Death on the Wind

by M. J. Mandrake

  “Then why do you all have to eat the same thing?”

  She shrugged. “Heather doesn’t like to feel left out. That’s why we’re here, really.”

  “What do you mean? She wanted to go on the cruise but didn’t want to go alone?”

  “No, we thought a luxury cruise sounded great. Especially all the spa days and pampering.” Zoe stabbed at the lasagna and then put her fork down. “Reagan had this really amazing boyfriend. Perfect for her. Heather started to feel left out.”

  “So… she broke them up?” Kitty had no idea what Zoe was trying to say. She wasn’t sure who would be perfect for Reagan, either. All she ever did was echo Heather’s horrible behavior.

  “No, she stole him. And not in a nice way, either.”

  Kitty stared at her plate. Was there a nice way to steal someone’s boyfriend? Did you send the woman flowers and a sympathy card?

  “Reagan didn’t know for, like, ever.” Zoe sighed. “It was awkward. But she seems pretty much over it. Which is good because the wedding is next month.”

  “Oh.” Kitty had the strangest sensation of her brain struggling to catch up with Zoe’s monologue. Here she’d been worrying about Zoe snapping under the bullying. Apparently, being forced to eat arugula at every meal wasn’t the worst part about being Heather’s friend. “And Reagan is okay with everything now?”

  Zoe waved down a waiter and he poured her a large glass of wine. After drinking most of it in one swallow, she set it down and signed, “Oh, sure. She’s Heather’s maid of honor. She’s put a lot of work into it, helping her plan everything. Catering, flowers, even the honeymoon.”

  Chica tilted her head and fixed Zoe with a look. Kitty wondered if they had matching expressions of disbelief. She couldn’t even contemplate standing next to the two people who had broken her heart and smile as they took vows to love and cherish each other until death did them part. Either Heather had blackmail on Reagan, or she was in deep denial, because there was no chance that wedding was going to happen without some major drama.

  Kitty didn’t play the odds, but if she did, she’d bet that Reagan was going to make Heather pay for her cruelty, and it was going to be sooner rather than later.

  Chapter Three

  “Many people die at twenty five and aren't buried until they are seventy five.”

  ― Benjamin Franklin

  “Come on, mi serenita, just one dance. You’ve never been to the nightclub, yes?” Jorge was beaming that perfect smile at her and had somehow caught the fingers of her right hand in his without Chica getting in the way. The movement bumped Kitty’s book and she narrowly kept it from sliding off her lap. Moby Dick was no lightweight. Jorge didn’t seem to notice how close his toes had come to disaster. As the activities assistant, she assumed he wouldn’t want to do his job from a wheelchair.

  “I’m sorry. We’re getting up early,” she said, trying to sound regretful. He did have very soft hands. It had been years since anyone had held her hand. Leander had helped her down a steep cliff side trail, but it had been pouring rain and she’d already nearly knocked them both into the sea after slipping. And then he’d held her hand as they ran for their lives against an incoming tide, but again―just for safety. Oh, and there was the time he’d held her hand as they made their way back out of the Sian Ka’an biosphere in the middle of a hurricane― but there had been a jaguar roaming around eating people.

  “Did you hear me?” Jorge asked.

  Kitty felt herself go red. It was the second time in less than an hour that she had been thinking of Leander and missed the conversation. Maybe she had PTSD. Maybe she needed some counseling. Maybe she just needed some distraction.

  “You know, I think I will,” she heard herself say. Immediately she wanted to tell Jorge that she needed to go back to her room because she clearly had lost her mind.

  “Excelente!” He jumped to his feet. “I’ll meet you there at ten.”

  “Ten? That’s so late.”

  A little frown line appeared between his brows. “The club opens at ten. It’s a night club.”

  “Of course.” Kitty steeled herself against the idea of not being in her cozy flannel pjs by nine. Even as a child she was an ‘early to bed, early to rise’ type. Her brother had always made fun of her for getting up early in the summer, but she still remembered the way it felt as if the whole world were holding its breath as the day dawned over the pasture.

  “I have insurance papers to organize for tomorrow. I’ll see you there,” he said and walked away, singing loudly.

