Terror at Sea: Three mysteries aboard a cruise ship

by Debby Mayne

  “Yeah. I want to know what sort of song the infamous Kenzie Jamison is going to be singing from inside the jail cell as you await your trial and how many of your fans are going to show up for your debut in the courtroom on the day they convict you.”

  She didn’t get a chance to answer. The officer radioed for help and then dragged Kenzie out of the room just as the doctor arrived. He took one look at Meredith and went to work, checking her pulse. After trying some smelling salts, she seemed to revive a bit.

  A huge smile lit her face when she saw Jake. “Ooo, Jakie!” She threw her arms around his neck. “Are we married, baby? Is this our honeymoon suite?” She looked around the stark room and rubbed her eyes.

  “Not married yet, baby,” He leaned down and covered her face in kisses. “Not yet. And this is definitely not our room.”

  “How come we’re not married? Did I oversleep?” She tried to sit up but couldn’t seem to manage it. “The wedding is tonight, right? I was just taking a nap. We have so much to do. I need to get up.” She tried again and managed to almost sit.

  “Only if you’re feeling up to it,” he said. “But we have a few things to talk about first.”

  “Oh, Jakie, you always like to talk too much.” She giggled and then plopped back down on the pillow again, out cold.

  “Let’s get her to the sick bay,” the doctor said. “I’ll call for a stretcher.”

  “I’m going with you.” Jake’s words came out shaky. No doubt. The poor guy had tears streaming down his face. So did Natalie and Mr. and Mrs. Williams.

  The stretcher arrived in short order but I opted not to go to the sick bay with them. I had something else to take care of first, something very important. I had a pretty strong suspicion I knew just where to find a certain best man. . .and he’d better be ready for me when I got there.

  “Annie?” Warren took hold of my hand. “I know what you’re thinking.”

  “You do?” I avoided looking into his eyes.

  “Yes.” He turned my face toward his and looked me in the eye. “You think you can take care of him on your own, but you can’t. We’ve got to involve the officers in this.”

  I released a breath and then nodded. “Okay, okay. But I know where he is. I feel sure of this.” At this point I turned to face Sheila and Orin. “Would you two go back to security and ask for one of the officers to meet me up on the top deck? At the bar.”

  “You sure?” Sheila asked.

  “Yep. It’s mid-afternoon. Kevin always seems to hang out at the bar in the middle of the afternoon. I’d be willing to bet money he’s there now, kicking back and waiting for the Calypso band to take the stage. Warren and I will distract him. Just get one of the officers to meet us there as quick as you can.”

  “Aye aye, Cap’n.” Sheila saluted me and then rubbed her burnt forehead. “Ow.” She and Orin took off.

  Warren shook his head and chuckled. “Annie Peterson, how do you do it?”

  “Do what?”

  “Figure these things out? How did you know to look up Kenzie’s background online? And how did you remember about the rose tattoo?”

  “I don’t know, Warren. Just a God-thing, I guess.” I offered a little shrug. “I don’t come up with this stuff on my own."

  “Clearly.” He gave me a little kiss on the forehead. “Sorry if that hurt.”

  “Actually, I’m not in as much pain anymore.” I kissed him squarely on the mouth. “In fact. . .I’m feeling so good that we might just celebrate later, if you know what I mean.” I tried to wink but got an eyelash in my eye and ended up fighting to get it out. So much for romance.

  Warren laughed and then pulled me into his arms. “I will take you up on that, Annie, but I suspect we’re going to have a busy night. If the bride-to-be thinks this is her wedding day, she might actually want to go through with it, as if nothing had happened.”

  “Maybe.” I paused to think it through. “Oh, I think my sunburn is well enough that I can get into my nice dress. It’s formal night, anyway, right? And we’re going to have our picture taken with the captain on the Promenade deck? And then there’s the big parade? Right?”

  “Annie, Annie. . .” He put his hand up to stop me. “Slow down. Let’s catch the bad guy and then worry about what you’re going to wear to formal night. Okay?”

