Undercover Mission

by Sharon Dunn

  “Sorry for waking you. I’m just looking over the report you filed for last night. Can you tell me what Brenda Littleton looks like?”

  “Is that important?”

  David swiveled in his chair. “It might be?”

  “Long dark brown hair, pretty, slender,” Hans said. “She’s not married in case you’re interested.”

  “No, that’s not why I asked.” A chill ran down David’s spine. “Thanks. Try to get some sleep, huh.”

  He turned off his phone. He stared at the security monitors. Traffic was increasing as guests woke up and looked for things to do. A killer was still out there. Not only was he targeting Maya, but he had to assume that every young woman with long dark hair was still in danger.

  FOUR

  Maya was getting ready to call her boss to get permission to tell David who she really was when there was a knock on the door. Breakfast had gotten there faster than expected. David had texted her that the server bringing the food would be named Justin.

  Maya turned back the dead bolt but kept the door shut. “Who is it?”

  “Justin from the crew cafeteria. David Garrison put in a breakfast order for you.”

  She opened the door. Justin was young, maybe not more than twenty. Her heart beat a little faster when she noted that he had green eyes. Breakfast was laid out on a cart and covered with a silver dome.

  “I can take it from here.” She had to be careful. The last thing she wanted was to be alone in a room with a man who could be her attacker.

  Justin shrugged. She stepped across the threshold and pulled the cart in. The young man stood staring at her just outside the door. The cart functioned as a barrier between them. She was already making plans to push it toward him if he tried to enter the room. Sarge had moved from his resting place on the other side of the bed to where he was visible to Justin.

  “Cute dog.” The tone of the server’s voice indicated that he found Sarge to be the opposite of cute.

  Sarge did not wag his tail.

  “I like having him around,” she said. “For protection.”

  Justin glanced at the dog and then at her. “You all right?” His forehead wrinkled in confusion.

  Maybe he’d picked up on her fear. Maya didn’t care if she was coming across as unstable—she wasn’t taking any chances.

  “I’m fine. Guess I’m a little bit hungry.” She pulled the cart in farther out of the way of the door and prepared to close it. “Thank you.”

  Justin was still watching her as she shut the door and slid the dead bolt back into place. She lifted the silver dome. It looked like David had put in a full breakfast order for her: eggs, bacon, blueberry muffin and orange juice.

  After portioning out Sarge’s dog food for him, she settled in and ate most of her breakfast. Then she grabbed her phone and prepared to get in touch with Lorenza Gallo again.

  Lorenza’s face came on her phone screen but just like before the connection was not great. “Maya, good to see you again so soon. What’s going on?”

  “Listen, I’ve got a dilemma. The security chief for the ship has been sticking close to me because he wants to make sure I’m safe, which will make hiding my cover from him hard. And I’m pretty sure he knows I’m not just another passenger.” She released a breath. “I know his internal investigation didn’t turn up anything, but it’s not because he’s a clown. David Garrison is actually quite competent.”

  “Didn’t we decide to keep him out of the loop due to the fact that he may have not been thorough in his investigation because he was covering for himself or some other crew member?”

  “David has saved my life several times. The one thing I know about our perp is that he has green eyes. David has blue eyes. All of that is to say, I think he can be trusted and I could use his help. Plus, if he can’t protect me he’ll get another security officer to do it, which will make investigating and keeping my cover almost impossible. I might as well have David’s assistance.”

  Her commander did not answer right away. She stretched and twisted a rubber band she had in her hand, probably mulling over her options. “I trust your judgment, Maya.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You caught me as I was on the way out the door. I’ve got another meeting to get to.”

  There hadn’t been time to tell Lorenza about the potted plant that had almost landed on her. “Okay, bye.” Maya pressed the disconnect button on her phone, relieved that her boss had granted her request. At least now she didn’t have to be evasive with David. And keeping him in the loop would help with the feelings of isolation she’d been having since she’d taken on this undercover assignment.

  A gentle knock on the door jarred her out of her thoughts. “Who is it?”

  “It’s David.”

  She walked over to the door and opened it. Maybe it was just her realization of how disconnected she felt from the people she cared about most, but there was something reassuring about seeing the handsome security chief in his crisp white uniform, his blue eyes filled with warmth.

  Could she trust him with why she was really on the ship?

  “How was your breakfast?”

  “It was very good, thank you.” Still, she was debating. A wall of tension seemed to go up between them.

  “Look, I’ve got a full day ahead dealing with passengers’ concerns. My junior security officer, Noah Lake, comes on duty soon. He has agreed to be your protection so you and Sarge can get out and enjoy the ship.”

  She could feel a tightening near her heart. She found herself thinking but I’d rather be with you. The notion surprised her as she thought David was a bit walled off emotionally even if he did seem to have a high level of integrity and competence where his job was concerned. She stared into his eyes for a long moment and then stepped back. “David, could you come inside? I have something to tell you.”

