Patterson cleared his throat as he removed a file folder with Cat’s name on it. “The fact I have a folder on you should be enough for you to think twice about pulling another stunt like that.” He filled out a form and then handed it to Donovan. “If this is acceptable and we’re in agreement, you can give it to Cat to sign.”
Donovan perused the sheet and passed it to Cat.
She scanned the sheet, signed her name at the bottom and then handed it to Patterson.
“You’re free to go.” He placed it inside her folder.
“What about Millie?”
“She’s next.” Patterson pulled two sheets of paper from his desk and began writing. It seemed to take forever, and Millie could feel her armpits grow damp.
Finally, he stopped writing. He took his time studying each sheet before handing both to Andy. “Feel free to add anything else you can think of.”
Andy made a clicking sound with his teeth and then shook his head. “I believe this is sufficient reprimand,” he said before handing the papers to Millie.
Millie slipped her reading glasses on and studied the first. Instead of a warning, hers was a sixty-day probation. She signed the sheet and then reached for the second. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Chapter 17
“This isn’t fair.” Millie waved the sheet of paper in the air. “I’ll take my sixty-day probation, but I don’t have the mental fortitude to work in guest services.”
“I think it’s an appropriate punishment,” Andy said. “I’ll find someone else to host trivia while you spend a few afternoons handling customer complaints. Assuming Donovan approves of you working behind the desk, dealing with irate passengers.”
Donovan shrugged. “Fine with me. It will give Millie a sampling of one of the most challenging jobs on board the ship. I’ll have her work alongside Nikki Tan.”
“For how long?”
Patterson and Andy exchanged a quick glance. “I think a couple days is sufficient punishment. That, along with the sixty-day probation.”
Millie reluctantly signed the paper, grumbling under her breath as she handed it to Patterson. “I’m being targeted by some crazed serial killer and you’re punishing me by making me work one of the worst jobs on the ship.”
“What do you mean you’re being targeted by a crazed serial killer?” Patterson asked.
Millie removed the small envelope from her pocket and handed it to him.
He pulled out the single sheet of paper, his expression growing grim as he studied the “you’re next” note. “Where did you get this?”
“Andy gave it to me. He said it came from the suggestion box.”
Patterson’s eyes shot up. “When?”
“This morning. I hadn’t cleaned it out since we left Southampton,” Andy said. “I had no idea what it was. Sometimes the passengers leave nice notes for staff in the comment box. I thought it was a thank-you note.”
Patterson passed it to Donovan. “This throws a whole new light on things.”
“Does this mean you’ll forget about the formal reprimand?” Millie asked.
“Absolutely not. The note still doesn’t excuse your behavior. We can’t have you sneaking into passengers’ cabins on a whim.”
“It wasn’t a whim,” Millie argued. “We had a plan in place.” She started to say something else, but the look on Patterson’s face stopped her. “Fine. Guest services it is.”
There was some discussion regarding increasing patrols, including in the crew areas, before Patterson dismissed the women.
Cat waited until they were out of the office and at the end of the hall. “That went well.”
“Maybe for you. A temporary warning is a slap on the wrist.”
“True. You staying out of trouble for two months will be nearly impossible,” Cat joked.
“Especially now with everything that’s going on.” Millie slowed. “I’ve focused my attention on Andy and Thomas Windsor, but there are other people Clarissa was traveling with who I need to take a closer look at.”
“The ship’s database would be the most logical place to start.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Millie accompanied Cat to the gift shop before starting her next event. She ran into Danielle, briefly filling her in on what had happened.
“I figured you got busted when Patterson answered your radio call.”
“He was ticked when he found us hiding under Thomas’s bed. Part of my punishment is working at the guest services desk for a couple days.”
Danielle wrinkled her nose. “Bummer.”
“Bummer is right. Looking back, I should’ve known better.” Millie patted her pocket and the “you’re next” note. What did it mean? Was it a veiled threat? Was it linked to whoever followed her into the stairwell?
Was it a coincidence that Andy was in the vicinity when the stairwell incident occurred? He was also the one who gave her the “you’re next” note. She shared her concerns with Danielle, stopping short of accusing Andy of being responsible. “I don’t know what to think.”
“It seems a lot of what’s happened to you points to Andy.”
Millie fleetingly wondered how long it would take for word of the incident and Patterson’s disciplinary actions to get back to her husband.
“Have you assembled a list of potential suspects?”
“I jotted down some notes. I can check the manifest and ship’s information on each passenger, but I need more.” Millie snapped her fingers. “I know the perfect person who can help. Isla.”
“How can Isla help?”
“Since she manages shore excursions and onboard bookings, she has access to passengers’ payments and reservations.” It took a few minutes for Millie and Danielle to track Isla down. They found her on the sports deck chatting with the ship’s golf pro.
“Hello, ladies. I haven’t seen either of you around much since we left Southampton.”
“We’ve been busy.” Millie got right to the point. “The UK authorities believe the Southampton Strangler may be on board the ship. Someone has been following me and possibly a passenger since we left port.” Millie handed Isla the note. “This note was in the comment box.”
