Cruise Ship Christian Cozy Mysteries Series: Box Set: Books 1-3
Page 36
Millie explained how Andy had fallen ill and that he was still down and out. She told Cat how she had found the carafe still sitting on his table. “You have anything I can put a little of this in so you can try it?”
Cat nodded. Her beehive hair-do bobbed up and down. “Yeah.” Her head disappeared as she bent down and leaned into the cabinet. She popped back up, small plastic cup in her hand.
Millie poured a tiny amount of the brown liquid in the cup and held it out. “Smell this.”
Cat stuck the cup under her nose and sniffed the contents. “Ugh!” She pushed the cup away and waved her hand under her nose. “That does not smell like coffee.”
Millie thought it had a bit of a medicinal odor but it hadn’t seemed that strong. Maybe Cat had a super-sensitive sniffer, which might be useful down the road. She filed that in the “might be useful” category of her brain. “Taste it.”
Cat started to lift the cup to her lips.
“I would just dip the tip of your finger instead of drinking it,” Millie advised.
“Good idea.” Cat followed her suggestion and dipped her pinky in the cup. She licked the tip of her finger and frowned. “Yuck! What in the world?”
“I think someone poisoned Andy’s coffee. It was probably the same person that poisoned Vitale and the other crew.”
Cat slammed the cup on the counter. “I’d love to catch the thug in the act…or better yet, give them a dose of their own medicine.”
Millie grinned. Cat had a wicked mind, but it did seem like a fitting punishment for the crime. Give them a taste of their own medicine. If they could only figure out who was behind it…
Chapter 18
Annette was nowhere in sight when Millie got to the kitchen. Amit was there, right next to the stove, chopping vegetables. “Hello, Miss Millie.” He set the knife on the stainless steel counter and lifted the cutting board. He dumped the vegetables into a large, boiling pot before he turned back. “Miss Annette is on break.”
“Okay. Thanks.” Now was the perfect opportunity to talk to Amit about the poisonings. She was beginning to wonder if they were random – or if Captain Vitale, Andy and the other crew had been specific targets. She couldn’t recall if Annette had even told her who the first victim had been.
Millie set the coffee carafe on the table. “Amit, do you remember the first person who became ill?”
Amit cocked his head thoughtfully. “It was Grace.”
Grace was the dishwasher! Why would Grace be a target?
Millie looked beyond Amit, her eyes studying Grace, whose back was to Millie as she bent over the large, double sinks and rinsed dishes.
“What about Captain Vitale? You said you gave the lobster bisque to Suri and Suri said he got sidetracked and left it unattended in the warming bay.”
“Yes, that’s what he said.”
“Did you see dish in the warming bay?”
Amit shook his head. “No. I don’t recall. I was busy over in the bakery helping Noel.”
Millie had almost forgotten about Noel…the same Noel who had applied for Annette’s job. Millie wasn’t even sure she was qualified for the position.
She turned her attention to Amit. Perhaps it was Amit, or even Suri.
Millie wanted to rule out Amit, she really did. She liked Amit and believed that he was loyal to Annette.
Grace stood upright as she reached for a dishtowel that hung on a hook nearby.
Millie stepped in beside the petite redhead. “Hi Grace. I think we met once before. I’m Millie, Assistant Cruise Director.”
Grace dried her hands and replaced the towel. “Yes, I remember. You are friends with Miss Annette.”
“Right.”
Millie glanced behind her and lowered her voice. “Say, I know that you became ill not too long ago. Do you recall what you ate that may have caused you to become sick?”
Grace bit her lower lip. Her eyes dropped to the floor. “I-I…”
“You won’t get in any trouble for telling me,” Millie promised.
“Are you sure?” The girl was skittish. Millie wondered what was making her so nervous.
“Of course.”
Grace looked over Millie’s shoulder. “Follow me.”
