by DB McNicol
Always on Duty
A Klondike Mystery Companion Book
by D.B. McNicol
Copyright
Always on Duty Copyright © 2020 by Donna B. McNicol
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author.
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Note: This is a work of fiction. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Copyright..................................................................2
Chapter 1..................................................................1
Chapter 2..................................................................4
Chapter 3..................................................................8
Chapter 4.................................................................13
Chapter 5.................................................................18
Chapter 6.................................................................24
Chapter 7.................................................................28
Chapter 8.................................................................32
Chapter 9.................................................................37
Chapter 10................................................................42
From My Desk.............................................................46
Not a Whisper Preview......................................................47
Not a Whisper - Prologue.....................................................48
Not a Whisper - Chapter 1....................................................49
Chapter 1
“I really appreciate the cruise tickets, Mom, but I’m not going to ask Derrick to go with me. So you can stop playing matchmaker right now!” Cassidy Peck crossed her arms and glared at her mother across the kitchen table. “Truth be known, I’m not even sure I can go. I hate to ask for the time off.”
“Of course you can, dear. You haven’t taken a vacation in two years—”
“But that was at my old job, Mom, not Bradford. I’ve been there less than a year.” But what a year it’s been. Arson, murder, kidnappings and even manslaughter by cupcake. I never thought working with the Bradford, Pennsylvania police department would be so much...fun? She struggled to find the right word and laughed.
Her petite mother shifted in the wheelchair as she studied her daughter. Cassidy got her mother’s looks but her father’s height. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, just thinking about work.”
“That’s the problem. All you do is work and think about work. Do I have to call your supervisor and get you the time off?”
“Don’t you dare! Things have been crazy at work but it seems to be settling down now. I think I can justify a short vacation without any problem. If not, what will you do with the tickets?” Cassidy tugged her ponytail unconsciously, swirling it into a tight spiral and letting it bounce back.
“Don’t do that,” her mother admonished.
“What?”
Her mother sighed, “Twist your hair. You’ll break it off. And it’s not ladylike.”
Cassidy laughed at her mother’s warning. She’d heard it all her life. ‘Don’t tug at your hair. Don’t cross your legs. Don’t fiddle. Etc, etc, etc...’
“Mom, don’t you know by now that I don’t care about being ladylike? I am who I am and I’m happy with that.”
“Well, you were ladylike enough with Derrick. I heard you giggling and laughing. You were flirting!”
Cass had to agree with her mother but wasn’t about to admit it. “Drop it, Mom. No way am I going to invite Derrick. So, you never said what you would do with the tickets if I can’t get time off work.”
Her mother sniffed indignantly but smiled. “You remember Jenny Lou Jenkins? She was in your class, wasn’t she?”
Cassidy nodded. Whereas she had been a tomboy growing up, Jenny Lou had been the ultimate girly-girl. While Cass had been playing ball with the boys, Jenny Lou had them all wrapped around her little finger.
“She works for Peake Travel now and she told me we could reschedule if it was absolutely necessary but we would pay a penalty. We don’t want to do that. We’ve been on a cruise every year since your dad retired. I don’t think he minds missing a year. Of course, neither of us expected me to fall and end up in this stupid chair.”
“I’m just glad it’s a bad sprain and not a broken foot or ankle.” She wrinkled her nose. “I thought you could take a wheelchair on cruise ships nowadays?”
Her mother’s tight curls bounced as she nodded. “Oh yes, and they even have scooters you can rent. But I couldn’t go on any of the shore excursions and you know your father, he won’t go without me.”
She was right. Her father doted on her mother and would spend the entire cruise waiting on her hand and foot. Not much fun for him. Cass stared into the backyard and let visions of a Caribbean cruise run through her head. Water, sun , sand, and warm tropical breezes mixed with adventurous shore excursions did sound pretty enticing. She made up her mind. “Let me talk to my boss tomorrow. When do you need an answer?”
Her mother smiled, knowing half the battle was won. “I need to call Jenny Lou by Friday. Do you think you’ll know by then?”
Cass nodded and stood to leave. “Okay, I’ll call you as soon as I can get an answer. Can I get you anything else before I leave?”
“No dear, I’m fine. My canasta club will be here soon, Missy Whitten is bringing the food so I don’t have to do anything.
Cass kissed her mother’s cheek, “Okay. You be good and do what the doctor says.”
“I will, dear. And you start thinking about who you can take on the cruise with you. I still think-”
“Mom...” Cassidy shook her finger and then waved goodbye.
“Um, Chief? Got a minute?” Cassidy stuck her head in her boss’s office. One thing she enjoyed about working for a smaller department was the easy familiarity amongst her coworkers, including David Moore, the Chief of Police for Bradford.
