by Dawn Brookes
“Ah yes, Boris. All he’s doing is smuggling copies of plans for a state-of-the-art refrigeration system for a friend of Asimov. Minor stuff, but hard to get hold of in Russia. I’m the one who will collect the blueprints for the new stealth aircraft. Everything I told you is true, but I’m the mastermind. I took over the business of export from my father and got a job as a cruise tour guide because it’s the perfect vehicle for meeting up with buyers and sellers. This one is personal, though – unfinished business. Anyway, Rachel, I need to get back to the group, so I’m afraid your time is up.”
“Did you cause the accident that put my friend’s colleague’s father in hospital?”
“Your friend?”
“My friend’s also a nurse on the ship.”
He looked shaky now, but recovered quickly. “Yes, Rachel. You need to understand, this is not personal; it’s business – a multi-million dollar business. I like you, I do, and had I known you were a policewoman, I wouldn’t have invited you along for the ride, but it’s been a pleasure.”
He lifted the gun, but a pair of strong arms grabbed him from behind, causing it to fall to the floor. Waverley held him in a vice-like grip and called for assistance. His security guards had been waiting in the wings and they now approached and cuffed Thomas.
“You took your time!” shouted Rachel.
“Don’t worry – you were never in any danger. Look behind you.” She turned and saw an officer with a rifle waving at her. “He would have shot if things had got out of hand.”
“Out of hand – what do you call out of hand?”
“Sorry, we needed the confession.” Waverley shrugged.
Thomas looked confused and angry.
“Thomas, I couldn’t sleep last night. So many things didn’t ring true – least of all, your translation of the Russian conversation. I speak very little Russian, but I do understand a few words, and ‘birthday’ and ‘party’ kept coming up in the conversation you were translating. And they never mentioned Nikolai. There were other things too. I suspected you were American. Even though you have mastered the English accent, you make mistakes, such as ‘line’ for queue and ‘elevator’ for a lift. On their own, they mean nothing, but last night, I put it all together and you became my prime suspect.”
Thomas scowled. Waverley continued the story, looking chuffed.
“Miss Prince alerted me this morning, and we looked into you in great detail, Thomas Gabriel – or rather, Mr Timothy Blythe. We tracked down your mother, who hasn’t heard from you in years. She says you are too much like your father.”
“So what! You have no evidence I’ve done anything wrong. It’s her word against mine. No court will convict me. I’ll walk.”
“Except that I’m wearing a wire – that’s how they knew where we were.” Rachel pulled up her outer blouse to reveal wires and a microphone. “Courtesy of the Coral Queen.” She took the recording off and handed it to Waverley.
“I think you and your sister, who is already incarcerated in the ship’s brig, will go away for a very long time, Mr Blythe. We will also hand over an important notebook I found in your safe to the FBI in the morning.”
“How did you get in there?”
“Miss Prince has sharp eyes and watched you tap in the code and memorised it when she was with you yesterday. We copied it last night while you were busy with your guests. Mr Price will not be meeting up with you in New York as the police have already arrested him. There will not be much left of your little gang by the time Interpol has finished. You chose the wrong stooge, Mr Blythe.
“Rachel, Sarah’s waiting for you in the main atrium – she almost gave the game away.”
It was time to leave. “Goodbye, Thomas – or Timothy. I don’t suppose we’ll be meeting again. Nothing personal, of course!” She held her head up high and bounced down the steps, leaving Waverley and his officers to deal with Timothy Blythe.
Chapter 38
Sarah ran over as soon as Rachel arrived in the main atrium and hugged her tight.
“Oh, Rachel – I was so worried about you. Waverley assured me you had it all under control when I tried to put out a ship-wide alert for you.”
“What made you do that?”
“Gwen got a picture through today. It was a newspaper cutting about an industrial espionage gang leader who killed himself. The photo showed Lauren and her brother, Timothy Blythe, at the man’s funeral, embracing, and I recognised him as your tour guide friend.”
“Yes, it seems Timothy Blythe became Thomas Gabriel courtesy of deed poll to hide his past, but continue with his father’s business.”
“I was going to warn you, but Waverley said you’d worked it all out and would get a confession out of him. It has worried me sick something would go wrong – there’s no way I could have done it.”
“And I couldn’t do what you do, so we’ll just have to keep doing our own jobs.”
“Except Waverley will offer you a security officer’s job again, I’m sure.”
“He already did – last night.”
“And?”
“I’d rather go shopping in New York tomorrow, if you’re still up for it?” Rachel laughed.
“Absolutely,” replied Sarah.
“One thing, though – the ship’s brig will be overcrowded tonight!”
“That’s Waverley’s problem. Lunch?” asked Sarah.
“Definitely, I’m starving.”
Rachel was called into a meeting in Waverley’s office that afternoon. It surprised her to see Asimov and Boris sitting down when she arrived.
“Ah, Miss Prince has arrived so we can start.” Waverley showed Rachel to a seat.
“I demand to know what this is all about,” Asimov barked.
“Me too,” echoed Boris.
Me three! thought Rachel, but kept her thoughts to herself.
“Of course, gentlemen. First, I regret to inform you your tour guide, Thomas Gabriel, has been arrested on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to commit industrial espionage.”
Rachel couldn’t help smiling at Asimov’s open mouth as he stared in disbelief.
Waverley was in his element. “I have spoken with Ronson Tours and another guide named Jeremiah Radley will join the ship tomorrow and take over Mr Gabriel’s appointments.”
“Well that’s settled, then,” said Asimov, shifting in his seat as if to leave.
