by Haley Walsh
“Hi, Francis.”
“Where’s Keith? You two didn’t have a fight, didya?”
“Francis, leave it alone,” shushed his wife.
“No, we didn’t. I’m just taking in the view.”
“It is beautiful,” he said. Bev’s arm was linked with his and they all stood at the railing. “But it’s lonely, too. A vast ocean with nothing between here and there for hundreds of miles.”
“That’s a cheerful thought, Francis,” his wife gently scolded.
“I’m not wrong,” he said. “I think it’s sort of romantic.”
Bev shook her head indulgently. “You always were a romantic, you tomcat, you.” They rubbed noses. “We’ll leave you to think your deep thoughts, my dear,” she said to Skyler. “You look like you’re looking for a bit of solitude.”
“Maybe he doesn’t want to be alone,” said Francis, even as Bev dragged him away. She looked back over his shoulder and winked.
He leaned on the rail. It was lonely. That big, empty ocean. At least the ship wasn’t lonely. Far from it. Lots of people were walking along the deck near him, and there was even a young man who was leaning against the railing along with Skyler. He was blond and slender, like Skyler, and he was looking down over the side of the ship.
“That’s a long way down,” he said. It took Skyler a moment to realize the man was talking to him. The blond man looked up and sauntered closer and took up his same position on the rail.
Skyler nodded. “Yeah.”
“I think I’ve seen you around. At dinner. By the pool. You’re with that tall dark-haired guy.”
“Yeah. We’re, uh, together. On our honeymoon, as a matter of fact.”
The man’s face broke into a smile. “No shit. Ah man, congratulations. I’m Jacob.” He put out his hand.
Skyler shook it. “Thanks. I’m Skyler.”
Jacob laughed. “Then I guess there’s no point in trying to hook up.”
Now it was Skyler’s turn to laugh. “No, not really.”
“Damn. Well, good for you. I’m here with my friends. I told them we should have booked the gay cruise.”
“Now that does sound like a surer bet.”
“No kidding.” He smiled as he looked out to sea. “Honeymoon! That’s awesome. But…you do seem kind of young.”
Skyler shrugged. “When it’s right, you know it.”
Jacob looked back over his shoulder toward the pool. “Though…dude! Your husband is a hunk and a half. Good one.”
Skyler preened. “I know.”
“I guess I’ll tell my friends the both of you are off limits.”
“But if we go dancing later, we wouldn’t mind hanging.”
“That’s cool of you.”
“I guess I’d better get back to him.”
“Before someone hits on him, right?” They laughed.
Skyler waved and turned. Instead of going directly back to Keith, he aimed for the bar, though there was suddenly a crowd of people in his way. He heard a grunt, then a shout, and looked back in time to see Jacob’s feet up in the air going over the railing.
Skyler rushed to the side of the ship and saw him splash in the waves. “MAN OVERBOARD!” he cried. “MAN OVERBOARD!” A lifesaver was hanging from the rail, and Skyler grabbed it and tossed it down into the sea. And just as instructed, he kept his eyes glued to him and pointed. Someone else must have given the alarm, because the claxon sounded and soon people were rushing to the rail.
Skyler stayed put, still pointing, still watching the head in the waves grow smaller as the ship surged forward, but even he could feel the ship’s engines slowing.
Keith was suddenly beside him. Skyler could tell he longed to grab him but he could see what Skyler was doing. “I thought it was you,” he said in a gruff voice, full of emotion.
“No. It was someone else. God, can’t they get this boat stopped?”
Suddenly, from aft of the ship, a dingy with an outboard motor was spearing through the water, making a wide turn and popping up over the waves. The ship’s wake had settled down considerably. They must have stopped, Skyler decided. And like everyone else, he was leaning far over the railing to see. Two hands clutched at him, making sure he didn’t go over, and he knew instinctually that they were Keith’s.
The dingy bobbed on the ocean and the crewmen were leaning over the side, pulling something up out of the waves. The man was clinging to the lifesaver and they dragged him up and into the boat. Skyler could clearly see that he was alive.
