by Ava Dunne
Viktor looked at the racks, filled with mats, at me, and the room. “Is the room open between classes?”
“No,” I said. “I was told to keep it locked. Only the meditation room is open.”
“There is no window in the door.” Viktor gestured. “No one can look in. Even if the outer door had a window, no one could see back into the studio.”
“It doesn’t matter. The racks are hideous. I want them gone.” Jacques shrugged.
“But it is not your studio,” said Viktor.
“I outrank that little lotus leaf nonentity!” Jacques was one step shy of a screech.
I laughed. Oops, wrong choice. Jacques’s face twisted with fury.
“I outrank you, little nasty man,” said Viktor. “I say, if she needs them and they work, she can keep them. Good-bye.” When Jacques opened his mouth to speak, Viktor waved a hand at him. “Run along, little man.” He took a step forward, at his full height, and Jacques scrambled out of the way.
“Thank you,” I said. “I’m glad you happened by during the argument.”
“I did not happen by,” said Viktor. “I am looking for you.”
“Why?”
“We have a drink together. And then, maybe sex.”
I cannot deal with this right now. Had he overheard the conversation with Duncan? Did he think he could step in and work the situation to his advantage? “I don’t think so.”
“Why not? You are pretty. I do not believe I am ugly.”
“You’re very attractive, but I’m just not—”
“You like women?”
“Um, as friends, yes. But I’m straight.”
“So am I. So we have sex.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“Why not? It is just sex.”
“Not for me.”
Viktor frowned. “Silly Americans. Pretend to be so loose, but are really prudes.”
“I’m not Geri.”
“I am glad of it.”
“Did Geri try to blackmail you?”
He grinned at her. “She tried. But she failed.” Before I could ask why, he added, “I am not ashamed of what I have done. What I do. She can threaten to tell people things about me. I don’t care.”
“Were you involved with her?”
“If you mean did we have sex, yes. As I said, it is just sex. It is not complicated.” He stared at me for a minute. “Are you jealous? Of a dead girl?”
“I’m not jealous that you and Geri had sex.”
“She enjoyed it. You will, too.”
“I’m not having sex with you.”
“I do not force any woman, do not worry. I understand. You like the game.”
“I don’t play games.”
“All women play games.” He smiled. “That is okay. I play the game. And then, we have sex.”
“Not this week,” I retorted.
“Perhaps next week, then.” Viktor turned and walked away. He turned back and lifted a corner of his mouth in a sexy smile that made me flush, wondering what he’d be like in bed.
Too many options. I over-reacted to Jack’s break-up by falling for Duncan. I was afraid to take the risk with Duncan, and now every other eligible male looked good in this hormone hotbed. Sebastian. Andrew. Chief Bakshi. Even Viktor Horvat. I wasn’t behaving like my usual self at all.
Isn’t that part of why you’re here? the interior voice whispered.
When I locked up the studio, I had the sensation of being watched, again. If I didn’t get over this paranoia, the men in white jackets would cart me away. I saw Kiki standing at the door to the spa. Did she want to ask about yoga? I was about to say something, when a guest arrived. The woman ushered her into the spa, closing the door behind them.
…
“Something happen?” Roz asked.
The dancer was too perceptive. I didn’t feel like talking about Duncan and Viktor’s offers. Especially since they only thought I was worth a quick fling. “I can’t believe I’m eating again, after all I ate on shore today.” I stared at the roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables on my plate.
“I used to be good and eat salads and small portions,” said Roz. “But I find I’m always ravenous on the ship. We’re so active that it burns right off.”
“You’re also tall,” I said. “I’m short. It settles faster on me.”
“Don’t tell me you have body image issues,” London groaned.
“Only when I look at Veronika.”
“Veronika has an agenda,” Harmonia returned. “Working her way through the men on the ship until she lands an American or a Western European to marry and get citizenship. Don’t pay any attention to Veronika. She moves through men fast. They bore her quickly, especially if they give in too easily.”