  Chica rested her head on Kitty’s leg and looked up, her large brown eyes speaking volumes.

  “I know,” Kitty said, hearing the grumpy note in her voice and hating it. “But after meeting Lea―… after almost dying, I realized I may just be a little too closed off from the world.”

  Chica blinked, clearly not convinced. Gazing out at the brilliant hues of the sunset, Kitty tried to organize her thoughts. She ran the fingers of one hand over the raised designs on the front of her book. There is a wisdom that is woe; but there is a woe that is madness.

  Chica yawned and Kitty could see halfway down her throat. “I just… want to be more open to life. And a little dancing sounds like a good step.”

  Two figures appeared around the corner and Chica sat up. Judy was signing in an agitated manner to Ralph. Her graying hair was coming out of its bun and her glasses were sliding down her nose. Ralph hunched deeper into his windbreaker and frowned. Their guide dog, Reggie, plodded along behind as if he were at a party he didn’t want to attend. They didn’t seem to notice her sitting here and were clearly having an argument. Kitty looked away, but she’d already caught enough to know that Judy was very unhappy. Spent everything we had for this― Have to say something now. Why are you waiting?

  When they were closer, Kitty signed, “Everything okay?”

  Judy jumped as if electrocuted, gripping Ralph’s arm. Quickly gathering herself, she nodded. “Fine. Everything is great.”

  “I want you to be happy with your tour. Are your sheets okay?”

  “Oh, yes.” Ralph looked uncomfortable.

  “Why don’t you sit down and watch the sunset with me?” Kitty wasn’t exactly sure why she offered to share what would be the only peaceful moment in her day now that she had committed to staying up far past her bedtime. “It’s so lovely tonight.”

  They glanced at each other and something passed between them. “Sure,” Ralph said, and took a seat beside Kitty. Judy hesitated, then sat on her other side. Reggie looked confused about why they were sitting down but obediently scooted between the lounge chairs.

  Looking out on the sunset, Kitty tried to enjoy the moment. A sunset was always better with someone else, right? Or maybe not. It felt painfully awkward to sit there without talking.

  “Have you been on a cruise before?” Kitty asked.

  “No.” Ralph looked back at the pink clouds.

  “So… anniversary trip?” She couldn’t help herself. She needed to know why Ralph and Judy, the two people who didn’t seem to be having any fun at all, had ended up on a luxury cruise. Maybe it was a last-ditch effort to save their marriage. Maybe one of them was terminally ill.

  “No,” Judy said, and for a moment Kitty wondered if she was going to say anything more. “We saved up. We’re not like these kids here who have everything handed to them.”

  “We don’t even have what we earned,” Ralph said, his face like thunder. Standing up, he snapped his fingers for Reggie. “I’m going to bed.”

  Judy started to stand but Ralph had already turned and was walking away before she could get to her feet. Sighing, she sat back down. “It’s hard for him,” she said.

  Kitty glanced at Ralph. One good thing about sign language was how private it could be. If a deaf person’s head was turned, you could say anything you wanted. Kitty didn’t want to encourage Judy to gossip, but she also understood how sometimes you just needed to get something off your chest or you were going to
do someone bodily harm. “Does he prefer to stay at home?”

  “When we first met he loved to travel. But then life happened.” She looked out at the sunset, sadness in her eyes.

  Kitty was afraid to ask. Hearing about the Rubios’ lost child had left her feeling raw. The possibility of witnessing another mother’s grief made a little wisp of panic rise up inside. Then guilt crept in and shadowed the nervousness. She’d heard that women who had suffered the loss of a child felt isolated because people found it too painful to see them hurting. She reached out and briefly touched Judy’s hand. “Children?” she asked.

  Judy seemed confused, then said, “Oh, everyone is fine. Thank goodness. Two boys, both grown and with their own families. We have five grandchildren.”

  Kitty tried to turn the conversation in another direction. “Did they follow Ralph in their profession?” She wasn’t even sure what Ralph had done for a living but that seemed a safe subject.

  “No, not at all. Which was a good thing.”

  Kitty wanted to grab Judy by the shoulders and shake her. Was she always this cryptic? Had Ralph been a secret agent with the CIA? “And what did Ralph do before retirement?”

