Midnight on the Ship of Dreams

Chapter Four

AN- Sorry for the delay on this story! I got caught up in my current Rose/Cal endeavour. I did want to note in reply to the wonderful Nutzkie's review, I am not personally aware of any GSR test back in 1912, I mostly thought they might examine Cal's hands for any GSR. As someone who has never fired a gun I am not sure how much GSR there would be, or if it would be visible or tangible, but that was my thinking there.

I've also used this chapter to amend a statement Rose made before about marching up to the Marconi room. As Nutzkie said, passengers would have to go through the Enquiry/Purser's office on C Deck.

Cal knew he didn't have long before Ruth realized he had dragged Rose away for a private conversation. No doubt, she would be missing them both sooner than later. He also knew dragging her daughter too far away would unleash too many questions, and so, he only took her to the First Class Reception Room, right next to the dining room, to speak with her. Rose was reluctant the whole way, dragging her heels slightly, but he could tell when he looked at her that she was desperately trying to hide her fear. Releasing her hand, he stood back from her, shaking his head. "Do you think it is my intention to gun you down here in front of everyone on this ship?"

Rose's beautiful green eyes narrowed at that and she held her chin high, trying to look as intimidating as she possibly could. "Not everyone aboard this ship fits into these rooms, Cal."

"Yes, yes, street filth be damned," He muttered, growing frustrated at the lack of time he had to get this out. "Rose, it's your mother."

She turned to look behind her and frowned in confusion when she looked at him again. "What are you talking about? Mother is…"

"She did it, Rose. She killed Lovejoy."

Staring in shock, he shook his head before managing to speak up. "Wh-what are YOU doing in here?" The figure turned, and Spicer knew he had been right about their identity. "What the hell are you doing in here? What are you doing with those things?" He should have known better, those were some of his last thoughts. In lowering his beloved pistol, he had lowered his guard, and he could see the desperation in her eyes as she snatched the gun from him and raised it on him. He lifted his hands in a defensive gesture. "Mrs. Dewitt Bukater…"

"Well I tried, didn't I? I mean, at her age she should marry. I was married to her father…her no-good father!" The women was becoming hysterical and Spicer pretty much knew the moment his number was up. "But she ruined all of it! She took up with that no-good bastard and now I'm forced to make my living off of stolen jewelry…"

"Madam…"

BANG.

She hadn't really thought about killing him. Shooting him had been a combination of rage, fear and reflex when he had made to step toward her. But before she knew it he was lying at her feet, and blood was pooling out of him all over the rug. His hand shook above him briefly, like he was asking for help, but it quickly lowered to his stomach, where he tried to staunch the bleeding. By the time Cal came rushing through the door he was almost gone, tiny bubbles of red popping between his lips.

Her almost son-in-law took one look at her, and she thought for certain he would have killed her too. But he motioned for her to go through the door. She didn't hesitate and didn't hear what he was saying as she ran over Lovejoy's lifeless body, her skirts sweeping the blood that was everywhere. She handed him the pistol and darted down the little hall, moving immediately to change and crawl into her bed with the rest of her bottle of scotch.

By the time he had spit it all out, Rose looked sick. She was covering her mouth, her hand trembling. Her eyes were full of tears. Thinking it over, she looked up at him. "She…if they find out she'll be arrested. Cal.."

Cal's hands went instinctively to her face, cupping her cheeks. "Which is why I'm telling you, so you know the truth and you can help me keep that insufferable Lightfoot fellow out of our business." He smiled softly, and Rose almost felt like it was the nicest moment they had ever had. "The money should sustain her. And hopefully it will help keep you and Dawson far, far away from her."

Rose stared at him. "Why are you doing this?"

He shook his head. "Because, I'll win the trial, Rose. You and …well he wouldn't win. He doesn't have the means to win, and I always do." No sooner had that moment ended, but Ruth came traipsing into the room, her eyes wild with worry, even when she set eyes on Cal and Rose, with Cal caressing her face. She approached, waving her delicate little fan.

"Is everything all right?" She glanced between them with eyes that were sharp as needles, and Rose felt her belly twist with disgust. Ruth knew, she had to know that Rose knew. And it dawned over her features as she fixed Cal with a look of utter shock. "You…how dare you…"

"Oh mother," Rose shook her head. "You're unimaginable." Shrugging out of Cal's touch, she made a mad dash for the nearest stairwell that might take her back down into the bowels of the ship, desperate for Jack's reassuring eyes and the way he made sense of even the worst things about the world. She didn't know why she had come up here, but she was reminded yet again that she had been born into the wrong family.

Jack had made it up the decks in record timing, and he was carefully navigating the first class halls, trying to come up with some sort of plan to get Rose back, as he was sure she had been kidnapped. Somehow he had ended up on a landing of the staircase, and realizing this, he immediately made a mad dash for the first class dining saloon. He wasn't more than a few feet from where he had started when he ran into Molly Brown, who was descending to eat with the Countess.

"Hey," He hurried over. "Hey Maggie. I need…they took Rose, she's gone."

"Sir, you're not supposed to be down here…" He'd been spotted. Molly shot the steward one hell of a glare and met Jack halfway.

