Killer Karaoke (Cruise Ship Christian Cozy Mysteries Series Book 7)

by Hope Callaghan

  “Sure.” Danielle opened her closet door, dropped her dirty clothes inside and then headed to her bunk where she stuck her hand under her pillow and pulled out her cell phone. She pressed the screen, fiddled with the front and then handed it to Millie.

  Millie turned the phone so she had a clearer view and studied the photo. It was blurry and she tapped the screen to enlarge the picture. She’d only met Paloma the one time and something about her, something Millie couldn’t quite put her finger on, looked different.

  The couple was standing close to the railing on one of the upper decks. The Castillo San Cristóbal, also known as Fort San Cristóbal, located in Old San Juan Puerto Rico was behind them. She could tell the picture wasn’t very old and had been taken on board the ship.

  Siren of the Seas had recently switched itineraries from the Bahamas, South Seas Cay, the cruise line’s private island, and Grand Cayman, to the current itinerary, which included San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Croix.

  “Can you send a copy of this to my phone?” Millie asked.

  “Sure.” Danielle took the cell phone from Millie. “But not until we get into port. I need cell service to connect.”

  “True. Make sure you don’t delete the photo,” Millie said as she headed to the bathroom.

  When she emerged a short time later, Danielle was pacing the floor. “We need to hurry up if we plan to stop by Annette’s place before starting our shifts.”

  Millie grimaced. “I have a feeling this is going to be a very long day.”

  Chapter 19

  Danielle and Millie strode out of the cabin and headed up the stairs to the galley. Although it was still early, Millie knew Annette was already in her kitchen. In fact, Millie suspected there were days when Annette spent every waking hour in the galley and would be perfectly content to bunk there.

  Millie heard Annette before she saw her. Amit was standing across from her and they were hovering over a large platter.

  The smell of freshly baked bread wafted in the air and Millie sniffed appreciatively.

  “The taste testers have arrived,” Danielle said breezily as she made her way around the maze of counters while Millie followed behind.

  Amit and Annette had amassed a small assembly line of food, which included slices of sourdough bread, shaved turkey and thick slices of bacon. “What are you making?” Millie asked as she patted her stomach and eyed the food.

  “Creamy pesto turkey bacon Paninis,” Amit replied as he slathered a thick layer of butter on a slice of freshly baked bread.

  Annette reached for a chopping block and knife. “We’re sending samples to the deli crew this morning but you get to try it first,” she said as she chopped two cloves of garlic.

  Annette dropped the cloves inside a nearby blender and then added parmesan cheese, olive oil, basil, lemon juice and whipped cream cheese.

  “Now for the last ingredient,” she said as she dumped a small bowl of chopped nuts on top of the mixture. Annette flipped the switch and the machine began to whir.

  When the ingredients had reached the consistency of a soft, creamy paste, she removed the cover. “I forgot the salt and pepper.” She added some salt and pepper and blended it one last time.

  Annette removed the cover, grabbed a butter knife and scooped a heaping mound out before spreading an even layer on the other side of the bread Amit had buttered.

  Amit carefully placed the bread, butter side down, on the top of the Panini press, added slices of turkey and bacon, and then started to add pieces of artichoke hearts.

  Danielle held up a hand. “I’ll pass on the artichoke hearts. They give me gas.”

  “TMI,” Millie groaned.

  Amit grinned. “Yes ma’am.” He added them to the three other sandwiches, and then covered them with another slice of bread, butter side up. Annette lowered the lid on the press and held it down.

  The bread sizzled and melted cheese oozed down the sides. “The breakfast of champions,” Millie joked.

  When the sandwiches were grilled to perfection, Annette lifted the lid while Amit slipped a spatula under the sandwiches, placing each sandwich on a small dinner plate.

  After Annette cut the sandwiches in half, she slid a plate toward the other three and eased the last one in front of her.

  “This looks delish,” Danielle gushed. She reached for the hot-off-the-press sandwich while Millie folded her hands and bowed her head.

  “Whoops! I forgot.” Danielle dropped her sandwich and followed suit, folding her hands and bowing her head.

