“Is this Tina?” Bill asked, pulling up a picture on his phone of the woman from the passenger roster named Tina Marston.
Justin had been slouching in his seat again. When he saw that picture, he became excited and tried to stand. “Yeah, that’s her!” A reaction followed that he surely should have anticipated.
“Ow, ow, ow!” He shouted as his bum knee protested and the cuffs on one arm yanked him back like a dog that had gone too far on its chain. When the rebound slung him back into his seat, awkwardly, he yelped again.
“Noisy for a box of rocks,” Bill said as the screen on his cell phone went dark. “If it’s all right with you, Maggie, I’m going to move him out of here and into the brig.”
“No problem. I’ll wrap that knee for Justin. I’ll check on him again later after he’s had dinner.”
Who knew? A brig and a morgue on a luxurious cruise liner, I thought.
“That’s assuming he can eat given how much pain he’s in,” Jack added with a smirk on his face.
“I can eat,” Justin retorted. “Not that I like being locked up in a cage like uh, uh…” He shut up after looking at the remnants of the big, padded, feathered parrot suit he was still wearing.
“Can you get our jailbird a change of clothes, Bill?” Jack asked.
“Sure. You might find this interesting, Jack. It was in a drawer in his cabin.” Bill handed Jack a clear plastic bag that contained a sweatshirt with the Marvelous Marley World logo and slogan on it:
"It’s a marvelous world…a Marvelous Marley World!" The dark color certainly fit the description of the one given by the eyewitnesses who had caught a glimpse of the slasher on Deck 6. “Wendy Cutler said there was some kind of writing on the shirt the third man was wearing this morning before he took off, but still says she can’t be certain what it said. I showed her pictures of Justin. She doesn’t think he’s the man she saw running away after killing Jake Nugent, but she wants to take a closer look at him, in person.”
“Hey, wait a second. I already told you I was sleeping this morning when that Oscar alarm went off. That’s not my shirt, either! I have one, but it’s got Catmmando Tom on it. Can you bring me that one and a pair of sweatpants so I can get out of this parrot outfit?”
“Please,” I added. Justin shot daggers at me before speaking.
“Please,” he said, shaking his head in disgust.
“I suppose you’re going to tell me this isn’t yours, either, even though we found it in your cabin.” Bill held up what appeared to me to be a diamond tennis bracelet. It was in another plastic bag, much smaller than the first one holding that sweatshirt. “Another item originally reported to lost and found and now on the list of stolen jewelry,” Bill said as he handed that bag to Jack.
“Those are real diamonds, Jack.” I peered at the bracelet as he turned that bag over and then flattened the bag out on the palm of his hand. “White gold, too. Not high end, but not cheap costume jewelry like that necklace Jake Nugent had on him.”
“My wife has a good eye for shiny things,” Jack said, winking. Despite that wink, I could tell he was worn out. Justin had his mouth open, ready to squawk again. I jumped back in with a question before the young fool could speak. I toyed with the idea of mentioning that Justin was right-handed unlike our slasher, but why take the weasel off the hook. Besides, even if he wasn't the killer that didn't mean he didn't have some other connection to the thievery ring that he hadn't revealed. Maybe he wasn't the box of rocks he pretended to be.
“Do you know where the owner lost it?”
“In the lounge area near the women’s spa and fitness center. And, yes, before you ask, that’s one of the areas where other passengers told us jewelry went missing, including that engagement ring,” Bill added.
“The cool blond hanging out with the thieves must like shiny things as much as Klepto-Kitty and I do, Jack.” Bill, Justin, and Maggie stared at me. I didn’t have time to explain about Klepto-Kitty before Justin bellowed.
“I’m no klepto-anything. I’ve never seen that bracelet before, and I told you Martin Santo had the ring that’s missing, not me. Somebody’s trying to make me a patty. You said it yourself!”
“Derek!” Bill bellowed suddenly. The door to the infirmary opened, and a young man darted into the room.
“Yes, Sir. What is it?”
“Go back to that cabin we were searching and bring a sweatshirt—any one you can find quickly—and sweatpants, please.”
“Right away,” Derek said as he left the room.