  * * *

  David stepped into Maya’s room. He hoped that she was going to tell him who she really was. He didn’t like games or secrets. He saw himself as a straight shooter and expected the same of others.

  “Please, have a seat.” Maya gestured toward a chair and then sat on the end of the bed. Sarge took up a position at her feet. He cocked his head to one side and watched David as he sat down in a chair.

  “What is it?”

  She let out a breath and straightened her back. “I’m sure you’re wondering why Sarge has skills that seem to go beyond that of an ordinary service dog.”

  “I wasn’t wondering too much. I know you said he used to be a K-9, but I’m not buying it.”

  “Guess I didn’t hide it very well,” she said. “I am with the K-9 Unit out of Anchorage. As state troopers, we have jurisdiction over all of Alaska. The murder that happened on board took place close enough to the shore that we can investigate.”

  “So you’re here to probe into the murder of Crystal Lynwood?”

  “Yes, and the previous attack on the passenger, because the owner of the ship contacted us. Of course, he wants the perpetrator caught and put in jail, but he is also concerned that if the attacks continue his ship will get a reputation for being unsafe.”

  “My investigation was thorough.” A note of defensiveness snuck into his tone. “The owner communicated to me as well the need to keep everything as low-key as possible.” He shook his head. “Maybe the need to work quickly without drawing attention hindered my ability to give the case the depth of attention it needed.”

  “I know that you did the best you could with the restraints you had to work under.” She stepped closer toward him. “And I can see that you want to catch this killer as badly as I do.”

  Her vote of confidence in him lifted his spirits. “Thanks.”

  She turned to grab her jacket that was laid out on the bed. “I’m sure your junior security officer would do fine watching over me, but I would prefer to hang clo
se to you so we can work this case together. I understand you have regular duties you need to attend to, David, but maybe we can try to piece together who might be behind these attacks in your down time.”

  He nodded.

  “I’ve seen the reports you filed related to the attack and the murder. But I need to examine them again. What we’re looking for here are patterns. Maybe these attacks have been going on for a while, and they are just now escalating for whatever reason.”

  “I can give you access to those reports and maybe if I look at them it might jar my memory,” David said.

  “We also need to look at the staff and crew...maybe narrow it down to who has been here for both attacks.”

  “There were only minor crew replacements from the time we left Seattle. It could be a passenger too.”

  “Right now, there is a lot to consider.” She blew out a breath. “We need to find a way to narrow it down to a male of average build with green eyes.”

  “That’s not much to go on. Let’s get started. You can shadow me in my rounds to answer some of the calls and complaints and we can talk.”

  Maya tapped a finger against her chin. “People are going to wonder why I’m following you. Let’s just say that I am a reporter doing a story about security on a cruise ship.” She slipped into her jacket then moved toward the table where Sarge’s leash was. The dog was already in his service dog vest.

  “All right that sounds like a good cover.”

  She clicked Sarge into his leash. “I’m going with the theory that my room was ransacked because the attacker was trying to figure out if I was a cop and was looking for some sort of ID. Maybe if he thinks I’m a reporter, he won’t see me as such a threat.”

  “Maybe.” David crossed his arms over his chest. “But in terms of appearance, you fit the profile of the other two women. I’m sure that’s why you were chosen for the job.” It impressed him that she had the level of courage to take on such an assignment, putting herself in harm’s way to catch a killer. “One thing we have to keep in mind. If he’s not coming after you, he might go after other women. Last night, we had a report of a women who thought someone was following her as she made her way to the upper deck.”

  “That does seem to be one of his favorite places. I wonder why? Crystal was killed there. And that is where I was first attacked when I went up there to check out the crime scene.”

  “I don’t know...maybe the killer has some personal connection to that part of the ship. It’s one of the places that is mostly unused at night,” he said. “Too windy and cold even in June.”

  “Okay. What do we do first? Do you have business to attend to or can we go look at the reports...?” Sarge sat down at her feet and looked up at David.

  The two of them were cute together, the big-headed dog and the beautiful dark-haired K-9 officer. “I have a couple of issues to deal with first—a missing purse and a complaint about apparent theft of supplies in one of the eateries.”

  “Sarge and I are right behind you,” Maya said.

  They hurried up to the passenger rooms where David interviewed an older woman who said her purse had been stolen while she was ballroom dancing. David took a description of the purse. On their way to deal with the theft at a restaurant, static came across his radio. He pulled it off his belt and pressed the talk button. “Officer Garrison, what is it, Noah?”

  “Looks like we got an altercation in the bumper cars. Started out between kids who wanted the same car and escalated to parents, probably alcohol involved. You want me to handle it?”

  “I’m close. I’ll meet you there. Let’s go see if we can settle things down.” He turned off his radio and put it back on his belt.

  “The fun never ends, huh?”

  He liked the way her eyes filled with admiration. “I’m sure it’s nothing like the calls you go out on,” he said.

  “It’s all police work, right?”