Millie followed her into the walk-in pantry, the one that Annette used to store all the dry goods like flour, sugar and coffee.
Grace shoved her hands in her apron pockets. “There was a small tray of lobster on the table near the exit door.”
She peeked around Millie’s shoulder to make sure they were still out of earshot. “The dish was ready to go. I had never tasted lobster before so I took one of the small dishes. No one would even miss it.”
Raj, one of the dessert staff, wandered into the storeroom. He gave them an odd look before he grabbed a 10-lb. bag of flour and walked back out.
“And?” Millie prompted.
“It was about ten minutes later, my stomach started to churn, then I started to throw up. I couldn’t stop.”
“So you think it was the lobster?”
Grace nodded. “I thought there was something wrong with it so I dumped it in the trash. It was the only thing I had eaten all day.”
“Did you tell Annette?”
Grace wrung her hands. “No. I told her I thought that maybe it was the tea. I didn’t mention the lobster.”
“Why not?”
“Because they are expensive and I wasn’t supposed to eat them. They were headed to the captain’s cabin for dinner.”
Millie touched Grace’s arm. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.” Grace nodded firmly. “All dishes headed to the captain’s quarters have a special cover. Instead of a brown cover, his are either silver or red.”
Millie thanked her for sharing the information. She followed Grace out of the storage room, still holding the coffee pot. This was a huge clue. It meant that whoever poisoned the lobster had access to the kitchen.
Just like the lobster bisque and the coffee, that gave the individual opportunity. What about motive?
There was also a pattern. Whoever it was, was working their way down the ranks. Captain Armati was supposed to be first, and then second in command, Captain Vitale. Next would be Andy. Millie rubbed her brow. Who was in line after Andy?
Donovan was the next in line! On the other hand, maybe even Dave Patterson. Wouldn’t that be something if someone tried to poison Patterson?
Millie had planned to take the coffee to Dave Patterson, Head of Security, but she made a pit stop at Donovan’s office first.
She pushed open the half door that separated the lobby from the employee area and rounded the corner.
She stood outside Donovan’s door and knocked.
“Come in,” a muffled voice called from the other side.
Millie grabbed the door handle, twisted down and pushed it open.
Donovan was inside and alone. He leaned back in the chair when he saw Millie. “How kind of you to bring me coffee,” he said.
The smile disappeared. “How’s Andy?”
Millie pulled out a chair and plopped down. “On the mend. He’s still in bed but his color is a bit better.”
Donovan nodded. “Good. I’m glad to hear it.”
He folded his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair. “So what brings you here?”
“This!” She set the carafe on the desktop and slid it toward him. “Taste it.”
Donovan leaned forward and reached for the handle. “Where did you get this?”
“Andy’s office. It was there this morning. He drank this right before he became ill,” she explained.
Donovan opened his top desk drawer and pulled out a mug. By now, the coffee had to be downright cold. He pulled the stopper and poured a small bit in his mug.
Donovan lifted it to his lips.
“I would smell it first and don’t take a big sip,” she warned.
Donovan eyed her over the rim of the cup and nodded.
He sniffed the contents. “It ha
s a bit of an odor.”
“Like Nyquil?” she suggested.
“Yeah, kind of like that.” He tasted the liquid then lowered the cup. “Not too bad but a bit of a bitter taste.”
“Right.”
Donovan set the mug on the desk. He lifted his gaze and studied Millie. He knew her well enough to know the wheels were spinning in her head. She had a theory, of that he was certain.
“What are your thoughts?”
“I’m glad you asked. I think that someone is trying to sabotage Annette and they’re doing it by poisoning the ship’s officers.”
“How so? The first person that became ill was a kitchen crew. Grace something…”
“Right,” Millie agreed. “I just talked to Grace. She was poisoned from sampling a plate of lobster from a tray that was on its way to Captain Armati’s apartment.”
Donovan lifted a brow. “Really? Why is it that we just discovered this now?”