“He’s okay,” he gasped. Cheers went up from the people lining the rail, even several decks up.
He turned to Keith who looked pretty pale, some feat for that tan of his. “I thought it was you,” he said again, softly.
“I’m fine.” He allowed Keith to take him in his arms. Until he noticed the purser standing behind him.
“Can we talk to you about this incident, sir?” said the uniformed officer.
Skyler nodded. “Sure. It all happened so fast.”
“May I ask your name and cabin number?”
“Skyler Foxe, room 8202.”
“What happened?”
“We were just talking, and I turned away, and he was going over.”
“Did he say anything that would indicate his wish to jump?”
“Oh, he didn’t jump. Someone pushed him.”
“Are you sure? It wasn’t just that he somehow slipped…”
Skyler shook his head. “No. He was shouting and struggling. He was definitely pushed.”
“Did you see who did it?”
“No. There were a lot of people congregating around us. It could have been anyone.”
The purser questioned him for almost half an hour, writing down his notes on a clipboard. “Very well, Mr. Foxe. If we have further questions, we’ll contact you.”
“Okay.”
Before Skyler could think, Keith was steering him away toward the elevators. “I figured maybe we should get back to our cabin.”
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.”
Turning toward the elevator’s windowed wall, Skyler watched the ground fall away as their car rose up the floors. He saw the crowds still there, still milling and talking. What had happened? How had Jacob been pushed? Why? Was it an accident? Of course it was! What else could it be? But as the elevator doors opened and they made their way down the long corridor to 8202, Skyler began to wonder. Jacob looked an awful lot like him. What if it hadn’t been an accident? But that would mean…
Keith opened the door.
“I’m going to take another shower,” said Skyler. “Feeling a little numb right now.”
“Should we skip dinner?”
“No. Let’s go to one of the restaurants and have a quiet dinner, just us.”
“Okay, babe. You take care of you right now, and I’ll be right outside this door.”
Thank goodness for Keith. He kissed him and then retreated to the bathroom. He stood in front of the sink for a long time, staring at his reflection.
If it hadn’t been an accident, then that would mean the assassin was still after him…and on this ship.
Chapter Nineteen
SKYLER SAT ACROSS FROM KEITH AT DINNER, PUSHING his food around on his plate with his fork.
“How’s your dinner?” asked Keith.
“Huh?”
“Skyler…” Keith put his silverware down. “We don’t have to stay.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re clearly not eating, so we don’t have to sit here. We can leave the restaurant.”
“Oh.” For a moment, he thought Keith had meant leave the ship. But how was that possible? They were on their way right now to Mexico with no ports between here and there. Just like Francis had said, hundreds of miles in the middle of the ocean. And he was trapped. With a killer.
“You’re right. I’m not hungry. Keith, I think…I think—What the hell! Now I see Dave. I know I do.” He shot up from his seat. The figure ahead of him d
ucked away. The kitchen doors swung open and someone dove through it. Skyler race-walked through the restaurant after him, skirting around tables and waiters holding trays filled with plated meals.
When Skyler got there, the doors were swinging closed. “What is going on?” With hands at his hips, he looked around the restaurant…and saw someone with flaming red hair ducking down behind the tables. The man crawled along and disappeared for a time, but Skyler was able to follow his progress as various diners jumped and yelped, one after the other, whipping the hems of their tablecloths to look under their tables. Skyler headed him off at the entrance. The man hadn’t seen Skyler and popped up from under a table…and obviously hadn’t seen the waiter with the tray.
The tray went flying, and the dishes spiraled outward toward parts unknown. The flying tray hit another waiter holding his own tray, and a domino effect had begun. Food flew, silverware clattered as they showered around the screaming guests. Goblets of wine cascaded, men yelled insults, while glasses shattered on contact with the floor. Screams, chairs skidding back, and two trays wobbled to a noisy stop on the floor. Amid the rubble, the scarlet-haired man froze, shoulders covered in salad and beef gravy, with a sprig of parsley poised at the top of his head like a feather.
