Read Online Murder Walks the Plank by Carolyn Hart - Free Book Online

running around, he’s still on board, because we didn’t hear another splash. Now I got to get outside—”
    The boat was slowing, wallowing a little as it neared the dock.
    â€œWhile you’re holding everybody back to give the medics a chance to move Pamela, wouldn’t it make sense to have all of us fan out”—her hand sweep included Max and Emma and Mavis and Ben—“and get the names of everybody on board?” She saw him consider it, took heart. After all, why not? Quickly, she added, “That way we can ask if anybody saw anything. Maybe we can find an eyewitness. I’ll bet Ben would appreciate a list of possible witnesses. In case of liability.”
    â€œLiability?” Ben sounded like a frog with a golf ball in his throat. “Now wait a damn minute. People go where they ain’t supposed to go, there’s no blame can be—”
    Max clapped Ben on the shoulder. “Looks like Annie’s got a good idea. That would be your best bet, Ben, in the event a lawsuit ever gets filed.”
    Ben’s eyes were wild. “Yeah, let’s get the names.” He started for the door, called over his shoulder, “I’ll round up paper and pens. Everybody meet me up by the gangway.”
    Billy clapped his hands together. “Sure. Get the names. Who knows? Like you said, we may find an eyewitness, settle everything.”
    Eyewitness.
    Annie turned, strode toward Cole Crandall, who had returned to his post on the starboard side of the saloon.
    He looked at her warily, hands still deep in his pockets.
    â€œListen, Cole, it’s important to know everything thathappened on the deck where you were. If you think of anything”—Annie plunged a hand into her pocket, pulled out a card—“be sure and call me. Okay?”
    â€œYeah, well, sure. But I didn’t see anything.” He moved from one foot to the other.
    The boat shuddered to a stop.
    She waited until a sticky hand took the card, jammed it into a pocket. He mumbled, “I never did see her come up there.”
    Annie whirled and hurried to Max. “Come on, let’s get started.”
    Emma called out, “You have enough without me.” Her gruff voice was determined.
    Annie looked back in surprise.
    Emma nodded toward the still figure on the table. “I’ll stay with Pamela.” She picked up her purse from the floor, opened it, pulled out car keys. “You can bring my car to the hospital. I’ll go in the ambulance with Pamela.” Emma tossed the keys to Annie. “I won’t leave her.”
    Annie carried fear with her as she climbed the steps to the second deck, fear for Pamela, fear and a burning anger. Pamela was good and decent and kind, sustaining as oatmeal and just about as exciting. She never caused harm. She tried to do good. Somebody had lured her aboard a boat bound for fun, intending that Pamela would never return. As Annie took down names, she saw Max and Mavis and Ben moving alongside the lines waiting patiently to disembark, slowly filling up their sheets. Names and names and more names.
    One belonged to Pamela’s would-be murderer.

Three
    T HE AMBULANCE SIREN faded as its flashing red lights disappeared behind a stand of pines.
    An offshore breeze, pungent with the scent of salt water and creosote, ruffled Annie’s hair, lifted seabirds on rising currents. The dock echoed with the footsteps of disembarked passengers walking toward the parking lot. Headlights stabbed into the darkness as the long line of cars began a slow exit.
    The excursion boat had a feeling of emptiness, the slap of water against the hull the only sound except for the cackle of gulls. On the upper deck, Annie moved her hand back and forth, the sharp white beam from the borrowed flashlight exposing the scuffed deck, dropped candy wrappers, and crumpled cups.
    Ben Parotti glowered at the refuse. “People is pigs.” He held a twin of