Felippe, a Siren of the Seas security guard, darted forward and caught the woman midair. He wrapped one arm around the woman’s waist and slid his other arm under her legs before he flung her around in a half circle and lowered her to the deck.
The crowd began applauding.
The woman swayed slightly. “I was just getting started.”
“You were just finishing,” Andy said firmly as he grasped her upper arm and led her out of the area.
“The show is over folks,” Millie announced. The crowd dispersed and Millie turned her attention to Dario. “You sure know how to get them engaged.”
“Oh Miss Millie.” Dario rolled his eyes. “One minute, I mix her a breezy bomb and the next thing I know, she climb on top of the bar and I can’t get her down.”
Dario grabbed a dishrag and began wiping the smudged footprints from the bar top. “I’m glad to see Mr. Andy is no longer locked up.”
“Me too,” Millie said. “I think someone is trying to frame him.”
“Yes,” Dario agreed. “Mr. Andy, he a good man. I say to myself, Dario…I wonder if they talk to Paloma.”
“Who is Paloma?” Millie had never heard of Paloma.
“Paloma is…was Luigi Falco’s girlfriend.”
Chapter 5
“Luigi’s girlfriend?” Millie gasped. “She’s on this ship?”
“Si.” Dario nodded. “She work in housekeeping.” He pointed to a set of metal steps behind the bar area. “I see them sneak off down there many times.”
Millie stepped over to the railing behind the bar and peered over the side. “What’s down there?”
“It’s a small storage room, but there another door that lead to the lower level.” Dario shrugged. “Most people, they don’t know it’s there but I see what goes on.”
“Have you told anyone else what you just told me?” Millie asked.
Dario shook his head. “Not yet. I work here since early this morning but as soon as I get off work, I stop by and talk to Mr. Patterson. I tell him what I see.”
Millie told Dario she agreed and then slowly walked out of the VIP area. Had Luigi’s lover killed him?
She wondered if she’d ever seen the girlfriend, Paloma, around the ship. The housekeeping staff worked long hours, starting early in the morning.
Millie knew the housekeeping staff took their breaks in the afternoon and then returned to work in the early evening for turn down service.
When she reached the stairs, she glanced at her wristwatch. Millie had plenty of time before she had to make her way to the karaoke stage. Andy had already touted the new karaoke program over the loudspeakers earlier in the week in an attempt to drum up some excitement. Millie only hoped she could live up to the hype. Sometimes she believed Andy had too much faith in her.
Technically, this was Millie’s break time and she was “off the clock.” She made her way to the other side of the ship to the bridge, hoping to not only have a moment to chat with Captain Armati, but also visit with Scout, Captain Armati’s teacup Yorkie.
Millie rapped on the outer door leading to the bridge before slipping her keycard into the slot. She waited for the familiar beep and then turned the handle, pushed the door open and slipped inside.
Staff Captain Vitale was standing near the wall of windows overlooking the open ocean. He lowered his binoculars and smiled at Millie as she made her way across the bridge. “Hello Millie. I figured you’d be running around like a chicken with your head cut off today.”
Millie smiled. “I would be except they sprung Andy so I was able to sneak in a quick break to say hello to the captain and Scout.”
Captain Vitale nodded. “He just stepped into his apartment.”
Millie wandered down the small hall that connected the bridge with the captain’s private quarters. She had been inside the captain’s cabin on numerous occasions, either to pick up Scout so he could accompany her on her daily activities or on special occasions, when the captain had a free evening and invited Millie to dine with him.
She lightly tapped on the outer door and waited for the door to open.
“Ah, Millie. You must’ve read my mind. I was thinking of you. Come in.” The captain swung the door open and motioned her inside, closing the door behind her.
A small brown ball of fur raced across the living room floor and pounced on Millie’s shoe. She reached down and picked up Scout, who promptly licked the side of her chin and then pawed at her dangling earring.
She moved the earring out of his reach and nuzzled the top of Scout’s head. “I guess you didn’t miss me.” Millie hadn’t seen Scout in a couple of days, not since the ship had sailed from Miami.
Scout wiggled and squirmed, his whole body shaking. Millie gently set him on the floor where he raced over to his box of toys and bit the neck of a yellow giraffe she’d picked up for him a couple weeks earlier.
He dragged it across the room and dropped it at her feet. “Thank you, Scout, for sharing your toys.” She patted his head and then straightened her back. “I thought I would stop by to say hello and also check to see if you’re still hosting dinner at the captain’s table this evening.”
“Yes.” Captain Armati nodded. “Patterson is on top of Mr. Falco’s murder investigation and I see no reason to punish staff, including Andy, for an unfortunate incident.”
“I think Andy was set up,” Millie said. “Did you know Mr. Falco was not well-liked by his staff and that he also had a girlfriend on board?”
Captain Armati raised an eyebrow. “Really? I knew he was not well-liked, but this is the first I’ve heard of the other.”
Millie proceeded to tell him what Dario had told her. When she finished, he told her he would be sure Dave Patterson was apprised of the new information.
“Dario told me he was going to stop by Patterson’s office after his shift ended,” Millie said.
