Madison Johns - Agnes Barton 07 - High Seas Honeymoon

by Madison Johns

Eleanor and I went toward the dining room and Eleanor shuddered. “This is so frustrating. I just want to kick Ricky and Leo off this ship in the middle of the ocean.”

  “Now there, Eleanor. I know it makes you angry. It makes me angry, too, but we can’t just take the law into our hands. We have to prove that Ricky is the one responsible for Kacey’s disappearance.”

  “A girl can still have her fantasies.”

  We found Andrew and Mr. Wilson parked at the captain’s table with Dorothy and Frank Alton. “We can sit here two nights in a row?” I asked the captain.

  “You sure can when you’re friends with Dorothy. I’m glad to know someone at this table is capable of giving me CPR if my heart stops.”

  “You’re right about that. I’m so proud of you, Dorothy. I’m sure Frank is, too.”

  “She’s stealing my sunshine. Here I was all happy about winning at blackjack and now nobody even cares.”

  “That’s what you get,” Dorothy said. “I told you to stay out of that casino.”

  “And that’s exactly why I go there, to piss you off.” Frank snickered.

  We were joined at the table by the girls of the wedding party, the bride, Liz, Kacey, Allie, and Raven. Each of the girls was dressed in a matching dress in different colors of the rainbow. Kacey’s face was pink and from the looks of the girls, they were all a little tipsy already.

  “How are you enjoying the cruise, girls?” I asked.

  “Great,” Liz gushed. “I’m so looking forward to seeing Brady.” She pouted. “I’ve never been separated from him this long before. I hope he hasn’t gotten into any trouble in Cozumel. You know men get a little carried away at a bachelor party.”

  “He went there just for a bachelor party?”

  “Oh, no. His groomsmen insisted that he take one last guy trip with them.”

  “I’m sure it’s fine,” Kacey said. “Brady loves you and you’re going to be married in just a few days.”

  Allie shook her head sadly. “Are you sure you’re ready to get married, Liz? You’re only twenty-three.”

  “Of course, Allie,” Liz said. “Brady is going to be a surgeon one day.”

  Eleanor scoffed at that. “I’m sure that can’t be the only reason. You must love him, right?”

  “I do, I mean we’ve known each other since high school. It’s only natural for us to take the next step.”

  “That’s no way to talk, young lady,” Eleanor said. “You get married because you’re in love, not for any other reason. I made that mistake with my first husband and it sadly ended with him straying. Not an experience I’d wish on anyone else, I can tell you that.”

  “So, you were high school sweethearts?” I asked Liz.

  “Yes, until he went away to school.”

  “So, how did you wind up engaged if he went away to school?”

  “I marched up to that school and told Brady that I wasn’t letting him go.”

  “Like a stalker, you mean,” Eleanor said. “Got ya.”

  “She’s no stalker,” Liz’s mother Pat said, as she joined her daughter. “If you want a man, you need to grab the bull by the horns and show him how much you care. That’s what I did with Liz’s father, Niles. He had a mind to chase after a girl on the next block. We were also high school sweethearts,” Pat explained. “It only took me opening up the car door and almost catching them at the act before Niles opened his eyes. Of course I didn’t speak to him for a few days after that, but in those two days, he sent flowers and candy, even bought me a puppy. In the end I finally did speak to him again and when I did, he went down on one knee and proposed.”

  “How old were you at the time?” Eleanor asked.

  “Seventeen. My parents weren’t too happy at first, but they knew his father owned a hardware store and that he would be partial owner after graduation. Busch’s Tools.” She fingered Liz’s hair. “It was the longest year of my life. I wasn’t about to marry a man unless he had something going for him.”

  Eleanor’s eyes narrowed. “So, love didn’t come into the equation, just money?”

  “Don’t get me wrong. I loved Niles back then as much as any girl would love her high school sweetheart, but I wasn’t about to be a struggling newlywed. I was very young back then.”

