Aeronaut Gone Read online

  The tale of the waterfall, the cool pool, the triple-verified lack of crocodiles, and the descriptions of wildlife had made Hettie long for that magical place. It sounded as though there was a piece of heaven hidden in the scary jungle.

  Before they left the room, Hettie changed back to her boots, her loose dress, and her hat to protect herself from the sun. It was a different dress but the same loose, cool cotton with the same scandalous lack of stockings. Ro was dressed similarly, but her dress was dark maroon and her hat was a deep navy.

  Hettie and Ro returned to the deck and realized the door to the other cabin was open. The hissed fight between the twins’ wives sounded a bit like alley cats fighting.

  “Douglas hates you,” one of them said.

  The other sister-in-law laughed low and then demanded, “Are you so sure?”

  “It’s not just Douglas that hates you,” the first voice said. “We all do.”

  Hettie glanced at Ro who rolled her eyes and started up the ladder to the deck. They would be taking off soon and she wanted to see the ground slowly fall away to the distance. It was so magical yesterday, she wanted to capture the power of the moment again. The dance she’d shared with Nevi while Truman played the guitar had been lovely on its own, but the look in Grandfather Longmont’s eyes as he confidently danced with Ro at more than 1,000 kilometers up filled Hettie’s heart to bursting. As she popped her head out of the hatch, Neville saw her and crossed over, helping her out. A moment later Ro followed telling Neville, “They’re fighting again.”

  “The ones up here too,” Neville said. “I did my first real doctoring when Douglas socked Frederick. The man was half-drunk and stumbled over the side of the airship.”

  Hettie gasped, but Neville shook his head.

  “A few bruises and a few stitches on his forehead. Thankfully we hadn’t taken off.”

  “Bloody hell,” Ro said, glancing at Truman. “Weren’t you supposed to be protecting us?”

  He snorted. “I’ll protect you three and the old man and his son. Those grandsons and the shrews they married are on their own.”

  Hettie walked with Neville to the side of the airship as it began to ascend. Neither Daisy nor Betsy appeared for the event, so it was just the mass of men, Jade, Hettie, and Ro. Jade’s gaze was fixed on the twins before she shook her head disgustedly and crossed with her husband to the grandfather.

  Benedikt and Truman were at the helm with the twins behind them as the aeronaut laughed happily and they started to rise. Hettie paused as she stared at the four men. Truman was tall and lean, yet stronger than he appeared at first glance but the twins and Benedikt Herzfeld were oddly similar. Really, Hettie thought, from a distance, they were of a similar height, a similar coloring, and a similar build. It was only when you got close that you realized how alive and curious the aeronaut was in comparison to the spoilt and sallow twins. Hettie shook off the thought. The Longmont twins were of little concern. After this trip, Hettie and Ro would avoid them with rabid precision.

  Hettie grabbed hold of Ro on one side and Neville on the other. As they rose higher and higher, the locals were shouting and waving hats and Hettie realized her stomach was bounding about her body. She slowly knelt down so she could see without feeling like she might topple over the side as well. She had to breath in and out and found that Neville had followed her down, kneeling somewhat next to her and somewhat behind her, so she felt almost tucked into the safe space between him and the side of the airship.

  “This is magical,” Hettie whispered and then gasped as a loud noise made the birds rise from the canopy. As they moved towards the jungle and away from the town, the trees seemed to be a carpet just below them. “Look at all of those birds.”

  “They’re so colorful here,” Neville said, as entranced as she was. “It makes the British songbirds quite dull, doesn’t it?”

  “I’ll never stop loving those. Listen to that squawking. It’s not melodic at all.” Hettie glanced towards Ro and realized that she’d made her way closer to Truman and Benedikt. Truman’s hand was at the helm and they were talking, low. The looks on their faces were the same you’d see at gents across the world when horses were racing or a game of cricket was about to start.

  “Look at how happy Truman is,” Hettie whispered to Neville. Because she was looking back, she could see the twist of his smile and the way he seemed as happy for Truman as the man was for himself. “He looks as though he’s considering whether to place a bet on the up and coming horse or on the favorite.”