Captain Armati touched Millie’s arm lightly. “Can I get you something to drink, Millie? A glass of tea? Bottled water?”
“No thanks.” Millie shook her head. “I can’t stay long. I’m in charge of the new karaoke program later tonight, somewhat appropriately named “Killer Karaoke.” She grimaced.
“The other reason I’m here is to ask permission for a special guest to board the ship when we dock in St. Thomas.” She explained to Captain Armati how Annette and she had tried to coax Cat off the ship and had failed miserably.
“I’m worried the longer she remains on board the ship, the less likely we are to ever get her off again,” Millie said, “so I contacted a psychologist. I haven’t heard back since the ship sailed and now I don’t have cell service.”
Captain Armati placed both hands behind his back. “I appreciate your concern for your friend. Cat has been through a lot. You have my permission. You’ll need to make sure the woman is off the ship before we leave St. Thomas.”
“I’ll personally escort her both on and off the ship,” Millie promised.
Captain Armati’s expression grew serious. “I have something important to discuss with you.”
Millie’s heart skipped a beat and her cheeks warmed as he took a step closer. “Yes?”
He opened his mouth to speak, closed it, and then opened it again. “I…don’t think we’ll have time to snorkel in St. Thomas.”
“I understand,” Millie said. “Between Andy’s crisis and Cat’s intervention, I think we’ll have our hands full. Maybe next time we visit the island.” She patted Scout’s head. “I better get back to work before Andy sends out a search party.”
Scout followed her across the room and into the hall. He knew she was leaving and let out a small yip.
Millie picked him up and tucked him in the crook of her arm. “Scout hasn’t been out in a few days. Do you mind if he makes a few rounds with me? I’ll bring him back before heading down for dinner.”
“Yes. Of course.” Captain Armati led Millie and Scout to the door. He reached for the handle and then tipped his head, as if he was going to kiss he
r but at the last minute, pulled back, the expression on his face unreadable. “I’ll see you later.”
Captain Armati opened the door and Millie and Scout stepped into the hall. She nodded to Captain Vitale before exiting the bridge.
When they reached the main hall, Millie pulled the door shut behind her, all the while wondering what had just happened.
***
Scout was on his best behavior as they passed through the fitness center, which was empty. The next stop was the sun deck. They circled around the mini golf course and headed to Ocean Oasis, the small area the captain and the maintenance crew had constructed for Millie and Scout.
Millie began filling Scout’s pint-size pool with fresh water. The small pup was so excited, he jumped in and began splashing around before she could finish filling it. She could almost see the smile on Scout’s face as he darted back and forth.
Millie plucked one of his balls from the small bin inside the area and they played catch for a few minutes. “Okay Scout. We have to get back to work.” Millie dropped the ball in the bin and reached for a towel on the nearby rack.
Scout hopped out of the pool and raced to the corner. Millie chased after him. “I know you don’t want to go, but we have to.” She quickly towel-dried him, pulled the drain from the pool and then hung the wet towel on a hook to dry.
“Let’s head to deck nine to see if any of the Siren Sailors are there.” Siren Sailors was the nickname for the 8 – 12 year-olds on board the ship. Scout and she visited them every so often and the kids loved seeing Scout as much as he loved seeing them.
Bright, neon colors covered the walls of the Siren Sailors’ activity room. Inside the room were several large, flat screen television sets, stacks of video game consoles, as well as an air hockey table and foosball table. There was even a snack bar.
The blips and beeps of the video games echoed through the open door. She set Scout on the floor and he led the way into the room. He trotted over to a group of kids who were sprawled out on bean bag chairs, playing video games.
Two of the girls dropped their controls, rolled onto their knees and began playing with Scout.
Millie stood off to the side and watched for several long moments before she glanced at her watch. They had to keep moving. “C’mon, Scout. We gotta head home.”
When Scout and Millie reached the bridge, Captain Armati and Captain Vitale were nowhere in sight. There were two other crewmembers operating the controls. Millie had seen them before but couldn’t remember their names.
She headed down the hall to the captain’s apartment. Millie knocked on the door and when no one answered, she punched in the access code on the keypad box above the door handle.
She eased the door open, just far enough for Scout to slip inside, before closing it behind him. It was time to head back to her cabin to get ready for the formal dinner.
Millie spent a little extra time primping for the Captain’s Dinner. She’d only dined at his table on one other occasion and it had been months ago, right after she joined the staff.
Her hair was getting long and she deftly smoothed it into a chic chignon. Millie turned her head from side to side as she studied what she determined were a new set of wrinkles around the corners of her eyes and the sides of her mouth.
Millie tugged on the bottom of her skirt, slipped her feet into her only pair of heels and exited her small cabin.
The Blue Seas dining room was teeming with passengers and wait staff. Millie nodded to several familiar faces as she circled the room and made her way to the captain’s table.
Andy and Captain Armati were already there, as well as two other couples Millie assumed were passengers.
The men stood as Millie approached, and Captain Armati pulled out an empty chair next to his. He waited for her to sit before sliding it back in.
The other men resumed their places after Millie was seated. She unfolded her napkin and placed it in her lap as she shot the captain a furtive glance out of the corner of her eye. She remembered the odd exchange earlier and once again, Millie wondered what it meant.