  “Okay.” I sighed. “Only, I really want to look nice, just in case they go through with the wedding. Do you think my blue silk dress is nice enough? I brought it, but I’m torn. Maybe I’ll wear the red. If you don’t think red is too brazen, I mean.”

  He put his hand over my mouth and then laughed. Pulling me close, he placed tender kisses on my cheeks. “C’mon, Agatha Annie. Let’s go up to the top deck and find Kevin. The rest? Well, I have a sneaking suspicion it’ll take care of itself.”

  It turned out Warren wasn’t kidding when he said the rest would take care of itself. The final night of the cruise ended up being the best night of the cruise. With calm waters the ship sailed on toward Galveston, steady and peaceful. We stood in line to meet the Captain—me in my blue silk dress, and Warren in his finest suit and tie. Sheila wore her hot pink maxi-dress and Orin grumbled when she made him put on a tie with his dress shirt and slacks.

  As we stepped into place beside the Captain, he asked our names. The moment I said “Annie Peterson” he reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze. “Well then, Mrs. Peterson, I think we need to get at least one photo of just the two of us, since you single-handedly solved a crime, found a missing bride and saved the day, all while out on the open seas.”

  “Aw, it was nothing.”

  “Pretty sure it was something to the bride and groom.” He gave me a little wink.

  I felt my cheeks grow hot but didn’t argue with the man. If the Captain of the Navigator of the Seas wanted a picture with me, who was I to complain?

  After getting a couple of photos from different angles, Warren joined us. Then we looked on as Sheila and Orin stepped into place next to the Captain. She gave a thumbs up just as the photographer snapped the photo.

  “Aw, Annie, that was awesome.” Sheila looped her arm through mine and we headed off toward the dining hall with our fellas following behind. “You got your picture taken with the Captain. All by your lonesome! You’re going to be the hit of Clarksborough P.A. when everyone finds out Agatha Annie’s been at it again.”

  I stopped walking and shook my head. “Nah. I’d be just fine if no one knew, to be honest. This whole trip. . .” I paused and gazed into her eyes. “It wasn’t about crime-solving. It was about spending time with the people I love.” I reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. “You know that, right? You know how much I cherish you? You’re my best friend in the world and this week will go down in history as the finest vacation I’ve ever taken.”

  “With the finest food.” Orin stepped into place beside Sheila and rubbed his belly.

  “And the best shows,” Sheila added. “Unless you count that one actress who turned out to be such a phony.” She rolled her eyes and then laughed.

  “True.” I nodded and then gave her a hug. “Point is, I’m glad we were able to do this. And I’d do it all over again if you asked.”

  “Hopefully not too soon,” Warren said. “I think I’ve gained ten pounds.”

  “Me too, but I don’t care. I’ll work it off when we get home.”

  “Home.” Sheila repeated the word and nodded. “We’re going home tomorrow.”

  “Mm-hmm,” I said. “So let’s enjoy our last few hours.”

  We headed into the dining hall and greeted our waiter with envelopes filled with cash. A wonderful tip for excellent service. Then, just as we took our seats, the whole wedding party appeared. Well, all but the best man, who was, from all we’d been told, a little busy in the jail cell on deck one. The bride seemed alert and happy, a far cry from the way she’d been a few hours prior.

  She still appeared to be reeling from all that had happened.

  “Are you sure it’s F
riday?” she asked several times. “I thought we were getting married on Tuesday?”

  “We were,” Jake said, and then smiled. “But I will marry you on a Friday. Or a Saturday. Or a Sunday. Or any day you say.”

  “I say today!” She leaned over and gave him a kiss.

  “Do you think the chapel is available?” I asked. “I could talk with the Captain. He happens to be a good friend of mine.” A little wink followed.

  “Actually, the doctor already called the Captain earlier and he stopped by for a visit when we were in the sick bay,” Jake said. “He offered something a little nicer than the chapel.”

  “Nicer?” Sheila and I spoke in unison.

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “I mean. . .” Jake’s face lit into the brightest smile. “Tonight’s farewell performance in the theater is going to be a little shorter than usual, thanks to a missing actress.”

  “Ah. I see.”