“Sure thing. C’mon in. Can I get you a cuppa? Just brewed some of my new select coffee.” He held up the coffee pot and sniffed. “Ambrosia!”
She grinned. “I’d love one, thanks.”
He motioned to the shelf over the coffee station. “Grab a mug.”
She held it out and he filled it. “Dose it up, then grab a chair.” He sat down and propped his feet up on the desk. He took a sip and sighed. “I’m going to have to get more of this flavor. So what’s up?”
Cass sat, putting the steaming cup on the table beside her. “Just checking in before I go on shift. Things have been pretty hectic this summer and I, well, I...”
He dropped his feet to the floor and leaned forward. “Spit it out. You know I don’t stand on formality.”
“I know I haven’t been here a year yet and that means I haven’t accrued much vacation time. But I was wondering, I mean, if maybe I could, you know—”
Dave laughed. “You aski
ng for some time off? Fine with me, you’ve more than earned it. How much a couple of days? And when?”
Blushing she stammered out, “A week? And, um, next week?”
“Oh, I see. You got some kind of emergency?”
“Sort of. My parents have already paid for a week’s cruise out of Florida. Then my mom took a bad fall. She won’t go while she’s confined to a wheelchair and at this point everything is non-refundable.”
He leaned back and sipped more coffee. “Next week. Got someone in mind to cover for you?”
She nodded. “Already discussed.”
“Well, I’d love to, but...”
She inhaled, sure he was going to turn her down.
“You’ll have to okay it with Jim Sanders first.” Jim was one of the Sergeants in the department, close to retirement. “I’m going on vacation next week myself.” He winked. “If it’s okay with him, it’s fine by me.” His cell phone buzzed. “Take your cuppa with you and enjoy that cruise!”
Chapter 2
The two women watched the land grow distant as the cruise ship left the port. “Thank you so much for inviting me, Cass. I never thought I’d ever take a cruise. My old boyfriend used to tell me we’d go, but...” Caryl-Anne Newsome frowned as she remembered meeting Cassidy for the first time. Her ex-boyfriend had been stalking her. Well, at least she had thought he was. Cassidy helped her through that rough patch and they’d become friends, even with their ten year age difference. “Forget all that and forget him.” She laughed and stared at the disappearing Florida shoreline.
Cass studied her friend. She looks so much younger now. Less make-up, a more natural hair color and no more dark circles. Cass remembered her shock at discovering Caryl-Anne was only ten years older than her. Inviting her had been a spur of the moment decision. Work had been all consuming since she had moved to Bradford and most of her friends were other cops, male cops. When she told Caryl-Anne that her only cash outlay on the ship would be cocktails and beer, plus any excursions or shopping, Caryl-Anne jumped at the opportunity.
“Can you believe this, Cass? Seven days of pure luxury, I can’t thank you and your parents enough. This is so amazing!”
Cass laughed, she had heard this same conversation for days, ever since she had invited Caryl-Anne. “Did you look over the shore excursions? Some of them are pretty inexpensive.”
Red hair glinting in the slow setting sun, Caryl-Anne nodded. “I was surprised that some of them are so reasonable. I even read that I can just walk into the ports and see what’s there.”
“Just be careful, you don’t want to miss the boat.”
“OH NO! That would be awful.” She leaned closer to Cass, “Has anyone ever done that?” Missed the boat I mean?”
“My mom said some folks booked their own tour on their last cruise and they missed the boat. They had to pay to be flown to the next port. Mom said to only book the cruise ship tours, then if the tour is late the cruise ship is responsible for getting you back on the ship.”
“That’s good to know.”
Their conversation was interrupted by a waiter offering drinks from the group on his tray. Caryl-Anne ordered a fancy umbrella drink. When Cass declined, Caryl-Anne changed her order to two. “Loosen up girly, we’re here to have some fun. You’re too darn serious!”
Cassidy laughed but inwardly agreed. “Okay, fine.”
“There’s got to be an easier way.” Caryl-Anne fussed with the clip on her lanyard, trying to unhook her cabin key card.
“Hey, I agree, so this one is on me.”
Caryl-Anne shrugged as she took the tall blue drink from the waiter and started sipping. “Oh my, I think I’m in love with rum drinks!”
Cass took her key card back from the waiter in exchange for her drink. She cautiously took a small sip, raised her eyebrows and took a bigger one. “Me too, Caryl-Anne. Me too!”
EATING in the main dining room, or MDR as they heard other guests refer to it, was a new experience. Since they took over Cass’s parents tickets, they found themselves at the early seating along with a large number of the over-seventy crowd as well as the families with children. They were seated with six other couples of varying ages but most at least twenty years older than either of them.
Caryl-Anne leaned over and whispered to Cass while the waiter was taking the orders from the others. “I wonder why there’s so many old folks here? I know families don’t want hungry kids...”