Isla read the note and let out a low whistle. “Whoa. And you think it may be the strangler trying to scare you?”
“Or worse. Cat and I searched the cabin of the number one suspect on board and got caught by Patterson. Red-handed, as in—in the passenger’s cabin and hiding under his bed.”
Isla’s eyes grew round as saucers. “I bet he wasn’t happy.”
“I’m on a sixty-day probation and working desk duty at guest services for the next couple days.”
“That job can be brutal.” If anyone would know, it would be Isla since the excursions desk was directly across from guest services. “At least once a day someone is throwing a hissy fit about something.”
“Great. I can’t wait,” Millie groaned. “There’s one more piece of the puzzle linking the latest victim to this ship. She was booked on this voyage.”
“I heard they found the woman’s body in the park across from the port. It’s downright scary how close these murders have happened.”
“Which leads me to the reason why I’m here. I’m hoping to find out a little more about the woman’s traveling companions, their habits, what they’re doing while on board.”
“I can help you with that since the onboard reservations flow through the excursions department.”
“Would it be possible to take a quick look at them?”
“Of course.” Isla led them down the side steps, not stopping until they reached the excursion’s desk. The trio squeezed past a staff member who was assisting a passenger, making their way to the other end.
Isla swiped her keycard through the computer’s side slot and entered her access code. “Who do you want to start with?”
“Edward and Annabel Ponsford,” Millie said. “P-o-n-s-f-o-r-d.”
“Got it.” Isla tapped the keys and press
ed enter. She rattled off their cabin number. “Their folio is linked to several others.”
“The other parties of interest,” Millie said.
“That will make things easy.” Isla clicked on a button, pulling up the Ponsfords’ profiles.
Millie slipped her reading glasses on and studied their information. It listed their address, dates of birth, and an emergency contact. At the bottom of the screen was a “reservation” button. “What’s this?”
“A record of the Ponsford’s onboard bookings, both previous and upcoming.” Isla clicked the button. A long list of events appeared. Nothing looked unusual or noteworthy. After finishing, Isla exited the screen.
“Bruce and Hilda Ellis are next.”
The trio grew quiet as they scanned the couple’s information. Millie noticed they lived in the same town as the Ponsfords. Unlike the Ponsfords, the Ellises’ activity and reservation screens were empty. As in…completely empty.
“It looks as if they haven’t booked anything,” Isla said, “which isn’t necessarily noteworthy. Some passengers don’t.”
“According to Hilda, her husband hangs out in the casino.” Millie tapped her chin. “Reading between the lines of what Hilda has told me, they don’t spend a lot of time together.”
“What’s going on back here?”
Millie shifted her gaze. Donovan stood on the opposite side of the desk, staring down at them. “Danielle and I are chatting with Isla while she’s on break.”
“Chatting with Isla or snooping?”
Danielle feigned indignation. “Are you always suspicious of motives?”
“When it involves Millie, the answer is yes.” Donovan pinned Isla with a stare. “Isla?”
Isla shrank back. “I was just, uh, showing Danielle and Millie how the reservation system works. They’ve never seen it before.”
Donovan leaned in. “Turn the monitor so I can see.”
Isla shot Millie a nervous glance as she slowly shifted the monitor.
“That’s what I thought.” Donovan briefly closed his eyes. “Let me guess. This couple is part of the group being investigated.”
“They are,” Millie said. “Looking at passengers’ records isn’t against company policy.”
“True, but you’re already treading on thin ice.”
“Duly noted.” Millie met Donovan’s gaze. “Is there anything else?”
“No.” He gave her a warning shake of his head before stalking off.
Millie watched him step behind the guest services desk and disappear inside his office.
“You’re on the radar now,” Danielle said.
“Always.” Millie sighed heavily. “At least we’re almost done.”
Last, but not least, were Kate and Harry Moxey. “They’re in a suite and only a few doors down from the Ponsfords’ balcony cabin,” Danielle noted.
“Good catch.” Millie studied the screen and then waited for Isla to click on their “reservation” button. “They’ve spent some bucks in Celebrations, the ship’s store for hosting private events. Too bad we can’t see what they purchased.”
“Says who?” Isla double-clicked on the Celebrations link. A list of liquor, appetizers, and snacks popped up. A date was next to each of the items.
“Whoa Nellie,” Danielle blurted out. “These two are partiers. What is all of this stuff?”
“Goodies ordered from Celebrations and delivered to the Moxey’s suite.” Isla’s finger trailed down the list. “It looks as if it’s party time at the Moxey’s every evening.”
“I’m not surprised,” Millie said. “They’re very social and attend a lot of the mix and mingle events.”
Danielle snapped her fingers. “I know who they are. They’re at every single single’s event. It strikes me as a little odd that a married couple would attend a singles event.”
“It does me too, but to each his own. I wonder who attends their little get-togethers.” Millie drummed her fingers on the desk.
“Wonder no more.” Isla grinned as she tapped the button at the bottom of the screen. “Celebrations offers passengers a nifty little tool. If you’re throwing a party, all you have to do is let them know who you want to invite, the time and location of your get-together and they’ll send out electronic invitations.”