Skyler winced as the crescendo of noise fell suddenly to silence. “Jamie!”
Jamie turned and glanced sheepishly at Skyler. “Well…hi, Skyler. Fancy you being here.”
“Fancy my ass! What the hell are you doing here?”
Jamie straightened, glance darting around at all the eyes on him. He brushed lettuce leaves from his shoulders. “Um…what a strange coincidence?”
Keith caught up to Skyler and stared at Jamie incredulously.
Skyler gritted his teeth. “Why are you here? Is Dave here, too? And Philip…and Rodolfo?”
“Don’t be silly. Why would they be here?”
“The jig is up, Jamie,” said Philip. Skyler hadn’t even noticed him standing there. He slowly lowered the large, round tray he’d been hiding behind.
“Abort! Abort!” hissed Rodolfo, crouching behind a food cart.
Dave sauntered up from the kitchen, doors swinging shut after him. “Give it up, Rodolfo.”
Rodolfo frowned at him before he gradually rose. “Surprise?” he said warily.
Keith pushed past Skyler. “What the fuck is going on?”
“Oh, I think I know,” said Skyler, calling Sidney on his phone. Her ringtone sounded at the far end of the restaurant, and he heard an exhaled, “Shit!” ever before she answered.
“Sidney!” he yelled.
Her curly-haired head poked out from behind the bar.
The maître d’ rushed over to them, eyes wide. “What is happening? I’m going to ask all of you to leave or I’ll have to call security.”
Skyler glanced back at the chaos. It looked as if a tornado had blown through the restaurant. Debris was everywhere. Broken glass and plates, trays, waiters desperately trying to clean it up. Patrons, covered in food and wine, glared at him and his companions. There wasn’t an eye in the house not looking at them.
“We’re leaving,” said Skyler to the maître d’. “Follow me,” he said to his friends, barely keeping it together.
Clamping his mouth tight, Skyler stalked away out of the restaurant. He didn’t look behind him, but everyone damn well better be following him, he decided. He got to the elevator, punched the button, and the doors opened. In he went, pushed the button for the eighth floor, and waited at the back of the elevator with his arms folded tight to his chest. He watched as, one by one, they straggled in, standing silently beside him. Sidney slid in right before Keith. No one spoke as the doors eased shut and the elevator rose.
Once the doors opened on the eighth floor, they parted for Skyler as he proceeded down the length of the corridor, with only the faintest of the thump, thump of marching feet behind him. He swiped his card key in the lock, opened the door, and walked through, standing in front of the bed waiting for everyone.
“Wow,” said Jamie, looking around. But any other exclamation he might have made was silenced, when Dave elbowed him and they all faced Skyler. Keith stood behind all of them, as if standing guard.
“Now,” said Skyler, clasping his hands behind his back. “Will someone please tell me what the fuck is going on?”
Everyone turned to look at Sidney. “Jesus. Okay. I didn’t want to ruin your honeymoon, Skyler.”
“That ship has literally sailed.”
She sighed. “Yeah, okay. I’ll get to the point then. There was a threatening note left at your wedding reception by your stalker.”
“What? What did it say?”
“It indicated that he or she knew where you were going. I made the split-second decision of going with you. And then these buffoons wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
“I object strongly to the characterization of ‘buffoon’,” said Philip. “Stooge, perhaps, but certainly not buffoon. But may I add before you blow up, that we’ve been working hard staying out of sight, doing our best to watch over you and Keith.”
Now Skyler felt guilty. He slackened his taut posture a little. “Oh. Well…thanks. But…God, you guys.” He sank to the edge of the bed and ran his fingers through his hair. “My one and only honeymoon.”
“But Skyler,” said Jamie, moving to sit beside him. “We didn’t want it to be the last thing you ever did, either. This guy was on to you, knew where you were going.”
“How is that possible?” said Keith, looking at Philip. “Unless…”
“I swear, my lips were sealed.”
“Did you throw out any paperwork about the cruise?” asked Sidney. “Anything they could have dug out of the trash?”
