by Young, Luke
“Oh, shit.” Victoria sighed.
“Yeah, right, oh, shit. He also said he could identify the person if he saw him again.”
“Well, this is also good news.” Victoria smiled.
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that.” Jillian groaned.
“No, I’m serious. You guys were sitting at the same table, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And he didn’t recognize you, right?”
“No, but he—”
“And he said he could identify the guy if he saw HIM again… Him. He’s looking for a guy… Everyone’s looking for a guy… And last I checked you didn’t have a penis.” Victoria gave her a hopeful smile.
Ethan perked up and grinned. “I didn’t see one either when we were at the nuuu—”
Jillian shot him a deadly look.
“Sorry, just making a joke.” He grimaced.
Taking a deep breath, Jillian muttered, “Oh God, this is a complete nightmare.”
Victoria began, “I think you just need to—”
Suddenly Jillian sighed loudly and put on a pained expression.
“What is it now?” Victoria asked.
“I have a book signing today… uhhhhh… I don’t remember what time I’m supposed to be there. Could you put on the TV and check that cruise compass channel… I think it’s channel fifty-two.”
Grabbing the remote, Ethan clicked on the television.
“Jillian, you’ve got to look at the bright side. Like I said, it could be a lot worse.”
The screen brightened to a high-angle security camera view of an individual in a long hooded robe walking out of the men’s locker room turning away from the camera and disappearing around a corner. The person’s face was not clearly visible.
All three watched the screen in shock.
The footage looped once more then the captain of the ship appeared on the screen. “Hello, this is Captain Waterbrook and I wish that I were speaking to you under different circumstances. This footage was captured two days before the incident, and we believe this is the same individual who was responsible for the attack yesterday. If you have any information, please stop by the security office. The smallest detail could help us break this case. So even if you think you may have seen something but you’re not sure exactly what it was, please share this information with us. I want to assure all passengers that we are doing everything in our power to secure your safety and I promise you that we will find this individual. Our security team is currently pouring over every minute of footage out of the thousands of hours of security camera recordings and we won’t rest until we find what we’re looking for. It saddens me that an individual has decided to spoil the safety, security, and good time that everyone was enjoying onboard this beautiful ship. This footage and message will be replayed until the individual is caught. Please tune to this channel for updates.”
Captain Waterbrook glared into the camera and continued, “This sick, twisted individual is a disgrace to humanity. If the person had any shred of decency they would have turned themselves in and ended all of this yesterday. Please help us find the person responsible. Thank you for your time.”
The image of the captain faded and footage of the hooded figure replayed.
“Turn it off,” Jillian said.
He clicked off the TV. “Do you really think the captain should be egging the person on like that? I mean, what if they were unstable and—”
He shut up when he discovered the two women staring at him gape-mouthed.
“What I mean is, we know that you’re not a deranged criminal, but he doesn’t and by coming on and saying those things, it could make things a lot worse if, you know… I think I saw something like this on Law and Order once.”
After giving him a tired look, Jillian turned her attention to Victoria. “Anyway, so this feels worse, right… Would you say now that it’s worse, huh?”
Victoria frowned slightly. “Okay, this isn’t good, but—”
“Holy shit, they think it’s a woman!” Jillian rose to her feet and paced around the room.
“What are you talking about?”
“The captain didn’t once use the word, he. He kept saying person or individual. Even the flyer says individual, not man or… shit… They know.”
“They don’t know.” Victoria climbed out of bed and grabbed THE ROBE and slipped it on. She put her hand on Jillian’s shoulder. “Look, you just have to relax, you—”
“You’re wearing the robe?” Jillian scoffed. “You’re wearing the fucking robe after—”
“It’s my favorite.” Victoria shrugged.
“I can’t believe you’re…” Jillian shook her head, dumfounded. “You said you would hide it in your luggage.”
“I got cold.”
“Cold?”
“I get cold after sex.”
“Oh you do, do you?” Jillian raised her palms in the air and crinkled her nose.
“Yeah, she was shivering and her nipples were hard and everything.” Ethan added and the two shared a nod.
“He’s right.”
Jillian looked at her like she had two heads. “You could try wearing some clothes. Maybe that would be a good idea instead of walking around with your tits hanging out, huh?”
“Um, I guess that’s an option.”
“Give me the robe.” Closing her eyes, Jillian held out her hand.
“Why?”
“Just give me the damn robe.”
“What are you going to do with it?”
Jillian grabbed the hood and pulled. “I’m going to do with it what we should have done yesterday.”
“Don’t.”
“I’ll buy you a new one. Give it to me,” Jillian demanded.
“No!”
“Yes!” Jillian pulled harder spinning Victoria around as she struggled to rip the garment from her body. Grabbing the bottom, Jillian pulled it up and the robe opened in the front and Victoria’s gloriously naked body was on display.
Ethan watched the second fight in as many days unfold before him without blinking once and while wearing a smile born of desperate longing. Longing caused by thousands of years of the evolution of the male species fueled mostly by way too much testosterone. He tilted his head for a better angle and smiled.
