by Diane Rapp
*****
Rose Martin and her daughter Jaimie stood in the line for employees boarding the ship. Rose draped a garment bag over her shoulder and wheeled two hat boxes piled onto a luggage cart. Although most of her bags were checked, she didn’t trust valuable costumes and wigs to the grimy hands of luggage handlers. Her dark hair was pulled into a tight bun and makeup applied to her aging skin helped match the fake passport she carried.
Rose’s daughter, Jaimie grimaced as the wheels of her own cart wobbled, nearly toppling the makeup cases that she needed to carry. “We really should upgrade our luggage soon, Mom. These leather cases are ancient. The airlines charged extra for the added weight.”
Rose scowled at Jaimie. “We’re not being paid enough for dancing. When we hit the duty-free stores in Cozumel, we might garner the extra cash for you to spend if you wish. Me, I’m saving mine for an uncertain future.”
Jaimie nodded. “It won’t be long now.” She pointed toward the VIP line and said, “The Genetics Ultra people are getting the royal treatment. Little do they realize that we…”
“Shhh. You don’t know who might be listening!” Rose hissed. She turned and noticed Kate Foster enter the room. Rose’s expression hardened with anger.
“Mom! Take your own advice and cool it. The end of your search is near,” Jaimie whispered.
Rose grimaced, forcing her face to assume a placid expression. Jaimie was right. They should buy some light-weight baggage for the next leg of their journey. She had enough counterfeit currency stashed in the false bottom of her hat boxes, so she could spare the cash soon. The hat boxes travelled through the X-ray machines without problem, and the 3-D printed plastic gun hidden inside her suitcase raised no security alarms.
The two women walked confidently down the corridor and through the crew entrance.
*****
Natalia donned her I.D. lanyard and walked straight to the check-in counters. “Where do you want me to work?” she asked Emily Schultz, who was studying a clipboard.
“Oh! You look so official, Tally. I love the hairdo.” She winked. “Take the third spot down and plan to meet me at 3:00 p.m. in my suite for drinks. I’ve got someone special for you to meet. Bring Jason along.”
Emily abruptly turned to greet a group of passengers who’d entered the building, and Natalia assumed her position behind the counter.
Natalia usually kept her mental shields raised to avoid “seeing” unwanted visions of everyone nearby. When she physically touched a person, her visions were centered on that individual and she’d learned to contain her reactions. Today, it was important to get a broad sense of danger from anyone boarding the ship, so she deliberately lowered her mental shields. It felt like hearing hundreds of radios blaring inside her head, but she sorted through the discord quickly.
Passengers were scheduled to check in based on their room location to avoid chaos. However, some invariably arrived early and were forced to wait. Natalia gazed at hundreds of faces milling about waiting for their room numbers to be called. Some sat on molded plastic chairs, reading or working on laptops, while others wandered around, dragging carry on bags like well-trained pets on leash. Everything seemed normal.
Suddenly a wave of malice radiated from someone in the room—hatred so intense that Natalia clutched the desk with trembling fingers. She inhaled a calming breath and tried to focus on the sensation. Although strong, the connection faded rapidly until the feeling vanished—like someone had slammed a mental door shut. She scrutinized nearby faces, knowing that someone planned bloodshed and needed to be stopped.
It was time to start work.
Bracing herself to experience visions, Natalia brushed the fingers of passengers as they passed documents across the counter. She received everyday visions of the future, some delightful and others distressing, but no clue to the malicious mind she had detected earlier. She connected with about twenty percent of the passengers and realized there was another group of suspects she needed to screen. What if the malevolent person was part of the crew? That increased the possibilities.
*****
Check-in concluded on schedule at 11:00 a.m., and the ship prepared to depart from port. Natalia felt exhausted. During the interviews she had rapidly jotted notes about each passenger, recording names and facial features in a notebook she kept under the counter. Now it was time to change clothes and make sketches.