"You just missed her, Jack, she just went up and out thatta way," She pointed above her. "Said something about sending out a message. I don't think that silly girl realizes she has to put in word to the Enquiry office.."

"Sir, if you don't leave I'm going to have to.."

"It's quite all right, Sir, Mr. Dawson is assisting me in my investigation." Jack spun to see Lightfoot standing there, smiling ever so slightly at him. The steward finally left him be and Lightfoot approached. "Jack, I'm glad I found you. I discovered something very interesting tonight, and I need to speak with your mistress. Might I accompany you above deck?"

Jack flinched at his terminology, sobering up faster and faster. "Sure, but don't ever refer to Rose as my mistress again." Lightfoot nodded his agreement and followed Jack in his mad dash to the boat deck. They were halfway out the door when Rose came rushing into view and Jack made a noise of relief as he hurried to scoop her up into his arms. "Where have you been? I was worried."

"I'm sorry!" She clung to him, shaking her head. "Mother said she wanted me to come to dinner but…something terrible ended up happening!" He ran his hands up and down her back soothingly and Lightfoot watched with a faint smile before he shook it off. "I was going to…I was going to try and send a message to the police but the man was so rude!"

Jack shook his head. "You have to fill out a request a few decks down, Rosie. Shh, it's okay."

Lightfoot figured now was the time, since the girl was clearly so upset with her mother anyway. "Miss Dewitt Bukater, I just…I was wondering if you knew if your mother had any grudge against Spicer Lovejoy?"

Rose took a few deep breaths into Jack's shirt and wiped at her eyes, looking at Lightfoot. "She killed him. She did it, Cal is protecting her." Her eyes were glassy and red with her tears, but she seemed to be telling the truth. "Cal is protecting her because he…we wouldn't want her to be caught. But she doesn't even care that he's risking everything."

Jack looked over to Mr. Lightfoot. "I believe you've found your criminal, Mr. Lightfoot."

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Lightfoot but you have no authority aboard this vessel, and I do not see this dress as a smoking gun, forgive my pun." Mr. Bailey shook his head as he sat down in his chair at his desk. "Unfortunately, even if you had more evidence, Mrs. Dewitt Bukater is a member of a very highly respected family in the United States. Her husband sailed with Captain Smith on several occasions, and I find it highly unlikely that the woman would kill a simple bodyguard in cold blood. Perhaps, assuming she did this, mind you, there was more going on than met the eye."

Rose had tears streaming down her face as she listened to the exchange. It was true, her beloved Papa had been a respected First Officer in the last few years of his career. He had retired early when things had seemed set, and had died when their debts had started to get the best of them. Ruth had told Rose he had died from the stress, but she was a bright girl, and suspected that the alcohol had helped put an end to his misery.

She broke away from where Jack was holding her to step into the room, not caring that she certainly did not belong there. "She killed him because she was stealing my things to sell, Officer Bailey. My father died in bankruptcy, there was very little left when I was introduced to Mr. Hockley and she was counting on our marriage to sustain her. But Cal and I aren't getting married now. We're not getting married and she can't stand the idea of being poor."

"Miss Dewitt Bukater," He said calmly, one brow raised sternly. "You do not belong in here. This area is designated for crew members only." Standing, but still calm, he nodded toward the doorway. "Go on back to your berths, if anything happens to your mother, you will be informed, I assure you."

Defeated, at least for now, Rose's shoulders sunk as Jack took her hand to lead her back. He was not quite so defeated, and he fixed Bailey and Lightfoot with a tight glare. "You guys are all doing a great job to keep the passengers on board this ship safe, well done." As he turned to leave with her he added, "I'm sure poor Mr. Lovejoy's family will be most impressed of all."

Jack didn't wait for whatever retaliation they would offer, he lead Rose back to their room. She was quiet and somber and he smiled down at her softly. "Don't you worry, if they were willing to slap some cuffs on Hockley, they'll arrest your Mom."

"I just wish it didn't have to be like this," She said sadly. "I wish she could be satisfied with making a new life for herself."

"My Dad used to have this saying, you can wish in one hand and sh-…" Rose's sharp glance made him drop his own gaze, although, he was smirking at her reaction. "Well the idea is you see which one will fill up first."

He was surprised when that earned a little snicker from his lady love. She was visibly more relaxed and she sighed deeply, shaking her head. "I want to be done with this. I cannot wait for this ship to dock."

"Well that won't be long from now," He assured, checking his watch. "Twenty after twelve on the 16th. I think we're due for land on the 17th."

"Excellent," She leaned into his body, and he slipped an arm around her to draw her close. "We'll head straight for California and hit Santa Monica as soon as possible." She paused, looking up into his face. "Well that is, if you really want to do all of that."

"Course I do," He assured her. "We'll hit the pier right away. I'll show you everything and we'll live on the beach."

Coming to the room, Rose turned and kissed him. "And we'll never eat caviar and we'll drink a lot of beer and never work a job that we hate."

"Those are some high hopes," He joked, kissing her forehead. "Hopefully I can keep up with them. But for now, let's get some sleep. I have a feeling the next twenty four hours will be the craziest of the whole week we've been at sea." She nodded and lead him inside, truly ready to lay down and sleep through the night after the events of that evening.