It’ll be a headache anyway, Captain. Just hide and watch.
“We can only do our best.”
The captain strode out of the smoker’s lounge. Steven bent down and picked up his fallen lighter. Then he removed a fresh cigarette from the pack, pinched it between his lips, and lit it. He burned through the whole thing on one drag and tried to exhale his memories.
“And then Rosemary Hale just WAILS one right across the guy’s face! His whole left cheek glowed red. Like a really bright sunburn. If she hit him as hard as the Countess hit you, Li, you’re both going to have matching shiners this time tomorrow.”
Travis laughed so hard that he knocked one of the polished martini glasses off the bar.
“Mrs. Hale did that?” Li asked.
“Hell yes! We always knew she had a fire brewing inside her. Lord, you should have seen the look on this guy’s face, Li. I think he crapped his pants a little. One good bitch slap and he stopped. He certainly didn’t shout murder after that.”
“Wow. Everyone’s going crazy on this trip.”
“We can call it the Catfight Cruise. Charge people for tickets to see the rich beat the tar out of each other. Now that’s a million-dollar return on investment. All we’d really need to do is throw Charlegne and Rosemary in a room and lock the door.”
Li choked a little on his water.
“So…um…what happened to the other guy?”
“Who?”
“The man who was accused of…well…I don’t really know what…with the guy’s wife?”
“Oh, him. He scuttled out of the restaurant as quickly as he could. I saw him chain-smoking out by the buses a few minutes later. I guess everything proved to be too much for his reserved, professional exterior.” Travis started to whistle. “So when will Paulie let you back in the dining room?”
Li drained the rest of his water in one gulp. “What makes you think Paul even wants me in the dining room?”
“Is that a ‘never again’?”
“Something like that. He told me not to show up until an hour before service. I have another thirty minutes to waste.”
“I guess he’s trying to Li-proof the dining room as much as he can.” When he saw his friend’s scowl, Travis rolled up his polishing rag and whacked Li on the arm with it. “Oh, don’t be so sour, Li. It’s just a joke.”
“Paul will be the only one laughing if dinner doesn’t go perfectly for me. I can’t let him or Mr. Brent or anyone run me over for their personal enjoyment.”
“Better work on your reflexes and daring acrobatics, my friend.”
Li grumbled under his breath.
“Someone is crankier than usual. Does this have anything to do with your dad?”
“Partly.”
“Well, come on, man. Spill.”
“Why do you think there’s anything else that’s wrong? I had a bad day.”
“You’ve been downing water as if hoping you can get drunk on it. Sorry Li…I didn’t spike your glass with anything harder. So tell me what’s on your mind.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I just can’t, Travis.”
“That’s not one of your more creative excuses.”
“Look, I can’t tell you because the captain forbade me to tell anyone.”
Travis stopped polishing, pocketed the rag, and plunked a bottle of vodka in front of his friend. “I will get you so drunk, and you will spill every last secret in your head. Unless of course, you want to save me the trouble and my job. I think I know which one you prefer, Li. Spill it.”
Li shoved the bottle aside. “Why do you want to know so badly?”
“You mentioned the Captain. That means something big. Really big. Now, I remember you suddenly choking when I mentioned Charlegne and Rosemary. It’s one of them, isn’t it? I really can’t see it being Rosemary. I saw her on the island. So I’m guessing it was the self-proclaimed empress.” His eyes bore into Li’s face. “Well? Was it Charlegne?”
“I told you. I can’t talk about it.”
“I knew it. It was Charlegne.”
“I didn’t say anything!”
“You didn’t say ‘no’ either.”
“I’m getting out of here. Maybe I can beg Paul to let me in early.”
Travis pulled Li back into his seat. “What happened? Did you catch the captain having sex with her? Did he order you to keep the whole thing under wraps or you’d lose your job? There was always that rumor…”
“Let me go, Travis!”
“Or maybe that rumor Jasper spread was true, and you were lying to save yourself. Is that what happened, Li? Did Captain Crayle catch you and Charlegne having a little too much summertime fun?”