  They turned back to the jungle just as Hettie heard Douglas say to Ro, “Well now, pretty Ro, I’m entirely unsurprised to find you striding about deck all fearless and utterly becoming.”

  Hettie turned again, mouth open as Douglas reached out and tugged one of Ro’s loose locks with an affection that was entirely unwarranted and unreturned. “Why would I be afraid?”

  “We’re so high in the air. Would you like a steady arm?”

  Ro laughed at him, lifting a brow and then glancing to his stitched-up twin.

  “That’s him, not me. I didn’t go over the side.”

  Ro shook her head and then pointed out, “You’re the reason he went over the side, and though I appreciate chivalry, I am quite capable of walking.”

  Douglas scowled darkly before he tried a charming grin. “Come now, pretty Ro. Don’t be like that.”

  Hettie glanced at Neville and then whispered, “Does he think she didn’t see him frowning at her? He thinks he can scold her into accepting his flirting? My heavens, some men are idiots.”

  Neville snorted but they both quieted when Douglas’s charming grin was held for too long and it turned smarmy. He seemed to be aware of the change to his face, so he said, “Come now, pretty, pretty Ro.”

  “Oh,” Ro said sarcastically, shooting Douglas a scathing look, “if you call me pretty twice, I’ll forget that you’re married, your wife is on this airship, you’re cruel enough to hit your brother and send him over the side of the ship, and that you have no real interest in me other than in assuaging your ego.”

  “You don’t know that.” Douglas had lost all semblance of charm. “You’re a real judgmental shrew, are you aware? I know all about you and your husband. I've heard about his mysterious death, and here you are suspiciously rich. Tell me, pretty Ro,” he said in a disgusted way, “why should I believe you aren’t a killer? Maybe you aren’t safe to be around my family.”

  “You should have thought of that,” Ro countered, “before you attached yourself to our trip.”

  “Just looking after those who aren’t smart enough to look after themselves.”

  “Bloody hell,” Ro muttered and shook her head. “We can land if you’d like to flee. We haven’t been gone for that long. You should be able to make it home before too long.”

  “Maybe it’s you who should go,” Douglas hissed, reaching out to grab her arm, but Truman was there to stop him.

  “Ah-ah,” Truman said evenly. There was absolutely no threat in his voice or his stance, yet it was fully clear that Truman would crush Douglas if necessary.

  “You work for us,” Douglas told Truman, scoffing. “Don’t get above yourself.”

  Hettie’s mouth dropped open and Neville muttered, “I say now.”

  “That’s enough Douglas.” His grandfather had approached, cane in hand. “You presented your desires to the woman. She doesn’t want you. You’ve been rejected. We’re here on the invitation of Ms. Lavender and Ms. Hughes. Don’t get us disinvited. I am quite enjoying myself.”

  “Grandfather,” Douglas started. It was the whine of a child and it had both Hettie and Ro smirking. Truman’s face, however, had not shifted from a dark scowl.

  “You’re disgracing our family with the way you treat our hostess and her friend. I won’t say it again.”

  “We hired him.”

  Grandfather Longmont’s dark look had Douglas flushing and stepping away while his brother laughed low. “We hired him, but he was invited
all the same. It was made clear to everyone here that Detective Truman and Dr. Hale are both the friends of our hostesses while we were given a mercy invitation due to my age and Jade’s friendship with Hettie. You’re making quite a donkey’s behind of yourself and our family along with you.”

  Douglas scowled darkly and brushed past his brother, shoving him lightly. Frederick seemed to enjoy his brother’s fury all the more.

  The tension had just started to ease as Truman said, “My word Ro, you are a magnet for cheating bastards, aren’t you?”

  Hettie gasped, rising quickly just as Ro spun on him. “You are fool and a fiend.”

  This ascent was nothing like the one earlier in the day, much to Ro’s chagrin. Truman flushed, starting to speak and then shaking his head. Just as Ro turned towards Hettie, she was there, arm at the ready to comfort her friend.

