Undercover Cruise (A Maggie McFarlin Mystery Book 2)

by Charisse Peeler

  “It seems like such a small town, not much to do.” Maggie handed her now empty glass to the flight attendant, who was preparing the first-class cabin for takeoff.

  “Living in a town where people don’t lock their doors is a blessing. That’s why this financial scam is such a big deal. It just doesn’t happen. If people find out about it, Joanie’s bank will be in ruins, and my aunt will be devastated.”

  “Well, I hope we can help,” Maggie said.

  Just then the plane took off, pushing her to the back of her seat. She closed her eyes until she felt released from the upward thrust and then the sinking feeling.

  “That was the flaps retracting,” Mike said.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The sinking feeling. When the flaps retract, it feels like you’re sinking…right before the plane accelerates.”

  “There seems to be a lot I don’t know about you, Mike Marker.”

  “Well, I know nothing about you, Maggie McFarlin. Every time I ask something personal, you change the subject.”

  “I need another drink,” Maggie said, ignoring Mike as he waved to the flight attendant, who had just unbuckled herself from the jump seat. The flight attendant nodded her head in understanding.

  “See what I mean?” Mike asked. But he was speaking to the back of Maggie’s head.

  Maggie was glad Mike had wanted the window seat. She felt more comfortable with an easy escape, even if it was just the forward bathroom.

  *

  The plane soon landed at the familiar airport in Fort Lauderdale. It struck Maggie that she was so close to her home in Boca, and it didn’t bother her that she wouldn’t be going home but heading to a cruise ship.

  Mike and Maggie were the first to disembark from the plane. Once they had made their way to the baggage carousel, Mike pointed to a man holding a placard that read BS. “Our driver,” he said.

  “ ‘BS’?” Maggie looked at Mike as he led them over to the waiting man.

  “Brownstone Savings and Loan,” he said over his shoulder. “They forgot the -L part.”

  “Of course they did,” Maggie said under her breath.

  One by one, the group gathered near the baggage area. Maggie moved near Joanie, “Did John show?” she asked quietly.

  “He did not, but I did get a voicemail while we were on the plane. He said he drove down yesterday. I guess he has family in the area. It would have been nice if he told me ahead of time. But it’s a relief he’ll be on board the ship.”

  When the final piece of luggage was pulled off the conveyer belt and piled on the cart, the group marched to the awaiting Sprinter van. Loading the bags into the back of the van took longer than the drive to Port Everglades Terminal, where the Silence of the Seas stood proud, awaiting its upcoming voyage. A long line of passengers waited to enter the terminal building.

  The driver unloaded the bags and passed them to a porter…who gave them to another group of porters…who loaded them onto several carts. The driver then pointed to a side door; Joanie handed him an envelope.

  Joanie waved to the small group, indicating they should follow her. The bank had sprung for first-class treatment: they stood in front of a side door marked VIP Guests Only. A young woman sporting a neat white uniform greeted them and motioned them into the large metal building. The terminal looked like a warehouse. Ropes and luggage were spread throughout. Lines of passengers waited to be checked in. Other passengers sat in plastic chairs, awaiting their chance to board. Mike and Maggie’s small group was led through a path of dark purple velvet ropes, eventually leading to a sectioned off area where a separate sitting area had been set up with oversized furniture resting on a large sectional carpet. The sitting area was still in full view of the other passengers. A small table had been set up with coffee and tea service. Mike noticed a pile of pastries by the tea and eagerly picked off the top offering, an apple fritter.

  The young woman in uniform began speaking. “Good afternoon, my name is Mora. It’s my pleasure to be your embarkation hostess. Please help yourselves and relax a few moments while I check you in. I will need your identification to process your boarding documents.”

  The young woman walked around the sitting area, collecting passports; then she disappeared behind a long desk across the room.

  “Still no John?” Mike asked his sister between bites.

  Joanie looked at her phone and scrolled through a few screens. “John is already on board,” she said. “He said he would meet us at the room.”