“NO!”
“Did he threaten to get rid of you? Did Charlegne beg and plead to save the little what’s-his-face she likes to fool around with?”
“Nothing happened between us!”
“I wondered, you know. You deserved a break from the ship, and yet, you chose to stay behind. Charlegne wanted you there, didn’t she? DIDN’T SHE?”
Li shoved Travis away from him. The bartender backed into the glass shelves behind the bar. The bottles clattered and trembled, and one wine glass fell to join its cousin on the floor.
“When will you get it through your thick head that I have done nothing wrong? I’m being victimized here! Paul is one thing, but I thought YOU were my friend, Travis! How could you accuse me of doing anything to Charlegne? I didn’t know her! I know nothing about her! How could you treat me like I’m some disgusting man-slut who goes behind people’s backs and has sex with their secret fantasy girls? Don’t you know anything about me?”
Something like latent electricity hummed in the air. Both men panted heavily.
“Get out, Li. Get out of my bar. If you can’t trust me enough to tell me what’s going on….”
“I told you a dozen times! I CAN’T TELL ANYONE!”
“Shut up, Li. As I was saying, if you don’t trust me, then I don’t want to deal with you or your problems or your stupid father.”
Li snapped. “DON’T YOU DARE CALL MY FATHER STUPID!”
“Boy, what got into you, Johnson?”
Li stopped polishing and throwing silverware into the black plastic tub at his side. It looked like he had been shocked awake from a dream.
“Oh…uh…what do you mean?”
Marisol scratched at some stain on a knife with a long acrylic nail. “You look like you’re stocking up on weapons for a war. You just grab a fork or whatever, polish it, and fling it in the bucket. Scowling the whole time, too.”
“I…I had a bad day.”
“Try not to take it out on the silverware. Flying knives should stay in the circus.” The room service line screamed into life. Marisol picked up the receiver. “I’m sorry, but the kitchen is closed until service begins at seven. What? Oh, okay. Johnson, it’s for you.”
“Are you the one who delivered Miss Jackson’s breakfast this morning?” barked the woman at the other end.
“Yes, madam.”
“Come pick up this filthy breakfast tray! Next time, don’t be lazy and leave it behind!”
“Very well, madam.”
He handed back the receiver without confirming which stateroom.
“If Paul cares enough to ask, tell him I went to pick up a tray from a passenger’s cabin.”
“Oh, so I have to take orders from you now?”
Li ground his teeth together. “Please, Marisol. I’m in a lousy mood, and I really don’t want to start yelling at people.”
“Oh, shut up and get out of here. I’ll cover your ass, if I have to.”
Li stormed to the service elevator, grumbling under his breath.
He hesitated when he saw the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door of Charlegne’s cabin. He listened. There was no sound from the cabin. Li knocked, and the sounds of sobbing began. It was like someone inside the room waited for an audience. He shook the thought out of hi
s head.
The door opened enough to reveal a bloodshot eye rimmed with tears.
“I’m here to pick up the tray.”
The eye withdrew, and the crack widened. Li crept into the cabin. Huddled in some odd, black, hooded caftan on the bed was Priscilla Reilly, dabbing away tears with a soiled handkerchief.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered. “I didn’t want to be seen like this. It’s just…the news about Charlegne.”
Li hesitated, but then placed his hand on her shoulder. “I understand. I…I found her.”
“You? Oh my God…but you’re so young. And to find her…oh, you poor boy…”
“I’m okay. It…It wasn’t the first death I’ve seen.”
“I just can’t imagine what we’ll do without her.” She floated toward the dressing table, the flowing folds of fabric eclipsing her feet. The whole outfit gave her an almost religious air. Like a nun, Li thought.
“I suppose I should grab the tray and get out of your way.” His eyes fell on an open suitcase tightly packed with designer clothes. “You…uh…seem to be busy.”
“Just making sure her…her belongings are packed.” She fell into her private worries and mumbled aloud. “I can’t think where that bottle could be. She never sunbathed without it.”
“Ma’am?”