“Because Grace is terrified she’ll be fired for stealing.”
“Stealing a bite of food?” Donovan had never known a crewmember who had been fired over a missing dish.
Now someone breaking into his office in the middle of the night? That was a different story!
Millie explained how after Grace ate the dish, she thought maybe there was something wrong with it and had tossed the rest of the lobster in the trash but didn’t dare tell anyone. She had blamed it on the tea instead.
“Captain Vitale was number two when he was poisoned by the lobster bisque. Today it was Andy.”
Millie dropped the bomb. “I think you’re next!”
Chapter 19
“Me?”
Millie scooted her chair close to the desk. “Yes. It will be either you or Dave Patterson.”
Donovan replaced the stopper and pushed the container across the desk. “What do you suggest we do?”
Millie rubbed her temples. “I’m not sure yet. I just made the connection.”
She jumped out of the chair and reached for the carafe. “Let me get back to you. I’m on my way to see Patterson now.”
Millie turned on her heel and headed to the door. The carafe was lighter now. She was running out of samples. She hoped she would have enough left to give Patterson a taste.
“Millie!” Donovan stopped her at the door.
She spun back around. “Hmm?”
“You’re a sweetheart. I don’t care what anyone else says!” He winked.
“But…” She realized he was teasing her. “Same here.” She grabbed the door handle and stepped outside.
***
Millie had one more stop before it was time to get back to work. She needed to be on hand in case the staff needed help, although the majority of them probably knew more than she did!
Millie passed Annette on her way down to Deck 2 where Dave Patterson’s office was located.
She looked frazzled. “Whew! What a day!”
Millie nodded. “I was looking for you earlier. Amit said you had taken a break.”
“Yeah, my first break of the day. I’m headed back to the kitchen now.” Annette pointed to the coffee pot. “What’s that for?”
Millie held it up. “It’ll take too long to explain but I think I finally got a break in the case.”
Annette pressed her hands to her flushed cheeks. “That would be a miracle.”
“I’ll stop by after I’m off duty later tonight.” Millie wasn’t certain what time that would be, not with Andy out of commission and the entire entertainment schedule resting squarely on her shoulders. She patted the walkie-talkie on her hip. “I’ll radio you later.”
Millie picked up the pace as she turned the corner and headed down the long corridor in the direction of Patterson’s office.
When she reached the door, she could see dim light through the frosted glass pane.
Millie tapped lightly. There was no answer so Millie turned the knob and pushed the door open.
Patterson was talking on the phone. He held up a finger and continued his conversation. “I don’t care if the passenger is threating to sue. If he doesn’t calm down, you need to throw him in the hoosegow ‘til he sobers up.”
Patterson set the receiver in the cradle and grimaced. “The natives are getting restless,” he joked.
Millie set the coffee carafe on the desk and pulled out a chair. “I would imagine on top of feeling seasick, they’re starting to get cabin fever.”
“Yep.” Patterson changed the subject. “What brings you to my neck of the woods?”
Millie pointed to the pot. “This and the string of poisonings. You heard about Andy?”
Patterson nodded. “His could be a case of seasickness.”
Millie shook her head. “Everyone, including Andy himself, said he has never experienced motion sickness.”
Millie went on. “I think he was poisoned by the contents of this carafe.”
Dave Patterson slid the pot across the table. He pulled the stopper and lifted it to his nose. “Coffee?” he asked.
“Yeah. Do you smell the odd odor?”
“I do. He reached in his drawer and pulled out a small vial. He poured a sample into the container and then screwed the lid on.
“Aren’t you going to taste it?” Millie asked. “I mean, what if I’m wrong?”
Patterson swiped his index finger across the lip of the carafe and wiped it on his tongue. He turned his gaze to Millie. “You may be onto something.”
Millie repeated everything she had told Donovan – about Grace and the lobster dish, the lobster bisque left unattended and then mysteriously materializing in the officer’s dining room. Last but not least, she told him how she’d found the carafe in Andy’s office.
