Terror at Sea: Three mysteries aboard a cruise ship

by Debby Mayne

  “Yeah, as if that’ll ever happen. Even if it’s not official, you’ll always be a detective.”

  “Don’t forget who actually solved this last crime.” She pursed her lips and made a silly face. “Now you’ve crossed over to my side … and you’ve become quite a detective yourself.”

  “No!” I feigned horror. “Say it isn’t so.”

  “Afraid it is, cuz.” She laughed as she gave me a hug. “Gotta run. Give me a call if you run across any more bodies.”

  After Summer left my apartment, I sank down in my favorite chair. I was exhausted beyond belief after such a frightening ordeal, but I had to admit, there was something exhilarating about being involved in solving a crime.

  The End

  More books by Debby Mayne:

  Trouble in Paradise (contemporary romance – first book in the Belles in the City series)

  Julia’s Arranged Marriage (historical romance – first book in the Hollister Sisters Mail Order Brides series)

  Murder Under the Mistletoe (mystery – first book in the Summer Walsh series)

  Table of Contents

  Praise for Janice Thompson’s BRIDAL MAYHEM MYSTERIES

  Title Page

  Copyright

  More from Janice Thompson

  Dedication

  Chapter One: Only the Ocean

  Chapter Two: Beyond the Sea

  Chapter Three: Come Sail Away

  Chapter Four: Sea of Love

  Chapter Five: Water You Waiting For?

  Chapter Six: Bridge over Troubled Water

  Chapter Seven: Girl in the Sea

  Chapter Eight: Moonlight on Water

  Chapter Nine: Don’t Fight the Sea

  Chapter Ten: This Ocean

  Chapter Eleven: Blue Ocean Floor

  Epilogue: Deeper Water

  Don’t Miss the Rest of THE BRIDAL MAYHEM MYSTERIES SERIES

  About the Author

  Praise for Janice Thompson’s

  Bridal Mayhem Mysteries

  “This series continues to be great! This book was just as wonderful as the others. The mixture, of suspense, humor, romance, and life in general is perfect. Then when you add in the inspirational thread it takes it over the top! Janice Thompson is an awesome author.”

  —Wilani Wahl, Reader, regarding Catering to Disaster

  “I read a lot of different books. Some are so intense that I need a break from that type of book. Janice Thompson gives the reader a pleasant escape from life's challenges. This book is an easy read and a great escape to another place without it being so intense that it keeps you awake at night. It also teaches us not to jump to conclusions about people. Because things are not always what they appear to be.”

  —Barbara Gill, Reader, regarding The Perfect Match

  “The groom goes missing two weeks before the wedding. Annie is on the case again trying to find what happened to him. A very good mystery and very funny book. Made me laugh out loud. Even her dog helps in finding Scott. More than a five star rating.”

  —Janice Sisemore, regarding Gone with the Groom

  “Thompson's gentle sense of humor permeates this novel and ties into southern references including Annie's mother, who serves grits for breakfast every morning. This reader found herself laughing aloud more than once. A charming cast of characters is handled deftly by Thompson, who manages the whole passel with style and shows how a supportive family can band together in hard times. Between witty dialogue and fast action sequences, this novel kept my attention until the very (happy) end. Gone with the Groom is a great read for those who enjoy cozy whodunits with a bit of flair.”

  —Lacy Williams

  “Annie Peterson sets out to find out who stole a $25000 deposit from the bank depository. She hopes that in doing so, she'll clear her husband of the crime. From the moment Annie signs up for an online private investigator course until the satisfying conclusion of the book, Janice Hanna kept me thoroughly entertained. And maybe taught me a few lessons as well. The characters are delightful and so is the story. If you love a good cozy mystery, you won't be disappointed in The Wedding Caper.”

  —Frances Devine

  “As a newly-inaugurated empty-nester, I could totally identify with the heroine of this story! A bank robbery; not one, but TWO weddings to plan; a host of suspects. SURELY it wasn't her husband. Or WAS it? A wonderful Christian read from one of my all-time favorite authors!!! Don't miss it!”

  —Regina Merrick,

  regarding The Wedding Caper

  Bridal Mayhem Mysteries

  Book 6

  JANICE THOMPSON

  Don’t Rock the Boat

  Copyright © 2014, 2016 by Janice Thompson.

  All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the permission of the author.

  Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

  All of the characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is purely coincidental.

  More from

  Janice Thompson

  Bridal Mayhem Mysteries Series

  The Wedding Caper

  Gone with the Groom

  Pushing up Daisies

  The Perfect Match

  Catering to Disaster

  Don’t Rock the Boat

  The Club Wed Series

  Fools Rush In

  Swinging on a Star

  It Had to be You

  That’s Amore

  The Bella Novella Series

  Once Upon a Moonlight Night

  Tea for Two

  Pennies from Heaven

  That Lucky Old Sun

  The Tender Trap

  Dedication

  In loving memory of Kay Malone, the real Sheila in my life. Our 2008 cruise was one of the highlights of my life. When I join you in heaven, we’ll talk about how we lounged on a private beach in Cozumel, sailed aboard a pirate ship in Grand Cayman with swarthy seadogs, and swam in turquoise blue waters, so clear we could see our feet paddling below. I’ll brag about how proud I was as I watched you climb Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica, and how tickled I got, every time you got turned around on the ship and led us in the opposite direction. More than anything, I’ll laugh with you, just like we did on that seven-day adventure aboard the cruise ship. Until I see you on those heavenly shores (Get it. . .shores?), I will continue to live vicariously through Annie and Sheila, who are happy to sail on our behalf. I miss you, my dear friend, and can’t wait to take the ultimate vacation with you, one that never ends.