“What? Oh…I’m sorry…I was…distracted. The t-tray is on this dressing table. I can’t think why it was left behind.”
Li refrained from mentioning the “Do Not Disturb” sign dangling from the doorknob.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“This is a terrible tragedy! I don’t know if I can even stomach the idea of dinner. There’s just so much to take care of and…Oh, Charlegne!” Priscilla threw herself on the bed and began another spurt of crying. Vibration from the impact toppled a small bottle of sleeping pills on the nightstand, throwing the tiny white tablets onto the floor like rice at a wedding.
“Will you be okay?”
“I-I just need to b-be alone.” She lifted her head, and the image of a nun weeping at an altar intensified in Li’s mind. “Y-You can go now. Thank you for c-coming so promptly. I…I don’t think I’ll be at dinner tonight. Don’t wait for me.”
“Shall we send up some food for you later?”
“No…No…I’d get sick at the sight of food, right now. Please go.”
Li stumbled over a loose, rubber doorstop and nearly pulled a groin muscle trying to keep the carefully balanced coffee cup from sliding off the tray. He kicked the doorstop out of his way, and it scuttled under the bed. With a final farewell, he left the cabin and collided into a wall of a woman.
“Oops! I’m sorry! I—”
“I caught you at last, sonny! Thought you could get away with it this time, didn’t you? I’ll have your superiors on your ass for this!”
“I-I didn’t do anything!”
The giant woman lifted Li by the collar of his white button-up shirt. His toes dangled at least three inches off the ground. “Oh yeah? Do you think it’s decent to interrupt a woman while she’s dressing for dinner? Do you all think it’s funny to knock on a lady’s door and run off? I have news for you, sonny! It’s rude and perverted!”
“I-I-I’m sorry, Miss—”
“It’s Mrs. Anderson to you!”
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Anderson. I-I didn’t mean to bother you. But I didn’t knock on your door and—”
Mrs. Anderson dropped him. Li crashed to the ground, the falling tray bellowing like a dinner gong. The empty coffee cup he tried to salvage earlier shattered into porcelain confetti.
“Don’t give me your excuses! I know what I heard! Two beats. Sharp. Short. A steward’s knock. Just like I heard this morning.”
“I-I-I’m sorry. It won’t happen again, Mrs. Anderson.”
“If it does, I’m holding YOU accountable, sonny! Now get out of here!”
Mrs. Anderson thundered back to her stateroom.
Before he could get up, the cabin door next to Charlegne’s opened and slammed into Li’s shin. He bit down on his lip to stifle a swear word. He looked up in time to see Sally Brent peek around the door and dart back inside her stateroom in half of a heartbeat.
Li couldn’t forget the terror scratched into Sally’s face.
CHAPTER 13
The Missing Sunscreen
“Look at that, Sally. These young snots are always getting into fights at work. The kid’s got a black eye, a cut on his cheek, and a limp. Probably thinks he’s some big tough stud. Watch me tear him down a couple of notches. Hey Food Boy! Get your ass over here!”
Li limped to the table, wishing he could just drop dead from the strain.
“Someone had a productive day, eh Food Boy?” Aaron Brent let a laugh tear open his mouth. It made Li think of boulders gnashing and crashing against each other.
“Are you ready to order, sir?”
“Are you trying to hurry me along, kid? Worried about what mean, nasty trick I’ll play on you tonight?”
Yes, Mr. Brent. I’m worried. It might be safe to say I’m scared of you.
“I can give you a few more minutes if that’s what you need.”
Aaron snatched Li’s wrist. “Oh, I’m not done with you, kid. We’re going to have some fun, okay? How does that sound?”
Sounds like murder, Mr. Brent.
“I…I can give you a few minutes to decide while I—”
“Are you scared, kid? You’re looking a little pale.”
“I-I can recommend the lobster with—”
“You know, I heard some gossip among your coworkers that you are on thin ice with your boss. One more mistake and you lose everything.”