  Millie sucked in a breath. “Dear Lord. Thank you for this food. Thank you for all of your gifts, our health, our jobs, our friendships. I pray Lord, that we live our lives as an example of You and that Your light shines in us. Amen.”

  “Amen,” the others echoed in unison.

  Millie took a big bite of her sandwich and chewed with gusto. The combination of garlic and basil, and the creaminess of the cream cheese, along with the smoked meat melted in her mouth. She gobbled her first half before taking a breather and reaching for a nearby coffee carafe and clean mug.

  She poured a cup of piping hot coffee and took a sip as she eyed her half-eaten sandwich. “This sandwich is delicious,” she said. “If the deli guys don’t like this, they need to have their heads examined.”

  As they ate, they discussed the case and the previous evening’s unsuccessful attempt to uncover the killer.

  Danielle tore a chunk of sandwich off and popped it in her mouth. “What if it isn’t one of the electricians? I mean, I’m not an electrician and I still know enough about it to be dangerous.”

  Millie snapped her fingers. “And the killer is trying to frame the electrical crew to lead the investigators in the wrong direction.”

  “The internet is a powerful tool,” Annette added. “Think about all the information you can find online without ever having to take a class or hire someone.” She reached for her napkin and dabbed the corner of her mouth. “I doubt a passenger is responsible for Luigi Falco’s death. I’d bet my life it’s a staff or crewmember, and if they’re not a professional electrician, they would have had to do a little research to do the deed.”

  “Which means they would have had to use the crew computers to research,” Millie finished. “I wish I knew how to hack into passwords so we could take a look at what’s been researched online.”

  Annette dropped her dirty napkin on top of her empty plate. “I just so happen to have a little hacking background from my former life.” She gripped the edge of her plate and spun it in a circle. “It’s been a few years, but I reckon I could maneuver my way through a few internet back doors.”

  Amit carried his empty plate to the dishwasher and placed it inside. “I better get back to work before the boss fires me.” He winked at Annette and wandered to the other side of the kitchen, to the salad prep area.

  Millie was the second to finish her sandwich. “I guess I was hungrier than I thought.” She carried her empty plate to the sink, rinsed it off and then stuck it inside the dishwasher. “Annette, someday you’re going to fess up and tell us who you are.”

  Annette wandered over to the sink. She patted Millie on the shoulder before she turned the galley faucet on and rinsed the crumbs from her plate. “I’d love to tell you, my friend…”

  Millie finished her sentence. “I know, but then you’d have to kill me.” She glanced at the clock on the galley wall. “There’s just enough time for me to have a quick chat with Dave Patterson before I have to check in with Andy.” She shifted her gaze. “So what time do you want to meet in the employee lounge to hack into the computers?”

  The trio discussed their schedules, agreeing they all had breaks around three o’clock. The only concern was other crewmembers or staff might be in the employee lounge and on the computers while they were trying to spy.

  It was a hurdle they’d have to face when they got there.

  Annette returned to the counter to finish assembling the remainder of the Paninis earmar
ked for the deli crew’s taste test while Millie and Danielle stepped out of the galley and into the hall. “Where you headed?” Millie asked the younger woman.

  “Behind the scenes tour with Andy, remember?” Danielle replied. “Then I’m scheduled to work at the Teen Scene for the rest of the morning. The teens are trying to teach me to ‘Flip the Funk.’”

  Millie frowned. “Flip the Funk? What in the world?”

  “You know.” Danielle began waving her arms and tapping her feet. “Git down low and swing your arms. Git down and flip the funk …flip the funk.”

  “Those kids sure come up with some crazy dances.” Millie rolled her eyes. “Remind me to never volunteer for the Teen Scene. I’d try that move and end up in traction,” she joked.

  Danielle grinned and then her gaze shifted as she stared over Millie’s shoulder. The color drained from her face. “Casey?”

  Casey…Millie recognized the name. It was the name Danielle uttered in the middle of the night when she was having a bad dream. It had happened again the previous week, and despite Millie’s attempts to get Danielle to talk about ‘Casey,’ she always shut down, refusing to discuss either her nightmares or whoever ‘Casey’ was.