She had a feeling he was going to tell her something, and it had nothing to do with him having to postpone their snorkeling excursion in St. Thomas.
It was something else. Perhaps he had met someone else and didn’t know how to tell her. She shoved the thought aside. Surely, she would’ve heard that rumor buzzing around the ship, but then again, maybe not since many of the crew knew she and the captain were an “item.”
The conversation flowed freely and the food was delicious. Formal night offerings included surf and turf and Millie enjoyed the lobster. She smiled when she remembered the first time she’d dined in the captain’s apartment and tasted lobster.
Captain Armati…Nic…had expertly shown her how to remove the lobster from the shell.
After the appetizers, salad and main course had been served, coffee and a dessert tray arrived. Millie skipped dessert, still full from the big meal.
Andy sipped his coffee as he questioned the passengers about the ship’s activities, anxious to get their honest feedback. They assured both Andy and Millie that they were thoroughly enjoying the fun-filled days on board the ship.
After Andy finished his coffee, he reluctantly stood. “It’s time to get back to work.”
Millie followed suit. “The show must go on,” she quipped and then turned to the captain. “I had a lovely evening. Thank you for inviting me.” She shifted her gaze and smiled at the passengers, still seated at the table. “It was a pleasure meeting you and I hope you enjoy the rest of your cruise.”
Andy made his way around the table as he shook the passengers’ hands. He approached Captain Armati last, taking his hand in a firm grip. “Rumor has it you’re jumping ship and moving to Baroness of the Seas next month.”
Chapter 6
Millie gripped the back of her chair and the room began to spin. She swayed slightly. Captain Armati was leaving Siren of the Seas?
Andy must’ve noticed the stricken look on Millie’s face. “Millie…I didn’t.”
Millie forced a weak smile. “Good luck, Captain Armati. Baroness of the Seas will be lucky to have you,” she croaked.
She wasn’t sure how she managed it, but Millie held her head high as she strode out of the dining room and down the side stairs. She didn’t stop until she reached the safety of her cabin where she darted inside, slamming the door behind her.
She leaned her forehead against the back of the door and closed her eyes.
“Millie! Let me in.” The door began to shake as Andy pounded on it.
Millie ignored the pounding and after a couple minutes, it stopped.
In a daze, she slipped out of her eveningwear and changed back into her uniform. Why hadn’t Nic…Captain Armati told her?
It dawned on her that was what he was about to tell her up in his apartment, but for some reason, he didn’t. Instead, she had to hear the devastating news in front of a room full of strangers.
Nic had assured her a couple months back that he had no intention of leaving Siren of the Seas or leaving her. Had he lied to her and strung her along, all the while planning his departure?
If that was the kind of person he was, she wanted nothing to do with him!
Millie thought of her ex-husband, Roger. They had been married for what she thought were 38 happy years when she discovered he’d been cheating on her with one of his clients, Delilah Osborne.
Roger had been one of the reasons Millie had applied for the assistant cruise director position aboard Siren of the Seas in the first place, to escape the heartbreak and unbearable pain of her failed marriage.
She’d almost believed happiness could be hers again. Captain Armati was her knight in shining armor. He was everything Millie was looking for…handsome, smart, warm, caring and thoughtful.
Millie’s eyes burned with unshed tears and the pit of her stomach churned, as a wave of betrayal washed over her. She shuffled over to the small desk in the corner, reac
hed inside the drawer and pulled out her worn Bible. She flipped to one of her favorite Bible verses, Romans 8:18 KJV:
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Millie repeated the verse, closed her eyes and prayed the Lord would help her through the rest of the evening. She prayed for her children, her family, for Cat and for Andy.
She opened her eyes, quietly closed her Bible, slipped it back inside the drawer and walked out of the cabin.
***
Millie adjusted the mike stand in front of the small stage and then pulled the microphone from the holder before she switched it on. “Testing. Give me a wave if you can hear me.”
Several passengers waved. She shut the microphone off and then turned her attention to Felix, one of the dancers who had volunteered to co-host the new, debut “Killer Karaoke” program.
The evening theater show, “Gem of the Seas,” had ended and guests began making their way into the atrium, lining the upper floor balconies that circled the atrium.
Millie turned to Felix. “It’s time to fire up the crowd.” She switched the microphone on again.
“Welcome to our brand spanking new event, Killer Karaoke.” Millie gazed at the growing crowd. “This is a passenger participation event so those of you who would like to impress your fellow passengers, not to mention your family and friends, with not only your trivia knowledge, but also your stellar singing abilities, gather round.”
She waved the crowds forward and several groups of people crowded around the front of the small stage.
Felix handed Millie a manila file folder. She reached for her reading glasses and slipped them on. “Gotta have those glasses.”
“Killer Karaoke is a new spin on an oldie but a goodie. My partner, Felix, will play a small clip of a song and the first one to correctly guess either the name of the song or the artist who sings it, will then get to sing the song, and if you’re lucky, we’ll all sing along.”
Killer Karaoke (Cruise Ship Christian Cozy Mysteries Series Book 7) Page 3