Free Sea Salt Caramel Murder (A Maple Hills Cozy Mystery Book 4) by Wendy Meadows Page B

letter in the medical bay. When I used the bathroom a few minutes ago, I examined the papers.”
    “Could be anyone's pen. That won't hold up in a court of law,” Hawk warned Nikki as he examined the ink marks. “We need proof Lane is the killer.”
    “I wasn't sure Mr. Lane was the killer until a few minutes ago when we spoke with him on the bridge. “Mr. Lane didn't become upset when I mentioned the bomb to him. Hawk, he already knew that we were aware of the bomb. If you hadn't found the note in Dr. Rowen's brandy bottle...”
    Hawk thought back to the warning letter. Nikki was right. If the killer wanted them dead, they would be dead. The two men who were dead knew Brody on a personal level. And, Hawk thought, Brody would know the layout of the ship as well as anyone. Closing his eyes, he saw the pain on Brody's face when the man confessed how poor his wife's health was. Was it possible Brody wanted to end it all for himself and his wife while at the same time sinking a ship and in the process killing off anyone who might be able to incriminate him in a court of law? Anything was possible, Hawk concluded. “All right, Nikki, what's your game plan?”
    “I've given it enough time,” Nikki said forcing her body to stand up. “Now we go to Mr. Lane's quarters.”
    “Shouldn't we find Matt, Tara, and Johnson? If Lane is the killer, he surely knows that we have those three searching for the bomb.”
    “They won't find the bomb,” Nikki sighed. “If there was any chance they could, I'm afraid we wouldn't have found Mr. Lane on the bridge.”
    “Because he would have been out on a hunt,” Hawk quickly understood what Nikki was driving at. “Nikki, are you sure this man is the killer? I mean, are you certain?”
    “Now I am,” Nikki said in a miserable voice. “Hawk, I read his face. And his concern about this storm, it's all rehearsed, Hawk.”
    “But the conversation I heard him have with Mayfield during dinner, Nikki? Lane wasn't too keen on taking this ship through the storm.”
    “Hawk,” Nikki said, “I've considered that conversation between Captain Mayfield and Mr. Lane. I think Mr. Lane manipulated Captain Mayfield. I'm certain there is some criminal cargo on this ship, as we speak, that Captain Mayfield wanted to arrive at our vacation port. But you did say he told Mr. Lane to call around to other ports with the hopes that he could dock the ship until the storm passed.”
    “Yes, but Lane said the ports were all full.”
    “Were they?” Nikki asked. “Didn't you say that Captain Mayfield told Mr. Lane if no ports were available then they would ride the storm?”
    “Yeah, he did say that,” Hawk agreed. Like a man watching a strange puzzle come together, Hawk began to follow Nikki. “Lane manipulated Captain Mayfield. Lane wanted to make sure this ship was caught by the storm. So why kill Mayfield? The guy seemed to be on the same page with Lane's desire to take this ship into the storm.”
    “You,” Nikki pointed at Hawk. “You make Mr. Lane nervous. I believe Mr. Lane was going to send everyone who knew him on a personal basis to the bottom of the ocean. But then you showed up, Hawk. Remember what Captain Mayfield told us in the passenger lounge when he greeted us?”
    Hawk thought back. “He said he was told that a man of the law would be taking this cruise,” Hawk remembered.
    “Kinda strange, don't you think, that he would say that? I mean, Hawk, I'm sorry, you're not exactly a world-famous detective.”
    “Hey, that's right.” Hawk replied and then kicked himself. “Man, I'm getting slow in my old age. Nikki, are you sure you want a senile old man at your side?”
    Nikki smiled. “I'm sure. Now,” she said getting serious, “I believe Mr. Lane killed Captain Mayfield to make you look away from him. Sleight-of-hand trick.”
    “Could have been,” Hawk agreed. “And in order to keep us at sea, Lane writes that phony note, right?”
    “Could be,” Nikki agreed and then