  Millie spun around and stared down the corridor. Standing in front of the gift shop was a young man, in his late 20’s if she had to guess. His hair was light, an almost platinum blond color.

  The passenger must’ve felt their eyes on him because he turned and stared at them, at Danielle. She took a step forward. “I…” She slowly walked forward. When she got close, she stopped in her tracks and her shoulders slumped.

  Millie trailed behind. The women stood side by side as the young man and the group he was with wandered in the opposite direction and disappeared from sight. “Danielle, who is Casey?” she asked in a soft, low voice.

  Danielle turned, her blue eyes brimming with unshed tears. “It’s.” Her lower lip trembled. “Casey was my younger brother. He died a couple years ago.” Unchecked tears trailed down Danielle’s cheeks and Millie led her off to the side, out of the stream of foot traffic.

  Danielle swiped at her tears. “It’s my fault he’s dead,” she whispered. “I couldn’t save him.”

  Millie closed her eyes and for a brief moment, she could almost feel the young woman’s pain. She quickly opened them. “I’m sorry Danielle.” She didn’t know what else to say and although she wanted to talk to Danielle, this wasn’t the place. They both had to head to their activities.

  Instead, Millie squeezed Danielle’s hand. “We’re going to talk about this later, when we’re alone, but I know you, Danielle. You’re as loyal as they come. You’re a caring, wonderful young woman and I am certain you didn’t kill your brother.”

  It was getting late. If Millie didn’t hurry, she’d be late for work, having already missed her opportunity to chat with Patterson, which would have to wait until after her group cycling class.

  Danielle’s lower lip trembled and she nodded. “I need to meet Andy for the behind the scenes tour.” She dabbed at her eyes with the back of her shirtsleeve. “Is my face all red?”

  “Yes and so is your nose. You look like a total wreck,” Millie smiled. “I’m teasing. You look beautiful as usual.” She reached over and gave Danielle a quick hug. “Get going before Andy sends a search party to look for you.”

  Danielle nodded and hurried toward the library, where the tour group was scheduled to meet while Millie headed to the gym for her cycling class.

  By the time Millie finished the class, she was sweating profusely; convinced Andy was trying to take her out.

  Even though the workout required another shower, Millie still had enough free time before her next activity, the arts and crafts class, to swing by Dave Patterson’s office.

  When Millie reached the security office, the door was closed, but she could see through the frosted glass pane the lights were on. She lightly tapped on the glass and heard a muffled response so she eased the door open and stuck her head around the corner.

  Dave Patterson was inside, talking on the walkie-talkie. He motioned Millie inside and she slid into the seat closest to the door while she waited for him to finish his conversation.

  “10-4. I’ll look into it. I’m sure our assistant cruise director has a very plausible reason as to why she was spotted entering one of the housekeeping staff’s cabins.”

  Chapter 20

  Millie’s heart began to thump in her chest. She’d been certain no one had spotted Danielle and her sneaking into Paloma and Hazelle’s cabin!

  Patterson turned the volume down on the walkie-talkie and slowly set it on the edge of his desk before he folded his hands and leaned back in his chair. “You must have read my mind.”

  He pointed to the walkie-talkie. “That was Kimel Pang, head of our housekeeping department. He said one of the housekeeping staff spotted you and another woman entering Paloma Herdez’s cabin. He described the other woman as a young staff member with long blonde hair, pulled back in a ponytail.”

  Patterson clasped his hands and tapped his index fingers together as he studied Millie.

  She squirmed in her chair and the tips of her ears burned. Millie’s mind searched for some sort of plausible explanation, but she knew there was none.

  He went on. “There aren’t too many young, blonde female employees on board this ship, other than a couple of the dancers and your sidekick, Danielle Kneldon.”

  “I.” Millie decided there was no sense in trying to defend her actions. “Yes. Danielle and I entered Paloma’s cabin. We searched her cabin for clues after finding out Luigi Falco and Paloma had been seeing each other.”