  Kimberly approached Maggie. “So your our corporate marketing guru,” she said. . She pulled up her curly long red hair and expertly twisted it atop her head, fastening it in place with some type of plastic claw.

  “Yes,” Maggie said nervously.

  “I liked the Christmas Trees for Kids festival the bank put together last year. You did a great job,” Kimberly said.

  “I can’t take credit for that,” Maggie said. “I have an amazing staff.”

  “I thought the marketing department was a one-man show—or rather a one-woman show,” Kimberly said, confused.

  Sensing trouble, Mike spoke up. “Hey. David, so you’re the genius everyone raves about, technologically speaking of course.”

  “It’s been my passion since I was a kid,” David said. “I think I was coding before I could even read.”

  Before Kimberly could continue to question Maggie, Mora reappeared. She passed each of them their passports and a thick blue lanyard with the letters VIP repeated numerous times down both sides. Attached to the bottom of the lanyard was a clear pouch and a platinum-colored card with each person’s name printed across the bottom. Maggie slipped the lanyard over her head, careful to turn the pouch so the card with her name faced inward.

  “If you all will follow me, we can get you started on your vacation.”

  Mora turned, and like baby ducks, Maggie and the rest of the group followed the leader past the long lines of waiting passengers, who simply stared with either envy or disgust.

  Mora led them to a gangway separate from where the main crowd was boarding. The ship’s crew was also using this gangway to board. Maggie held her VIP pass for the security team’s scanner to read. When the light turned green, a member of the security team directed her to a red X painted on the deck. She smiled as the computer recorded her photograph. Then she stepped aside as each member of the group followed her in turn.

  “Why do we need to be photographed?” Kimberly asked as she stepped up to the red X.

  “In case you fall overboard, they can identify the body,” David said.

  “Hilarious, David. Maybe you should volunteer for comedy night.”

  “We have very tight security aboard the Silence of the Seas,” Mora said. She held the elevator door for the group. Then, when they were all in, she pushed the button for Deck 11.

  Chapter 5

  Muster Stations

  When the elevator doors opened, the group exited to what looked like the lobby of a penthouse in a fancy New York apartment building. The carpet was a vibrant deep blue with white swirls resembling ocean waves, the walls were painted in the same hues, and the door jams and fixtures were highly polished brass, creating a nautical theme. The window of a large porthole filled the space with natural light and a dynamic view that Maggie knew would change with the landscape of their voyage. The island sounds of a steel drum echoed from somewhere in the corridor, welcoming them to their weeklong residence.

  Mora pointed to a large gold door with a plaque that read Private. “This is the private club reserved for our VIP guests and private affairs.” She pointed to the VIP plastic sleeve hanging by David’s chest. ““These will allow you entry into the club as well as into your room. You’ll use the card for everything: ordering drinks at the pool, shopping in the plaza, or gambling in the casino.”

  She then moved to the door located directly across from the private club. The door also held a plaque with large letters spelling OASIS. She pulled a thick
platinum card from her front pocket and waved it close to the raised pad above the handle. The door latch clicked, and she opened the door. The group filed in and assembled in the middle of the room.

  “Nice,” Maggie said in Mike’s ear.

  “Welcome to the Oasis.” Mora smiled. “Our most exclusive suite on the Silence of the Seas.” She held her arm out; Maggie and the rest of the group filed past as they explored the suite. There was a large professional kitchen and a generous group living space with a big-screen television. A fully stocked bar sat between the two.

  “Are we still on the ship?” David asked.

  A voice behind Maggie said, “Welcome to the Silence of the Seas and your own personal oasis.” Maggie turned. Standing at attention were two men; one, a large red-faced man in a white coat and a chef’s hat, the other a much shorter, darker-skinned man with his hair slicked back.

  “Please let me introduce your chef, Chef Paul, and your steward, Ralph,” Mora said, smiling.

  “May I start you off with a drink?” Ralph pointed to an ice bucket. “I have champagne chilled, or”—he pointed to the bar—“anything else you require.”