“Aaron, honey—”
“Be quiet, Sally. I’m going to handle this. So, kid, if I were to accuse you of poor service, how long would it take to get you to cry and grovel at my feet? How badly do you need this gig? If I caused a scene right now, how long before you are homeless on the streets and chewing on cardboard for food?”
“I…I…I…”
“You what, kid? You hate me? You’re sick of me? Go ahead. Say whatever you want.”
His eyes gleamed like black marbles. He purred again.
Li felt the bottom of his stomach plunge.
“A-Are you ready to order, sir?”
Aaron’s face settled back into a scowl. He released his hold on Li’s wrist. “Lamb. Cook it through. Extra sauce. And send that stupid Wine Guy over here. I’m going to need some strong red to swallow this swill. Sally. Order.”
Sally Brent stopped shredding a dinner roll with her fingernails. “The…The quail, please.”
“Well, Food Boy? Are you happy now?”
“Coming right up, sir.”
“Good. Now get out of my sight.”
Li fled. He didn’t stop until he disappeared into the kitchen.
Chef Will turned around and nearly knocked Li over with his belly. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Johnson. Or did you piss off Paul?”
“What? Oh…uh…I…I’m fine.” He delivered the Brents’ order.
“We’ll deal with that. Right now, you need to get your butt to the Captain’s Table. It seems Her Royal Highness and her two servants decided against having dinner in MY dining room. Good riddance. Now I can finally start serving dinner when I want to. Get going, Johnson!”
“I thought Paul said I was banned from the Captain’s Table if Charlegne wasn’t there?”
“Do you really need to ask for reasons? It seems you’re able to charm fashion designers. Word is Rosemary Hale insisted you continue to serve at her table. Anyway, who cares why they did it? Your butt is supposed to be out there right now. Here’s the amuse-bouche. Get moving!”
Li sped to the Captain’s Table, thankful to see Paul attending to customers across the dining room. He presented the menu himself.
“Is everything all right this evening?” Rosemary asked, nibbling at the surgically stacked bite of food on a golden spoon.
Li topped off h
er wine glass. “Yes, Mrs. Hale. Is there anything I can help you with?”
“I…I just noticed that Charlegne isn’t here. She usually loves to make an entrance. Is she okay?”
Li noted that Martin watched his wife with his eyebrows pinched tightly together.
“We received word that she was not attending dinner in the dining room. Can I get you anything else, Mrs. Hale?”
“Oh…um…no…No, I think I’m fine. Thanks.”
“Oh Fooooooooooooood Booooooyyyyyyyy!!! I’m staaaaaaaaaaarving!”
When Li served the entrées, Aaron stabbed his wife’s quail with a steak knife.
“This looks underdone. Wouldn’t you say so, dear?”
Sally looked like she was asked to drown a child.
“Oh…oh no…No, it looks—”
“Underdone, Sally. Isn’t it?”
“Oh…I…I-I don’t…”
Aaron’s scowl sank into his wide, red face. “Are you going to let this punk serve you poisoned slop, dear?”
“Aaron, I—”
“Send it back.”
“If you’ll allow me to take your plate, madam—”
“Shut up, Food Boy. Sally. Do it.”
Sally pushed away her plate with her fingernail. Her face seemed to shrink behind the dingy veil of her hair. Li took the plate and turned, catching only a scrap of their conversation.
“You didn’t play along, Sally.”
“Aaron, I—”
“Shut up, Sally.”
“You know I hate seeing you return with untouched food, Johnson.” Chef Will let the quail slide into the trash can. “What was it this time?”
“They said it was undercooked.”
“We’re going to run out of food before we reach Mexico at this rate. Take the first course to the Captain’s Table.”
Before Li could even move his hand to touch the food cart, Paul barreled into the kitchen. “Don’t touch that, Dropout. You’ll just make a mess. I’ll take it. You go get some more napkins from the storeroom. Now!”
Li jerked his lips into a toothy smile. “Right away, sir!”
“No one likes a kiss-ass, Dropout.”
The napkins were easy to find. Li turned to leave when he heard his name on the other side of the storeroom door.
Sunny Side Up Page 9