Southampton Strangler

by Hope Callaghan

  “In his haste, he may have made a mistake.”

  “Right. And now, if the strangler is on board the ship, he or she is targeting Hilda Ellis and possibly even me.”

  Nic silently eyed his wife. “All right. I’ll go to the cocktail party, but I don’t plan on staying long. I would rather spend what little time I have off alone with my naughty wife.”

  Millie threw her arms around Nic’s neck. “Thank you for agreeing to go. We’ll stay for an hour, tops, and then come back here to enjoy a romantic dinner for two.”

  *****

  By the time Nic and Millie arrived, the party was in full swing. The door to the suite was wide open, and they made their way inside. A server hurriedly approached and offered them a drink.

  Millie reached for a sparkling water and could feel several eyes upon them. Nic was both commanding and breathtakingly handsome in his captain’s uniform.

  A trio of guests approached, making small talk with the couple. A few of the faces looked familiar, including the Ellises. Notably absent was Thomas Windsor.

  Edward and Annabel Ponsford wandered over. “Hello, Millie, Captain Armati. You both look smashing this evening.”

  “Thank you. We had a few hours off and thought we would drop by.” Millie’s eyes scanned the room as she chatted. It was a spacious suite with a large lounge, a dining area, and even a well-appointed kitchen.

  Floor-to-ceiling sliders lined the wall leading out to a generous balcony. “My goodness. Is there a hot tub on the balcony?” Millie had been inside a junior suite once, but it was nothing like this.

  “Yes. Harry and Kate are spoilt by all this luxury. I think this will be their last social event for a while, now that they’re being forced to cut back.”

  “Forced to cut back?” Millie asked.

  “Annabel.” Edward peered down at his wife. “You know how I detest gossip.”

  “It’s not gossip. You know it’s true.” Annabel turned up her nose before changing the subject. “I’m sure the captain’s apartment is equally as spacious.”

  “It might be comparable in square footage, but it doesn’t have a balcony this size, nor does it have a hot tub,” Nic said. “We save the best for our guests.”

  “Spoken like a true company spokesman,” Edward said. “The Moxeys know how to throw a party.”

  Nic smiled politely, and Millie knew he was counting the minutes until they could leave. “Are you enjoying our voyage?”

  “It’s splendid. Annabel and I prefer the longer cruises with a lot of sea days. It’s very relaxing.”

  “We noticed a cooking class pop up on the schedule this evening,” Annabel said. “We lucked out and secured the last two spots.”

  Millie told them it was something new they were trying and she would be on hand to help host.

  The Moxeys attempted to join them, but a small crowd had gathered around Nic and Millie, making it nearly impossible for anyone else to get close.

  Finally, the crowd drifted away, and they were alone. “See how popular you are?” Millie teased. “We should attend these events more often.”

  “Over my dead body.”

  “Millie.” Millie felt a light tap and turned to find Kate and Harry Moxey standing behind them.

  “We’re honored that you were able to join us for our party.” Harry shook Nic’s hand.

  “I work most evenings, and have very little time off,” Nic explained. “We can’t stay long. Millie and I are covering evening shifts.”

  “We’re glad you could make it.” Kate placed a light hand on her husband’s arm. “The bartenders sent by Celebrations are fabulous. They’re very prompt and efficient.”

  “Your suite is lovely,” Millie said. “I hate to be a bother, but I was wondering if I could use the restroom.”

  “Of course. There’s a half bath tucked in behind the living room.” Kate pointed in the general direction.

  “Hurry back.” Nic’s eyes narrowed as he shot his wife a warning look.

  It took her a few minutes to make it to the bathroom after being stopped several times by guests. She stepped inside the compact space and her heart sank. There was a small linen cabinet above the toilet. Other than that, the room was empty.

  Millie took care of business and slipped back into the living room. Kate and Harry still had Nic cornered. Their backs were to her.