  “I’ll have a glass of champagne,” Maggie said.

  The other members of the group followed her lead.

  “Please, enjoy the balcony,” Ralph said. He slid the giant glass doors aside, allowing the group to file out to the expansive private balcony. “I will bring the drinks out shortly.”

  “Wow,” Mike said, stepping out onto the balcony, “this is awesome.”

  He pointed to the six-person hot tub. Maggie took a seat on one of the six lounge chairs that sat in a long row facing the ocean.

  “There’s another fully stocked bar out here,” David said, taking a seat at a café table.

  Kimberly leant against the rail, her eyes staring toward the horizon. “This is the bluest water I’ve ever seen.”

  “Wait until we get into the Caribbean,” David said.

  Maggie focused on the familiar Florida water before closing her eyes, remembering the first day she arrived in South Florida from Seattle. The feel of the sun heating her skin and breathing in the thick salty air…It was like breathing in a whole new life.

  “This is something, huh?” Mike said, sitting next to her.

  Just then Ralph delivered their drinks. Maggie opened her eyes and sat up. Mike took two of the crystal flutes from the tray Ralph held forward. He handed one to Maggie. “Cheers,” he said.

  “Cheers,” Maggie repeated, taking a small sip of the clear bubbly liquid.

  “Your bags have arrived, and I put them in your room if you would like to change,” Ralph told the group.

  “Perfect,” Mike said. He stood and held a hand out to Maggie. Ralph finished passing the drinks to the others before he slid the giant glass doors aside again and motioned for them to follow.

  Ralph opened one of the doors and motioned to the pair. “Your room.”

  Mike and Maggie stood frozen. Both their bags sat near the bed.

  “Whose room is this?” Maggie asked.

  Ralph looked concerned. “Both?”

  After an awkward pause, a voice spoke softly behind them. “Remember, you two are together.” It was Joanie. “I’m bunking with Kimberly, and David and John are sharing, so…”

  Maggie felt her cheeks turning red. “Tell me there is another room.”

  “I’m afraid not,” Ralph said behind them. “But I can pull the bed apart into two singles. Not a problem.”

  Maggie took a long sip of her drink, emptying the glass.

  “Is that a problem, Maggie?” Mike smiled slyly.

  “Nope. No problem,” she said. Except my snoring.

  “Good, problem solved,” Joanie announced as she walked away.

  “I can sleep out here on the pull out if you would rather me…” Mike offered.

  “Don’t worry about it,” Maggie said nervously, “we’ll make it work.”

  “That’s the spirit.” Mike walked into the room and looked around. “Look, there’s a private balcony.” He pulled back the long curtains.

  “How wonderful,” Maggie said, wishing her glass was full again.

  A loud unfamiliar voice shook them from their dilemma and lured them back into the main living space. A very tall, bald gentleman dressed in cargo shorts and a Tommy Bahama shirt stood next to Joanie and David.

  “You must be John,” Mike said, taking a few steps toward the man holding his hand forward.

  “I am—and you are…?” John asked, looking at Joanie, confused.

  “Aw, this is Mike and Maggie. Maggie is the corporate rep for the trip.”

  “Well, nice to meet you.” He nodded to them then tilted his head up and looked around. “I had no idea there were rooms like this on a cruise ship.”

  “Let’s get you a drink, John.”

  Joanie led John over to the bar. Maggie followed, filling her glass with the remaining champagne. Chef Paul set out a cheese tray. Noticing the empty champagne bottle, he pulled a new bottle from the wine refrigerator, unscrewed the wire loop on the cage, then, draping a towel over the bottle, carefully popped the cork. He pushed the bottle into the ice bucket. Then he handed John a tall glass filled with a light pink concoction.

  “You’re rooming with David,” Joanie told John.

  John lowered his eyebrows. “We have to share?”

  “Seriously, John,” Joanie said. “We could have booked interior staterooms. Count your blessings.”

  “Don’t worry, John, I don’t snore,” David offered.

