Ford grinned. “And you never should.”
“You followed us immediately?” Her eyes filled with love.
“Of course. It wasn’t hard to guess what he was thinking. Le Havre is the port to catch a ship bound for New York. He certainly wouldn’t risk going to England.”
“You’re completely wonderful,” she said, wanting nothing more than to melt into his arms.
“Am I? I think you’re rather special too.” They made another turn about the floor. “Listen very carefully. I have several Paris policemen with me. They have been in contact with Inspector Thompson, and King is wanted for the murder of Lourdes Banegas.”
“He confessed to me. He told me everything,” Ruby said. “It was awful.”
“It’s almost over, Ruby. Just follow my lead and do nothing. We need to be away from this crowd. He’s unpredictable.”
Pulling her hand, he led her off the dance floor and made a beeline for the door, making sure King saw them. King was staring into his brandy glass, but he looked up to see Ford and Ruby. He was on his feet in an instant. Ford and Ruby ran out onto the deck. When they were at the stern of the ship, Ford and Ruby turned to face King. He had been drinking heavily that night, and he swayed on his feet.
He narrowed his eyes. “Goddamn you, Ford! You knew all along I wanted her as mine, and yet you were coveting her like some scoundrel!”
“That isn’t the way it was at all. I’ve known Ruby her entire life. Stupidly, I didn’t realize how much I loved her until recently.”
“How touching! So very touching!” King mocked.
“This isn’t going to have a happy ending,” Ford told him.
“Not for you!” King snarled. Suddenly, a knife was in his hand, and he lunged at Ford.
Ford moved easily out of the way. “It’s over, King. Inspector Thompson in London knows it was you who murdered Lourdes, and the Paris police are on board to bring you back to face justice.”
“Bullshit! You’re lying! I know your poker face. It was always awful!” King roared. “Look about you! It’s just us!”
Ruby looked around the stern. Who was telling the truth? She saw no one about. The ship’s railing was to the back of them and the water down below, but only the three of them were there.
“When they need to be seen, they will be. In the meantime, drop the knife and end this. You aren’t escaping this. You will stand trial for Lourdes’s murder.”
“That bitch!”
“Why did you do it, King? Why? For Ruby? For yourself?” Ford asked.
King licked his lips. “Ruby was always meant to be mine. Lourdes was in the way. She should have been happy with what I gave her. Instead, she wanted more. Always more.”
“And Caroline? Did you kill her too?” Ford asked, shaking his head.
“I never laid a finger on Caroline,” he said hotly.
“Your mother, perhaps?”
King lunged at Ford, trying to jab the knife into his side, but Ford knocked the knife from his hand. The two men fought viciously as Ruby looked wildly around for the policemen that Ford said were there. King tried to choke Ford and push him overboard, but Ford kicked King hard in the stomach, forcing him down on his knees.
“Bastard.” He coughed.
“Men!” Ford yelled, and four men materialized out of thin air to surround King.
The men were dressed in dark suits and immediately handcuffed King, taking him into their custody.
“Merci, Monsieur,” the lead policeman said in deference to Ford.
The ship’s captain had been alerted to the situation, and the ship would immediately return to Le Havre with King in police custody. He would then be taken back to London to Inspector Thompson to face charges for the murder of Lourdes Banegas.
Ruby threw herself in