Madison Johns - Agnes Barton 07 - High Seas Honeymoon

by Madison Johns

  “I have to agree with that.”

  “That’s why I’ve kept an eye on him, but this I will share, he’s been trying to hire women so he can prostitute them,” I said. “He’s over there chatting it up with those women, but I wish I could get the girls away from him.”

  “Leave it to me,” Gloria said. “Watch this.”

  Gloria moved across the room, starting a conversation with the three women who Ricky and Leo were talking to, and just like magic, they left Ricky and Leo’s side, preferring to go wherever Gloria led them. What was her secret? I was finally able to breath again normally. Whatever she said sure worked and for that, I was glad.

  Andrew began laughing and I gave him a dead stare. “What is going on with you, Andrew?”

  “Just that no matter where we go, intrigue follows you. Why is it that there’s always some story about a legendary heist or missing money that you’ll no doubt be tearing the ship apart looking for?”

  “Just lucky, I guess. It might just lead us to the person responsible for locking up Kacey in that room.”

  “So, you actually think that a robbery that happened on a completely separate trip is related to a missing girl on this cruise?” Andrew asked.

  I shrugged. “I’m not sure just yet, but I’m certainly planning on questioning Jess tomorrow.”

  Andrew didn’t comment on that, instead he focused on the stage where spotlights bounced from floor to ceiling as the Lennon Sisters hit the stage. The entire room was swaying to the singing of the sisters and Andrew moved in closer, throwing an arm around me and drawing me near. This was really what life was about, being in the company of my husband as he held me closer. I smiled at Eleanor, who had her head on Mr. Wilson’s shoulder. I guess we both had what we needed with our personal life, and for the moment, I let go of all of my thoughts about how I’d put all the pieces of the puzzle together in regards to the once-missing Kacey. Tonight was about so much more; it was about love.

  Couples made way to the dance floor, including Andrew and me. Even Mr. Wilson and Eleanor were out there. Our waitress had fetched a walker so Wilson could enjoy a dance with this beloved wife. We swayed and sashayed, our dancing feet moving along the floor to the singing of the Lennon Sisters. I could think of no better way to end the night.

  * * *

  I snuggled in closer to Andrew, not wanting to get up when the alarm rang the next morning at seven. Andrew shut it off and asked, “Do you want the shower first, or—”

  “It’s the perfect day to stay in bed longer.” I sighed.

  “Really? I’d have thought you’d be raring to go and question that girl about the robbery on that previous cruise.”

  “Do we have time to do that? Isn’t the ship docking in Cozumel today?”

  “Yes, but I’m sure you’ll want to do the questioning before we go to shore. I’d like to spend a nice day with you without you thinking about this case.”

  “That’s a great idea,” I said, as I squirmed away and eased myself on my aching feet. “But I think the shower is roomy enough for two,” I hinted.

  “Really? Well, I love the sound of that.”

  I beat Andrew into the bathroom, which gave me time to warm the water before it was ready. I don’t know why I was reluctant to share a shower with him. It certainly was nice to have someone scrub my back. It’s not like I really can do that all that well myself.

  When we were out of the shower, I dressed in yellow Capris and a buttoned-up shirt with yellow flowers that matched the color of my pants. I wore sensible tennis shoes today, too, since we’d be heading to shore later.

  Eleanor and Mr. Wilson were waiting for us in the hall and we went down together to have breakfast. The Breakfast Nook was too busy this morning, so we opted to sit at one of the stands with wicker chairs at the counter. A young man was working the grill behind the counter and we were able to watch him cook our food. Oddly enough, he also took the orders with accurate speed. We ordered Arroz Con Huevos since we were near Cozumel now.

  I was beginning to get excited when I had spotted the shoreline when we had come off the elevator. I’ve never been to another country before besides Canada, but that was years ago. In those days you didn’t even need a passport like you do now.

  Our plates were set down, coffee cups filled, and the cook took another order and was back at the grill with lightning speed.