“Not quite, sir. I must insist that you indulge me in a theory before you leave.”
The men looked impatient, but Rachel guessed what might be coming.
“If it were to come to my attention, that someone might commit a crime in New York involving the handover of certain sensitive information regarding refrigeration equipment, I would have to move swiftly and inform the authorities. These theoretical people have committed no such crime at present, but I would value your opinion, gentlemen, whether you think such a crime might occur.”
Asimov reddened, but then smiled. “I believe no such crime will happen. What do you think, Boris?”
“I don’t believe anyone will commit such a crime, Mr Asimov.” Boris looked relieved, almost joyful.
“Excellent,” replied Waverley. “As a precaution, I must insist that diplomatic bags remain on board the ship while we are in port. I apologise in advance for the inconvenience. However, following the murder of one of your group, we need to ensure your safety by making thorough searches of people who return from shore leave.”
“Chief, I understand,” said Asimov. Rachel admired the man’s ability to admit and accept defeat. “I’m due to dress for dinner now, so if you will excuse me.”
He rose from his chair and left the room. Boris also got up to leave.
“Just one moment, Mr Stanislav. I wanted to let you know your brother-in-law is safe aboard ship and willing to meet up with you in secret later this evening – here are the arrangements.” Waverley handed Boris an envelope.
“I would be very pleased to accept, as long as it does not put him in danger. My wi
fe, his sister, misses him terribly.”
“I guarantee his safety,” said Waverley.
Boris pocketed the envelope and left the office, smiling. Rachel couldn’t help smiling too.
“Thank you for that – I was pleased to be here.”
“We’re not finished yet.” He picked up the phone. “Send them in.” Rachel looked towards the door and saw Jefgeny and Eva escorted into the office. “Please take a seat,” instructed Waverley.
They sat down, holding hands, preparing for the worst.
“Mr Popov, Miss Sipka, the captain has asked me to convey his disappointment with some of your actions during this cruise.”
“Sorry, sir,” said Jefgeny.
“However, he has spoken with the cruise line and explained the circumstances of what has happened, and we have both spoken to your senior officers. They agree that you should both keep your jobs, if you would like them, on condition that no such thing happens again, and that you, Mr Popov, work with Dr Romano to overcome your health issues.”
Jefgeny and Eva hugged each other. “Thank you so much, we will do everything you say.”
“The United States of America owes you a debt of gratitude, Mr Popov. Dr Romano has arranged for you to have an endoscopy at 10am tomorrow at Queen Cruises’ expense as you remain covered as an employee. Now I suggest that you both get back to work.”
They beamed as they left. “Yes, sir.”
Rachel was over the moon. “I can’t wait to tell Sarah, she’ll be ecstatic. She was so worried about Jefgeny.”
“I love my job sometimes,” said Waverley. “Enjoy the rest of the cruise, Rachel. I hope you will stay out of trouble for the remaining eight days, if that’s at all possible.”
“Oh, it’s possible,” Rachel said as she floated out the door.
Author’s Note
Thank you
If you have enjoyed reading this book, please would you make my day and share it with others by leaving an honest review on Amazon or any other platform you may use. I love receiving feedback from readers and can assure you that I read every review. Keep an eye out for book 3 in the Rachel Prince Mystery series. Killer Cruise is due for release in spring 2019.
Keep in Touch:
Website: www.dawnbrookespublishing.com.
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Twitter: @dawnbrookes1
About the Author
Dawn Brookes is a fun-loving and light-hearted person, with a creative side that comes across in her writing.
She writes across genres but has developed a passion for cosy mysteries. The inspiration for the Rachel Prince Mystery series combines Dawn’s love of cruising with her love of writing. The first two books in the series are now written with a third on the way.
The surname of her protagonist comes in honour of her childhood dog, a boxer called Prince, who used to put his head on her knee while she lost herself in books.
Author of bestselling eBook Hurry up Nurse: memoirs of nurse training in the 1970s and Hurry up Nurse 2: London calling, Dawn worked as a hospital nurse, midwife, district nurse and community matron during a career spanning thirty-nine years. Before turning her hand to writing for a living, she had multiple articles published in professional journals and co-edited a nursing textbook.
Dawn grew up in Leicester, later moved to London and Berkshire and now lives in Derby. She holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honours and a Masters degree in education.
Dawn has a passion for nature and loves animals, especially dogs. Animals will continue to feature in her children's books as she believes caring for animals and nature helps children to become kinder human beings.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to my editor Alison Jack for her kind comments about the book and for suggestions, corrections and amendments that make it a better read.
Thanks to my beta readers for comments, suggestions and for their time.
Thanks to my immediate circle of friends who are so patient with me when I’m absorbed by my fictional world, for their continued support in all my endeavours.
I have to say thank you to my sea loving friends for joining me on some of the most precious experiences of my life and to the cruise lines for making every holiday a special one.
Other Books by Dawn Brookes
Rachel Prince Mysteries
A Cruise to Murder
Memoirs
Hurry up Nurse: memoirs of nurse training in the 1970s
Hurry up Nurse 2: London calling
Coming Soon 2019
Book 3 in the Rachel Prince Mystery Series
Killer Cruise
Book 4 in Rachel Prince Mystery Series
Dying to Cruise
Book 3 in the Hurry up Nurse series
Hurry up Nurse 3
Look out in future for a new series
Carlos Jacobi: Private Investigator
Books for Children 5-7 years
Ava & Oliver’s Bonfire Night Adventure
Ava & Oliver’s Christmas Nativity Adventure
Gerry the One-Eared Cat
Danny the Caterpillar 3-5 years