“Georgie has a point. The elusive blond certainly has some association with the trouble on this ship since she’s now popped up twice—her hair has anyway,” Jack commented.
“She would have had access to those locations that are restricted to women only. Maybe the three men fighting it out on Deck 6 this morning had some help from the woman whose hair we found on the late, Jake Nugent.”
“That makes sense, Georgie. If Tina’s not hiding out somewhere with Martin Santo, she could be doubling up with the blond. I don’t suppose there’s an easy way to screen passengers for hair color, is there, Bill?”
“Why not ask the Spa Attendants,” I said. “A cool blond might stand out if she’s been a regular down there. Justin mentioned that Tina works out. If they know each other, they could have shown up together. You have a picture of Tina to show them. Guests leave cabin numbers when they make appointments. Maybe Tina's cabin number and the one that belongs to our unknown blond will turn up on the same day if the know each other. And, and on days that passengers reported they lost jewelry. We'll start by asking about the women, showing them that picture of Tina. Then we'll ask them to search for the days when Tina's cabin number appears. After that...” When I looked up, the others were staring at me.
“What? Am I repeating myself? You’re not still waiting for an explanation about Klepto-Kitty, are you?” I asked.
“I don’t know about the others,” Bill responded. “I was wondering how you could be thinking as clearly as you are after all that’s gone on today. Especially after that whooping you gave to the parrot who now realizes he’s a patsy.” Bill turned toward Justin before adding, “It’s a patsy, Justin, not a patty.” Justin shrugged.
“Patty, patsy—whatever,” he said.
“Once we get Justin situated in the brig, I’ll see if I can find someone to follow up on your suggestions about questioning the Spa Attendants. We’re stretched to the limit as you can imagine.”
“All-hands-on-deck, I’m sure,” I said sympathetically. He was right that I was tired and stressed out, but until today, I’d been living it up. Bill and the rest of the crew had been working round-the-clock for the past week at sea before the trouble today. He had to be exhausted.
“You’ve got it. Everybody’s on notice that we’re all on extra duty until we’re back in Papeete. It’s not my crew members out on the water searching for Passenger X, but we have Security Associates guarding our eyewitnesses, Wendy Cutler and David Engels, the morgue, and we’ll have to keep watch on Justin in the brig. We’ve stepped up patrols throughout the ship, too, with that slasher still on the loose.” At the mention of his name, followed shortly after that by a reference to a “slasher,” Justin squirmed. I sure hoped, for his sake and ours, that he wasn’t holding out on us.
“I’ve got guys reviewing all the footage collected over the past week anywhere on Deck 6. They’re searching for any sightings of our dead man, Jake Nugent, or our woman on the run, Tina Marston. They have a sketch of the third man involved in that brawl this morning, so if they spot anyone that looks like him in that area, they’ll let me know. Adam is running down information from Sales Associates in the shops where Nugent made purchases, and I’m going to have him do the same for Tina Marston. I’ll make sure that he asks about a blond with shoulder length hair in case she was with Marston while she was shopping. Max Marley doesn’t skimp on the staff-to-guest ratio on board, but we are maxed out.”
“I don’t mind dropping by and aski
ng a few questions at the spa if you’re all right with that. Jack and I do need to clean up and change for dinner. What do you think, Jack?”
“You’re unstoppable, Georgie,” Jack said. “Can you email us a copy of that photo of Tina Marston, Bill? We’ll visit the spa on our way to dinner even if it means we’ll be a little late. We’ve promised to drop by that Olly-Olly Free, Free, Free Desserts of the Deep extravaganza, first, though.”
“Jack’s a devotee of that ‘eat-dessert-first’ edict, Bill. We don’t dare miss it. Not that a chocoholic like me would let that happen. It might mean we’ll be a little late for our dinner reservation at The Captain’s Table.”
“Don’t worry about that. The Captain won’t be offended. He’s not going to appear at tonight’s seating. The bridge is busy staying in communication with everyone involved in the search for our man overboard. They intend to use every minute they have left before we have to get underway in the morning.”
“We’ll give you a call later, after we’ve made our visit to the spa—if we learn anything useful,” Jack said as we left the infirmary.
