by Rick Murcer
“All due respect, Chief, you scared the hell out of me. I thought, well, that you and Stella might be in trouble,” his voice trailed off.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you. I forgot that I turned the damned thing down.” He looked at Manny and his faced softened. “Thanks for worrying.”
The Chief motioned Manny through the door, and he followed him to the vanity near the TV. Gavin put the ship-issued 9MM in his waistband. “If this jerk off wants to dance, he picked the wrong band.”
Manny clapped his boss on the shoulder.
CHAPTER-59
Agent Josh Corner stood in the hall with the three Lansing cops outside Gavin Crosby’s closed cabin door. He hoped to see, or at least get a premonition of, what they were thinking. Too many options and not enough time to second guess a wrong choice. Not exactly what the doctor ordered.
They looked tired, maybe more than tired, especially Manny.
He had gotten a sense of how hard Williams would throw himself into this case, but the Lansing detective had run a much harder race than Corner had expected. Talent and hardworking existed in a rare combination these days.
Manny looked back at Josh. “What?”
“You look like hell.”
“Well, thank you. That’s what I get for going on a damn vacation.”
“Actually, he looks like this most of the time,” grinned Sophie.
“Thanks for your kind words.”
“Any time. That’s why I’m here.”
The four slowly settled into an uncomfortable silence. Josh had been in more than a few of these gatherings and his experience told him that no one wanted to contemplate, or worse, take responsibility for, the next decision. Disregarding this conversation, however, wasn’t an option. It was like a persistent bill collector; at some point, you had to answer the phone.
Gavin started. “Now what? Do we put everyone in the same suite until this is over?”
“I don’t like that idea,” stated Manny. “If everyone is in the same place, one attack is all he would need to make us go bye-bye.”
“Yeah, but what about that divide and conquer thing?” asked Sophie.
“That could be what he wants,” said Corner.
“I don’t know. He likes to kill up close and personal, but if he does have a plan we don’t understand, we could play right into his hands by putting everyone together,” said Manny.
Sophie bit her lip and frowned. “But if we don’t gather a little strength in numbers, are we being set up to be picked off, one-by-one?”
“He might try, but this just might be one of those best guess things. All I know is that we need to make sure everyone is as safe as possible, especially the Crosbys,” said Corner.
Gavin spoke. “Okay. Let’s, at least, double up and put four to a room. We can get security to stand watch and make sure there is at least one gun in each room. It’s not what the Captain or Carousel want, but it’s too dangerous not to take the next step.”
“Awesome. Josh can bunk with Randy and me. I’ll make Randy sleep on the floor.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I--ahh--well Max will need a place.”
“That’s a thought. Never been with three men in the same room, all night at least.”
“Sophie!” barked Gavin.
“Sorry boss. Just trying to help.”
“Okay. I’ll check with the Captain and see if we can rustle up a few suites instead of these one-bedroom deals. You’re right, he won’t like it, but he’ll do it,” said Josh.
Gavin looked at Josh and shook his head. “I hate this.” Gavin wiped his hand across his chin and shrugged. “But, as my wife says, it is what it is.” Gavin reached for the door handle. “I’m going to tell Stella and then call Mike and Lexy to have them come to our cabin until we get something different.”
“One more thing,” he said. “I want you all to get some rest.” His eyes fixed on Manny.
“Some of Richardson’s people are patrolling the ship and the rest of his staff is on high alert. I won’t get the forensic results back for awhile, and you and Sophie haven’t really slept in the last twenty-four hours. You won’t do this investigation, or the rest of us, any good if you are out on your feet. Go get some shuteye and I’ll call you when I have new accommodations--that’s an order.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” said Sophie. “Josh, you coming?”
Manny started to protest but his gaze discouraged the Lansing cop from any further objection. “Okay, okay. What about you?”
“I’m going to do the same, right after I talk to the Captain, and don’t worry about me.” He gave Manny a big brother look. “You need to do this because you have to be one-hundred percent ready when we get the break we need. We all do. Got it?”
Manny pressed his lips together. “Alright. I’ll go take a nap. Happy?”
“No, but it will have to do.”
****************
CHAPTER-60
Knocking at the door of his cabin, Manny waited for Louise to open it. Each second the door went unanswered, his anxiety escalated. Apprehension was taunting him like an older sister and he was seconds from breaking down the door when the safety chain rattled and the door swung open. He let go of the breath he was unconsciously holding as Louise grabbed and hugged him in the same motion. He could feel her heart thundering through her vice-like grip while she burrowed her head under his chin. The natural scent of her hair engulfed his senses, and he closed his eyes in appreciation.
“I hate it when you don’t let me know you’re okay. You should have stopped by.”
Manny held her close.“I’m sorry honey, but that freak threatened the Crosbys and we had to make sure everyone was safe. There was just no time. I’m sorry, really.”
She mumbled something about being an asshole, and he smiled.
“Don’t do that again. I didn’t know what was going on and that scared me.” She released her grip on her husband and they locked eyes. Manny could see remnants of an emotion she wasn’t used to feeling.
