Todd Borg - Tahoe Deep

August 28, 1940

How wrong could it be to murder a murderer? the young man asked.

Youre not serious, the young woman said.

The young man spoke slowly, ignoring her comment, pondering his idea. Jack Questman robbed and killed someone. He doesnt deserve to live. Not only would we be doing the world a favor, we could get rich in the process. I know right where to look in his bedroom for the take from his latest crime. He showed me his secret hiding place.

Please tell me this is a hypothetical question, the woman said.

But there are two problems with killing him, the man continued, lost in his thoughts, not hearing her.

The woman and her date walked along the narrow gravel road in Tahoe City, California, on the northwest side of Lake Tahoe. It was a brilliant morning, the high-altitude sun scouring the landscape and turning the lakes waves into a show of sparkling gemstones. In the far distance, the summer snowfields on the mountains above the South Shore still glistened white.

The woman decided to play along. Let me guess, she said. Wed have to entice him out of his mansion and lure him to a place where thered be no witnesses.

Yeah, thats the first problem, the man said.

Whats the second? the woman asked.

The man stopped walking and stared out at the giant lake. His frown was severe.

The woman looked up at his face. At 26 years of age, he was older than she was by four years. He had a demeanor of wisdom. Ever since shed first met him, when he came up to the lake the summer before, shed been impressed with his intensity and focus. He traveled and camped alone, a real adult among the kids his age.

The second problem is how to dispose of the body, the man said. When cops find a body, the higher-up detectives are very good at figuring out aspects of the victim and the crime that you would never think of. I learned about it in my criminal justice class. Its called forensic science. Wed have to hide the body in a great place.

The woman looked off toward the lake where the old Tahoe Steamer ship was floating. I think I know how to dispose of the body, she said. Maybe how to lure him out of his house, too.

The man raised his eyebrows. You do?

The woman smiled, a little mischief in her eyes. You saw the way Questman looked at me. Up and down like I was a beauty contestant and he was a teenager. He flirted continuously. Even got a little fresh with me.

Where are you going with this? the man asked.

I ask him to join me tonight. A rowboat date. He probably knows that the Tahoe Steamer has been taken out of dry dock. Theyre towing it across the lake to Glenbrook. Tomorrow or the next day.

I saw that the ship was floated a few days ago, the man said. But I didnt know they were going to tow it to Glenbrook. Why?

Theyre going to sink it there, where it was first launched forty-some years ago. So Ill invite our victim to come with me out to the steamer. For a last look at the boat before its gone. I can tell him I have a bottle of wine. Hell think were going on a little romantic adventure.

The womans companion turned on his heel very slowly and began walking again. And after you get him out there?

I remember some large lockers on the main level, just below the bridge. I can get him curious, let him peek inside, then you step out from around the corner and hit him on the head with something, maybe the bottle of wine. Well shut his body inside the locker, and hell go down with the ship when they scuttle it at Glenbrook. Theres no better way to hide a body than at the bottom of Lake Tahoe. Both problems solved.

Tell me more about the steamer, the man said.

Youve probably heard of the lumber bigshot D.L. Bliss. I dont know much, but my dad is a history buff, and he knows everything about Bliss. Anyway, Bliss had the steamer built back in the eighteen nineties, before the road was built around the lake. The steamer hauled summer tourists and workers and building things and groceries. Even the mail. I was still in my teens when they finished building the first decent road around the lake. That was about six years ago. The road made it so people no longer had to ride the steamer to get around the lake. So it went out of business. They pulled the steamer out of the water and put it in dry dock storage. Now that its no longer used, Blisss son William is going to sink it. Its the cheapest way to dispose of it.

How do you know the boats layout? the young man asked. The lockers and such.

The woman giggled. Its a long story.

Ive got time, the man said.

Ever since the steamer stopped being used, the boats been nothing more than a late-night hangout for kids. Both when it was at anchor on the water and later when it was in dry dock.

The man paused. Youre saying that kids snuck onto the steamer even when it was up on blocks?

Kids will be kids, the woman said. The boat is huge. Its something like one hundred seventy feet long. The grandest boat to ever cruise Tahoe, or so my father says. She pointed toward where the ship was moored. Most of the ship is the main passenger lounge. Its surrounded by the promenade deck. The upper deck has the pilothouse and the lifeboats. And the lower level has the boiler room and engine room. So there are lots of places to, you know, have fun.

Are you sure theyre actually going to sink it? It seems a boat like that would still be useful for something. Your plan would fall apart if it wasnt sunk.

Word is that the son, William Bliss, wants to create something called an underwater museum.

Whats that? the man asked. He still frowned, deep in thought.

Bliss thinks that tourists will pay to ride glass-bottomed boats out to look down on the greatest boat to ever cruise Lake Tahoe.

They walked in silence for a long moment.

You think you can use a bottle of wine to entice our target out onto the steamer? the man asked. What if hes not a drinker?

The woman grinned and lightly slugged the man on the shoulder. Dont be dense. I dont even like wine. Thats just, you know... an accessory. Its my girly charms thatll get the job done.

I dont know, the man said. How would you and he get out to the steamer?

The Fullers keep a rowboat in the marina.

Who are the Fullers?

Theyre the couple in the cabin just south of our familys cabin. The woman pointed down toward the docks. Its the red rowboat at the second dock. Its locked with a chain and padlock. The Fullers let us use it, so I know where they hide the key. They keep the oars in the boat. I know they wouldnt mind if I borrowed it. Not that theyd ever know.

Could you take me out to the steamer now and show me the layout? the man asked.

The woman hesitated. She stared out toward the steamer. I suppose I could, she eventually said.

The woman led the man onto a walkway that went from the street down to the water. From there, it was a short walk to the docks. In the middle of the second dock was the rowboat. The couple unlocked the boat, untied the mooring lines, got into the rowboat, and headed out of the marina. The man sat on the middle seat facing to the rear. He rowed. The woman sat on the rear seat, helping him steer to the steamer, which was moored just a quarter mile offshore. They tied the rowboats line to the big ships access ladder near the stern and climbed up and over the railing to the first level and went inside.