  “I’ve never seen anyone move that quick before,” I said.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever had rice and eggs together for breakfast before,” Mr. Wilson said. “I won’t skimp on the hot sauce, that’s for sure,” he added, dumping on a healthy portion.

  “How on earth do you eat that stuff, Wilson? I’d be suffering all day if I used hot sauce.”

  “Have you ever tried it?” Wilson asked. “It’s not habanera, you know.”

  “I must admit that I’ve never used hot sauce before.”

  “I tried to get her to try it with chicken tenders before, with ranch, of course, but she wouldn’t even think about it,” Andrew said.

  “Fine, I’ll add some to my breakfast if it will get you all off my back,” I said.

  “I never said a word, Agnes,” Eleanor insisted. She opened her mouth, but I dumped on the hot sauce before she was able to say anything.

  “I was going to say not to use too much, but it looks like it’s too late now,” she said.

  I glanced down at my plate, which had much more hot sauce on it than I had expected to use. I shrugged. There was no way that I’d admit that it was too much. I’d show them that if they could handle hot sauce, I could, too. I picked up my fork and dug in, placing a more-than healthy portion in my mouth. I proceeded to chew, thinking that this wasn’t bad at all. It took about a minute before my mouth really began to heat up. Oh, my, this was much worse than I ever could have imagined as the entire roof of my mouth began to burn, my eyes tearing up. Why, this even cleared up my nostrils! I frantically waved a hand before my open mouth now, after I had swallowed my food, of course. I’m not an animal, after all. As luck would have it, I had nothing to drink except for coffee, that surely wouldn’t help me out, now.

  I finally was able to squeak out, “Water, please.”

  Eleanor obviously noticed my frantic hand movement as she shouted, “Quick, get my friend some water, she looks about ready to blow.”

  Blow what I wasn’t all the sure, but certainly I’d need a skin replacement in my mouth. That’s about when the coughing started. The man left the grill and yanked out a bottle from the refrigerator and handed it to me.

  “I wanted water, not milk!”

  “It works much better, trust me.”

  “Does this happen often?” I asked, since he seemed to know what he was talking about, as I proceeded to drink the milk.

  “About twenty times a day at least,” he said. “Just because this cruise goes to Mexico doesn’t mean you have to eat all the spicy things. I had milder sauce in this other bottle, but it looks like you used the one that is much hotter. I don’t think that it’s all that bad, but if you’re not used to it, it can really burn.”

  “Jose is good like that,” a woman said.

  When I turned, I was staring into the face of the very woman I wanted to question about the robbery, Jess.

  “Gloria told me you’d want to speak with me today, so I thought I’d find you first. She needs more milk, Jose.”

  I tried not to cough since everyone was now staring at me like I was dying, even though that’s exactly how I felt. Instead, in between coughing, I managed to get enough milk in me that my mouth and throat no longer felt quite as bad.

  “Looks like I need to put hot sauce on my list of things to never use again.”

  “I’m sorry I encouraged you to try the hot sauce,” Mr. Wilson said.

  “Not your fault.” I pushed my plate away now. “I don’t feel like eating anymore.”

  “Can’t say I blame you there,” Jess said. “Look, I need to get to work soon so if you’re want
ing to ask me any questions, it needs to be now.”

  “Thanks for finding us, but perhaps we should talk more privately.”

  “Whatever you’d like, that’s probably for the best actually, since the captain doesn’t like any of the staff talking about that incident.”

  I slid out of the chair and Eleanor followed suit. There was a bench not too far away, but it was out of the hearing range of anyone since most everyone on the deck had moved to the back of the ship to watch the coastline get closer and closer.

  “What can you tell me about this Han Smith?” I asked.

  “He was a great guy, but there were some that said he set the whole thing up … you know—the robbery?”

  “So, how did it all go down?”

  “Han was well known on this cruise ship. He routinely takes this cruise.”

  “I see. I’d like to hear the details of the robbery.”