  Chapter One

  Only the Ocean

  God grant me a vacation to make bearable what I can’t change, a friend to make it funny, and the wisdom to never get my knickers in a knot because it solves nothing and makes me walk funny.

  —Anonymous

  W hen you live in a landlocked state like Pennsylvania, the idea of taking a cruise on the open seas is both terrifying and mesmerizing. Terrifying, because you can’t fathom the idea of seeing nothing but water for days on end, and mesmerizing, because stepping away from your mundane, landlocked life sounds over-the-top adventurous.

  I’ve never been afraid of a little adventure, so, when my BFF, Sheila, suggested we go on an impromptu Caribbean cruise, I said yes. Actually, I said yes without even asking my husband, who, it turned out, wasn’t quite as adventurous. Perhaps his life as a personal banker at the Clark County Savings and Loan was enough for him, but I wanted more, and I wanted it sooner, rather than later. Maybe, with a little persuasion, my hubby could be won over to my way of thinking. Surely he realized that my new status as an empty nest mom more than qualified me for a vacation. And what better early Christmas gift could the man give me, after all?

&n
bsp; “Aw, c’mon, Warren.” I paced our bedroom, nearly tripping over my two dachshunds, Sasha and Copper, who always seemed to be under foot. Sasha let out a little yip as I bumped her with the toe of my shoe. I gave her my most profuse apologies then turned back to my husband. “We’ll only be gone a week, honey.” I sat next to my hubby on the edge of the bed and gave him a pleading look. “You’ve got more vacation time than that, right? Don’t they owe you two weeks?”

  “Right.” Tiny wrinkles formed in his brow as he raked his fingers through his messy salt and pepper hair. “It’s not the time off I’m worried about, trust me. I could use a vacation. But it’s just such short notice. Week after next?”

  “We’re getting the deal of a lifetime, from what the travel agent said,” I argued. “Not a lot of people want to travel just before Christmas. You know?”

  “I’m not sure, Annie.” He put his hand on his stomach and gave me a thoughtful look.

  “What? You get seasick?”

  He paled a bit. “I don’t know if I would or not. I’ve never been on a cruise before. The only boat I’ve ever been on is Orin’s rowboat when we went fishing out on the river.”

  “And, as I recall, you had a wonderful time.”

  “I got sunburned and couldn’t move for three days.”

  “Well, other than that, you had a terrific time, admit it.”

  “I lost four pounds because I couldn’t keep anything down.” He gave me a knowing look. “You remember how awful that was, right? The doctor said it was heat stroke.”

  “Well, sure, but the tummy issues were from the sun, not the boat, so there’s hardly any comparison. Besides, they have those seasick patches now. People wear them on cruises all the time. And trust me, the food is so good you’ll forget all about being sick.”

  “How do you know the food is good? You’re a cruising expert now?”

  “No.” I rose and paced the room. Sasha tagged along behind me, but Copper rested at Warren’s feet. “I’m definitely not an expert. I only know what Sheila and Orin tell me. She said that the salt air will be the best thing for Orin, especially now that he’s in remission.” My eyes filled with tears as I thought about Orin’s recent cancer treatment. I took a seat next to my husband once again. “Sheila’s doing this for him, honey. And we’re his friends. She wants us to come along for moral support.”

  “Might be hard to offer moral support if I’m in my cabin curled up in the fetal position.”

  “Honey, c’mon. We’ve been married a hundred and fifty years and you’ve never taken me on a cruise. We don’t do anything adventurous.”

  “Annie.” Warren gave me that I-can’t-believe-you-just-said-that look. “We’ve been married thirty-four years.”

  “Thirty-three years this spring and we’ve never been on a cruise. Our honeymoon was a camping trip in the Ozarks.”

  “If I recall, we had a rollicking good time on that trip.” A playful wink followed. “I don’t remember any complaints.”

  Ah. So, this was the way to the man’s heart. “We could have a rollicking good time on a cruise ship, too. Those little cabins are very romantic, from everything I’ve been told.” I nudged up next to him and gave him a couple of sweet kisses. Before long, we were necking like teenagers.

  When we decided to come up for air, Warren brushed back a loose hair from my face and smiled. “I’m just giving you a hard time, Annie. I already talked to Orin about the cruise this morning. He stopped in the bank to give me the particulars. I told him to count us in. I just wanted to string you along.”

  “You. . .you what?” I put my hands on my hips. “Do you mean to tell me I just stood here for ten minutes trying to convince you to do something that you’ve already done?”