“I won’t. I promise.”
Louise searched his face with the intense stare of a CIA interrogator. She kissed him on the mouth and they stepped back into the room.
“By the way, Agent Corner called and told me to remind you that you’re to take some time off and he’ll call you in a few hours. He said you promised.”
“I’m going to try, honey. I’m tired, but I need the mind to cooperate.” He slipped out of his sandals. “We think it will be safer if we all bunk-up with another couple and then have the ship’s security provide guards.”
Louise nodded. “Okay. That makes me a little nervous, but you guys are the experts.” She frowned and shifted her weight. “Could he be whacked out enough to try something?”
“I really don’t think so. He thrives on the one-on-one ritual to get his kicks, so an attack on a group would be totally out of his MO.” Manny didn’t mention that the killer’s methods had already evolved, or maybe devolved.
Louise shrugged. “What do we do now?”
“Corner will call back when he gets the room arrangements so there isn’t much to do until then.”
She hugged him again. “Tell you what. I’ll call the restaurant and order a couple of steaks with all of the fixings and you can get into the shower. We’ll just have a nice quiet dinner in here so you can get some rest.”
“Better make it three, if you’re going to eat,” he winked.“And that shower thing is the best idea I’ve heard today.”
****************
Gavin Crosby brought his wife up-to-date and told her he was going to have Mike and Lexy come to their cabin and wait until Corner called with new rooms.
“Maybe you should go get them. You have a gun and they don’t,” said Stella with more than a little concern in her voice.
“Good idea. Go ahead and call them and tell them I’ll be there to get them as soon as they’re ready.”
Stella reached for the phone as Gavin
walked out to the balcony to retrieve his sandals, and in the process catch one more glimpse of the glowing sunset. But there was another reason he left the room. Some of his courage had slipped out the back, and he needed to find it.
For one of the first times he could remember, he was afraid. Not for himself so much, but for Stella, Mike, and Lexy. He had never really had his family threatened, definitely not like this, in all of his years as a cop. This madman was different, and he wondered if the killer even knew what was coming next. He felt for the 9MM and hoped this move was the right one.
The balcony door slammed open and Stella hurried through, barely able to speak. “Gavin, there’s no answer at Mike’s room.”
“Lock the door, Stella.” He pushed past his wife and bolted through the cabin door, gun in hand, hoping, praying everything was fine, that the killer was simply playing mind games. Maybe Lexy and Mike were out on the verandah. But his hope was swallowed by the petrifying panic running through his gut.
CHAPTER-61
John Eberle was stretched half-way through the door of his cabin, looking both ways for any signs of commotion. He didn’t see any and was thankful.
No telling what all that running and shouting had been about a few hours ago, and frankly he didn’t give a rat’s ass. It was lobster night and he had no intentions of missing his favorite cruise meal. God willing, he might even have three of them.
After a few steps down the hall, he swore. He had forgotten to take his pill. The magic one. Dinner would be a painful excursion without his acid reflux medication. Heartburn had been an uncomfortable way of life for him until ten years ago when he discovered acid inhibitors. If his seventy-six-year-old body couldn’t handle the surgery to correct his hiatal hernia, then this was the next best thing.
“First the wienie, then the joints, then the guts, then the mind,” he groaned.
He retreated inside and shuffled to the bathroom. His thin, arthritic hands struggled with the foil package until he finally released the pink pain-saving tablet from its sealed prison.
“Safety packs, my ass,” he complained, while downing the pill with a shaking glass of water.
As he turned away to leave the room, he caught the reflection of an old man in the mirror, and wondered when the change had happened. He hated sneaky and getting old was just that. He didn’t feel like the wrinkled, age-spotted portrait flashing back at him.
Occasionally, his hands didn’t work so good and, at other times, he had to hit the head ten times a day. Maybe he felt it a little then. And sometimes, when he lay awake at night, for hours on end--and couldn’t do a damn thing about it. Maybe then.
He gingerly stepped out of the bathroom and looked around to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything else. His weary eyes settled on the old navy blue suitcase still resting on the vanity. Martha, his wife, had bought it about five years ago, when they had decided to start traveling.
Beautiful Martha.
There are lots of things you don’t experience living on the farm in Bristol, Tennessee, and they had been ready to broaden their horizons. The farm life was a good one, but not the fast lane for sure. They wanted to see some of the world they had read about or seen on some travel show. Martha had always wanted to go on a cruise, so they went.
The Western Caribbean voyage had been a wonderful time. In fact, it had been so good; they planned another one six months down the road. This time they would travel in style and see the Southern Caribbean.
But Martha would never see the rich teal waters and white sandy beaches of St. Thomas or the Divi Divi trees of Aruba.
A single, lonely tear ambled down his wrinkled cheek as he remembered how that damned cancer hadn’t taken no for an answer. It had grown so fast. Like hungry garden weeds after a warm summer rain. The doctors called it one of the most aggressive forms of breast cancer they had ever seen. They just couldn’t stop it. The greedy son of a bitch wouldn’t give her one more trip, and one more is all she really wanted.
