by Ava Dunne
You can’t walk around sniffing people.
When the song ended, I thanked my partner and headed for the bar. A hand offered me a martini. I turned to give thanks and saw the gift came from Duncan.
“You’re quite the dancer,” he said.
“I just have fun out there,” I said. “Will you dance with me?”
He shook his head. “I don’t dance.” He looked at me and smiled. “Unless it’s a slow one. And I get to put my hands all over you.”
I took a long sip, hoping the cold vodka would cool down my flushed countenance.
…
The next morning dawned gray and drizzly. I noticed the increased pitch and roll of the ship, which I’d assumed didn’t happen on a vessel this big. “Should I have barf bags available in the studio?” I asked, checking in with Hans before I opened up.
“Probably a good idea,” Hans agreed.
I didn’t need them, in spite of the class being at capacity. I rearranged people as they entered, so everyone had room.
More people meant it took more time to clean the mats after class.
“Where you planning to tell me about the blackmail?”
I looked up and saw Chief Bakshi glaring down at me. He closed the door to the studio. I stood up and backed away. “What are you talking about?”
“Cooke didn’t give you up. I figured it out. I do that, you know. I’m a trained cop.” He advanced.
I kept backing up until I was all the way at the bank of windows. “I told you about the attack.”
“It clears up what your attacker meant, though. He was one of the blackmail victims. He thinks you’ve taken up the business.”
“I haven’t.”
“I’ll need proof.”
“I’ve refused the money Geri’s victims keep flashing at me.”
“Waiting until the heat dies down? Or thinking you can work your way around me?” Chief Bakshi glared at me. The angrier he got, the more pronounced the British inflections in his cadence grew. “Did you go to Cooke with this because he’s a New York City detective, and you think they’re the only ones with any brains? Or because you’re both New Yorkers? Or because you’re attracted to him? Or is it because he’s white?”
“What?” I was floored. “Why would his skin color have anything to do with it? Are you accusing me of being a racist?”
“I’m used to casual racism,” Chief Bakshi retorted. “I deal with it every day.”
“That’s insulting! Beyond insulting!”
“Welcome to my world,” he countered. “I’m insulted that you didn’t come to me with the blackmail information.”
“It had nothing to do with your skin color!” I flared. “Or Duncan’s. Or mine.”
“Duncan?” he raised an eyebrow. “On first name terms with him, are we, Sophie?”
“Do you want to know why I went to Duncan and not you?”
“Please. Enlighten me.”
“I thought you might be one of Geri’s victims.”
That stopped him. I watched the emotions flit across his face before they shut down. Anger, insult, and then a thoughtful consideration. “Because I didn’t stop her?”
“You knew?”
“I’m not an idiot, Sophie, even if I’m not NYPD.” He sighed. “I’ve been trying to get proof, almost from the beginning of her assignment here. But her victims won’t admit anything, certainly not to me. I wasn’t able to catch her at it. I wanted to shut her down. I want to protect everyone on the ship. Whether they work here, or they’re guests.”
I wondered how far the Chief would go to do that. Could he have been the person Geri argued with that afternoon? No, his cadence was distinct, as was the timbre of his voice. It hadn’t been Chief Bakshi. But that didn’t mean he hadn’t pushed her down the stairs.
I was alone with him, here in the studio. I had to be smart.
There was a knock on the door, and Hans entered. He stared from me to the Chief and back again. “Everything okay?”
“I needed a word with Sophie about developments in Geri’s murder,” Chief Bakshi said, in a calm, even voice.
“Are you done?” Hans demanded. “Because Sophie has work to do.”
“We’re done for the moment,” the Chief walked over to the door and glanced back over this shoulder. “We’re far from being done for the duration.”
…
I didn’t have time to stop in the crew dining room for breakfast before heading to Kristina Murray’s suite for the private class. Kristina wanted to work outside, in spite of the weather, and I was chilled to the bone by the time I left and rushed back to my 11 o’clock class.