“That good-looking detective gave in pretty easily, to hear her tell it, but he told her before he undid his pants it was only a fling, and he wasn’t going to be her avenue to a green card,” said Roz. “She said he was worth it. But I don’t want Veronika’s sloppy seconds, so my interest in him is dead.” She gave me a sidelong glance, which I ignored.
“At least you know he’s not a dud,” London pointed out. “In case you change your mind.” He, too, shot me a look I chose to ignore.
Duncan unzipping his pants in front of Veronika was not an image I wanted burned in my brain. “Any more information on the thefts?” I asked, changing the subject.
“According to Pepperman, those FBI agents who boarded at Nassau are going to interview people,” said Roz. “In addition to the whole Geri thing. Dhruv is not pleased. Even though ship security now trains for terrorist attacks, not petty theft.”
“Um, stolen diamonds are hardly petty,” London interjected.
“Whatever.” Roz waved her fork in the air.
“What about all those romantic tales about gorgeous jewel thieves pursued by hot detectives on luxury vintage cruise ships?” London opened his eyes wide and batted his lashes.
“Fiction. Imagine that,” Roz returned.
“Oh! My heart!” London patted his chest and leaned back in his seat.
Roz was awfully interested in jewel thieves and gems. Could Roz be a professional jewel thief? Or a kleptomaniac?
“How do you know?” Harmonia asked.
“Snagged Pepperman for a drink while we waited for Sophie to join us.” Roz grinned. “He needed a quick shot before he and Dhruv talk to more whining guests. He doesn’t drink at the rate Walter did, but I don’t blame him with some of these geezers.”
“You know who’ll be blamed, don’t you?” Harmonia asked. “Housekeeping. It’s always assumed housekeeping steals.”
“Pepperman told me that he’s listening to all of the guests, but there are always a certain percentage of those who aren’t telling the truth,” said Roz. The way Roz rolled his name on her tongue caused me to suspect she had more interest in him than just information. Disappointment in Duncan hadn’t slowed her down. I’d find a time and place to tease her about it. I’m getting as bad as the rest of them. Namaste, I added sarcastically.
“You mean, they lose their jewelry?” I remembered Bridey’s comments about her roommate.
“Or fake the theft to put in an insurance claim,” said Roz. “Much easier to do that on a big ship like this than in your apartment.”
I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Andrew, wearing pale blue scrubs with the Diamond Line logo on them. “I have to bail on you for drinks later,” he said.
“That’s okay. Did something happen?”
“You know those bachelor party guys? One group had a little too much fun, and one of their guys is in the infirmary with alcohol poisoning. I’m going to have to monitor him on the overnight.”
“Sorry to hear that,” I said. “His name isn’t Joshua, is it?”
“No, the friend that helped carry him in was named Joshua. Anyway, sorry to flake out.”
“It’s not flaking out, it’s doing your job. We’ll catch up some other time.”
<
br /> “I’ll have a few hours off tomorrow for the island,” said Andrew. “You coming ashore?”
“After my private student.”
“We’ll swim in the ocean, then,” said Andrew.
“Deal,” I said. Andrew waved and headed out.
“Girl, you are making conquests all over the place,” said London.
“No, I’m not.” My laugh was uneasy.
“Not only is she oblivious to all the guests eyeing her, which we’re supposed to do, she’s not picking up the signals from the staff.” Roz shook her head. “Are you sure you were engaged? Did you even realize it when he first proposed?”
“It was a traditional, romantic proposal,” I warmed to the memory. “Down on one knee, at the Central Park Boathouse. But it took me awhile to realize we were dating. I thought we were just hanging out.”
“Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me.” Roz shook her head.
“Is there a cruise ship dating manual?” I asked. “Because I think I need one.”
“Okay, just remember,” London began ticking off on his fingers, “almost everyone is available; you can have a lot of sex without commitment and, most of the time, no one makes a big deal out of it; don’t screw around with the guests; don’t get caught screwing around with the Captain or the top officers—”
“And the best lover on the entire ship, whether you’re male or female, is Dean,” said Roz.