“Sure thing,” Bill said. As we were leaving, a man with a goatee entered with a sketch pad tucked under one arm.
Good casting, I thought. Was that his idea or another of Max’s hiring criteria? I could see Max sitting behind his desk with the fingers on both hands touching, creating the little pyramid mastermind gesture he often adopted while brainstorming. I could hear his pronouncement: “Goatee required to play the role of shipboard sketch artist.” I only wished he were sitting behind that desk, now, instead of flying to meet us in Tahiti.
“Let’s get a move on,” I said picking up my pace.
“That ol’ devil Max on your heels,” Jack asked.
“How did you know?”
“You straightened your shoulders and put your chin up the way you do when you head off to work. Besides, Ari’i nui as Bill calls him—is on my mind, too. Come on, I’ll race you.” Jack took off with a burst of speed.
“And you call me unstoppable! Give me a break, please? I’m a victim of one of Max’s deranged surrogates. I can’t run! Don’t leave me alone like this!” He stopped, dashed back my way, and swept me into his arms.
“How could I ever leave a classy dame like you alone? You’ve got your hooks into me—deep, Sweetheart.” he said playing the role of fake film noir detective again. There was nothing fake about the kiss that followed, however. That put a little oomph in my step as we returned to our suite.
When Jack and I returned to our suite to shower and dress for dinner, it was clear my clothes had taken a beating in the wrestling match with Perroquet. At some point in the melee, I had torn my knit shirt and had lost a button on my black pants. My Espadrilles were more than a little scuffed. Jack’s one-week-husband anniversary clothes weren’t in great shape either.
“Maybe I should assume crime-fighting is just what we do to bond as a couple, Jack, and pack appropriately from now on. Where’d you get those police tactical pants? Do they take a credit card? How about red—do they come in red, my one-week-husband?”
Jack, who was in our bathroom taking his second shower of the day, didn’t reply. “I don’t think he can hear me,” I said to the cats. They had greeted us warmly at the door, but both were now on alert. I had tossed my clothes into a corner when I slipped into my robe. I was now adding Jack’s trashed aloha shirt and torn shorts to that heap. The cats jumped as I tossed each item on that pile, and then went back to warily inspecting the damaged goods.
“You two know when Mom and Dad have been up to no good don’t you?” Miles bellowed in reply. “I wonder where my husband’s snazzy new Panama hat has gone.” I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d seen it on Jack’s head.
The bed in our room looked incredibly comfortable. I was tempted to drop back into it. Who knows what remnants of a day at sea wrestling desperados had left on my body? I flashed on Jake Nugent, lying in that pool of his own blood.
“Eew,” I thought, “a shower it is.”
“Your turn, Doll,” Jack said, slipping up behind me. I jumped at the sound of his voice. When I did that, both cats sprang about a foot off the floor and took off. Jack and I laughed at the sight.
“Guilty conscience, Jezebel?” he asked looking every bit the man on a luxury cruise in his MMW Fantasy of the Sea robe.
“You left the shower running, and I didn’t hear you coming. Sneaking up on me is not a bit funny after the day I’ve had. I’m now adding stealth to my one-week-husband’s list of hidden talents, a dubious distinction I might add.”
“In my defense, I wasn’t trying to be stealthy. Forgive me, please? Cross that hidden talent off my list and put poet on it, instead. Remember that verse I penned for you this morning in celebration of our one week anniversary?" When I didn’t answer immediately, he pulled me into his arms. His hair, still damp from that shower, smelled clean with a hint of sandalwood and coconut in the mix. I let him kiss me about twenty times before I relented.
“Okay, okay, I forgive you. I’m going to shower and hope the hot water soothes my aches and pains.”
“I’ve got a better suggestion than that. The water is running in there for you, and I dropped one of those fizzy bath bomb things you like into the tub. I have material to review, this report to put together, and I need to touch base with Adam and Bill about a couple of things. I’m getting dressed. You have a soak in the tub and pretend you’re on your honeymoon.”
“Are you sure? That does sound heavenly—even all by myself.” I smiled coyly.
“You may not be Jezebel but you are a temptress, my love. Duty calls, though. The sooner this mess is over, the sooner we can get back to what really matters. Ari’i nui is on his way, after all.”