  “So, he asked if we wanted to have some very special guests at our ceremony,” Jake added. “Say, a couple thousand of them.”

  Meredith giggled. “The whole audience is invited to stay and watch.”

  “I wonder if they’ll all give you presents?” Sheila asked. “That’d be a lot to haul home.”

  “Surely not,” Jake responded. “But to be honest, I’ve already got the best gift a man could ever get.” He gazed at his bride-to-be, his eyes filled with tears. She leaned over and gave him a kiss so sweet it brought tears to my eyes, too.

  Before long the bride’s parents appeared, all dressed up. We pulled in extra chairs and asked them to join us. I still couldn’t get over the fact that Meredith looked so good. It took a lengthy conversation from Natalie to explain that the medications truly had worn off.

  “The doctor assured us she was fine.” Natalie spoke quietly, filling me in on the details. “He checked her out and she’s going to be all right.” Tears flowed. “I don’t know what I’d do without her, Annie. She’s my best friend.”

  I glanced across the table at Sheila, who gabbed joyfully with Mrs. Williams. I understood that “best friend” thing better than she knew.

  “I know she’s gonna stick by you, Natalie.” I gazed into the young woman’s eyes. “But if you need anything. . .anything at all. . .I want you to call me.” I reached inside my purse and came out with a pen, which I used to scribble my phone number on a sugar packet. “Promise you won’t forget? You can even come to Pennsylvania and spend time with us, if you want.”

  “Do you mean that, Mrs. Peterson?”

  “I do. I happen to have some daughters not much older than you. One of them is expecting a baby right now.” As I spoke those words my heart twisted within me. Suddenly I couldn’t wait to get home to see Candy, Brandi, Devin and my sweet pups.

  But first. . .well, first I had a wedding to attend. And, if what these fine folks had said was true, it was sure to be a doozie!

  Epilogue

  Deeper Water

  There is probably no more obnoxious class of citizen, taken end for end, than the returning vacationist.

  —Robert Benchley

  T he wedding turned out to be the most epic event of the whole week. The Captain pulled out all the stops, giving the happy couple a ceremony they wouldn’t soon forget. Meredith looked beautiful in her gorgeous white gown and Jake’s tears flowed from the start of the ceremony to the finish.

  Best of all? The audience members went crazy with applause when the I Do’s were spoken. And sitting front and center, with the parents of the happy couple? Agatha Annie and her crew. Oh, what bliss!

  We talked about the wedding all night long, and then again the next day after we disembarked the ship. In fact, we couldn’t stop talking about it as we drove from Galveston to Houston to catch our flight home on Sunday afternoon. Only when we climbed aboard the plane for Philly did the chattering come to a halt. By then, we were all wiped out.

  When the pilot’s voice came on, letting us know we were about to begin our descent into the Philadelphia area, I could hardly believe it. I must’ve snoozed my way from Houston to Philly. The whole thing felt like a dream. Just as quickly, my heart was flooded with excitement. I could hardly wait to see my kids. And granddaughter. And puppies.

  A text came through from Candy, instructing us to bring Sheila and Orin to our house instead of dropping them off at their place.

  “She must be up to something,” I said.

  “Sounds like it.” Warren smiled. “You know how are girls are. . .just like their mama.”

  “Mm-hmm.”

  We arrived to find streamers and balloons taped to our front door.

  “What do we have here?” Sheila asked, and then yawned.

  “Looks like a party.” I opened the door and found our living room filled with guests. Brandi, Candy and all of our friends from church. Wow!

  “Welcome home!” rang out from the crowd.

  Little Maddy came tearing across the room and wrapped her arms around my leg. I kissed her, tears now streaming.

  “Nina, Nina!” she said. “I miss you!”

  “I miss you too, baby girl,” I said, and then swept her into my arms for a final hug.

  I’d just started to greet the others when the sound of yipping caught my attention. After putting Maddy down, I knelt to give Sasha and Copper a thousand hugs and kisses. Approximately. “Where were you two when I needed you this week?” I asked. “I had to solve a crime without you. We can’t ever let that happen again, you hear me? Oh, you would’ve loved it! We had the best time ever!”