“I’m not participating today,” said Duncan. “The weather affects the leg badly. I’m going to sit on the bench in the outer room.”
“I don’t need a bodyguard,” I protested.
“I like guarding that body.” His lazy smile heated the chilly morning.
The 11 o’clock class was at capacity, meaning I had to bounce Harmonia and Bassio, who pretended to pout. It meant even more time spent cleaning up at the end.
“Mr. Anger,” Duncan announced Sebastian. Something unspoken in his tone set off warning bells in my head. The way he emphasized the “mister.”
“Detective.” Sebastian nodded, and then proceeded to ignore the man, focusing his attention on me instead. “You’re shivering.” Sebastian hovered at the doorway between the studio and outer room as I set out the last of the disinfected mats.
“My private client insisted on working outside,” I said. “She was under the awning. I was not.”
“Take a few minutes in the crew sauna,” Sebastian suggested. “It’ll warm you up. I bet you haven’t eaten yet, either, have you?”
“Nope, haven’t had the chance.”
“Sauna, then soup,” Sebastian ordered.
“Yes, sir,” I agreed, but it was with a smile, relieved that someone else made the decisions.
Duncan heaved himself off the bench and left the studio without a word.
Sebastian was right. Even a short stint in the sauna and I felt better. I headed up to the crew dining room, joining Harmonia and Roz for a quick lunch. I had a green salad and a hot-and-sour soup, listening to Roz’s hilarious stories of dealing with drunken passengers the previous night, who decided that, instead of watching the show, they wanted to be a part of it and turn the musical revue into karaoke night.
“Makes you appreciate the big Indian security guards like Murali,” Roz ended.
“Somehow, I don’t see a drunken guy from Kansas getting the better of you, Roz,” I said.
“Oh, he wouldn’t have been able to have children by the time I was done with him,” Roz agreed. “Murali was more for his protection than mine.”
The afternoon classes were packed, even the Pilates. No Duncan, though. I wondered if his leg was worse. Should I check on him? Or would that send the wrong message? What message did I want to send?
I half-dragged myself to dinner. Approaching the “employees only” door, I heard a passenger whine, “For what we paid for this cruise, the least they could do is make sure it’s sunny all the time.” I wondered if the woman expected sun-drenched murals draped over the portholes on bad days.
Moving through the staff corridors, I recognized personnel I passed, even when I didn’t know the names. I smiled and said hello to everyone. Some looked surprised. Most responded with at least a friendly nod. I considered buying a pedometer, to track how many miles I toted up each day.
I was quiet through dinner, sitting with Roz and a group of people that included one of the Tiki Bar hostesses named Maude. Maude told stories about an amusing couple, and it took me a few minutes to realize she meant Stella and Bartholomew.
“Best sense of humor ever,” said Maude. “And totally don’t let any of the other guests give us any guff.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard the word ‘guff’ used,” I mused.
“I don’t swear,” said Maude.
“Any particular reason?”
“I think language is too interesting, and swear words are lazy.”
“How can you stand hanging out with Roz?” Harmonia laughed. “Every other word out of her mouth is a cuss.”
“She uses up her energy with her legs, so there’s not much left for language,” said Maude, and the table burst into laughter.
Maude turned her attention to me. “How are you doing?” she asked. “Since finding Geri’s body? That’s got to have a lasting impact.”
“The first day or two were bad. But now, when I finally get to bed, I’m too exhausted to have nightmares about it.”
“If they start again, Harmonia could do something.”
“What could Harmonia do?”
“I don’t know.” Maude shrugged. “Talk to the dead? Make the dreams go away? Better than taking pills.”
I shivered. “You could tell, from the way she landed, that she was beyond help. Her eyes were open. I close my eyes at night, and I see her open ones.”
“I’m sorry,” said Maude. “For whatever it’s worth, I don’t think you pushed her. Urgh, I’ve got to run, I have to get back to my next shift.”