Most crew occupied cabins on the lower levels, but security team members stayed at mid-ship to allow for rapid access. Natalia stepped into the elevator and leaned against a corner reading messages on her phone. On the next floor, the elevator door whooshed opened, a young woman entered and jabbed the button for the top floor.
Her curly auburn hair was cut in a short pixie style. Her light hazel eyes squinted in anger, and a scowl marred her flawless makeup. She wore stylish lace-up boots, designed to emphasize slender legs, and a supple leather jacket, embroidered with fretwork that accentuated the slim line of a studded turquoise dress.
An avid shopper, Natalia recognized haute couture. This ensemble shouted, “Versace!” She felt envious of the surly young woman’s attire, but the girl’s insolence ruined the effect of a designer outfit. There was little to admire.
Unmindful of Natalia’s presence, the girl growled into a diamond-studded phone, “For the last time, I’ve got it covered! She won’t recognize the fake twins until we expose them ourselves. The board will force her to abandon her useless project!”
The elevator bell chimed and the doors opened at Natalia’s floor. Thankful that she was in disguise, Natalia braced herself and deliberately brushed the girl’s shoulder as she stepped through the opening. The girl huffed and shrugged away from Natalia as the elevator doors slid shut.
In the corridor, Natalia felt dizzy. A vision filled with narrow bottles, white lab coats, and trays filled with columns and rows of colored lines flashed into her mind. She desperately tried to zero in on computer screens that glowed with data, but she failed to decipher the information they displayed. Gloved hands squirted liquid into a row of tiny test tubes just as the vision faded. Natalia grabbed a nearby handrail to steady herself. She hadn’t suffered vertigo from her visions since she was a child learning to hone her talent.
This vision worried her. What did it all mean?
Natalia entered their cabin and noticed that Jason had unpacked his own suitcase but left hers alone. Good! He was finally learning the rules of occupying shared quarters.
She methodically stowed clothing into empty drawers and half of the closet, noting which items would need attention later. Removing her uniform cap, she covered it with plastic and placed it on the top shelf. Grateful that her shipboard trunk had been transferred successfully, Natalia took off the red wig, set it onto a molded plastic head, and unpinned her long hair. She ran fingers through her hair and sighed with relief. She could be herself again.
Undressing, she checked the condition of her clothes. The navy pumps remained unmarred and the skirt unwrinkled, but the white linen blouse required laundering. She inserted the garment into a housekeeping bag, jotted the cabin number and precise instructions on the label, and hung it on the door handle.
A hot shower beckoned.
As steamy water pummeled her aching shoulders, Natalia allowed for extra minutes to bask in the sensation. She shuddered, remembering how a ghost on this same ship delivered a putrid-smelling shower to get her attention. This time the scent of cocoanut shampoo filled the cozy bathroom as the hairdryer blasted fingers of hot air through her silky mane. Relaxed, she slithered into a silk kimono and sat at the makeup table.
It was time to sketch caricatures of the passengers she had met. She’d learned the skill from an expert mentalist while working at a theme park one summer. He explained that recording specific features of their “marks” reinforced the memory of faces and names. Mentalists regularly employed memory enhancements to deliver a believable show. Few performers could actually “see visions,” and few peop
le knew about her gifts.
When Jason entered the cabin, he found her sketching with colored pencils, unaware of his presence. He admired the waterfall of black hair hugging her shoulders but knew that disturbing her work was unwise. Quietly stretching out on the bed, he dozed.
An hour later tiny butterfly kisses interrupted his dreams as Tally coaxed him awake. “Time to eat,” she cooed.
“I can live without food.” He wrapped strong arms around her body, trying to nibble those tempting lips.
She pushed him away firmly. “No you don’t. I’m hungry and don’t plan to redo my makeup.” Casting a sly sideways glance, she offered, “I can find another dinner companion if you prefer.”
Jason swung his legs off the bed and dashed to the door. “Let me open the door for you, Tally. I’d love to join you for lunch.”
“Let’s find a quiet table and discuss my morning.” She brandished the sketchbook, but her lips curled into a coquettish grin as she sauntered past him.