  “Well, I do,” John said proudly. “My ex-wife says I sound like a freight train traveling through Grand Central.”

  “I’ll put my earbuds in.” David smiled.

  A disembodied voice came from the speakers somewhere above them: Please make your way to your muster stations.

  “Everyone must participate in this exercise,” Ralph announced to the group. “You have time to finish up your drinks before we go. I’m happy to lead you to your muster station, if you like.”

  The group took their time finishing drinks and using the bathroom even as Ralph grew noticeably impatient.

  “We really must go,” he said, “they will take attendance. The ship cannot sail until everyone has mustered.”

  “Why didn’t you say so,” John said, emptying his glass and setting it down. “Let’s go.

  *

  The Brownstone Savings and Loan group were the last to show at Muster Station 4B, which turned out to be quite fortunate. They suffered a few side glances from other passengers who had been waiting for almost twenty minutes in the crowded breezeway, but they were fortunate to assemble at the very edge of a large crowd that was at least seven deep. The assembled groups spanned the entire outside deck; there wasn’t much space between them and the other muster stations. Their position would allow them to be the first to leave. Only a few more stragglers showed, and they were positioned at the front again, keeping their group on edge.

  “I just want you to know I can be a little agoraphobic,” Maggie whispered to Mike.

  “What do you mean a little agoraphobic? You are agoraphobic, or you’re not.”

  “I sometimes have panic attacks when I’m in large crowds.”

  “Are you alright now?” Mike asked in a way Maggie felt was a bit insincere.

  “Yeah, as long as we stay at the edge and I can get out of here before they start pushing me.” Maggie took a deep breath and tried to push away images of the crowd coming at her when they were released.

  “I remember a guy in my unit in the marines who ended up in a loony bin because he was locked in a box,” John said. He was standing on the other side Maggie.

  “That’s horrible.” She turned her attention more fully to John. “Why was he locked in a box in the first place?”

  “It was a training exercise for special ops,” John said. “Apparently he had some kind of disorder the doctors failed to pick up on during the psych exam.”


  “That sounds like claustrophobia, but it often results in symptoms similar to a panic attack,” Mike said.

  “You’re well versed in more than just pork products,” Maggie said.

  “It was part of my job,” Mike said in a low tone.

  “I think a lot of it is mental,” John said, pointing to his head.

  “I agree that it is mental, and most of the time, I can breathe through it,” Maggie said, “but sometimes I just lose control and start shaking, my hands get clammy, my heart races, and I feel dizzy. One time, I was at Disney with some friends, and they convinced me to go with them to the nighttime parade. I agreed and was okay until the parade ended—then an entire park full of people were all exiting at the same time through the same gates. I tried to just go with the flow, but the crowd was thick, surrounding me, pushing and touching until I lost it and fainted. I was lucky the crowd didn’t trample me. Two young women pushing strollers created a barrier until the paramedics reached me and revived me with smelling salts. It was pretty embarrassing.”

  Mike looked worried. “Has that ever happened again?”

  “There was college graduation, Saturday’s at Costco, and…”

  “Well. Let’s not take a chance. As soon as they wrap this thing up, you get out of here. I’ll meet you in the room”

  “It’s all about breathing,” John offered. “Keep your head out of the crowd and concentrate on your goal.”

  “What’s my goal?”

  “Would you three be quiet?” Kimberly had turned and was looking directly at Maggie. “I’m trying to listen in case there is a real emergency.”

  “Sorry about that,” Mike whispered.

  Kimberly turned back toward the ship’s crew as they demonstrated the proper donning of a life jacket.

  Maggie didn’t even pretend to pay attention to the instructions. She had been on a few cruises and knew the drill; so as the crew wore their cruise-ship smiles while reciting the importance of safety on board the ship, Maggie looked to her left, where another group was receiving the same information. A moment later, the disembodied voice from the loudspeaker announced: In case there is a real emergency, and that emergency requires the evacuation of the ship, this is the spot where you will board your lifeboat.