  Patterson sighed heavily as he shook his head. “I’m going to have to write you up. You cannot prowl around this ship, using your special privileges to snoop on people. I’ll have to report this to Andy and Donovan Sweeney, too.”

  “Okay,” she said in a small voice. “I was just trying to…”

  “Save Andy’s hide.” Patterson held up a hand. “I know, Millie, and I admire you for your loyalty to Andy, but rules are made for a reason.”

  Patterson droned on about protocol, acceptable behavior, overstepping one’s position. Millie’s mind began to wander as she wondered if Falco’s death would not only be the end of Andy’s career, but hers as well.

  “Are you close to figuring out who murdered Luigi Falco?” Millie interrupted. She remembered the conversation between Donovan Sweeney and the captain the previous night.

  “We have some leads we’re following up on.”

  “But you’re running out of time. If you don’t have a clear suspect by the time this ship docks tomorrow, Andy is history.” Millie made a slicing motion across her neck.

  “Luigi had his share of enemies including his own boss,” Patterson admitted. “We’ve questioned Carmine at length but he appears to have an airtight alibi and had not even been near the theater. His co-workers, Marcus and Filip did, as well.”

  Patterson leaned forward. “Did you find anything inside Paloma’s cabin?”

  “Yep.” Millie nodded.

  “And?”

  “I just got lectured for searching the woman’s cabin, which, by the way, ought to be condemned by the sanitation crew, and now you want me to tell you what I found?” Millie decided to play hardball. “What’s in it for me?”

  Patterson leaned back, a slow smile creeping across his face. “Beneath that sweet, Midwestern exterior is a tough-as-nails lady. Okay, I’ll bite. What is in it for you?”

  The ball was in Millie’s court and she wasn’t about to blow it. “I want to keep my special access card. I don’t mind a written reprimand as long as it is expunged after…” Her voice trailed off. How long did she want to remain on probation? “Three months,” she finished.

  “Three months if you have something good. Six months if you tell me something I already know,” Patterson bargained.

  “It’s a deal. Same for Danielle,” Millie bargained.

  “Okay.
What did you find?”

  “Other than a disgusting, smelly cabin, we found a note tucked behind the mirror. It was addressed to a Maria Falco in Cochem, Germany.”

  Patterson raised a brow so Millie knew it was information he didn’t already have.

  She continued. “There was a cell phone inside the desk and on the phone was a blurry picture of what looked like Paloma. She was cozying up to Marcus. The picture was recent. It was taken on board the Siren of the Seas and the backdrop was the fort in Old San Juan.”

  “Three months probation.” Patterson reached inside his left hand desk drawer, pulled out a clipboard, attached a form and grabbed an ink pen. “I’m going to write you up for unapproved access to crew quarters and if you keep your nose clean for the next three months, the document will be shredded.”

  Millie sat quietly while he continued to write. When he finished, he slid the clipboard, along with the pen, across the desk. “Sign on the bottom.”

  Millie signed above the spot where Patterson had printed her name, dated it and slid it back. “That seems fair. I think I can behave myself for three months.” She stood. “Oh, by the way, Danielle took a picture of the picture. It’s on her phone.”

  “She’s next on my list,” Patterson said. “I’ll track her down later.”

  “I guess you’ve ruled out an accidental death.” Millie shuffled to the side as she headed to the door before turning back. “I suppose you don’t want to share with me who you think killed Luigi Falco.”

  “You know I can’t divulge that information, Millie. I would tell you to stay out of this, but I know it’s too late.” Patterson stood. “How ‘bout this? Don’t drag anyone else into your investigation.”

  Millie held up three fingers. “I promise. Scout’s honor. I won’t involve anyone else who hasn’t already gotten involved.” She didn’t wait for a reply as she opened the door, stepped out into the hall and quietly closed it behind her.

  ***

  The rest of the afternoon flew by as Millie flitted from arts and crafts to trivia to bingo to salsa lessons and then finally took a late lunch, right before she planned to meet up with Annette and Danielle for their search of the crew’s internet computers.