  Eleanor excused herself and trounced away toward the bathroom in a huff. These Busch women seemed to be of a like mind and I just couldn’t believe that they were that crude about marriage. Why, when I married my Tom, I was deeply in love and we could barely wait until we said our’ I do’s’ before we were all over each other. I laughed at the memory.

  Andrew nudged me. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, just happy that I married you for love and no other reason. I have my own social security.”

  Everyone at the table laughed, except for Liz and her mother, but I didn’t give a hoot what they thought. I know it’s not good to judge, but both of them certainly gave me cause to. I excused myself now, since all they were focused on was how much they had sunk into their wedding. Hardly a topic for dinner conversation.

  When I strolled into the bathroom, Eleanor was washing her hands.

  “Can you believe those women back there? I didn’t mean I didn’t love my ex-husband, but I sure did see the signs that he was a no-good cheater well before the wedding. I caught him in a compromising situation with Barbara Jean and she was my matron of honor!”

  “I’m sorry you had to go through that, Eleanor, but at least you did much better with Mr. Wilson.”

  Eleanor smiled. “I certainly did, we are both very lucky to have men like ours. I just hated how love seemed out of the equation with Liz and her mother. The apple certainly doesn’t fall far from the tree. It would teach her if Brady never boarded the ship.”

  “Now, Eleanor, that’s no way to talk. It’s not really our business. Don’t make any waves.”

  “Fine, but I so want to tell Liz’s fiancé what she’s all about.”

  “He might already know. I also hope she knows medical students struggle enough in school and it will be many years before he’ll be making any big amount of money.”

  “Good to know. I feel much better knowing that. We better head back. I’m starved.”

  By the time we came back, Caesar salads were at our places and half-full glasses of wine. I tried not to take a sip, since I hadn’t eaten all that much today, but I couldn’t help it. I then began eating my salad, but frowned.

  “What’s that matter with your salad?” Captain Hamilton asked.

  “Nothing besides that it needs more dressing.”

  “It’s thicker than most dressing, but we’ll get you more.”

  Hamilton waved a waiter over and told him to bring more dressing. The waiter left, returning with it in record speed. I took the small bowl and thanked him.

  “I must say that I’m impressed with the staff on this ship.”

  “Thanks, Agnes. We only hire the best. I kind of stole quite a few from the Princess lines. Let’s just say I watch my back when I go ashore in Mexico, not that I do that often. Only if a passenger hasn’t returned.”

  “Does that happen often?” Eleanor asked.

  “Not at all. Many of the passengers don’t even go ashore.”

  “Can’t blame them,” Eleanor said. “Just think, no big crowds and you have more time in the pool or Jacuzzi.”

  “That’s how some passengers do feel.”

  “I’m going ashore for sure,” Allie said. “I’d like to go shopping.”

  “You won’t have time,” Liz said. “Mom wants us to do our rehearsal tomorrow.”

  “But you have to wait until Brady shows up, so why not?”

  “Allie’s right,” Raven said. “We deserve time to do a little shopping.”

  “You’re here for my wedding, not for your shopping trip,” Liz said.

  “I paid for my own ticket and I’m going shopping and that’s it. I’m not about to let some bossy white girl order me around.”

  I hadn’t paid all the
much attention the other day, but I realized one of the bridesmaids was missing. “Where is Penny? I haven’t seen her in a while,” I said.

  “She’s been seasick,” Kacey said. “She’s planning to get acupuncture to cure it tonight.”

  “Does that actually work?” Eleanor asked.

  “It really works,” Captain Hamilton said. “Don’t be shocked. I told you we only employ the most experienced of staff. We have a girl from China who was trained to do acupuncture by her grandmother when she was only a child. I’ve had her work on me for muscle cramps before. I’ve never had one since.”

  “That’s amazing,” Eleanor said. “But there is no way I could ever have it done. I’m afraid of needles.”

  “They’re so small you can’t even feel them,” Hamilton insisted.

  “I’d like to give it a try,” Mr. Wilson said. “It might help that pain in my legs.”

  “This I have to see,” Andrew said.