  “Fifteen minutes, but who’s counting? And just for the record, we really have been married thirty-four wonderful years. Crazy, but wonderful years.”

  “We have?” I did the math in my head and then gasped. “Good gravy, we’re getting old. We’d better take this cruise before I lose all ability to remember my own name.”

  A comforting smile followed from my sweet hubby as he gazed into my eyes. “Your name is Annie Peterson. You’re married to Warren Peterson, the sexiest banker in the state of Pennsylvania.” He gave me a passionate kiss, one that left little to the imagination.

  “Alrighty then,” I said when he released his hold on me. “You are definitely the sexiest banker in the state of Pennsylvania, and you happen to be married to the most amazing super sleuth in the town of Clarksborough and beyond.”

  “But not on the seven seas, right?” He gave me a pensive look. “Once we get out of Clarksborough, you’ll put your sleuthing antennae down. Take a break?”

  “Of course.” I chuckled. “Trust me when I say that I have no desire to solve any crimes while we’re on-board the cruise ship. My sole job will be to spend a little time resting and relaxing with you, Sheila and Orin. And eating. And going on excursions.”

  “Excursions?” His nose wrinkled. “You don’t mean I’m going to have to go scuba diving, do you? I have inner ear issues, remember?”

  “Good grief. No, I won’t make you go scuba diving. But surely you wouldn’t mind taking a couple of scenic tours, right? We’re stopping in Cozumel first and I’m dying to do the private beach excursion. You can drink fruit punch from one of those coconut thingies while lounging on the beach. Sheila and I will snorkel.”

  “I’m trying to picture Sheila snorkeling.” Warren paused a moment and then chuckled.

  I had a hard time trying to picture it, too. To be honest, I’d rarely seen Sheila without her over-the-top makeup. No doubt she’d buy the waterproof version for our snorkeling adventure.

  Not that I cared about such things. No, right now I only cared about one thing: picking out my new fun-in-the-sun wardrobe, boarding a flight to Texas, and hopping aboard the Navigator of the Seas in Galveston. Once I stepped onto that ship, nothing—and no one—could distract me. I’d settle back in my lounge chair and enjoy the ride. . .all the way to the Caribbean and back again.

  Chapter Two

  Beyond the Sea

  Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

  —Mark Twain

  T he two weeks leading up to the cruise passed like a whirlwind. Sheila and I made a couple of trips into Philly to shop for new cruising clothes, not an easy task during the winter season, and especially tough with so many Christmas shoppers pressing in around us. But we needed new bathing suits and we needed them now. Not that the idea of donning a bathing suit and prancing around in front of total strangers on a cruise ship held any appeal but Sheila insisted I’d get over that part in a hurry.

  “Trust me, Annie,” she said with a chuckle, “You’ll see men and women in every shape and size and some of them are wearing two-pieces.”

  “Ugh.” As long as I didn’t have to see any grown men in speedos, we’d be okay. Sheila couldn’t guarantee that last part, though.

  With no options available in the stores we eventually settled on a couple of skirted bathing suits that we found online. Thank goodness they arrived in time to land in our respective suitcases. I also purchased a lovely sundress, bright pink and yellow, just right for the tropics.

  The night before we boarded our flight from Philly to Houston, I packed and re-packed my suitcase four times. At the last minute I contemplated adding a couple of things to the already bulging load. “Do you think I’ll need a sweater?” I held up a brightly colored teal sweater in front of Warren.

  He glanced up from the bills he was paying and shrugged. “It’s the Caribbean, honey. It’ll be hot, not cold.”

  “But it’s cold here. And the plane will be cold. Don’t you think?”

  “Then wear a sweater on the plane.”

  “I will.” A pause followed as I thought it t
hrough. “But sometimes it gets hot on planes.”

  Warren slapped himself on the forehead.

  “Okay, okay,” I said. “I’ll wear a sweater on the plane and take another one for the cruise ship. It might get cold on-board. You know?”

  “I don’t know,” Warren debated. “I’ve never been on one, and neither have you.”

  “Well, from what I’ve researched, it’s cold.”

  Warren crossed his arms and gave me a knowing look. “Then why did you need my opinion on the sweater?”

  Ugh! Such a man! “Because your opinion matters very much to me, Warren. That’s why. And you always say I look good in sweaters.”

  He closed the checkbook and smiled. “Um, true. You do look good in sweaters. So, take it.”

  “I will.” Gesturing to the suitcase, I said, “And I’ve got a couple more, too. And seven pairs of slacks, three pairs of jeans, six pairs of walking shorts, and more T-shirts and blouses than I can count. I sure hope my suitcase isn’t over the weight limit on the plane.”

  “And I sure hope you’re not going to quiz me on all of this later,” my husband said. “Am I supposed to be taking notes?”

  “Nah.” I shrugged.

  “Annie, we’re only going to be on the ship seven days.” Warren shook his head. “Why so much?”

  “I just don’t know what to expect and want to be ready for anything.” I tried to close the suitcase and then zip it, but could not.