Jason secured a table on the pool deck and stood in line to order hamburgers and fries. He carried two iced teas and placed a numbered tent-card onto the table for the waiter to find them. They sipped tea as he thumbed through Natalia’s sketchbook. “Apparently you met a number of passengers this morning. Acquire any valuable information?”
“Someone is planning violence, but I couldn’t focus on the culprit in the crowd. I’m sure it was none of these people, but there’s definitely someone dangerous on this ship. It could be a crewmember.”
She pointed at the final sketch in the notebook. “I met her riding the elevator.” She described the encounter and the intense visions she’d received. “Although she’s arrogant enough to ignore staff while speaking on the phone, she still bears watching. She’s staying on the diamond level.”
“That’s where Emily’s suite is located.” Jason waited while the waiter delivered their order before speaking. “We should learn from that girl’s mistake and remain vigilant about talking around people we don’t know.” He fingered the paper wrapped around the burger. “I’ll secure a list of crewmembers and we’ll examine it this evening. Perhaps we can narrow the number down.”
“Emily invited us to her suite at 3:00 p.m. She has someone she wants us to meet.”
Jason popped a chunky fry into his mouth and cried, “Hot! Hot! Hot!” He gulped iced tea and kept a piece of ice on his burned tongue. “Careful, Tally, the fries are very fresh.” His eyes turned sultry as he wriggled his brow. “Just like you, my dear.”
Natalia tittered. “Trust you to brighten my day!” She blew on a fry and dipped it in mayonnaise before taking a nibble. She winked at him.
“How can you eat fries smothered in mayonnaise?” he asked.
“It’s something I learned from a friend. Here try one.” She poked a fry into mayo and stuck it into his mouth, giggling.
“Mmm…I guess it’s not too bad. Care to feed me some more?” He flashed a debonair smile but a smudge of white mayo ruined the image.
Tally reached over and dabbed his mouth with her napkin. She announced, “We’ve got a job to do, Mr. Briggs. Finish your food.”
He delivered a precise salute and bit into the hamburger.
*****
Brother and sister, Timothy and Shirley, shared a pricey two-bedroom suite on the ship’s Emerald Level, just one floor below the exclusive five-star suites on the Diamond Level.
Both in their sixties, Timothy was a chubby dark-haired man and Shirley was an emaciated woman. Tim settled onto the couch and thumbed through channels on the flat-screen television while Shirley unpacked designer clothes in her bedroom.
“They’ve got loads of fun activities to do on shore, sis. You think we might have time to go diving?” he asked.
“Tim!” Shirley stepped into the living room, trying to arrange a silk blouse on a slippery hangar. “We’re not on this cruise to vacation. Our contact narrowed down the identity of Drew’s sons and we must make contact with them. Millions are at stake, or don’t you think that’s important?”
“I just thought we could meet the twins during a casual shore excursion and make friends.” He pointed at the list of activities on the screen. “We can chat about our DNA profiles and compare results without seeming like stalkers.”
She mulled the idea over and nodded. “Okay. Let’s check with our inside man and find out what trips the twins are taking. Then we can try to book one. However, you do realize that Rose has her own plans.”
Tim groaned. “I wish we’d never discussed our quandary with that woman. We just need signatures, but I’m afraid she’s out for blood.”
“Don’t be so dramatic, Tim. She wants to turn Drew over to the authorities and let the justice system handle the rest. We enjoyed a long conversation last fall when she came by my house. You know that Drew might be a killer.”
“That psycho Jim Jones was the killer and nine hundred bodies in Guyana are proof.”
Shirley shrugged. “No one knows the entire truth. They were afraid of being arrested and committed mass suicide, such a pity.”
“How do babies and kids commit suicide? They were murdered! I really wonder how much Rose had to do with the whole thing, since she was there and survived. We’d better be careful around her and that scary husband.”
“The cruise is one week out of our lives. We’ll be fine. Let’s have lunch and stroll around the ship.”