  “Retirement.” Judy repeated, rolling her eyes. “He still picks up the odd jobs once in a while, when he can.”

  “It’s good to keep busy,” Kitty said.

  “A necessity. He lost his pension. Forty years, never took a day off work. He was loyal…” Judy’s face had gone hard. “Left us with nothing. Two months’ wages and that was it. The company weaseled out of turning over the retirement accounts by some legal sleight-of-hand. The appeals are all used up. Those years―all that effort and time and money―are just gone.”

  “I’m so sorry.” Kitty knew what it was like to leave with nothing. Her parents had loaned her the money to settle in Mérida and after a few years, she’d managed to pay them back, along with all her wedding debt. But those memories of having nothing but the clothes on her back and a plane ticket would never fade. She had only been responsible for herself, and moving back in with her parents was always a back-up plan, as much as she had hated the thought. She couldn’t imagine what it would have been like to have a mortgage and family involved in the equation.

  “Oh, you know,” Judy said, standing up abruptly. “That’s life, I suppose. Nothing we can do about the past. We’ll just have to think of new ways to get justice.”

  Kitty nodded, not sure how Judy and Ralph could get justice against something that seemed so final.

  “See you tomorrow,” Judy said.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to go parasailing?”

  “Sure.” She grimaced. “Too many accidents happen with that kind of thing.”

  Kitty waved as Judy left. She knew the parasailing company the cruise ship used was very professional, but she had never had the nerve to try the sport herself. Being towed along behind a boat, over the water, attached to a giant parachute and strapped to another person―it really didn’t sound like her cup of tea.

  Opening her book, Kitty flipped through the pages, not reading the words. Everyone had a story. She felt she’d judged Judy and Ralph too harshly. Their complaints about the sheets and the water now seemed understandable. They had scraped and saved to take this cruise. Of course they wanted everything to be perfect.

  Standing up, she decided to head back to her cabin. It was too early to change, but a hot shower sounded good. Chica nudged her leg and Kitty turned to see Penny and Elaine coming up the stairs toward her. They had changed into stylish pantsuits with matching hats. Kitty wondered for the tenth time about their ages. Just when she was sure they were closer to eighty, they did something to revise downward. It really didn’t matter in the end, but her curiosity might never be satisfied. Maybe she could ask the tour operator to check their ID papers.

  “Look at this sunset!” Elaine swung her arms wide. “Glorious!”

  “Like you’ve never seen one before,” Penny said, but she was smiling.

  “I’ve never seen this one.” Elaine motioned to the deck chairs. “Sit down and watch it with us.”

  Kitty didn’t want to say she’d just watched the sunset for ten minutes straight. Now she’d gone fifteen feet and was sitting down again to watch it some more. She dutifully faced the water. It really was a wonderful mix of colors. “Are you two headed out tonight?”

  “We’re going to check out the club,” Penny said.

  “Oh, the nightclub on the third level? Jorge invited me and I thought I’d go for a while.”

  Penny grinned. “No, dear, the jazz club. We like the outfits and the dancing. Even though we can feel the music easier with techno, it isn’t really our thing. But you’ll have a great time. I’m glad you’re giving Jorge a chance.”

  “Like techno music, he’s not really…” Kitty shrugged.

  “But maybe he could be your thing for just one night?” Elaine said, wiggling her eyebrows.

  She couldn’t help wrinkling her nose. “Also not my thing.”

  “You remind me of my sister. She always said that before you do something, you should read it as a headline. You know what happened?” Penny asked.

  “What?”

  “She never did anything interesting.” Penny waved a hand at the wide open sea and the beautiful coast in the distance. “How can you live surrounded by such beauty and not fall in love with someone? Or at least fall in like?”

  “Maybe I’m just not the romantic type.”

  “If you say so.” Penny said, “You know who’s not romantic? Reagan. How can she plan Heather’s wedding to her ex-boyfriend? Her veins must run with ice.”

  “I think it’s great,” Kitty said.

  “What?” they both signed at once.

  “It shows she’s moved on. She’s forgiven them.”

  “No. It shows they’re all crazy. I haven’t met the man in question, but I can bet you he’s no saner than all the rest of them,” Elaine said.