Suddenly Jillian freed the robe from Victoria’s clutches and bundled it up in her arms as she scanned the room. Now naked, Victoria stood with her hands on her hips, frowning.
“Uh-huh.” Jillian’s eyes widened as she spotted the gym bag on the floor and headed for it. Falling to her knees, she shoved it in, zipped it up and stood, gazing back to the nude woman and shaking her head.
“I’ll fix this.” Victoria nodded. “I will.”
“Don’t do anything.” Jillian pointed to her. “You’ve done enough. Why don’t you two just stay here and have sex… That way you can’t ruin anyone else’s lives.”
“Don’t you think you’re overreacting?”
“No. No, I don’t.” After letting out a tired grunt, Jillian turned and rushed out the door.
14
Victoria stood nude beside the bed and frowned. “I guess I should go talk to the captain.”
“What?” Ethan looked at her in shock.
“I should see if I can fix this.”
“What are you going to say?” Adjusting his pillows, he sat up in bed.
“I don’t really know, but I’m sure I’ll think of something.”
Ethan eyed her up and down. “You look really hot right now.”
“Aren’t you sweet?” Victoria blushed and stood a bit straighter, further accentuating her breasts.
He adjusted his shorts and smiled. “You, uh, don’t have to leave right now do you?”
“Why?” She climbed on the bed.
“Well, we were sorta interrupted before and I didn’t finish. You didn’t finish either did you?”
“I don’t have time for me, but I think I can spare five minutes for you.”
&
nbsp; “Cool.” Lifting his hips off the bed, he tore down his shorts and tossed them to the floor.
She straddled him, took hold of his erection and guided it inside of her. As she sank down on it, his eyes rolled back behind their lids and he sighed. Three and a half minutes later she was in the shower and he was curled up on his side, lying in bed and drifting off to sleep wearing nothing but a smile.
Wearing a micro-skirt and super-tight top, Victoria made her way to the Guest Services desk and waited in line. When her turn arrived, she said, “I’d like to see the captain please.”
A six-foot tall, Russian looking woman with her hair in a tight bun glanced to Victoria’s cleavage display then gave her a snooty look. “What is this regarding?”
“It’s important.”
“The captain is a very busy man— especially now with the investigation going on.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to him about.”
“If you have information pertaining to the investigation, you should speak to someone in the security office.”
Victoria let out a tired sighed. “I don’t exactly have information, but I would very much like to speak with the captain.”
The clerk frowned. “The best I can do is put your name and cabin number down and write him a note.”
“Really? I mean, can’t I just go up on the bridge and talk to him?” Victoria frowned. “Do they call it the bridge or—”
“No you cannot.” The clerk rolled her eyes.
“Um, okay then, yeah, I’ll leave my name. It’s Victoria Wil…” Spotting Ricky, the cruise director rushing out from the hallway next to the desk, she headed off after him and yelled back, “Never mind.”
“Ricky? Ricky?” She called out as he bolted ahead in an obvious hurry.
He turned back to her frowning, but upon getting a look at the stunning older woman, he smiled. “Yes.”
“Sorry, it looks like you’re in a hurry.” She cringed apologetically. “I only need a minute.”
“No. No, what can I do for you.”
“First I just want to tell you that I loved you in that Marriage Game Show the other night. You’re a great host— so funny.” She gave him her brightest smile.
“Thank you.”
Placing her hand on his arm, she stepped a little closer to him, leaning over to afford him a better view down her shirt. “I have something of a sensitive matter to discuss with the captain, but I can’t seem to locate him.”
Ricky tore his eyes from her breasts. “Well, he is a very busy, but I’m sure if you give your name to the—”
“Look Ricky.” She glanced around the crowded atrium and frowned. “Can I speak to you in private?”
He glanced at his watch. “I can give you two minutes.”
“Great.” Pointing to an empty seating area in a bar overlooking the ocean, she asked. “How about right over here?”
“That’s fine.”
She led the way, shaking her ass just a little more than normal. When they reached a pair of chairs in the middle of the bar, she sat in one and after he plopped himself down in the other, she crossed her legs and her tiny skirt rode up giving him quite a view of her black lace thong.
“Um, you see I, uh…” Glancing to the television, she was sidetracked by a scroll under the cable news channel about the F.B.I. tracking down some terror suspect. She looked around for his benefit making a show as if to be sure no one was listening then she whispered, “I’m with the F.B.I.”
“You are?”
“Yes, but don’t repeat that.”
“Okay.” His eyes widened. “I won’t”
“I’m not on official business here, but I’m the Assistant Director of Video, um, that is to say, Surveillance and, um, I’m also a facial recognition software expert.”
“Oh, wow, I, okay, so what can I do for you Miss?”
“Agent Wilde.”
“What can I do for you, Agent Wilde?”
“I understand you are in the middle of a crisis onboard and I’d like to offer my services. I’m sure I can help in your search and I’d love to speak to the captain about it.”