“Whoever is doing this is working their way down the list.” Millie held out an index finger. “First, Grace, but that dish was intended for Captain Armati.” She held up a second finger. “Second, Captain Vitale and the lobster bisque. Next in line was Andy.”
Patterson leaned back in his chair and fixed his searing blue eyes on Millie, who immediately began to sweat: her forehead, her armpits, the crease behind her knee…
She forced her eyes to glaze over. That was the only way she could concentrate. “I think next in line is either you or Donovan.”
Patterson thumbed his chest. “Me?”
Millie nodded. “Yep. The two of you are next in command.”
Patterson drummed his fingers on the desk. “We need to set up a trap to catch them in the act.”
Millie nodded. She liked where his train of thought was going. “We need to act fast before they make their next move.”
Patterson watched Millie as she strolled out of his office and down the long corridor. She could feel his eyes bore into the back of her head.
She wondered why he always made her so nervous. Maybe it was because it seemed he was trying to mess with her head or figure out what made her tick, which should be easy.
There wasn’t much to Millie Sanders. What you see is what you get.
Chapter 20
Millie went right from Patterson’s office to her new command post – Andy’s office. A small army of staff had gathered around the table.
Zack jumped up when he saw Millie. He motioned her to Andy’s seat. She squeezed in at the table. “How are we doing?”
“So far, so good,” Alison told her. “There’s a bit more passenger interaction now that the seas aren’t as rough.”
“Which means I think we’ll have a full house for tonight’s headliner,” Kevin piped up.
Millie nodded. Tonight’s show was the Broadway musical, Grease. It was new to the crew and the performers had only run through it the last couple of weeks.
“Is there anything I need to worry about or take care of?” Millie asked.
The group shook their heads. It was all under control as far as they knew. It was almost running too smoothly, which scared Millie. Nothing ever went that smooth, at least not for her.
After the meeting ended, she
checked in with the sound crew and the lighting crew. She also stopped by the makeup area and dressing room.
Although she trusted the staff to keep her apprised of problems, Millie decided to walk the ship from top to bottom.
She started at the sky deck, which was empty, before she made a pit stop in the VIP area.
A couple of guests lounged in the chairs and Millie smiled as she made a pass through.
Next was the chapel, followed by the spa and fitness center. Her eyes fell on the boxing ring. It seemed eons ago that she had been inside the ring, waiting for Andy to zap her.
Millie wandered down the steps and onto the lido deck. The sun split through the clouds. Millie turned her face to the warmth and closed her eyes for a moment. The sun was a welcome sight.
She opened her eyes and glanced down at the seas. The waters had calmed. Perhaps they would be able to stop at South Seas Cay, after all.
The deck chairs around the pool had started to fill and the band had set up. The relaxing rhythm of Caribbean steel drums filled the air.
Millie methodically checked each public area deck by deck. She finished her tour on Deck 2, outside the medical center.
She stopped by the crew mess and fixed a plate of food then took it back to her cabin. It would be nice to have a few moments of peace and quiet so she could focus on the investigation.
Millie pulled out her handy-dandy pad of paper and pen to work on her list of suspects. At the top of the list, she wrote Amit’s name. Next, she put Noel, then Suri. She tapped her pen on the pad of paper. Veronica Chang still lingered in the back of her mind. There was something about that woman.
Still, she didn’t have a motive. Millie remembered seeing Donovan and Veronica in the corner of the officer’s dining room. Millie jotted her name at the bottom of the list.
She made a mental note to ask Annette about her. Veronica worked under Annette, which meant she had opportunity but lacked motive.
If Captain Armati stopped in South Seas Cay the next day, Millie wouldn’t have time to work on the case. She would have shore duty, and that meant she would be leaving on the first shuttle in the morning, returning on the last shuttle back to the ship later in the day.