  She cast a furtive glance around and made the split-second decision to take a wrong turn, stepping into the adjoining room, which happened to be the bedroom.

  It was lovely and spacious, with soft gray walls. Matching nightstands were tucked inside the cutouts, and custom mirrors ran from ceiling to countertop. Recessed lighting cast the room in a warm glow. The king-size bed sported a plush down comforter. Color-coordinated pillows in the same shade of gray lined the head of the bed. A matching gray runner ran along the end.

  Classical music played in the background, and Millie caught a whiff of lavender lingering in the air. She backed out of the room and ducked behind a couple who were standing near the balcony sliders.

  Millie had almost made it back to Nic’s side when Hilda Ellis appeared, blocking her path. “Millie Armati. What are you doing here?” she rudely asked.

  “The Moxeys invited Nic to the party, so he and I decided to stop by.”

  “That’s right. Your husband is the ship’s captain. Must be nice to land not only a primo job on a cruise ship but snag the most eligible man on board.”

  Millie smiled, refusing to take the bait. “You’re right. I am one lucky woman.”

  “I noticed more of the ship’s security making their rounds. I’m glad they finally listened to me and are spending more time patrolling the ship.”

  “Our ship’s security staff is always around, not to mention there are cameras in almost all public areas of the ship.”

  Bruce, who was standing right behind his wife, spoke. “After Hilda mentioned the incidents, I have been noticing the cameras. They’re in the hallways, elevators, restaurants, you name it.”

  “What about the cabins?” Hilda asked. “I would think placing cameras in passengers’ cabins would be viewed as an invasion of privacy.”

  “There are no cameras in passengers’ cabins.”

  “I dunno.” Hilda elbowed her husband. “We should check ours to make sure. I’ve read stories about how they put cameras on top of mirrors or behind them to spy on people.”

  Millie could feel the tips of her ears burn as she remembered having done the exact same thing on more than one occasion, but for good reason. “I’m sure there are no cameras in your cabin.”

  “It’s time for us to go.” Bruce consulted his watch. “I need to stop by the cabin before I head up to the casino.”

  “The party is just getting started,” Hilda whined.

  “Then, you stay. I’m leaving.” Bruce lumbered off as his wife made an unhappy sound.

  “At least he made the effort to join us.” Millie attempted to smooth things over.

  “I practically had to drag him here.”

  Millie excused herself and joined her husband, their hosts, and another couple. As she drew closer, she noted the annoyed expression on her husband’s face. “There you are.”

  “I’m sorry. I got sidetracked.” Millie slid her arm through his. “I’m sure you’re ready to head home.”

  “You’re leaving already? Your husband is incredibly magnetic.” Kate let out a low growl. “Harry and I would love for you to come back for our after-party party. It’s a chance to get to know each other if you know what I mean.”

  “Yes. Well.” Millie kept a firm grip on Nic’s arm as she began backing toward the door. “We stay very busy and don’t have time for a lot of extra-curricular activities.”

  Thankfully, another couple approached. Seizing the opportunity, Millie nearly dragged her husband out of the suite.

  Nic’s expression was emotionless as they strolled to the end of the hallway and then took the stairs down to the bridge. He gave th
e bridge captains a curt nod, never slowing until they reached their apartment.

  He held the door for his wife, nearly slamming it shut as she stepped inside. “What was that?”

  “What was what?” Millie swallowed hard.

  “Those two. The Moxeys. While you were gone, they propositioned me multiple times about staying for their clothing-optional after-party.”

  “I hope you told them no.”

  “Told them no?” Nic roared. “They’re swappers or swingers or whatever you want to call them.”

  Millie chewed her lower lip. “I did kind of wonder why they liked to attend the singles events. Believe me, I would have warned you had I known.”

  Millie watched as Nic sucked in a breath. He shrugged off his jacket and began loosening his tie. A slow smile etched his face and then his shoulders shook as he began laughing. “I do believe you’ve topped your own antics.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “By convincing me to attend a swinger’s party.”

