The Body in Davy Jones' Locker

by Elisabeth Crabtree

  “Scuba diving too?” Grace asked hopefully.

  “Yeah, that one too” he said with a note of regret. “That one’s very popular. Sorry.”

  Grace smiled brightly. “Oh, too bad.”

  Kyle snorted.

  “We can put you on a waiting list though,” Alex said turning back to his computer.

  “Oh, I’d hate for you to bother,” Grace said.

  “It’s not a problem at all,” Alex said as his fingers flew over the keyboard. “Okay, you’re all set. We’ll let you know if someone cancels. Is there anything else I can get for you?”

  “Two tickets for the magic show, please,” Grace said.

  Kyle cleared his throat.

  “What? I agreed to go scuba diving. It’s not my fault the scuba diving excursion was sold out.”

  Alex gave her an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry. Booked solid.”

  Grace made a noise of disappointment. “Well, what about tomorrow night?”

  “I’m afraid all tickets are gone for the rest of the week.”

  “Already?” Grace asked in surprise.

  “It’s our most popular show and usually the first to go. Our resident magician likes to keep his audience size real small,” with a tinge of annoyance in his voice. He pushed a brochure across the desk. “We have several more great shows.”

  Kyle laid his hand on the back of Grace’s back. “Thanks,” he said steering her away from the desk, “we’ll be back.”

  “Well, that’s disappointing,” Grace said as they walked back to the wall of posters.

  “I don’t even know why you want to see another magician when you have one right here,” Kyle said pointing to his chest.

  “I know,” she said stopping in front of the magic poster again. “It just looked like fun.”

  “Oh, hey there!” a voice cried out from behind them.

  Grace felt her shoulders sag. Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile to her face as Courtney Bernard ran toward her.

  “I was wondering where you two disappeared to,” the young woman said, coming to a stop next to them.

  “We’ve been exploring,” Kyle said.

  “I wish you had waited. I could have given you the grand tour.”

  Grace took Kyle’s hand. “Well, we didn’t want to bother you.”

  “Oh, no bother.” Courtney’s brow furrowed. “I can’t now though. I’m a girl on a mission.” She gestured to the large gift shop in front of the elevators. “I forgot to pack a toothbrush. It’s always the little things. I don’t suppose you’ve seen my honey bunny?”

  “Not since the balcony,” Kyle said.

  “I lost him a few seconds after we left our cabin.” She started toward the gift shop. “Well, if you see him would you tell him to meet me back at our cabin?”

  “Will do,” Grace called out as the young woman disappeared into the shop. She glanced at her watch. “We’re scheduled for dinner in an hour. What say we go upstairs and change?”

  Kyle glanced into the gift shop. “Actually, I have an idea. Wait here.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “It’s a surprise,” he said before kissing her on the lips. “I’ll be right back.”

  Grace smiled as he pulled away from her and disappeared into the gift shop. She tilted her head, watching him as he worked his way around the shelves. When he caught sight of her, he motioned for her to turn around.

  Grinning, she turned around just as the elevators opened and the magician from the poster strolled out. She almost didn’t recognize him. He didn’t look like his picture at all. But then he was wearing a pirate’s costume on the poster. Out of the pirate costume, he looked like a normal, everyday tourist in a t-shirt and shorts. A bit sloppier than most, giving the impression he had just crawled out of bed only a few minutes before, but a tourist nevertheless. His long shoulder length dark hair looked like it hadn’t been brushed in days, his square shaped face hadn’t seen a razor in about the same amount of time, and his clothes appeared to have been slept in. The only reason she recognized him from the poster at all was because of his eyes, which were a mesmerizing shade of blue.

  He caught her staring and gave her a far too self-satisfied smirk and nod. “Hey.”

  “Hello,” she responded politely.

  The magician continued on his way and strode up to the shores excursion desk. He smacked his hand down on the table causing Alex to glare at him. “You’ve got to do something about Merry, Alex,” he said by way of greeting.

