker shook his head. ‘I’m starting to think you know more people here than I do.’
I shrugged. ‘I get around. You’ve been … monopolized.’
‘And I’m sorry about that,’ Pavlik said. ‘When we get—’
Carson cleared his throat.
‘Sorry.’ Pavlik shook his head again. ‘It’s been a long day. And night.’
‘I understand,’ Carson said. ‘I just want to get this off my chest before I have time to think better of it.’
‘Shoot.’ The sheriff raised his pen. ‘Uh, Danny?’
‘Correct. The young man saw a trade announcement about a novel that Larry and Audra are working on. Danny got it in his head that Larry stole the idea from him and sent me an email outlining his accusations literally chapter and verse.’