“Dean?” I looked around the table.
“He partners Nicolette in a lot of the dances,” said Harmonia. I matched the name with Nicolette’s charismatic dance partner.
“Dean loves sex, he’s really good at it, and he’ll have sex with anyone who’s breathing,” Roz added. “He even does some of that kinky bondage stuff. But not pain. He’s so not into pain. He stubs a toe and he’s out for the night. If you want to be really sure there are no strings and no hard feelings, you can always blow off steam with Dean.”
Too many hormones and too much alcohol, that’s all. You need to find a quiet place to get back to center. “I appreciate the primer. For today, though, I think I’ll just have a second chocolate pudding.”
…
Couldn’t put it off any longer, time to meet the FBI agents. I went up to 1285 Pearl and knocked.
“Come in,” said Duncan. When I entered, he smiled. “Sophie, thanks for coming in. Let me introduce Special Agent Anna Vallejo and her partner, Special Agent Burt Madigan. This is Sophie Batchelder. She worked with Geraldine Smith and discovered the body.”
Chief Bakshi was there. This time, he nodded a greeting to me, and I responded in kind.
“We need you to take us through it again, even though you’ve done it before,” said Agent Vallejo. She was of medium height, with dark, wavy hair caught up in a bun, and large dark eyes. I figured her to be in her late thirties, maybe early forties. Her partner was a few years older, salt and pepper in his hair, shorter, stocker, with hazel eyes. Both managed to exude an air of both competence and exhaustion.
I told them everything, with more coherence, from the time I was hired through finding Geri’s body and the attack/blackmail.
“You’re sure you didn’t know Geri before you started working here?” Agent Vallejo persisted.
“I’d remember Geri,” I said. “I don’t think she was even in one of my classes when I taught on land.”
“If they met before, there’s no trail,” said Chief Bakshi. “No emails, no social media exchanges, no phone records, no CCTV footage.” He turned cool, dark eyes on me. “Don’t worry, I had a warrant.”
I didn’t like that. Duncan knew I didn’t, because he shifted in his chair. “What I’d like to do is to try and find out where the rumors originate,” I said.
“You’re better placed to do that than we are,” Agent Vallejo agreed. “But the minute you find out anything, you come to one of us. We don’t know how many people still think you’re picking up where Ms. Smith left off. You are a target. We’d rather you stayed alive.”
I shivered. “So would I.”
…
I wanted Sebastian’s take on who he thought had the most to lose if Geri started talking. I also wanted to know if jewelry theft was a regular problem on the ship. There were plenty of people I could ask; but I trusted Sebastian to tell me the truth and not make fun of me while doing so.
I had to ask directions a few times, climbing lower and lower into the bowels of the ship. I hoped I could find way out again. The lower I went, the louder it got. By the time I reached the correct level, I wanted to walk with my hands pressed against my ears.
I saw Sebastian standing by a bank of equipment that made no sense to me, a pair of headphones around his neck. To protect his ears, I realized. Since they were off, someone else must be in the room, trying to talk to him. Whoever it was and whatever they were saying, the corners of Sebastian’s mouth turned down, displeasure etched across his face, and his arms were folded across his chest.
I took a few steps closer and stopped. Duncan Cooke was the speaker. I couldn’t hear what he said to Sebastian, but the expression on his face mirrored the distaste on Sebastian’s. Whatever the topic of the conversation, it wasn’t pleasant.
I withdrew, trying to intuit my way back to my deck. I wish I left a trail of breadcrumbs.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
I LONGED TO TALK TO Harmonia. In my swirl of confusion, I needed a friend to help me sort it out. I romanticized the attractions I felt on the ship. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had romantic options; unfortunately, the men were only interested in me as a sexual option. Jumping into a rebound relationship after Jack couldn’t last; maybe that wasn’t a bad thing. But I wanted it to be on my terms, not someone else’s.