  Millie stomped her foot. “I certainly didn’t do it intentionally.”

  Nic was still laughing as he kicked off his shoes. “I could’ve gotten you back.”

  “How so?”

  “By accepting their invitation.”

  “You wouldn’t.”

  “Don’t think so? It might have been worth it to teach you a lesson. I would’ve let you squirm for a while, thinking we were staying.” Nic smiled smugly. “I’ll pay you back, Millie Armati. Mark my words.”

  Millie covered her mouth. “You should’ve seen the look on your face.”

  “What am I going to do with you?” Nic grabbed Millie’s arm and pulled her close.

  “I don’t know. I am sorry. I had no idea they were going to proposition you.”

  “Proposition us,” Nic corrected. “And now that we’re home and alone, I think it’s time for a private party for two.”

  Chapter 19

  Millie’s first thought when she woke early the next morning was about her new schedule and what time she needed to report to guest services.

  Nic, who wasn’t scheduled to report to the bridge until noon, noted the glum expression on his wife’s face when she joined him for breakfast. “What’s wrong?”

  “My first round of punishment begins this morning.”

  “Working at guest services.”

  “Yep.” Millie dumped dry cereal into her bowl and added milk. “I would rather clean toilets.”

  “Seriously?” Nic chuckled.

  “No, but it’s close.” Millie grabbed a spoon and plopped down in the chair. “How do I get myself into these messes?”

  “By not minding your own business.” Nic sobered. “Seriously, be careful today. I still don’t know what to think about the note and the fact someone may have followed you into the stairwell.”

  “Me either. At least I’m out in the public ninety-nine percent of the time.”

  “It’s the other one percent we need to worry about. Since I have some time off this morning, Scout and I are going to head up to the golf center. The maintenance department has just completed some renovations and I’m eager to see what they’ve done.”

  “If you run out of things to do, you can stop by guest services and make fun of me.”

  “You’re a tough cookie. You’ll be fine.” Nic squeezed his wife’s hand.

  After breakfast, Millie stopped by Andy’s office to check in and then hosted her first event before heading to guest services. Nikki was behind the desk and watched as Millie circled around to the back. “Are you really working here today?”

  “I am. I got caught doing something I shouldn’t have, and this is one of my punishments.”

  “It’s not that bad. Seriously, your shift will be over before you know it.” Nikki gave her some brief instructions on running the various software programs, which were similar to those Millie was already familiar with. The only one she struggled with was the customer complaints or comments screen. It took a few practice runs before Millie had it down.

  “You can work here.” Nikki placed her at the station on the end and then motioned to the woman who was next in line.

  Millie smiled as she greeted her. “Hello. How can I help you?”

  “I’ve misplaced my keycard.”

  “We’ll be happy to issue you a new one.”

  Nikki showed Millie how to print new keycards and then walked her through the steps on how to disable the old one. “You always want to disable the lost one.”

  “In case it’s found by another passenger and they try to charge items to it,” Millie guessed.

  “Bingo.”

  Millie finished the task and handed the woman her new card.

  “Thank you. It won’t happen again. I’m running upstairs to the gift shop to buy a lanyard so I can hang it around my neck.”

  The woman left, and Millie motioned for a couple waiting in line. They placed a beach bag on the counter. “We found this on the pool deck. Can we leave it with you?”

  “You can.” Millie began entering the information in the system, which would enable others working in guest services to locate the item if someone reported it missing. “Pink bag, blue waves with a flamingo on the side.”

  “It’s been sitting on one of the pool loungers for a few hours. Either someone forgot about it or they were saving the chair.”

  Millie’s head shot up. “Did you happen to notice if a crewmember was on hand collecting unclaimed items?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  Millie thanked the couple and then gave Andy a quick call.

  “Hello, Millie. Having fun?”