  Ro looked at Hettie with pleading eyes and Hettie immediately whisked her back to their cabin leaving a speechless Truman on deck.

  “Ro—”

  “I don’t want to talk about it. I will eventually, but right now I need you to distract me from the horrible thing he said to me just then.”

  Hettie nodded, understanding. If Ro tried to talk about it now, right on the heels of having decided she was safe with Truman, it would all be too much and she would probably cry and the last thing Ro would want was for Truman to see her crying. Angry was one thing, crying quite another. Bringing Leonard to Ro’s mind when things were going well, even if Truman hadn’t meant to, had been cruel indeed. Hettie racked her brain trying to find something to distract Ro.

  “What do you think the twins and the wives are feuding about?”

  Ro scoffed.

  “They’re so dramatic about it. As though whatever they have going on is the most cryptic thing in the universe.” Hettie rolled her eyes. “It’s not like we’re up on murder charges or landed on a body like you did that time. Sometimes,” Hettie grinned evilly, “I wonder if you got it fully off.”

  Ro gasped darkly. Then smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Hettie. That’s an interesting question. While we were dancing earlier, of course, the women seemed to be at the heart of the discussion, but when we touched down, it was the brothers who appeared to be at the center of whatever their problem was. I’m quite enjoying Grandfather Longmont, even his son and daughter-in-law and Jade are lovely. It will not be soon enough that we dump the twins. I must confess I’ve fantasized briefly about tossing the lot of them overboard. Their bodies would likely never be found in the jungle below. Certainly, they’d not survive the fall and then creatures in the jungle could dispose of their remains. Perhaps we’ve stumbled on to the perfect murder—assuming one was in an airship high above the Costa Rican jungle. Not the most convenient of assumptions, I suppose.”

  “If they continue to act up, I’ll help you push them over. Especially that Douglas. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think someone in his party had deliberately placed the frog on his back and the snake again later. Perhaps Frederick grew weary of Douglas’s condescension.”

  “He is rather a snot, isn’t he?” Ro agreed.

  Hettie nodded, noticing the tension in Ro’s shoulders letting up. Plotting the hypothetical murder of a slimy Londoner was clearly a balm to Ro’s soul. This, beyond all other reasons, was why the two were such good friends.

  “Let’s go to our spacious cabin and play a game of cards, shall we. I need time to collect myself before I look at Truman again or he might be the one I push overboard.”

  Hettie laughed and breathed a sigh of relief. If Ro was threatening murder, all was well with the world. Or at least it would be soon.

  “Cards and rum, coming right up.”

  Chapter 9

  Ro woke disoriented. She’d been so exhausted and out of sorts from her spat with Truman that she’d gone to bed early. Resentfully at Hettie’s insistence, Ro peeked out at the jungle sky and the brilliance of the stars had taken her breath away, but her feeling of awe was replaced with dread when she replayed Truman’s thoughtless comment. She was frustrated that what had seemed to be a most romantic adventure was turning into something of a nightmare.

  For once, Hettie had encouraged her to drink a bit more but Ro didn’t trust what she’d say or do to Truman or the annoying twins under the influence of that much alcohol. She’d slept well and was anxious to see what the jungle below them looked like. The aeronaut would have flown all night. That suddenly seemed impractical to Ro. How could he be rested enough to safely get them where they were going if he was flying solo? Even more curious, she woke Hettie.

  “Hettie. Wake up. I need you to calm me down. I’ve just had the most uncomfortable thought.”

  She didn’t open her eyes but spoke. “My head. I can barely think through the pounding.”

  “Ah, yes, the rum,” Ro smiled. “I’d mock you for your overindulgence and your resolution to refrain from over-drinking, but you only drank to keep me company last night. Let’s go up and get some water.”

  Hettie’s eyes were open just a crack now. “Thank you for not mocking me. That’s very kind of you.” The sarcasm was thick in their tiny cabin. “Perhaps I’ll reconsider waking you so harshly when you’re the one who drank too much, but I doubt it. Whatever has you so nervous cannot be more important than water and aspirin.”