“That’s cool,” Danielle said. “So, you go to Celebrations, order your party goodies, give them the list of names and they send out invitations.”
“Electronically, delivered right through the ship’s app directly to their cell phone.”
“What technology can’t do these days.” Millie shook her head in amazement.
Isla tapped the screen. “It looks as if the Moxeys are having another party. It starts in a couple hours.”
“Who did they invite?” Millie leaned in as she studied the list of names. The one at the very top caught her eye. Captain Niccolo Armati. “The Moxeys invited Nic. I think I found my way inside their suite without getting into trouble.”
Chapter 18
Millie thanked Isla for the information before steering Danielle away from the desk and to a quiet corner. “I need to figure out a way to talk Nic into making an appearance at the Moxey’s party.”
“Good luck.” Danielle chuckled as she patted Millie’s shoulder. “I need to get back to work.”
“Thanks. I’ll need it.” Millie practiced a few versions of how she would pitch the party to her husband, who made a point not to attend private passenger functions. Mainly because it was a timing issue, not to mention he was frequently invited to private events.
She ran a couple scenarios through her head and then decided to bite the bullet.
Nic answered her call, and she could tell he’d already heard about her reprimand. “Hello, dear.”
“Hello, Nic. I thought I would check in to see how your day is going.”
“Fine. I met with Patterson and Andy earlier and was entertained by your latest exploit.”
“I wouldn’t call it an exploit. Exploration might be a more fitting description.”
“Exploit. Exploration.” Nic let out a heavy sigh. “What was the purpose of putting yourself in such a predicament? Surely, you’re aware Patterson and the security department have eyes and ears on the ground, keeping tabs on Sinclair’s traveling companions.”
“Yes. I’m sure he is—they are—but sometimes things are overlooked. Besides, if Thomas Windsor knew he and his belongings were being searched, he would do his best to hide potential evidence.”
“You figured you could catch him off guard and had a better chance of uncovering something they weren’t able to find.”
“Pretty much,” Millie admitted.
“I also heard about the note and would like to see it when you have time to stop by.”
“My dinner break is starting soon.”
“Dinner together sounds nice,” Nic said. “In fact, I convinced Andy to give you a few hours off, since you’ve been putting in some long days. I thought we could both use a little downtime.”
Millie’s heart skipped a beat. The timing was perfect. Now, all she had to do was convince her husband to spend a few minutes at the Moxey’s party. She promised she would meet him on the bridge within the hour and ended the call.
She rehearsed several pitches about why they should attend the cocktail party, but none of them came across as anything less than a veiled attempt to snoop.
Nic was a “cut and dried” kind of guy, and she decided a direct approach was best. Perhaps pointing out the note was a veiled threat and getting to the bottom of who might be behind it was a priority.
Since Millie had texted ahead, Nic was already home and waiting for her. “Dinner together is a rare treat. I’ve decided to save the speech and not ruin what little time we have alone together by lecturing you.”
“Thank you.” Millie clasped a hand to her chest. “Besides, I think my probation and being assigned to guest services is punishment enough.”
“So, if we dine in, what sounds good?�
�� Nic pulled his wife into his arms. “An Italian meal from The Vine sounds tempting, or perhaps the Bamboo Wok. We haven’t had Chinese food in a while.”
“Both sound delicious. I found out you’ve been invited to Kate and Harry Moxey’s cabin for cocktail hour, which starts in a few minutes. I was wondering if you would like to pop in to show them what a personable captain you are.”
“Kate and Harry Moxey. Weren’t they Clarissa Sinclair’s traveling companions?”
“They were.”
“Why would you want to attend their cocktail party? As a rule, we never attend private functions.”
“I’m almost certain someone in their party is responsible for Sinclair’s death, that the strangler is on board the ship and I’m being targeted.” Millie removed the note from her pocket and handed it to her husband. “This is the note Andy found in the comment box.”
Nic studied it, a somber expression on his face. “Why would the strangler target you?”
“I don’t know. What I do know is Hilda Ellis has a shadowy picture of the person who was following her. She’s part of the Sinclair group. What’s happening to her is now happening to me.”
Nic started to pace. “How can attending a cocktail party help?”
“I don’t know. Perhaps something is said, some clue slips out. I’m betting all persons of interest will attend the party. What better way to find out?” Millie had racked her brain, wondering why she was being targeted, too. “Maybe the connection is Halbert Pennyman. We’re friends. Halbert swears he’s seen the strangler. Maybe the strangler thinks I’m onto him and he’s targeting me.”
“It’s a stretch.” Nic abruptly stopped. “As far as we know, the authorities still haven’t linked the victims. There’s no thread of commonality, no rhyme or reason on how the killer picks his victims.”
“Not true.” Millie lifted a finger. “Clarissa Sinclair was a reporter. Only hours before her death she called her office, claiming to have information on the strangler. I think she was a victim, but perhaps not an intended one.” She laid out her theory, how she believed Sinclair knew her killer. “Once the strangler discovered he was about to be exposed, he had to act fast, to get rid of Sinclair.”
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