  “Yes, more fun than I deserve,” she said sarcastically. “Two passengers turned in a beach bag they claim was left on a pool deck lounger for a few hours. You might want to send someone upstairs to start clearing the chairs.”

  “I’m on it.”

  Millie ended the call and then began rummaging through the bag. There was no form of identification, so she placed it in the nearby lost and found closet.

  A familiar face appeared. It was Thomas Windsor. “Millie Armati. What are you doing here?”

  “Working.” Millie mumbled a vague excuse. “Can I help you with something?”

  “Yes. It appears a questionable charge has popped up on my folio.” Thomas handed Millie his cell phone, displaying a list of items charged to his account. “It’s the most recent one.”

  Millie slipped her reading glasses on. “The spa charged you for a bikini wax.”

  “I left my bikini at home,” Thomas quipped.

  “I’m sure you did,” Millie chuckled, as she reached for her mouse. “Is there anything else that looks off?”

  “Nope. We missed you at the Mix and Mingle Singles party yesterday.”

  “And I missed you at the Moxey’s evening cocktail party last night.” Millie finished issuing the credit and handed Thomas a receipt.

  “You attended the Moxey’s party? I didn’t peg you as that kinda gal.”

  “I’m not. In fact, I guess I’m a little naïve. Something always struck me as a little odd when they showed up at the singles get-togethers, but I never put two and two together.”

  Thomas leaned an elbow on the counter. “Let me guess…one of them propositioned you.”

  “Nic,” Millie grinned. “They’re nice enough folks, just not my type, if you know what I mean.”

  “I certainly do. Are you hosting this afternoon’s singles party?”

  Millie consulted her app and scrolled through the screen. “As a matter of fact, I am. I’ll see you later?”

  “You will.” After Thomas left, Millie motioned for the next person in line to join her. The hours flew by and she was surprised when her scheduler app went off, letting her know her shift had ended. “I’m heading out,” she whispered in Nikki’s ear.

  “See? It wasn’t so bad.”

  “You’re right. I’ll see you tomorrow, same time.” Millie hustled to her hosting event and w
as wrapping up her morning routine when Patterson radioed, asking her to meet him in his office.

  “Your timing is impeccable. I’m on my way.” She arrived to find not only Patterson, but Nic, Donovan, and Suharto there, as well.

  Millie said the first thing that popped into her head. “I didn’t do it.”

  “Come in, Millie.”

  “What is going on?” Her eyes traveled around the room, and her gut told her something was wrong.

  “I’m assigning you a guard.”

  “Assigning me a guard?”

  “I’ve also placed the ship’s security team on high alert.” Patterson shifted his computer monitor and motioned for the others to gather around. “It appears the strangler may have claimed his next victim.”

  Millie studied the grainy image on the screen and noticed it was near the ship’s helipad. A person, their back to the surveillance camera, dragged a bulky object to the center of the helipad and then dropped it on the “H.”

  Keeping their head down and obscuring their image, the person scurried off. Millie noted the time stamp—one forty-five a.m.

  “When did the crew find the victim?” Nic asked.

  “Around three this morning. As you know, the helipad is in an isolated area of the ship, not even known about by most passengers,” Patterson said. “We’re reviewing all camera footage, every deck, but this could take days and then we might not find anything. We’ve sent a report to the Southampton authorities to see if this matches the strangler’s method of operating.”

  Millie felt lightheaded. “The strangler killed someone on board the ship and dumped their body on the helipad.”

  “I want round-the-clock security for Millie until the ship docks in Miami,” Nic said.

  “Already done. Since Suharto is in charge of the gangway and we’re not stopping until we reach Bermuda, he’ll be with Millie at all times.”

  Patterson continued. “We’ve been keeping an eye on the passengers linked to Clarissa Sinclair. I’m starting to suspect we’re focusing our attention on the wrong suspects.” Frustrated, Patterson abruptly stood. “I’m at a loss. We can’t follow every single passenger around this ship.”