Mary Daheim - Dead Man Docking

To Lyssawife, mom, and editor.

You do it all,

and oh, so well.

Contents

vii

JUDITH MCMONIGLE FLYNN winced,

flinched, and grimaced as she held

JUDITH STARED IN the mirror at her new

hair

color

JUDITH SPENT THE rest of Wednesday in

a frenzy of

ART DECO RULED the ships design, from

furniture to paneling

DAMNED FUNNY, ST. George! Horace

Pankhurst shouted, slapping his thick

I CANT BELIEVE, Judith said to Renie

as they sought

THE COUSINS WERE still making conjectures about the weapon when

WHY, JUDITH ASKED after Chevy

Barker-James had left, would

IT FIGURES, RENIE said as notes from

the Compass Rose

THE COUSINS COULD already hear sirens

approaching.

YOU DIDNT ASK what kind of weapon?

Judith demanded.

AMBROSE EVERHARTS DEPARTURE

seemed to signal a change in the

THE IMPOSSIBLE WAS not only possible,

but for once, it

BY THE TIME Judith got back to the

table at

A MOMENT LATER, the waitress came

by to tell Flakey

ERMA GIDDON HOWLED like a wounded

hound, clutching at her

DESPITE THE FACT that their cabdriver

didnt seem conversant in

HOLD IT! RENIE cried. Are you crazy?

We didnt steal

YOU DIDNT HEAR the latest? Connie

asked in an excited

JIMS AN IDIOT, Renie declared as the

cousins rode home

I TRIED TO tell them you didnt steal

the jewels,

THE CATHEDRAL OF St. Mary of the

Assumption was startlingly

Magglio Cruz Self-made man, successful shipowner, and a gracious host who should stay away from pianos. Consuela Cruz Magglios wife, an heiress who has a right to be embarrassed by a leftover scandal. Erma Giddon A rich San Francisco matron whose plussize figure puts the big in bigotry. Anemone Giddon Ermas sheltered daughter, who has everything except what she really wants.

Jim Brooks An aspiring doctor who needs more practice and is a less-than-perfect suitor for Anemone. Ambrose Everhart Ermas private secretary, whose public causes embrace more than endangered redwoods. Horace Pankhurst The Giddon familys financial adviser deals in cork futures and beautiful blondes, past and present.

Beulah Ermas colored maid, whos a lot more colorful than she pretends.

CeeCee Orr A blond bombshell who figures her figure can add up to big bucks.

Paul Tanaka Cruzs second in command and first in charge of a widows needs.

mile Grenier The ships purser, whose superior French air is as noticeable as his mysterious limp. May Belle (Dixie) Beales A Southern belle who rings once too often.

Randolph J. Swafford Ship captain and bluff English sea dog who may or may not be bluffing.

viii

Cast of Cruising Characters

Blackie A Mystery Man who may or may not be

Blackie.

Rick St. George Debonair man-about-murder who takes sleuthing as seriously as drinking. Rhoda St. George Ricks slightly more sober better half, with beauty, brains, and a big, big bank account.

JUDITH MCMONIGLE FLYNN winced, flinched, and grimaced as she held the phone as far as possible from her ear. Cousin Renie was screaming obscenities at the other end and throwing in an occasional death threat. Unable to listen any longer, Judith severed the connection. A minute later, she was swallowing two aspirin when the phone rang again. Reluctantly, Judith answered.

What happened? Renie asked in a more normal voice. We got cut off.

I hung up, Judith replied. Your ranting gave me a headache.

You have a headache? Renie shot back, her words climbing several decibels. How about me ? Ive never been fired before in my life.

Cruz Cruises didnt exactly fire you, Judith pointed out. Moving their corporate offices to San Francisco means you cant have your usual hands-on control of their design work. Youve still got plenty of clients. And,

she warned, if you start yelling again Ill hang up again.

Renie, known to the professional world as Serena Jones of CaJones Graphic Design, snarled into the phone.

Okay, okay. But they were a big source of my income with all those cruise magazines and hefty brochures and 2

Mary Daheim

other promos that require artwork. Im calling Bills brother Bub and telling him to sue the pants off of Cruz Cruises. It wont cost me a dime, because Bubs such a good guy when it comes to family. If Magglio Cruz looks him up in Martindale-Gobble or whatever the ABA reference book is called, hell see Bub has really impressive credentials.

Judith was aware that Bub Joneswhose real name was Millardhad had a very successful career as the senior partner in a large local law firm. Bub was also a man of integrity, despite his one eccentricity, which was wearing wigs to cover his baldness. Bub owned an office wig, a golf wig, a party wig, a trial wig, and a picnic wig. At home, he wore a baseball cap Renie had given him as a Christmas present many years earlier. The cap bore the words WISH YOU WERE HAIR.

Good luck, Judith said to Renie.

Setting the phone down on the kitchen counter, Judith gazed out through the window above the sink. It was raining, typical Pacific Northwest March weather. It had been raining since November with only an occasional glimpse of sun and one brief January snowfall to break the monotony. Even a native like Judith yearned for a clear day. Her dark eyes roamed to the reservation book she kept next to the computer. Only two of Hillside Manor B&Bs six rooms would be occupied on this Wednesday night. There were three reservations for Thursday, but all of the rooms were booked through the weekend, thanks to St. Patricks Day falling on Monday. The rest of next week looked thin. Maybe she could take time out to get her hair dyed. Joe Flynn wandered into the kitchen, seeking a coffee refill.

Judith ran her fingers through her silver-streaked tresses.

Im thinking about having some blond highlights put in at Chez Steves Salon. Would you like that?

As opposed to this last dye job that makes you look like a skunk? Joe nodded. Yes, youd look terrific with a touch of shimmering gold. He kissed her forehead. What gave you that idea?

DEAD MAN DOCKING

It worked wonders for Kristin, she said, referring to their daughter-in-law, who had somehow resolved a personal crisis the previous June by changing her hair color.

Maybe, Judith went on, itll pep me up. Im running on fumes these days.

Judith had started to turn gray in her late teens, just as her mother had done. Shed dyed her hair for years, but after her first husband, Dan McMonigle, died, shed let the black grow out, and had been silver-haired since her forties. Years passed before Renie finally convinced Judith that shed look much better with at least some of her original color. Never one to make changes easily, Judith allowed almost another decade to pass before she heeded her cousins advice. But now she was ready for an even more drastic transformation.

Why dont you lighten up all your hair? Joe suggested.

Maybe go brunette, close to your natural color.

Judith knew what Joe really meant. He was rightgold and raven hair might look harsh in middle age. Not wanting to give herself the chance to change her mind, Judith dialed the salons number and made an appointment for nine oclock the following Tuesday.

As the days passed bystill raining, and with occasional gusty windsJudith began to get excited about her new look. A few more reservations trickled in. She kept busy, and it was Saturday afternoon before she realized she hadnt heard from Renie. They usually spoke to each other at least once a day. They were both only children, and had grown up more like sisters than cousins.