  The cruise director lifted his hands as though he was warding off a vampire. “Back. I have no control over her. Talk to management.”

  “She’s your assistant.”

  “Which as I found out on the last cruise, means little to nothing. Her boyfriend owns controlling interest of this cruise line. She wants to be an assistant cruise director and he wants her to be happy. I’m sure as soon as she decides she wants my job she will be given it on a silver platter.” He smiled cheerfully at the irate magician. “I’m just glad I had enough foresight to build a little nest egg.”

  “She’s scaring poor Penny half to death with her stories of shipwrecks and cannibal passengers. Penny’s talking about quitting.”

  “Let her. You don’t need her, Bruce.”

  “Good assistants are hard to come by, especially one willing to spend nine months of their life at sea and in the cramped quarters you people provide. At least upgrade her to a better room.”

  “I thought she was staying with you.”

  “She’s through with me.” Leaning on the desk, he turned to stare at Grace, his eyes settling on her bare legs.

  “I can’t upgrade her to a different cabin,” Alex said. “It’s not even my department.”

  “Pull someone’s strings. You’re usually good for that. Surely someone cancelled.”

  “Booked solid,” Alex said. “Nothing I can do.”

  Bruce tore his gaze away from Grace long enough to glare at Alex before pushing himself away from the desk. He leered at Grace with a smarmy smile as he passed by.

  “Hey Bruce,” Alex called out, “I have an idea. Why don’t you fire Penny and ask Leo to take her place?”

  The magician’s smile fell. “Leo?” he asked forgetting Grace and turning around. “Leo’s gone.”

  “He’s back,” Alex sung out. “Why do you look surprised?”

  Bruce’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the cruise director. “Do I?”

  Alex smiled. “Very.”

  “Are you sure it’s him?”

  “Positive. Had a nice long conversation with him. He’s looking for you by the way.”

  The magician stared at Alex for a moment before adding with little emotion, “I can’t wait to see him.” He glanced over at Grace standing by the poster.

  “Going to the magic show tonight?” he asked as he pressed the elevator button.

  “I would like to,” she said, “but it looks like your show is sold out.”

  He glanced at his poster. “You recognize me from that picture?” he asked with a disgusted snort. “I don’t know whether to be flattered or insulted.”

  “I recognized your eyes.”

  “Ah, they always give me away,” he said with a wink. He reached into the pocket of his shorts. “As it so happens,” he said pulling out a ticket, “I always keep a spare ticket for a beautiful woman with me.” He held out the ticket to her. When she reached out to take it he snapped it back. “One condition though.”

  Suddenly, the magic show didn’t seem as appealing as it once was. “What is it?”

  He pointed the ticket towards her. “You visit me after the show.”

  She plucked the ticket out of his hand. “Absolutely. I have a feeling my husband would love to meet you. I don’t suppose you have another ticket, do you?”

  His face fell in disappointment. “I should have known,” he said with an annoyed sigh as he reached into his pocket and pulled out another ticket. “Tell you what,” he said handing he
r the second ticket, “why don’t you sit in the front? I’ll call you up to the stage and you can be part of the act.”

  “No, she won’t,” Kyle said sharply from the gift shop door.

  Bruce stiffened. “Well, funny finding you here, Dragovich,” the magician said in the same tone of voice. He gave Grace an amused look as she took Kyle’s hand. “I can now understand why your wife is so excited to come to my show. She probably wants to see a real magician and not a pathetic wannabe. So, tell me, are you still riding on your father’s coattails?”

  Grace angrily crushed the tickets in her hand as she glared at the magician.

  Kyle smirked. “Well, at least I’ve never disfigured one of my assistants.” He glanced over at the poster. “I’m surprised you were able to find anyone to insure you.”

  “You should talk.” Scowling, Bruce stepped into the elevator then turned around and leered at Grace. “See you at the show tonight, sweetheart. I’ll be waiting for you.”

  “Don’t bother,” Grace said coldly as she shoved the tickets into a nearby trashcan.