  “Not tonight, though. The Lennon Sisters are performing and I don’t want to miss them,” Eleanor said.

  “What a great act,” Wilson said. “Reminds me of the old days. You know that Lawrence Welk tried to keep those girls looking so innocent and young. I even heard that when they had gotten married and were with child, he had them stand behind a fence to hide their condition.”

  “Doesn’t surprise me. I’m so happy, yet shocked, at how things are these days,” I said. “Women sure have more freedom to express themselves. I’m just not sure they need to do it with so few clothes,” I said. “No offense, girls, not that I’ve ever seen you flaunting your bodies like some of the passengers.”

  “It comes with the territory,” Hamilton said.

  “It must be hard not to stare,” Wilson said. “It’s even hard for me and I have no interest in anyone other than my peaches, Eleanor.”

  “I’ve just learned not to focus on those thong-wearing beauties. My job depends on it.”

  “Oh, yes, your policy not to become personally involved with the passengers,” I said.

  “It’s hard, sometimes. I find your daughter positively charming.” He laughed. “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone quite like her before, and she wasn’t stalking me like Gloria said, either.”

  “That’s Martha in a nutshell. You should come up to Tawas if you ever get any free time. She wouldn’t be a passenger, then.”

  “Don’t tempt me. I just might come up there yet. I have a vacation coming up in a few months.”

  “That doesn’t sound like an appropriate conversation,” Gloria said, with drink in hand. “I see you didn’t save a seat for me, tonight.”

  “I didn’t know you wanted a seat here. Last night you left when you were invited so I took your name off the list.”

  Gloria stiffened. Her eyes would have shot sparks from them if they could have. “I’m sorry about that. I really shouldn’t have spoken to you like that. Can I please sit at your table tomorrow night?” She frowned.

  “Tomorrow won’t work because I am expecting the groom and his groomsmen, who will be boarding in Cozumel for the upcoming wedding, but I’ll let you know when I have room. You know you’re my favorite guest.”

  She slightly smiled now. “Thanks, Captain.”

  “Wow, this certainly is a drama table,” I said.

  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  I threw my napkin down on the table after I finished eating. The Maryland chicken was to die for and simply melted in my mouth. I’m not a fan of asparagus, but it tasted great with the lobster sauce. Dessert was strawberry-drizzled cheesecake.

  I pushed myself up from the table, wanting to walk off my dinner before the show. Andrew threw an arm around my shoulder and Eleanor made way for the deck with Mr. Wilson, who was in his scooter. There was a nice breeze blowing my hair, ruining the most carefully applied hairspray, but I didn’t care. It was just great to be this close to Andrew.

  “Oh, no,” Mr. Wilson said. “I better roll on down the deck. I feel a huge fart coming.”

  I snickered as I watched him roll down the deck. I almost felt bad for whoever was near when he let the air go. None of us bothered to stop him, either. We’ve been in firing range before and didn’t care to this time.

  The sun had already set, but there were lights on deck, plenty of them about every twenty feet. The pools were also lit up with purple and blue lights. While there might not be that many people in the pool currently, there were certainly passengers in the hot tubs, which is what I’d expect.

  Wilson returned and we took a leisurely stroll along the deck. We passed Ricky and Leo, who were chatting it up with a group of young ladies and it was all I could do not to go over them and tell them just what scum I thought they were. I was still shocked about how Ricky was treating Leah and how she allowed it. Even more than that, I wondered why she had ever gone along with it. Why did she have an objection to sleeping with Leo when she obviously didn’t care if it was someone else? I mean, she was basically prostituting herself for Ricky, but why? I guess I just would never understand why women would do that, or allow any man to do that to them.

  I was about to go over there, too, but Andrew stopped me. “We better get back inside. Eleanor here says if you make her miss the Lennon sisters again, she’ll blow a gasket.” He paused. “You’re not on a case now, are you?”

  “Nope. Sure I have questions, but as of now, I guess everything I thought I knew has gone to the birds.”