That attitude from my fellow crewmembers didn’t bother me; but, coming from Duncan, it hurt. A man who spends his life around sex and death thinks I’m good enough for sex, but not good enough to date? Something was wrong with this picture. I thought there was more to our attraction than the possibility of some quick sex. I was wrong.
Forget the men. Concentrate on the murder. Make lists. List names. Stop using the schedule and the drinking and the flirting as an excuse, and get things done.
It hit me like a physical blow how much I missed Fawn and Bianca. Home, in the Brooklyn brownstone, we’d sit around, set out all the conflicting feelings and desires, and figure it out. With my best friends. I had Harmonia here, and maybe even Roz, reaching a little when it came to London, Bassio, and Sebastian, but those were early-stage friendships. Friendship needed to root in time and shared experience. We were sharing experience, but we didn’t have the time together. It wasn’t the same as having friends with shared history. What did I truly feel for Sebastian? I was attracted to him, I liked him, and I trusted him. How did that add up?
I headed towards Fortunata, the room on the Promenade Deck set aside for Harmonia’s readings, hoping Ajeet wasn’t hovering to rat me out. If I ran into Ajeet, I would do the right thing and apologize; but I wouldn’t seek him out.
I spotted Harmonia and a man hovering in the doorway to her reading room, talking in low tones. I recognized him as the man who’d been in the market with Viktor Horvat and the dancer earlier in the day. It looked like he and Harmonia argued. I quickened my pace, prepared to intervene, until Harmonia stepped forward, kissed him full on the lips, and pulled him back into the room.
I skittered to a stop in the carpeted corridor and turned. Harmonia couldn’t be interrupted right now.
…
“Hey, great idea suggesting that I send Lydia to the rock-climbing wall.” I stopped in at the Youth Center. “She made a friend and had someone to go on shore excursion with today.”
“Good. She’s a nice kid. Can’t be much fun for her, being dragged on her father and stepmother’s honeymoon.” Lainey, The Youth Director, cleared away paints, sketchpads, and other debris from the day’s events. “Lindsey’s the best we ever had on the wall. She’s good at boosting confidence. Peop
le go up there just to hang out with her. ”
“Do you have any paint I can borrow?” I asked.
“For what?”
“I bought some plain wooden drying racks for the yoga mats, and Jacques is on my case because he thinks they’re ugly. I’m going to paint them. Really bright colors. To shut him up.”
Lainey laughed. “That’s a great idea. Do you want some stencils, too?”
“I would love that.”
I headed back to the studio, my arms full of a bin holding paint, brushes, and stencils. I unlocked the studio, slipped out of my shoes, grabbed some of the ship’s newspapers from the recycling bin, and spread them out on the floor. The cleaning crew had already been through for the night, but they only emptied recycling every third day; I didn’t want to ruin their good work. I removed the mats from the racks, put the racks on the newspapers, fired up some music in the CD player, and got to work.
I was halfway finished with the first one when a knock on the doorframe caught my attention. I looked up to see Sebastian.
“A yogi and an artist. I’m impressed,” he said.
“I’m trying to get Jacques off my back by being a brat.”
“It looks like a fun way to get him to stand down,” said Sebastian. “Want some help?”
“Sure.” I grinned up at him. I wondered if Veronika would be upset, or if they’d already had their rendezvous. I decided I didn’t care. “If you don’t mind getting paint on your jeans.”
“Look at them.” Sebastian gestured down. “I work in an engine room. I spend half my time covered in grease. Paint is a step up.”
“You always look neat and scrubbed when I see you,” I countered.
“I clean up well,” he laughed. He took off his work boots, lining them up in the outer room, entered the studio, and dropped down beside me to watch for a few minutes. “Any specific instructions?” He asked.
“Nope.” I pulled out a brush from the bin and pointed at the row of paint jars. “Let your imagination fly.”
Sebastian sorted through the stencils. “These are fun.”
“Yeah, I figured I’d do one rack in a garden theme, and one with the little margarita glasses all over it.” I bent over my work.