Chapter 3 ~ Meeting the Client
Precisely at three, Natalia and Jason knocked on Emily’s door and moments later they were swept into her lavish suite. Emily made the introductions, “I’d like you to meet Natalia Baliskov and Jason Briggs, key members of my security team.”
Jason delivered a sweeping bow and Natalia blushed.
Emily continued, “Please meet my twin sister, Kathryn Foster, who prefers to be called Kate.”
In their late fifties, the sisters’ resemblance was astounding. Their skin color, facial shapes, and hazel eyes matched perfectly, although their hair and clothing styles differed. Emily wore her auburn hair in a short, breezy style, while Kate’s long golden-red hair was pinned back into a sophisticated chignon. Emily wore understated-chic fashions in Caribbean blues and greens, while Kate preferred tailored clothing in earth tones. Natalia decided the twin sisters represented a yin and yang symbol—two different parts that fit perfectly together.
Emily continued to introduce other people in the room, “This is Captain Whitaker. He transferred from the Andromeda and brought along Chief Purser, Jaquie Ludlow.” The captain was a tall, distinguished gentleman in his early fifties with gray hair at the temples and alert green eyes that gazed from behind wire-rimmed eyeglasses.
Jaquie was a French woman, who stood barely five feet tall with honey-colored hair and hazel eyes. From previous investigations, Natalia knew that Jaquie’s unimposing façade concealed a dynamic personality, rarely aggressive or domineering, but quietly assertive and self-assured. The two women nodded at each other but did not speak. Natalia noticed that Jacquie cast a critical glance at Kate Foster, but the harsh expression disappeared quickly.
Kate leaned forward and took control of the meeting. “Nearly forty years ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life. Influenced by my forceful parents, I relinquished my twin sons for adoption. It was a decision I’ve regretted ever since.” Tears ran down her cheeks.
Emily sat down and squeezed her sister’s hand. She explained, “Years passed but Kate couldn’t forget her sons. Eventually she told the whole story to her loving husband. He encouraged her to devise a method of searching for the twins. As a renowned biologist, he’d studied genetics and together they founded Genetics Ultra. Using DNA research, they built a vast database that enables people to identify missing family members.”
Recovered from her tears, Kate continued, “It took years and all our family’s resources to build the company. After my husband’s death, I connected with a psychologist who published articles about twins who had been separated at birth.
We established the Twins Project. She plans to interview twins on this ship and publish a book.” Kate lifted her chin and declared, “I might be close to connecting with my boys, but the book is also important to me.”
Natalia remembered reading articles about separated twins who led surprisingly parallel lives. Kate’s “Twins Project” could add to data already published.
Captain Whitaker cleared his throat. “We understand your motivation, but how can our ship’s security team provide assistance?” he asked, getting to the point of this meeting.
Jason spoke up. “Emily advised me that Genetics Ultra experienced a recent break-in and their data banks were accessed, sir. Before the ship was due to depart, I investigated in Houston and believe that parties unknown are planning to disrupt this cruise, possibly endanger the passengers. Natalia and I will examine potential suspects to thwart their plans.”
Kate nodded. “It’s possible that our contest data was corrupted and might allow infiltrators to board the ship. There are competitors in our field and disgruntled members of my own family who might want to scuttle my project. The safety of our guests is paramount.”
Whitaker nodded. “My staff will coordinate support wherever possible. I must return to the Bridge but keep me informed.”
Jaquie stepped forward and thrust a stack of documents into Jason’s hand. “The captain asked me to print information about the crew before this meeting. I divided the lists between those who recently boarded and those who have worked on the ship for months.” She followed the captain out of the suite without making eye contact with Kate Foster.
Emily checked her watch and announced, “We’ve scheduled a meeting of cruise winners in the theater in an hour. We’ll describe planned activities during the cruise, and introduce the Twins Project members. Let’s speak again after dinner.”
Outside the suite Natalia asked Jason, “Did you notice how cold Jacquie acted toward Kate Foster?”