His wife of fifty-one years was laid to rest the day they were supposed to embark on that next cruise. He promised himself, after she passed, that he would take a couple trips a year and tell her all about them. It was the least he could do.
“This has been a good one, honey. A little excitement with two folks dyin’ from heart attacks, but it’s been a good trip, aside from that,” he whispered, hoping she heard.
He pulled the handle of the heavy door, wincing until it swung open. He stopped dead in his wobbling tracks and blinked, but the sight before him was still there. Bigger than life.
A tall, muscular man was emerging from the young couple’s room across the hall. Not that unusual, except crimson streaks of blood ran down his left bicep and on the sleeve of his yellow island shirt. The big man looked at John with contempt he’d never seen. His dark gaze burned a hole directly into John Eberle’s head.
This giant means to kill me.
Then, as if he were reading the old man’s mind, the big man relaxed his stare and smiled. “Have a good one, old timer.” He turned aft and headed down the hall, whistling.
John stood still for a moment as his pulse gained some semblance of normalcy.
He had spent time in Vietnam. He had seen things, but had never been as afraid of dying like he had been thirty seconds before.
Putting his hand on his heart, he risked a look at the front of his shorts. As he sighed in relief, John Eberle was struck with a terrible, overpowering thought.
Where did the blood come from and what did he do to those nice honeymooners?
CHAPTER-62
Running his hand over his freshly shaven face, Manny realized he did feel a little better, but he was still beat. Even after the hot shower. The only real cure for what ailed him now was a few hours of hard sleep, and this murdering bastard in the brig. Or better yet, in the morgue.
And what of Louise? The last few weeks hadn’t been a picnic for her. This week was supposed to be a no-brainer, a super vacation that would overshadow the delayed mammogram results hanging over them like a raised guillotine.
Dinner at the swank Supper Club would have helped them both get their minds off that one, but not tonight. Maybe the only thing worse than not getting some R & R, aside from being keelhauled, was disappointing her.
No rest for the weary.
He ran fingers absently through his soaked hair and his thoughts swarmed to the message the killer had written on Christina Perez’s mirror. Gavin and Stella were okay, so far. He wondered if Sophie had checked on Mike and Lexy again. He would call them, too, when he got dressed, just to make sure.
But the message could have been just a con, a brain screw. For all they really knew, the poem could have been some dark, derisive misdirection; part of the killer’s perverse, deadly game.
Manny threw on a pair of gym shorts and a tank top and stepped out of the tiny bathroom just in time to hear the knock on the door. He reached for the 9MM and glanced at Louise who had risen from the bed.
“Must be dinner,” she declared.
He nodded and looked through the door’s peephole to confirm. He dropped his gun behind his leg, unlocked and opened the door quickly. The startled look on the server’s face almost caused Manny to laugh out loud.
“Sorry. Just wanted to make sure it was you.”
“Yes sir.” The server rolled the cart into the room. “Will there be anything else?”
“No, not now, thank you,” he answered, glancing both ways down the hall.
“Wait.” Louise reached past Manny and handed the server a five-dollar bill.
Manny began to close the door, when he noticed Alex and two of the ship’s security staff coming, it seemed, directly toward him. Manny waited, not caring for what he saw in their gait.
Alex stopped, looked at Manny, and then cleared his throat.
The senses Manny had worked hard to cultivate weren’t really necessary this time. Alex wasn’t here for a cup of coffee.
“Tell me I’m wrong, that he
didn’t kill again.”
“We thought they were safe. It happened about twenty minutes ago.”
“Thought who was safe?” Manny interrupted.
“These two men will stay here, but you need to come to room 6214 and see for yourself. We may have a witness.”
The pit of Manny’s stomach turned to ice. For a moment, he couldn’t feel anything, like some 400-pound wrestler was standing on his chest.
But reality screamed and put him in motion. He turned to Louise. “Lock the door and don’t open it for anyone, not even these two guards.” Then he pressed past Alex, hurrying down the hall to Mike and Lexy Crosby’s cabin.
****************
CHAPTER-63
The energetic knock on Ethel Manis’s door startled her. She had just finished her room service meal of double cheese pizza and diet pop. Thank God her prolonged bout with seasickness was over. She didn’t think food could taste this good.
Could it be him?
She didn’t know another soul on the ship. The room steward had already come to roll down her bed and leave one of those tasty little chocolate mints on her fluffed pillow. He knew she was in for the night. There could be only one explanation and that enlightenment raised her hopeful heart.
Her son.
She pulled her stocky frame from the edge of the bed and waddled to the door, glancing at the mirror as she went by. She couldn’t see much. Mostly lighted shadows, but knew she didn’t look pretty. She didn’t care, not really. She wasn’t here for a damned beauty contest.
Her stubby fingers dragged the chain away from the safety lock and she yanked open the door. Standing in front of her was a tall man with massive arms and chest. It looked like him. She tried to focus on his face, but the combination of her poor eyesight and long shadows hanging in the narrow hallway diluted any clear look she might have otherwise had.