  “Fine, but I’m sure that Gloria might have hinted that I spent some time with Han. I broke a few of the ships rules there, but honestly, I fell for the guy. I didn’t expect to be in the middle of an investigation when it happened. The FBI even thought that I was in cahoots with Han, but nothing could be further from the truth.”

  “What kind of business was this Han in?”

  “He’s a millionaire and carries cash from the states to Mexico for his father. He’s made this trip many times.”

  “Bringing cash from the United States seems suspect to me. There has to be some illegal activity going on there.”

  “I really couldn’t say, since Han never told me that it was.”

  “Men are good at concealing things sometimes,” I said.

  “Well, I spent most of that day with Han since I had the day off and the captain was tied up with an inspection and many passengers weren’t even on the ship, they were in Cozumel.”

  “I see. So when did Han realize the money was gone?”

  “The next morning. We were together that whole night and Han couldn’t have been involved.”

  “What if the money was gone longer? He might have been using you for an alibi,” I suggested.

  “I just can’t believe it happened. Captain Hamilton had this ship torn apart looking for that money, but it wasn’t located and searches were conducted.”

  “Did anyone ever think that it might have been hidden on the ship somewhere?”

  “I can’t say, but all I know is that the FBI searched all of the passengers, even the ones who were at shore. I can’t imagine where that money had gone.”

  “So, that money was never located. What happened to you for your involvement with a passenger?”

  “I was on suspension, but Captain Hamilton went to bat for me. I had to give up my job as cocktail waitress and work on deck activities, though, but I’m just happy to be working on the ship. I plan on going to college next fall and need all the money I can get.”

  “Have you seen Han since the robbery?”

  “Not a chance. There’s no way that I’m ruining my life by seeing Han after I promised the captain that I’d stay away. I also knew the FBI was watching me after the robbery and that did bother me, even though I know I kind of did that to myself by seeing Han.”

  “Weren’t you discrete?” Eleanor wanted to know.

  “We tried to be, but I was stupid in love, I guess. What really bothered me was how so many people were so ready to throw me under the bus. I’m not sure if whoever did this works closely with Han, since the FBI interviewed them all. I just assumed that somehow that money did get off this ship. I’m just at a loss as to how that would happen.”

  “That sure is some story,” I said. “I can’t imagine that the money is still here. There might have been some accomplices that helped that money to disappear. It wouldn’t surprise me if it was someone employed on this ship.”

  “That’s been the ongoing theme, but the FBI checked everyone out. I’m sure if they had anything on anyone, they’d have moved in for an arrest.”

  “Thanks, Jess. If you can think of anything else, let us know.”

  Jess gave me a strange look. “Sure, but I’m not sure why you’d be concerned about that since it happened last year.”

  “Last year?” I asked. “From the way Gloria sounded, I thought it wasn’t all that long ago.”

  “Gloria is a sweet old lady, but sometimes she gets a little mixed up with the details. She’s also a notorious gossip.” Jess winked.

  “The captain said as much.”

  “She acts like she’s his mother sometimes, with the way she tries to keep women away from him. I almost think she might have a crush on him.”

  “That explains a lot,” Eleanor said. “I think Gloria is very insightful, which is never a bad thing. Us older folks are like that. I’m sure plenty of people back home appreciate an alert neighbor. They’re the first ones who will check up on a neighbor if they leave their garage door open when they don’t ordinarily do that, or if a toddler wanders outside without their parents realizing it.”

  Jess laughed. “All of those things would be good. I wasn’t used to people watching me the way they do here, but the staff here looks after each other. We’re a family in many ways,” Jess said. “But honestly, I’m originally from New York and we don’t get all that involved with our neighbors there.”

  I nodded. “Being from Michigan is a little different than that for sure. We can and will talk to anyone and we don’t see anything wrong with that. Nobody ever looks at me like I’m crazy when I talk to myself, either.”

  “She means talking out loud. Agnes thinks better that way. She sometimes likes to spout off her irritation at people, under her breath most times, like when she deals with our Sheriff Peterson.”