  “Your loss,” Bruce said as the elevator doors shut on his smug face.

  “What a jerk.” She swung around to face Kyle, frowning as he fished the tickets out of the trash. “What are you doing?”

  “If we want to see the show we’re going to need tickets.”

  Her mouth opened in surprise as she crossed her arms. “I am not going to sit there and watch that man perform.”

  “I am,” he said simply.

  “You didn’t even want to go. Why have you suddenly changed your mind?”

  “I’ve got no choice now that Bruce knows that I’m here. If I don’t go, he’ll think that he intimidated me in staying away. My father would have my head if that got out. So, I’m going to go and watch every move he makes.”

  “Kyle, we’re on our honeymoon. We don’t have to do this.” She linked her arm through his. “Let’s go dancing like you wanted.”

  “Tomorrow,” he said kissing her on the forehead. “Besides, a promise is a promise and I promised to take you to the magic show tonight and you promised to go scuba diving.”

  “But they’re sold out.”

  “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I’m sure the island has private excursions we can book.” Grinning, he handed her the bag. “Check out your gift.”

  She reached into the bag and pulled out a box with a picture of a shark on it. “What’s this?”

  He opened the box and pulled out a large clunky grey wristband. Once it was free from its container, he attached it to her wrist. “It’s not pretty but it’ll keep those man eaters away from my bride. And if it doesn’t”—he leaned forward and kissed her—“I will.”

  “You better. You know it’s going to take a lot more than this to make me want to jump in the ocean.”

  “Well, I guess I’m just going to have to do a lot of convincing tonight,” he said wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

  She giggled as she took his arm.

  “I hope you two enjoy the show tonight,” Alex Wright called out as they walked to the elevators. “And if there’s anything I can do for you two,” he said with a wide smile as a strange, wicked looking gleam lit up his eyes, “you just let me know.”

  “Thanks,” Grace said with a frown, confused by the cruise director’s strange expression.

  She glanced toward the elevator doors as they opened.

  To her surprise, Tucker was inside standing next to a young woman sporting long silver hair with pastel pink, green, and yellow highlights. Her green eyes lit up in amusement as Tucker pleaded with her.

  “Please, Penny,” Tucker begged, his fingers steepled as if in prayer. “Please. She’ll kill me if she finds out.”

  Penny looked torn between rolling her eyes and laughing. “On one condition.”

  He looked horrified. “No.”

  “Yes,” she said with a nod as she stepped out of the elevator.

  “Bu—” Tucker sucked in his breath as he came face to face with Grace and Kyle. His mouth opened and closed comically for a few minutes before he took a deep breath and opted for projecting a casual air. “I think it was on the Pearl Deck, ma’am,” he called out. “Good luck and it was nice meeting you.” He massaged the back of his neck as he glanced at Kyle and Grace. “I-I don’t suppose you’ve seen Courtney. I seemed to have lost her.”

  Kyle jerked his thumb towards the gift shop. “She’s in there.”

  Horror filled Tucker’s eyes. “Are you heading back up to your cabin?”

  Kyle reached out his hand to stop the elevator doors from closing. He motioned for Grace to go ahead. “Yeah, we’re going up to change for dinner.”

  Tucker’s face paled as Courtney and the girl with pastel hair came face to face at the front of the shop. He quickly backed into the elevator. “I think, maybe, I’ll go with you.”

  Chapter Four

  Grace quietly opened her cabin door. She very slowly stuck her head out and looked from one side to the other. “Coast is clear,” she whispered. She lifted the hem of her rose gold sequined evening gown up and tiptoed out, anxiously waiting by the door for Kyle to join her. With any luck, they could sneak out before one or both of the battling Bernards caught them.

  She had had a hard enough time getting Tucker out of their cabin after he followed them up an hour ago. She couldn’t imagine how difficult it might be if she had to deal with both of them at the same time.

  Once inside, the young man had parked himself on their couch, whereupon, he began grilling Kyle on what it was like to be a private investigator.

