“Perhaps,” Charlotte agreed. “Still, to take out that type of insurance could only mean a lack of faith in the vessel’s seaworthiness.”
That was true. Why else would Liam have insurance on the ship he was helping to build? Yet to make money off the deaths of the others — that was unthinkable. She recalled that he offered to help Finn stay behind as well. He must have known he wasn’t going to set sail long before he told Finn. Otherwise, why would he take out insurance? She shivered.
“Was it a lot of money?”
“Quite substantial,” Charlotte confirmed. “Enough to set oneself up comfortably without needing to worry.”
Rose had no choice — she would have to meet with Finn again to tell him about this development. If Liam Berne had collected a great deal of money, perhaps he wouldn’t want Finn telling others that the ship had been designed poorly, particularly if it became known that Liam might have stopped others from sailing that day and saved their lives.
***
A day later, from a vantage point across the street under the awning of a small green grocer’s, Rose watched the doorway of Monsieur Ober’s restaurant. After a relatively short and boring vigil, she was rewarded when Finn emerged and immediately spotted her. She watched him shake his head in disbelief and then gesture from the other side of the street for her to follow him.
He strode to the end of the block and then into the bookstore on the corner. She entered a few moments later. In the back, behind the stacks of classics, he had stopped and she found him.
“What on earth are you doing?” he berated her.
“I wanted to speak with you.”
“You were in broad daylight standing like a beacon on the sidewalk.”
“Perhaps only a beacon to you,” she retorted. “Most people assumed I was squeezing the peaches and checking for mealy apples.”
He rolled his eyes. “Well? I hope you putting your life in danger was worth it.”
He was being melodramatic. Surely no one was spying on them at that moment. Idly, she pulled a book from the shelf beside her and opened it.
“I wanted you to know that I spoke with Claire, and she’s told no one of your return.”
He eyed her steadily. “That’s good. Thank you. And what about you?”
“Of course I haven’t.” She slammed the book closed and replaced it. “No one except Claire and Reed. However, I would like to tell William, as you know, and as soon as possible.”
“Yes, I am aware,” he said.
Was that a snippy tone she detected?
He crossed his arms and leaned against the brick wall between the stacks. “Is that all you wanted to tell me? Which hardly seemed worth the risk by the way.”
“No, that’s not all.” She glanced around her. “My sister-in-law has uncovered something interesting.”
“Your sister-in-law? Reed’s wife?” Finn’s eyes started to bulge.
Rose knew this wouldn’t go smoothly until he understood. “I didnottell her about you. I merely asked her to look into the event of theGarrard’s capsizing and see if there was anything untoward or nefarious. She’s good at that sort of thing.”
“I see.” He rubbed his temple a moment. “What did she discover?”
“Charlotte found that your friend Mr. Berne was listed as one of the recipients of an insurance claim regarding theGarrard.”
Finn straightened slowly, cocking his head. “He received money.”
She nodded. “A large sum, according to Charlotte, making him quite comfortable. It’s public record. She gave me the name of the company that paid out.”
He was silent.
“It’s important, isn’t it?” she asked.
“I think it proves that someone besides me didn’t think the ship was designed correctly. Liam lied to me, very recently, in fact, and most likely, he lied to me four years ago, too. Who else was on the policy?”