Cass whispered back. “I guess they want to get to bed early.”
“That makes sense.” Caryl-Anne giggled.
The waiter had worked his way around to them and they quickly ordered, having already picked out what they planned to have earlier in the day.
Cass studied the other six people at the table, four of whom seemed to already know each other. She cleared her throat but before she could say anything, Caryl-Anne spoke up. “Hi. I’m Caryl-Anne and this is my friend Cassidy. We’re from Bradford, Pennsylvania. She’s a cop.”
Six people sat with open mouths until Cass laughed. “Guess that’s my introduction. Yes, I’m a police officer. And you are?” She nodded to the person beside her as the group laughed and relaxed.
The two couples who had been chatting were from a small town in Iowa and had been neighbors for thirty years. This was their fifteenth cruise. The other couple was from Virginia and still owned a company now run by their children most of the time. Light chatter continued throughout the dinner. As they waited for their desserts, Caryl-Anne asked the group about their plans for the rest of the night. The two couples from Iowa planned to go to the casino while the other couple was undecided.
“What should we do, Cass?” She pulled the daily event planner out of her purse. “There’s the production show, the comedy club, bingo...” she grimaced, “oh, and dancing! Let’s go listen to music and maybe find some single guys to dance with.” She winked at the group.
Cass had to laugh as she looked at her watch. “How about going to the early comedy show, then maybe some music. That work for you?”
Caryl-Anne’s curls bounced with enthusiasm as she nodded.
Dessert arrived and the conversations were divided between ‘Yummy’, ‘So good’, and “Delicious” comments.
Dinner over, there was almost an hour before the first comedy show so they opted to browse the shops, now full of activity. Jewelry was the biggest store but there was also a duty-free liquor store, a candy store, beach wear and elegant clothes, and a few items to appeal to souvenir seeking as well as toys for kids.
“I had no idea you could shop like this on a cruise ship. Did you?” Caryl-Anne held up a sheer kimono topper n a bright flowery print. “I really like this.”
Cass studied it. “Actually, I do, too. But I think I’ll get the black one. Did you see the sign? Buy one, get one free. That means half-price for both of us.”
They giggled like school girls as they checked out and headed off for the evening.
BY day two Caryl-Anne seemed to know every single cruise passenger as well as a large majority of the staff. Accents and foreign language were no barrier. She never met someone she was unable to talk to through charades if words didn’t work.
Cassidy stood back and marveled at her friend. Working in law enforcement, she tended to be a bit cynical about the general public. She loved people watching and she admired Caryl-Anne’s vivacious personality and take-no strangers policy. Sometimes she wished she was more like her friend but being the life of the party was way outside her comfort zone.
Caryl-Anne had noticed Cassidy often sat on the sidelines and had resolved to loosen her up before the cruise was over. Tomorrow they would be in their first port, Cozumel, Mexico. When her ex, Gino, had mentioned taking a trip to Cancun, she had gotten her passport. Even though he never took her, she was glad she had done that or she might not have been able to take this cruise.
“Cass?”
Cassidy looked up from her book and slid her sunglasses on top of her head. “Yeah?”
“I thought about some snorkeling or maybe even the beginner’s scuba. I haven’t booked a tour yet, have you?”
Caryl-Anne smiled and nodded, “I found the perfect tour for me. It’s one of the cheaper ones. We go beach hopping, drink, play beach games...”
Cassidy inhaled sharply, “You be careful.”
“Yes, mother hen...” Caryl-Anne laughed and shook her head.
“No, I mean it. Don’t forget your sunscreen. You’ll burn much faster down here in the tropics. You’re so fair skinned. Me, I just seem to tan. Must be my Mediterranean heritage.”
“And I’m the red-haired Irisher....” Caryl-Anne tousled her curls with both hands. “I’ll be careful, promise.”
Chapter 3
Cassidy had enjoyed the beginning scuba class so much she’d promised herself to get certified so she could dive more often. She thought about her day as she waited for Caryl-Anne to come back to the room to dress for dinner. Glancing at her watch she realized the final call for passengers had been made. I wonder where she is? Probably on the Lido deck flirting with the guys. Guess I’d better go corral her. She heard the loudspeaker announce her name as she waited for an elevator. Guest services? Wonder what they want with me? She punched the button for the deck two and headed that way.
“Miss Peck?” the clerk at Guest Services asked in a strong Australian accent.
“Yes, I’m Cassidy Peck.”
“Your roommate is Miss Caryl-Anne Martin?”
Cassidy frowned, then remembered that was Caryl-Anne’s legal name. “Yes she is. Is something wrong?”
“I regret to inform you, your roommate is in the Medical Center being treated. She has you listed as her emergency contact.”
Cassidy immediately assumed her professional persona. “What happened? Is she okay?”