I was so tired, all I wanted to do was crawl into bed, but I took a detour to sneak into the back of the theatre for a few minutes to catch part of that night’s show. The Dance-aholics stars were the focus of the piece, and I recognized some of the others, including my dance partner from the previous night, London. Roz and Nicolette were both tall and striking, impossible to miss. They had Vegas show-girl looks and height, but more individual stage presence. Roz and London were partnered for one section, dancing on one side of the stage, while Nicolette and her partner mirrored them on the other. It became a call-and-response dance between the two couples, and I held my breath, then joined in the general shouting and clapping when it was finished.
Brilliant or not, my exhaustion made curling up on the floor look inviting, so I slipped out of the theatre as quietly as possible — only to run smack dab into Ajeet in the corridor.
“You’re not supposed to be in the theatre!” he hissed.
“I just slipped in for a few minutes to see part of the show,” I protested.
“That’s fraternizing with the guests!”
“I didn’t talk to them. I didn’t even sit down. I stood at the back.”
“Forbidden! You do everything that’s forbidden. You can’t get away with this. I’ll report you!”
“Oh, go ahead!” I was too tired to care.
“You will be sorry! They will fire you!”
“They won’t until the end of this week!”
“I make them fire you tomorrow. You get off the boat in Nassau and have to go home on your own.”
“Because I watched twenty minutes of the show?”
“You Americans think none of the rules apply to you.”
“That’s not true.”
“You’re as bad as Geraldine.”
“You try to fire me, and I’ll tell them what you were paying Geraldine to keep quiet about.” It was a shot in the dark, but all I had.
Ajeet flinched as though I’d struck him, turned, and ran.
I felt nauseous and guilty. Maybe the rumors were right. Maybe I was cut from the same cloth as Geri.
CHAPTER NINE
“DO YOU GET TO GO ashore, or do they keep you cooped up on the ship when we’re docked?” Stella asked, as I cleaned the mats after the early morning class.
Duncan was in class, quiet, concentrated, but hadn’t stopped to say anything in particular to me. It was hard not to feel distracted and hurt.
Stella made us all laugh on her arrival, making a big production out of coming to an early morning class, but as usual, she was perfectly pulled-together and cheerful.
“I have this class and my private client,” I said. “Then, I can go ashore as long as I’m back for the 6:30 class this evening. I expect attendance will be sparse, since passen—guests— don’t have to be back on board until seven for the eight p.m. departure.”
“I know we’re not allowed to fraternize on board, but Bartholomew and I hoped we could whisk you away for lunch or a cocktail.” Stella laughed. “‘Fraternize.’ That sounds so deliciously taboo.”
“Sorry,” I responded. “I’d like it, I really would, but we’re supposed to turn down all those invitations, be they on ship or shore.”
“And here, I thought you turned down Joshua’s roommate because he still reeked of last night’s alcohol,” Stella teased.
“The last thing I need is to hang out with a bunch of drunk guys on a bachelor party,” I said, “but even if they were sober and I thought they were attractive in that way, I’d have to say no.”
“Good thing Joshua and Melodie are both passengers, then,” said Stella. “Do you see how they look at each other? Let’s hope they ditch their friends and have a good time on their own in Nassau. Bridey and her gentleman friend are sweet, too, don’t you think?”
“I do.”
“No more late night encounters with men who try to strangle you?”
“No.”
“Good. You should spend your off hours with men who want to kiss you and rip your clothes off for passionate, consensual sex.”
“I’ll work on it,” I laughed.
“That handsome detective on leave is awfully good-looking,” said Stella “The one who was just in class? With the limp?”
“Have you met him?” I tried to keep my tone casual.
“We’ve spoken on the deck and in the Tiki Bar, and shared a table at dinner last night,” said Stella. “Delightful conversationalist. Wanted to be an archaeologist in college. I have to find out what made him join the police.”