  “Oh, you don’t get along with the local sheriff?”

  “I get along with him much better than I once did. I think we just like to get under each other’s skin. To be expected when you investigate crimes. The law likes to do their own investigations and don’t much appreciate our interference at times.”

  “I bet you two are a ton of fun back home,” Jess said. “I’ve enjoyed our talk, but I really need to get back to work now. You know my grandmother isn’t all that much different than you. She’s not the type to keep the bad words in, if you know what I mean.”

  “I bet we’d love her,” Eleanor said. “Thanks again, dear, for answering our questions.”

  I gave Eleanor one of my looks. “Yes, we just love a good story, especially when it’s a true-crime one.”

  I watched as Jess left and sighed. “Well, I guess that story certainly doesn’t apply all that much to our investigation, but it sure was interesting.”

  Andrew locked eyes with me as he drowned the last of his coffee. “Good, so that means we can enjoy ourselves in Cozumel today.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  After breakfast, we went to where you had to wait for your turn to go ashore in Cozumel. We were each handed a card with a number for the tour we selected.

  “I wished we had picked the Mayan ruins,” Eleanor said.

  “Me, too, but that’s a two-hour bus trip and I don’t think it would accommodate Mr. Wilson that well.”

  Leotyne waved from the shadows of an awning.

  Martha waltzed over. “What tour are you on?”

  “We’re doing shopping and lunch.”

  “That sounds boring,” Martha said. “Denise set us up to go scuba diving. Luckily, I took a scuba class last summer, but you can’t see all that much in Lake Huron. I’m looking forward to taking some underwater photographs, too.”

  “You have an underwater camera?” I asked, surprised.

  “Well, no, but Captain Hamilton was kind enough to loan me one. He’s really a nice man when you get to know him,” Martha said.

  “I never thought he wasn’t,” I said. “I like Captain Hamilton.”

  Denise Munson waved. She was a real genuine person. It was just too bad that she had to deal with that bad apple Ruby as the leader of the group. Ne
ither Ruby nor Pearl were with Denise today, so I figured they really had been staying in the cabin after Denise became angry the other night. Violet and Lenore were here, though, making it four of them going ashore, since Leotyne clearly wasn’t accompanying them.

  I looked around now. Dorothy and Frank Alton weren’t here and must not be going ashore either, but the way they acted last night after the Lennon Sisters set had ended made me think that they might just stay in their cabin, acting like the honeymooners we were supposed to be. I did feel a little badly that I hadn’t spent all that much time with Andrew, but he didn’t seem to mind all that much. I loved the way that man rolled with the twists and turns of my investigative activities.

  Kacey nodded her head at me when I spotted her with the rest of the wedding party, including the parents of the bride and groom. I honestly couldn’t wait until I met the groom. It’s always strange when you know someone who’s getting married and you haven’t met the other party. I put a mental image in my mind of a tall man with dark hair who would compliment Liz well since she was such a cute girl. I could only imagine it would make any new bride a little nervous if she were separated from her future husband, especially one who was partying with his friends in Mexico before the wedding. I guess I’ve watched too many Hangover movies to see that as a good thing.

  Our numbers weren’t called first, or even second, although Martha and the Sunrise Side Lifelong Learning gang were one of the first ones who piled into the small ferryboat.

  While we waited for our turn, Lemonade was passed around and we enjoyed it. Mr. Wilson was sitting on a bench since he’d be using a walker for this excursion today.

  Kacey came over and said hello in person, now. “How are things going, Agnes and Eleanor?”

  “Fine, and how about you? I hope you haven’t had any problems since you returned to your friends.”

  “Not at all, except for that creepy man who keeps following us.”

  “Oh, and which one is that?”

  “The same one that you keep following.”

  “The one with Leah, or—”

  “His friend, but that one I don’t care for that much, either. I think it’s horrible the way Leah has been treated by that boyfriend of hers.”