  “Let’s go handle this.” David took off at a jog. He was aware that the way he favored his injured leg would be more apparent. A wave of self-consciousness swept over him as he made his way through the hallways and corridors of the ship Yet at the same time, he found himself wanting to open up to Maya and tell her all the history that had brought him to living like a nomad on a cruise ship. She seemed like the kind of person who would listen without judgment.

  As he rounded the curve, he wondered why he was even entertaining such thoughts.

  Maya and Sarge kept pace with David as they came to the open corridor surrounded by shops and then entered the bumper car zone in the sports section of the ship. There was a crowd of people gathered around two men who were facing each other. Though they were not hitting each other, the combative stance—hands curled into fists, chests out—revealed the level of tension between the two men.

  Noah Lake, dressed in his security uniform, entered from the other side of the bumper car area.

  David turned toward Maya. “Why don’t you and Sarge hang back?”

  She commanded the dog to sit.

  As he approached the two men, the glassiness in both their eyes told him they had been drinking. It seemed a little early to David, but some people thought of the cruise as a nonstop party. Noah closed in from the other side. Though things seemed relatively calm on the surface, he knew from experience that if alcohol was involved, violence could explode at any second.

  In an odd way, his childhood served him well in his job. He was always ready for anything.

  “Gentlemen, what seems to be the trouble here?”

  He noticed then that the shorter man had a bruise on his cheek. Indicating blows might have already been exchanged. The taller man leaned toward the shorter one in a threatening manner. David was like a lion ready to pounce. His heart beat faster as he gave Noah a quick glance.

  The taller man never took his eyes off the fellow with the bruised cheek. “This guy tried to take my son’s bumper car.”

  “You liar.” The man with the bruised cheek lunged at the other man.

  David jumped into the fray and so did Noah as the passengers punched each other. David got between the two men and backed the taller one up while Noah did the same with the other man. “You have a choice here. I won’t cuff you if you agree to go peacefully to a detainment area where both of you can cool off and sober up. If you give me any trouble, the cuffs go on.”

  A woman off to the side with her arm around a boy who looked to be maybe eight or nine spoke to the taller man. “Do what he says, Lee.”

  The taller man nodded.

  “Okay, let’s go,” David said.

  Noah and David escorted the two men away from the bumper cars. They walked past where Maya and Sarge were. Noah looked in Maya’s direction. Her face blanched. How odd. Then Noah glanced back at David. It had never registered with David before that Noah had green eyes.

  David felt a tightness in his chest. Any of the security officers on the ship would have easy access to card keys that would have allowed them to break into Maya’s room. No one was above suspicion at this point.

  He didn’t like the idea of leaving Maya alone, but he couldn’t make Noah escort the two men by himself. There was too much danger of another altercation, and it would break protocol if he did.

  As he glanced over his shoulder to see Maya letting a woman and her daughter pet Sarge, he realized he needed to get back to her as quickly as possible.

  FIVE

  After Maya let the woman and her daughter pet Sarge, she left the bumper car zone, found some outdoor seating and pulled out her phone. The K-9 sat at her feet on full alert. His ears stood straight up as he watched all the passers-by.

  If David was taking those two men someplace where they could sleep it off, he wouldn’t be able to answer his phone right away. She sent him a text asking if it would be okay if she came to his office and they looked through the police logs together.r />
  Seeing that the other officer, Noah, had green eyes had sent chills through her. The change in David’s expression suggested that it had registered with him too.

  Maya put her phone away and looked up. She was in an open area of the ship where she could see the sky and the stacked decks with interior balconies where passengers had a view of the activities on the promenade below. She bolted to her feet. Maybe sitting out in the open like this wasn’t such a good idea. It would be too easy to drop something from one of the balconies.

  She remembered that there was a running track on the third floor of the ship which was one floor above where David’s office was. That track was not exposed to the open area. She returned to her room, put on her tennis shoes and texted David about what she was doing. He still hadn’t replied to the first text she’d sent, but she knew she needed to be patient. The man did have a job to do.

  The run was relatively safe and would get rid of some of her nerves. Sarge as well needed to be exercised. Her place where she lived in Anchorage was close to a park. She often took her partner there to train and expend his energy. The confinement of the ship was hard on a dog who was used to a lot activity and space to move around.

  Maya ran up to the third floor and located the track. She took off at a steady jog, seeing no other runners on the track. Sarge kept up with her as she increased her pace until she was gasping for air. The exertion felt good. She’d gone only about half a mile when her phone dinged. She stopped and pulled her phone out.

  I’m in my office. Was waiting for Noah to leave.

  On my way, she texted back.

  After checking the map on the wall, she took off in the direction of David’s office, taking several turns through corridors and then going down to the second floor. This part of the ship was like a labyrinth for someone who wasn’t familiar with it. She slowed her pace realizing she was lost. She must have taken a wrong turn. Her heart beat a little faster and she knew it wasn’t from the running.