“You’d better try to get those cats to forgive you before you get dressed. They’re not pushovers like me. They’re going to want to hear a full-fledged apology complete with treats.” When I said that magic word, the duo reappeared in the doorway to our room. Miles tilted his head back and bellowed. Ella chattered, backing him up.
“Treats!” Jack said, loudly, this time. “You aren’t mad at me, are you?” I heard him ask his two companions as they led him out of our bedroom. Their tails stood straight up.
“Speaks cat fluently,” I said aloud as I stepped into the tub, adding to my one-week-husband’s lists of talents. “Likes to buy me shiny things, too,” I added as I caught site of the gorgeous floral sheath I planned to wear to dinner. The neckline would be perfect for my one-week anniversary gift.
9 Spas and Gossips
On our way to the Olly-Olly dessert extravaganza, Jack and I did as we had promised and dropped by that spa. The moment we walked into Penelope’s Spa & Fitness Retreat I felt myself relax. Great care had been taken to create a peaceful ambiance. Soft music played with a slow rhythmic beat—not too different from that of a pulsing heart at rest.
Clever, I thought as I felt my breathing slow to match that beat. It worked its magic on Jack, too, even though he’s no fan of places that sell expensive “gunk and goop,” as he calls it. I could feel the tension flee from him as he breathed in the aromatic balm of lavender spiked with hints of Tahitian vanilla. Just like the scent in that luxurious bath I had taken in our suite. That had been so relaxing, in fact, I had dozed off. I felt ready to go another round or two.
The information desk sat in an alcove surrounded by a moving picture wall like the one in our suite. This one contained breathtaking video images of a flowing waterfall surrounded by gorgeous tropical flowers in full bloom.
“Can I help you?” a young woman asked. Kayla, as her name tag read, was dressed in a Sarong and wore an orchid tucked behind one ear. Her smile was as pleasant as the surroundings in which we stood.
“We hope so,” I responded in a quiet voice. “There’s been some trouble on board today, as you know. I work for Marvelous Marley World management,” I said as I slid my I.D. card across the counter. “We’re trying to locate
two women we hope might have information about the passenger who went overboard this morning.”
“Pushed overboard, you mean,” Kayla said as wariness washed that warm smile from her face. She picked up my I.D. card and glanced at it. Without saying a word, her eyes wandered to Jack. He had reacted ever so slightly to her reference to the passenger as having been pushed. I don’t think she noticed his reaction but wondered who he was. That’s how Jack read it, too.
“I’m Detective Jack Wheeler, Kayla. Marvelous Marley World has asked me to help sort out what happened to the passenger this morning. Who told you that passenger was pushed overboard?” Jack flashed his badge. I hadn’t realized he’d brought that with him on this trip until I saw it lying on the bar next to our room key and his cell phone this morning. My boy scout is always prepared. I’ll give him credit for that.
“It’s been part of the buzz in here all day. The main topic of discussion, in fact, until Perroquet went wild and mowed down a couple of older passengers a little while ago. They’re probably out of commission for the rest of the trip. What a jerk,” she added quickly. “You know about that already, don’t you?” Wariness turned to outright suspicion as she asked that question.
“Yes, of course. The culprit's in custody. We’re also aware of rumors that someone pushed the missing passenger overboard,” I said. “Do you have any idea how those rumors got started?”
“Sure,” Kayla responded, although she appeared more puzzled than sure about anything. “Some woman was screaming about it at the top of her lungs, that’s how. Our first client of the day came in for a massage, irate about the fact that the woman had nearly knocked her down as she ran past her on the upper deck. She was yelling that she saw two men shove a passenger over the rails and into the water.”
“Did your client see her ask a staff member or anyone else for help?”
“No. Part of the reason our guest was so ticked off is that she had tried to get her to do that. She asked the woman something like, ‘did you tell security?’ The woman cussed her out and screamed at her. ‘Are you crazy? I don't want to be next!' To which our client replied ‘Oh, I get it. That’s why you're so hush-hush about it.’ The woman shut up at that point and ran for it.”
Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Box Set Page 45