  “Um, Mom?” Candy’s voice sounded and I looked up to discover both of my girls standing nearby.

  “Well, I like that.” Brandi said.

  “Yeah, the dogs get all the attention.” A very pregnant Candy rolled her eyes. “What are we, chopped liver?”

  “Of course not.” I rose and gave my girls the biggest hugs ever. “The puppies are just more demanding.”

  “You can say that again.” Candy rolled her eyes. “Don’t even ask me how it went with Sasha and Copper while you were gone. I might just tell you.”

  “Oops.” I had a feeling we’d talk about this later. For now, however, I had one thing to do—put the bright blue Caribbean out of my mind, once and for all, and focus on the people right in front of me.

  With my hubby carrying on about his pirate ship adventures and my best friend already sharing the news of how I’d solved a crime aboard the Navigator of the Seas, I had a feeling that was going to be a little easier said than done.

  Don’t Miss the Rest of

  The Bridal Mayhem Mysteries Series

  theWedding Caper

  Bridal Mayhem Mysteries #1

  Join Annie Peterson, mother of the bride, as she solve crimes on her way to the wedding. In book one (The Wedding Caper) a $25,000 night deposit mysteriously disappears from the Clark County Savings and Loan, and Annie Peterson takes on the role of amateur sleuth to solve the mystery. Only one problem. . .she knows nothing about crime solving! With loads of humor and just enough of a mystery to make you wonder whodunit, this story is perfect for a cozy read.

  Gone with theGroom

  Bridal Mayhem Mysteries #2

  What's a frenzied mother of the bride to do? The best laid plans of brides and men go awry when Annie Peterson's future son-in-law Scott disappears. Have pre-wedding jitters caused Brandi's fiancé to take flight, or are more sinister forces at work? Surely Annie can solve the riddle. But who could be behind this apparent kidnapping caper? Maybe the drug company Scott works for has hidden motives. Perhaps it's the handiwork of Otis, Scott's deceitful dad. But then again it could be the shady wedding photographer, or the "political enemies" of Scott's mother. Will Annie solve the mystery and recover the missing groom in time for the wedding? Join inspirational author Janice Thompson for another rollicking good time in the second installment of the Bridal Mayhem Mysteries Series.

  Pushing up Daisies

  Bridal Mayhem Mysteries #3
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  Annie Peterson, mother of the bride, has just married off her oldest daughter but still has another ceremony/reception to plan for Brandi’s twin sister, Candy.

  When Annie and her daughter visit the Clarksborough, Pennsylvania, florist shop, Flowers by Fiona, to order Gerber daisies for the big day, Annie’s dachshund, Sasha, somehow escapes from the car. Sasha ends up in the floral delivery truck with young driver Justin Bastrop, en route to a delivery. Ironically, Justin stumbles into a crime scene at the local funeral home— complete with one too many dead bodies. The funeral director, Eddie Moyer, is D.O.A. and Sasha is missing. Possibly for good.

  Who is behind the funeral home murder? Is the local florist, Fiona Sullivan, somehow involved? Or could it be the delivery driver, Justin? After all, he’s been angry at Eddie Moyer for years, ever since the old guy fired him while he was in his teens. Then again, there is that matter of the disgruntled family member to consider. Roger Kratz has held a grudge against Eddie Moyer for weeks, feeling he was overcharged for his wife’s funeral service. Annie dives into the investigation full steam ahead, hoping to solve the crime. Will she solve this riddle in time for her daughter’s ceremony? And, will Sasha arrive home safely?

  ThePerfectMatch

  Bridal Mayhem Mysteries #4

  Join Annie Peterson as she follows the clues to discover who set fire to the local dating service, the Perfect Match. Is the arsonist the financially strapped widow who owns the matchmaking business, a mismatched newspaper editor, an unsatisfied and unmarried forty-something customer, or the new female investigator who, except for her suspicious past, seems the ideal mate for Annie’s son Devin? The race is on—to see whether or not Annie and her cohorts can solve the crime before another building is burned to the ground and before Devin becomes enamored of the woman who may be Ms. Wrong.