“Sounds like I should set him up with my sister,” I said. “She’s an archaeologist,” I added, at Stella’s questioning look.
“No, darling, he’s good for you,” said Stella. “It’s quite wonderful that he can recuperate on a cruise before returning to active duty in New York.”
I was about to mention Geri’s murder, but then realized Stella was a guest, didn’t know about it, and Duncan salted his cover story with truth. “He’s a guest; I can’t spend time with him outside of class.”
“Then we’ll have to find you someone on the crew,” said Stella. “I’ll get to work.”
“Really, I’m fine,” I said. “I’m getting off a break-up.”
“More important than ever to get back up on the horse.”
“Maybe I’ll stay on the ground for awhile.”
“I’ll be discreet,” said Stella. “Subtle.” At my look, she laughed. “Okay, maybe that’s not my strong point. But I want you to be happy.”
“I am happy.” It was ninety-eight percent true, which was a higher percentage, I realized, than I’d been in a long time. “How did you and Bartholomew meet?” A change of subject was a good idea.
“We met in Majorca, but I was not initially impressed,” said Stella. “He chased me across London, Paris, Rome, Florence, and Barcelona. We wound up in Morocco and hightailed it to Singapore, where we finally realized what we had was special. We stay on the move. That’s part of what draws us together. Speaking of moving, I better get onshore. Have a wonderful day.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I intend to.”
I grabbed a few pieces of fruit before heading up to Kristina’s suite. Passing a couple of waitresses in the corridor, I heard them giggling.
“She said she wouldn’t mind being questioned by him any time, anywhere,” one of them gasped. “She wouldn’t mind if he put her in handcuffs. And that five o’clock shadow felt good everywhere.” They burst into giggles again, then saw me and got quiet.
Once I passed, I heard them giggling again. I knew they were talking about Duncan. I wondered if they were talking about one of their friends cavorting with him, or if they thought I had said and done that. Nothing I could do about it.
Daciana opened the door. “She’s almost ready,” the young woman said. “M
r. Flaherty is already on shore, but Ms. Murray wishes to stay on board the ship today. I believe she wants to work outside again.”
“Of course.” I tried not to roll my eyes. “If she wanted to work outside in the rain, it would make sense to do so in the sun.”
“Did you get seasick in yesterday’s weather?” Daciana asked.
“I barely noticed it.”
“The sea is natural to you, then,” Daciana smiled.
“I feel comfortable at sea. When I’m not running myself ragged.” I noticed an assortment of earrings, bracelets, and necklaces strewn across the coffee table. “I’m surprised she doesn’t keep them in a safe.”
“There’s a safe in the master bedroom,” said Daciana. “That’s where she’s kept them up to now. It makes me nervous to have them exposed this way. I keep asking her if she wishes me to put them away, but she says she will take care of it. And then does not.”
Probably used to having assistants around her, I thought, but managed to keep quiet.
“I will be back when you are done,” Daciana let herself out of the suite.
I created a more difficult sequence for Kristina today, wanting to challenge her, knowing I might be scolded for it. But Kristina rose to the challenge, and, by the end of it, both of us were laughing.
“Are you going on shore today, Sophie?” Kristina asked.
“Yes, I have a few hours’ break,” I replied. “I’ve never been to Nassau. Are you going to explore?” I didn’t want her to think Daciana and I gossiped about her.
“No.” Kristina shook her head and stared at the floor. “I’d rather stay here and be quiet.”
“Do you want anything from land?” I asked.
Kristina shot me a quizzical look, then laughed. “No, thank you, Sophie, I’m fine.”
Of course she’s fine, I self-reprimanded as I walked back to the cabin I shared with Angie. She has a kazillion dollars and she’s famous. She doesn’t want any cheap souvenir I could bring back.
Angie was still asleep. I grabbed my clothes and crept into the bathroom, where I changed into a pair of navy blue capris, a blue and white striped shirt, and dark blue sandals with a wide, wedged sole that allowed me to walk in comfort.