“No, I…I don’t think so…” Keith blinked as he thought. “Crap. I could have. That’s a rookie mistake. Ah babe, I’m so sorry.”
Skyler sighed. “It’s not your fault. It’s not anyone’s fault. It’s that stupid stalker’s fault.” He straightened again, shuddering at the thought. “And he threw that guy overboard. I’m sure he did.”
“We all thought it was you,” said Rodolfo. “Dave was ready to jump in after you.”
“I’m glad he didn’t,” said Skyler. “He looked like me. I’m sure that’s why he was chosen. The stalker made a mistake.”
“Did you see anyone, Skyler,” asked Keith, “anyone at all near you or that guy?”
“You heard what I told the purser. I saw lots of people.”
“Listen, Skyler,” said Keith, crouching before him, “you stay here. Sidney and I are going to talk to security.”
“I’ve already been on it,” she said huffily.
“Well I haven’t,” Keith growled. Skyler just knew he was going to whip out his FBI badge. He actually felt better about it.
“Okay,” said Skyler as Keith buttoned up his shirt, no doubt trying to look more professional. “I’ll stay here and talk to the guys.”
Sidney gave him a significant look before she left with Keith. The others found seats on the sofa and desk chair.
“Sky,” said Dave, “we’re really sorry for barging in on your honeymoon. We didn’t want to do it.”
“Really, Skyler,” said Jamie softly. “We wouldn’t have.”
He patted Jamie’s leg. “I know. And…I really appreciate the sacrifice.”
“No kidding,” said Philip. “You should see the tiny cabin the five of us are crammed into.”
“And I bet this cost you a fortune. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize to us,” he went on. “We’re doing it for you. Of course we would. We’d do it for any one of us.”
Skyler’s emotions overwhelmed and he wiped away a tear. “I love you guys.” They all moved together into a group hug.
“We love you, too, amante!” Rodolfo wailed.
They all settled back again, and more than one tear was wiped from eyes. “Okay, then,” said Skyler. “We’ve got to work on this like any Scooby Gang caper. What do we kn
ow?” He began ticking it off on his fingers. “I found the name of ‘M. Carson’ on the hoodie list from U of R. ‘M. Carson’ is a relative of Coach Scott Carson, the guy who held me and Rodolfo captive.”
“How could I forget?” said Philip with a shudder.
“He’s obviously been stalking me for a while,” he said, adding a finger to the count, “knew my movements, knew I was getting married, and somehow found out our honeymoon plans. And now he’s on this ship. He could be anyone.”
Dave rubbed his chin in thought. “Have you met anyone on the ship? Someone who seems overly friendly to you?”
“Not anyone that seems likely.” He thought of the older couple, Francis and Bev. Couldn’t possibly be them. He couldn’t imagine Francis having the strength to dump anyone over the side. But of course, he could be faking it. He could be less feeble than he made out to be…
Jesus, Skyler, he admonished himself. You can’t be suspicious of everyone. Though if he was honest with himself, and if he were a cop, he’d have to add them to the list. “Well,” he said reluctantly, “there is this older couple.”
“How old?” asked Jamie.
“Really old. Married fifty years.”
“Oh for heaven’s sake!” said Philip. “I think you can rule them out.”
“I wanted to make sure everyone is included. So there’s Brian and Macy Cherry. We met them in the hot tub.”
Philip quirked a brow. “Younger couple?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Who else?”
“Well…the victim. We were both at the rail and started chatting. He’s here with his friends. He’s gay.”
“Do you know that for certain? Did you see his friends?”
“No. But is he going to throw himself overboard at the off chance I’d notice, just to throw suspicion off of him? That seems extreme.”
“Skyler’s right,” said Dave, tucking his hands in his shorts pockets. “We can’t include everyone on the list. Some things are just too unlikely. Like the older couple.”
“I don’t know,” said Jamie. “There’s an old lady at the supermarket I see every time I go there, and she always manages to get behind me and pinch me in the butt.”