  While Grace dressed for dinner, Kyle regaled the younger man with tales of excitement and adventure. She recognized a few from the movies but he did manage to slip in some of their own exploits over the last year and a half. He couldn’t have found a more willing audience. Tucker hung on every word completely captivated, staring up at Kyle with a kind of hero worship.

  Once dressed and ready to go, it took another fifteen minutes just to get Tucker out of the cabin and Kyle into the bedroom to change into his tux for dinner. She knew immediately when Courtney had returned to their cabin. The name Penny filtered through the walls several times with ear splitting clarity.

  Grace stuck her head back into the cabin and whispered a stealthy, “Hurry.”

  Kyle stepped out and closed the door behind him. “Grace—”

  She pressed her fingertips to his lips. “Shh. They might hear.”

  “I don’t know why we can’t wait for them,” he whispered back. “I like Tucker.”

  “I like Tucker too,” she admitted quietly feeling a bit guilty for sneaking away. “And I like Courtney. I just don’t like them together.”

  To her surprise, she had discovered that once Tucker was away from Courtney, she rather enjoyed his company. As it turned out, he and Kyle had quite a lot in common and hit it off rather easily, discussing at length about various places they had visited growing up. Kyle with his father touring and Tucker with his father moving from military base to military base. Surprisingly, Tucker seemed to have more than a passing acquaintance with magic and magicians and appeared to be as much of a fan of Kyle’s father as she was.

  He also had a good sense of humor and was interested in not only Kyle’s life, but also her life as well, easily switching from detectives and magicians to toy making when he discovered what she did for a living.

  The conversation hit a sad note however, when Grace asked him about his life. He quickly grew uncomfortable as he spoke about losing his parents at fifteen and having to learn to fend for himself. He was vague about the details; only saying that it wasn’t until he met Courtney that he actually felt like someone loved him again. When his voice grew rough with emotion, he quickly turned the conversation back to Grace’s work with designing toys.

  He was so interested in the subject, Grace feared at one point that she would never be able to get him out the door, but he eventually took the hint and with
a resigned and oddly enough, an almost fearful look, he reluctantly left, apologizing for hoarding so much of their time.

  He was definitely charming, Grace reflected. A little clingy, but charming nevertheless.

  It was when he was with Courtney on the other hand . . . She glanced at the Bernards' cabin as their raised voices carried through the door.

  “I just want a quiet evening with my husband tonight.” She tucked a lock of her strawberry blonde hair back into place. “We can eat with them tomorrow.”

  Kyle smiled down at her before lightly kissing her on the forehead. “All right,” he said quietly shutting the door. “You can have me all to yourself tonight.”

  “Good.” Warmth spread through her as she stared at her gorgeous husband. “I hope we’re not too overdressed,” she said straightening his bowtie. “We are supposed to dress for dinner in the main dining room, aren’t we?”

  “I certainly hope so,” he said as his fingertips slid across her bare back. “I have a weak stomach.”

  She looked at him in amusement as they walked down the corridor. “I mean dress up.”

  The door to their right suddenly opened as they passed by. Courtney appeared in the doorway dressed to the nines in a navy blue sequined evening gown. Her only jewelry, besides her wedding ring, was a diamond pendant of the Roman numeral two, which hung from her neck and sparkled underneath the overhead light. “Oh hey! What great timing! We were just coming to see if you were ready.”

  Tucker appeared behind his wife and Grace felt a pang of guilt when she saw a look of relief cross his face. “Ready to go?” Grace asked giving the young man an encouraging smile.

  “Am I ever,” Tucker said shutting the door. “I’ve been looking forward to dinner all day. The food on board is the best.”

  Courtney patted her stomach as they continued down the passageway towards the elevators. “A little fattening though. I don’t know how the people who work on board these ships do it and remain so thin.”

  Tucker pressed the down button. “It’s not hard. The staff moves around so much it’s easy to burn off the calories.”