“Sure, yes, I think I can arrange that.” Ricky rose from his chair then turned back. “I’ve got to say you don’t look like an F.B.I. agent at all. I mean, you’re not what I expect when I think of one, you know?”
“Yes, I get that a lot.”
“I’ll be right back.”
She watched smiling as he made his way across the large room to the empty bar and picked up the phone. He returned a minute later and said, “Captain Waterbrook would love to see you. He asked that you wait in the South Sea Lounge right back here. I can show you.”
“Thank you.”
He led her to the large empty room at the back of the ship with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. It featured a stage area and seating for about one hundred people. He walked to back of the room and pointed to a table. “How’s this?”
“Perfect.”
“Can I get you anything, Agent Wilde?”
“No, I’m good.”
“He’ll be here in just a few minutes.”
She smiled. “Thank you so much.”
As Ricky headed away her smile faded. Shit, what the hell do I do now? You’re an agent in the facial recognition what? What the hell is that? What do I say?
Her panicked expression faded when she looked down at her bare legs and a smile took its place. When you want to direct their attention away from your words, use a beaver shot, just like Sharon Stone did in Basic Instinct.
She rose out of her chair, moved behind a large plant and pulled her tiny panties down her legs and off her feet. She stuffed them in her purse then returned to the chair with the gears turning in her head. Her eyes brightened and she tugged her skirt up a bit more so it was barely covering anything at all and crossed her legs. Then, to setup emergency plan B, she positioned her purse on the arm of the chair and waited.
Less than a minute later, Victoria spotted the captain as he entered the enormous room and headed toward her. She swallowed hard watching the hulk of a man lumber her way carrying his burly, imposing frame with power and masculine grace. He wore a deadly serious expression, which faded slowly the closer he got to the scantily clad stunning blonde.
Narrowing his eyes, he held out his hand. “Agent, um…”
“It’s Wilde— Agent Wilde.” Trembling on the inside, she put on her deadliest, sexiest smile. “Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me.”
“My pleasure.” Smiling, he sat down and his eyes traveled up her long, crossed legs to her tight top, lingering a moment too long on her cleavage before coming to rest on her face. “So, what can I do for you Agent Wilde?”
“Oh, I was hoping to offer my services… In an unofficial capacity, of course.”
“I don’t follow.”
Clearing her throat, she sat up a bit straighter. “Um, I understand you’re in the middle of a serious crisis over this incident in the locker room.”
“Yes, we’re in full high-alert mode here, but my security staff is working around the clock and we will find the individual responsible.”
She uncrossed her legs and his eyes followed her movements, she paused a second then slowly re-crossed them bringing the other leg up. His eyes opened wide as he must have gotten at least a shadow of a glimpse of her lady parts. His jaw fell open and his eyes glazed over a bit.
“Captain?”
He didn’t respond.
“Captain?” she repeated softly.
“Sorry. Sorry.” He shook his head and looked her in the eye. “I’m running on no sleep here… What exactly do you think you could do for us?”
She began confidently, “As I was telling Ricky, I’m an Assistant Director in the F.B.I. working in the Facial Recognition Software Division.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Computers are sort of my hobby, tell me more.”
Oh, fuck. I have to get
the only ship’s captain who’s also a computer geek.
“Yes… Sure. I specialize in facial type, um… identifying terror suspects and, you know…” she stammered with her words trailing off weakly.
He narrowed his eyes, suspiciously. “And exactly how can you help?”
She did the leg trick again, but he didn’t bite. Oh, shit!
“I’m, um, glad you asked.” She took a deep calming breath then began, “Well, I believe that if I’m brought up to speed on everything you know and given access to your security camera footage and passenger photograph database that I could deploy my software on your network and within just a few minutes cross check the passenger manifest to every frame of footage and tell you if you have a match or if you’re just spinning your wheels.” She flashed him a confident smile. Where they hell did that come from? I guess I know a little about computers myself big guy and I’ve watched a hell of a lot of movies.
“Really?” He studied her curiously for a moment. “We are struggling to resolve this and we’d love to have your help. Now, if you could just show me your credentials.” He gave her an apologetic smile. “Sorry to ask, but it’s just a formality.”
“No I completely…” Using her elbow, she knocked the purse off the arm of the chair and quickly climbed up on it. Leaning over the back of the chair, she knew full well that her tiny skirt would fail miserably covering her pantilessness.
Captain Waterbrook didn’t blink once, nor take a breath in the approximately five seconds he was afforded a view of Victoria’s most intimate of areas. When she finally returned to her chair with her purse, he was in a near catatonic state. Holding back a smile, she opened her purse and pretended to search. “I think I have it here somewhere.”
She returned her eyes to him and found he was still moved by the Victoria Experience. “Oh my, you do look tired?”
“What?” he muttered.
“I said, you look tired.”
“What happened?” Bringing his hand to his forehead, he wiped away some sweat.
“Are you okay, Captain?”
He shook his head. “I’m fine. I think. What were you, uh—”