  “Don’t make any promises you can’t keep.” A smile played at the corners of Ro’s mouth. “The aeronaut. If he flies all night, how is he rested enough to bring us in for a safe landing? This morning we are supposed to get to that big waterfall, right?”

  Hettie brought herself to a sitting position. “Yes, the waterfall is next on the itinerary, but surely Captain Herzfeld knows his own capabilities?”

  “Does he?” Ro demanded, her nerves coming through.

  “Did you dream we crashed?”

  “I swear I dreamed of screams and then the dream shifted to the airship crashing into a river, and we were all relieved that we’d lived that far only to see alligators in the water and the waterfall ahead.”

  Hettie laughed evilly and then groaned, holding her head. “This is why I made that New Year’s resolution, and you have ruined me. And I think you mean crocodile.”

  Ro laughed darkly.

  Hettie’s gaze narrowed on her friend which only increased the level of Ro’s smirk. “Why don’t we go out and see how he’s faring. Perhaps we’ll bring him a coffee. It’s in our own best interests to keep him alert. I would like a coffee as well, along with my aspirin, water, and some crackers. My heavens, water. Water, please.”

  Ro handed Hettie a metal canteen filled with water and while Ro finished dressing, Hettie guzzled every last drop.

  “Take your time getting dressed and then meet me at the helm. I’ll make sure Captain Herzfeld is wide-eyed. Besides, I want to talk to Truman.”

  “I suppose that is a good choice as long as you don’t start a war between yourself and Truman. Let me know if he continues to put his foot in his mouth and I’ll help you toss the despicable man overboard.” Hettie used the word ‘despicable’ to annoy Ro, who shot her a dark look.

  “He’s not despicable, which is of course the problem. If he were, it would be much easier to be angry at him and then be over him.”

  “What do you suppose he was thinking making such an insensitive remark?”

  Ro shook her head and frowned. “I intend to find out this morning. See you in a few minutes.”

  Ro was surprised by the bit of commotion she found once she left her small cabin. Truman and Neville stood at the bridge. The aeronaut was nowhere in sight. Perhaps they’d agreed to man the ship so the captain could take a bit of a nap. Or relieve himself. Or guzzle a full pot of coffee.

  Upon further evaluation, Ro noticed something else was off. They should be close to the waterfalls this morning. The aeronaut had advised them to rise early so they could see the beauty of the river below winding through the steep canyons of the jungle. But there were no steep canyons and not much of ju
ngle. They seemed to be flying over a smooth valley. There were trees out in the distance so perhaps they were yet to reach the canyons that were home to the supposedly magnificent waterfall.

  Neville and Truman spoke in hushed tones and neither noticed Ro until she was right in front of them.

  “Neville, Detective. I’ve come to see if the good captain needs coffee. He must be exhausted after flying all night. How soon should we reach the waterfall? Hettie will be out shortly.” Ro groaned internally as the words poured nervously from her mouth.

  She couldn’t bring herself to make eye contact with Truman. She knew that he would know—as if he didn’t already—that referring to him as detective meant that he was still in hot water. They could fight about it later. Right now, Ro wanted to focus on the magic of the upcoming waterfall.

  The two men exchanged a nervous glance which set Ro’s stomach to roiling. She eyed them both and realized they were avoiding her gaze rather than the other way around. That wasn’t how it worked when he’d been so clearly in the wrong. So…she gulped. Something was wrong.

  Neville was the one who spoke. “It seems Captain Herzfeld abandoned his post sometime in the night. We aren’t sure how long ago. We only noticed he wasn’t here a few minutes ago. The ship seems to be drifting along nicely, but I find it incredibly irresponsible of him to have left his post.”

  Ro frowned. She had known Captain Herzfeld for some time. This ship, the design of it, the financing, there was no way.

  “Abandoned his post? Irresponsible is the minimum descriptor word we should be using at this point if that were true.” Ro swallowed and her nervous stomach threatened to empty its contents on the deck. She took a couple of deep breaths willing herself to remain calm. She’d not become hysterical like Daisy or Betsy surely would. “I can’t imagine it.”

  “Well he’s not here,” Truman said.