  “And what about Ricky and Leo, you’re not tailing them?” Andrew asked.

  “No, but Ricky has been having Leah, you know—entertaining his clients, and I was told he was trying to recruit some of the staff here for a job. So far it looks like he has been turned down, but it does bother me because I don’t think any of the women know what they’re getting into until it’s too late. Not sure why they just don’t leave the first chance they get. Leah promised she’ll leave in Florida, but why then and not before? I’m concerned about her. She had a reaction to her medication and the sun. Ricky had to know that she couldn’t be in the sun with that medication. I believe he was trying to kill her.”

  “That hardly sounds like a murder attempt and I highly doubt anyone else would think so, either.”

  “Fine, I guess you’re right, but I’m still worried about Leah.”

  “Looks like they went inside now, perhaps we should, too.”

  “Yes, like for the show. You know, the Lennon Sisters,” Eleanor said. “You can stalk Ricky inside.”

  I ignored that barb and followed Eleanor back inside. When we were finally in the atrium, we were waved over by Dorothy and Frank. Him winning money must have agreed with the both of them.

  We sat down and the cocktail waitress came over and took our drink order. “You didn’t stay long at the captain’s table?”

  “We decided to have some alone time,” Frank said.

  “Frank won quite a sum of money today, you know.”

  “I remember you saying that, but you might want to keep that to yourself,” Gloria said, as she was walking past. She stopped and then added, “The last person that told anyone how much he won was robbed.”

  “Really?” I asked. “Anything else of interest happen on this ship before?”

  “Sit, Gloria,” Eleanor said. “No reason to be a stranger.”

  Gloria sat down and said, “Thanks. When it comes to this ship, there have been quite a few crimes, but none as legendary as the Smith robbery. Now that was one for the record books.”

  “Smith robbery?” I asked.

  “They keep it quiet, but Han Smith was a millionaire and was carrying quite the sum of cash. He was one who liked his drinks, though, and while he was watching a show, somebody took it upon themselves to relieve him of his suitcase that was filled with cash.”

  Eleanor bit her fist. “No!”

  “How much did he have?” I asked.

  “The rumor circulating didn’t establish and amount, but one of the co
cktail waitress seemed to know.”

  “What cocktail waitress was that?” I asked, looking around.

  “Jess. She hasn’t worked in that position since that incident. The captain wasn’t too happy to learn that she had been involved with Han and reassigned her to work the pool area.”

  “I met Jess and she seems nice.”

  “Oh, she is, but she was drawn to Han. It might have had something to do with the way he was throwing money around. He was a good tipper and quite the gambler. He always won.”

  “Did they find out who did it?”

  “No, they never did, and it wasn’t because they weren’t trying. The passengers were all searched, even their bags, when we finally were at the home port, the FBI even took part. The ship was searched, but they came up empty. It was like the money disappeared into thin air.”

  “That sure is some story to digest,” I said.

  “Ask Jess if you don’t believe me, but don’t expect her to talk to you. She signed a confidentially agreement about the incident, like all the staff did. Whatever happened concerning that money was hushed up.”

  “That makes sense. It’s like a black mark against the entire ship and staff.”

  “I suppose, but I know Captain Hamilton very well and it was really a blow to him, he almost lost his job over the incident.”

  “What about Han, what happened to him?”

  “Went back home from what I know. Sweden, I think.”

  “I can’t believe that money was never found. That explains things.”

  “Explains what?”

  “Just how the lower level is always locked. What do you make of Officer Barber?”

  “Irresponsible. He’s too swayed by a pretty face and forgets what he’s supposed to be doing. I’m just glad that he’s not steering the ship.”

  Me, too, but I wasn’t going to tell her that the ship could always be steered from the engine room, if need be.

  “Thanks, Gloria. And here I was thinking nothing interesting happens on this ship.”

  “I know you’ve been watching that Ricky and Leo, anything you’d care to share?” Gloria asked.

  “Nothing to tell, really. I just think that Leah needs to stay away from them. They look like bad news,” I said.