  “I’m on Team Reagan,” Penny declared. “Any woman who’s betrayed like that gets my support.”

  Kitty felt warmed by Penny’s loyalty. She couldn’t afford to take sides, though. “I guess I’m Team Everybody Get Along.”

  “I’m Team Everybody Needs Professional Help,” Elaine said.

  “Well, if Heather doesn’t stop bullying those girls, I’m going to be Team Everybody Gets Cussed Out.” Penny leaned back, stretching out her sandaled feet. A diamond anklet glittered in the days’ fading light. “All the bickering and drama is tiresome.”

  “That’s why I love her,” Elaine said, nudging Kitty. “She’s all peace and light and love with a little ‘go dunk your head’ mixed in.”

  “Maybe we can run interference for Zoe. That could help a little,” Kitty suggested.

  “Heather won’t let them out of her sight. She enjoys being cruel to them, I’m positive. I bet she even makes Reagan feel bad about stealing her boyfriend. She’s the kind of friend who stabs you in the back and then acts like she’s the one bleeding,” Elaine said. “Mark my words, Reagan hasn’t really forgiven Heather.”

  “But Heather thinks she has,” Penny said. “She can’t imagine someone would hold onto something so small―” she rolled her eyes and made quotation marks in the air, “―as stealing someone’s man. I’ve known women like Heather. A false friend like that is worse than ten enemies.”

  Kitty watched sky darken and said nothing. The situation brewing in their group was giving her a very bad feeling. “I think she must not have loved him. Maybe she was glad to be rid of him.”

  Elaine nodded. “Like I said. No saner than the rest of them.” Checking her watch, she stood. “Well, we should be on our way. Wear something hot to the club. And I don’t mean that old cardigan you like.”

  Toto scrambled up to follow them as they headed upstairs.

  “Or those black shoes,” Penny signed before they turned the corner. “They’re for grandmas, not cute young things like yourself.”

  Kitty f
rowned after them. She liked her black shoes. It was all fine and good to wear strappy sandals until you had fallen arches. Then you were stuck with clunky orthopedics. Her black shoes had a lot of support. Maybe they weren’t the cutest, but was anyone really looking at her feet?

  She examined her red leather slides and her fresh pedicure. Penny and Elaine had a lot of ideas about what a woman should wear and do. Well, Kitty had never been one to follow the crowd. Then again, maybe that’s why her life had gone sideways all those years ago.

  Chica nudged her hand and looked up, a worried expression in her dark eyes.

  “It’s nothing,” Kitty said, stroking her head. “Just memories.”

  The memories would always be there to haunt her. Just hearing about a similar situation had her stomach in knots. She’d thought she’d moved on, grieved her lost future and found peace where she could, but she felt a dark, familiar cloud settle over her. Those terrible days had seemed to last forever, never-ending in their sameness. She had been stuck in a nightmare of loving someone who didn’t love her back, and desperately needing the one friend she couldn’t have.

  When she and Chica had become a family, the cloud had begun to lift. Slowly, little by little, the sun had come out again. Puppies took a lot of energy, and training a guide dog was a full time undertaking. She fell into bed at night exhausted, only to be woken in the morning with more work to do. It was just what she’d needed.

  Kitty wondered how Reagan could stand to be near Heather. But maybe it had happened a long time ago. They were in their late twenties. Maybe this had all happened in high school. It was the only explanation Kitty could think of because it simply wasn’t natural for Reagan to be okay with Heather’s actions, and then help plan the wedding, too.

  Slipping inside her cabin, Kitty headed for the bathroom. Chica shadowed her instead of going to lie down on her bed. Strange. Chica only did that when she was worried about something. “I know. I feel nervous, too,” she said.

  Stripping off her clothes, she stepped into the spray of the hot water and tried not to think anymore. She set the shower head to a massage setting and stood there, forcing herself to let the anxiety go. It wasn’t her business what Heather and her minions did, or how they managed their friendship. Not her friends, not her problems. In a few days, they’d all be back in Miami and Kitty would be headed back to Mérida for a short break before her next cruise assignment. Rook and Raven would give her the cold shoulder for a few days, and then they’d fight for lap space while she read in her favorite overstuffed chair.