Quinn grabbed a tray of eggs, hash browns, and bacon before purposely picking a spot at a corner table where he was segregated from the rest of the group. He had his iPad on and was going through Rowan Gray’s file for what must’ve been the twentieth time since meeting her the previous evening when Sally and Demarcus joined him. They didn’t bother asking whether he cared about them interrupting his solitude, which was the normal way they worked, and Quinn could do nothing but sigh and shake his head when he shut off the iPad and glanced in their direction.
“Good morning,” Demarcus muttered, rubbing his forehead as he stared at his omelet. “You look all bright-eyed and … um … stuff.”
Despite himself, Quinn couldn’t help but be amused. “And stuff?”
“His mind isn’t working quite yet,” Sally offered. “Ignore him.”
“Your mind doesn’t look as if it’s working either,” Quinn pointed out, rolling his neck as he stared at Sally. “How hungover are you?”
“I will be fine,” she replied. “It’s the first day of a cruise. I don’t need to be cognizant of my surroundings until after noon.”
“I love that you’re hungover and yet still use the word ‘cognizant,’” Quinn said, smirking. “Today’s crop of passengers starts arriving at ten. That’s only an hour away.”
“Yes, but then they go straight to their rooms and I don’t have to feed them until lunch,” Sally said. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got it under control.”
Quinn didn’t doubt that. One of the reasons he liked Sally – er, well, tolerated her presence was more apt – was that she was professional and never gave him any problems. In truth, he genuinely liked the snarky woman. He wasn’t looking for friends, though, so he would never admit that.
“What about you?” Quinn asked, turning to Demarcus. “You’re not usually up before noon.”
“Yes, but we have a group of liquor distributors onboard this weekend,” Demarcus said. “They’re starting their day with a private meet and greet and I have to babysit them while they sample the expensive liquor in case they decide to dance around the Nautilus room with lampshades on their heads.”
“There are lampshades in there?” Quinn asked, racking his brain. He couldn’t picture them.
“They’re shaped liked octopuses … er, octopi? Which one is right?”
Quinn shrugged. He was hardly a grammar guru. “I’m fine with either,” he said. “As for last night, when did you guys get back to the ship?”
Sally shrugged. “Time lost all meaning at some point,” she said. “I think it was around two or so. I can’t be sure.”
“I just remember the singing,” Demarcus said. “I’m convinced that’s why my head is pounding as if something is trying to get out. I blame you, Sally.”
“Yes, because it has nothing to do with the ten drinks you finished off,” she said dryly, rolling her eyes. “Whatever. Why do you want to know what time we got back to the ship, Quinn?”
“Because you left the new girl to walk back on her own and I don’t think that was exactly safe,” Quinn replied. “She doesn’t know the area and was just wandering around by herself in front of the ship.”
Sally narrowed her eyes. “Did she get lost?”
“No, she was fine.”
“Then what’s the big deal?” Demarcus challenged, confused. “The ship was really close and she was tired and needed to unpack. We tried to get her to stay.”
“You could’ve been a gentleman and walked her back even if you weren’t done drinking,” Quinn shot back. “That was an option, too.”
Sally made an exaggerated face. “You just said Rowan got back and was fine,” she said. “Why are you being such a … pill?”
Quinn corrected his course almost immediately. He had no idea why he was so agitated, but the last thing he wanted to do was draw attention to himself. “I’m sorry,” he said, holding up his hands. “She was jumpy when I saw her last night and it made me feel sorry for her.” That wasn’t exactly a lie. It wasn’t completely true either.
“We shouldn’t have left her,” Sally conceded. “That was not one of our finer moments. It won’t happen again.”
Quinn forced a smile for their benefit before shoveling the last of his toast in his mouth and pushing himself to a standing position. “I have to do a final check of the ship. I’ll catch you guys later.”
Sally silently watched him go, waiting until she was sure he was out of earshot before speaking again. “That was weird, right?”
Demarcus shrugged. His hangover remained sharp and he wasn’t keen on worrying about others when he was in such dire straits. “Maybe he likes her.”
“I’m not sure he’s capable of liking anyone,” Sally countered. “Still … he’s never shown interest in anyone else since he arrived. I was starting to think he was gay and didn’t want to admit it or something – which is ridiculous on a cruise ship, mind you. Maybe that is his way of liking someone or something. Maybe he’s just bad at it.”
“Oh, how cute,” Demarcus teased. “The two newbies are going to make a love match and crush everyone else when it happens. It will be like a soap opera … and you know I love a good bout of love in the afternoon.”
Sally grinned, delighted. “It would be kind of funny if they got together.”
“I wouldn’t hold your breath,” Demarcus said. “Quinn says he’s not here for friends or love and I’m pretty sure he means it.”
“You can’t help who you’re attracted to, though,” Sally reminded him. “He might not be able to fight it.”
Demarcus shrugged as he focused on his breakfast. “It’s definitely worth watching … when I don’t have a hangover, that is.”
“Yeah, it’s Rowan’s first day,” Sally said, returning to the real world issues in front of them. “We should probably let her get through that before we task her with handling the ship curmudgeon.”
“That sounds like a plan to me,” Demarcus said. “Er, wait. What’s a curmudgeon?”
“I see you haven’t been using that ‘word of the day’ toilet paper I got you for Christmas,” Sally lamented.
“You’re giving me a headache,” Demarcus complained.
“That’s the vodka … and tequila … and rum.”
“Ah, yes,” Demarcus intoned, bobbing his head. “I shall now drink coffee to fix the problem. I believe there’s no problem that can’t be fixed with caffeine”
“You and me both, honey. We’ll leave the matchmaking until tomorrow.”
“WELCOME aboard.”
Rowan initially felt foolish greeting all of the incoming guests in the same lame way, but she saw so many faces throughout the two-hour check-in window that being fresh and innovative became too much work.
The arrival process was like a well-oiled machine, and even though Rowan preferred candid shots to posed portraits, she reminded herself that only the initial photographs would be so stilted. The guests were meant to pose and mug for the camera in this instance so they would have something to frame to remember their cruise. Later in the day – and for the next five days, in fact – she would be allowed to take action shots. It wouldn’t be so bad once she got used to the grind, Rowan reminded herself. Unfortunately, she wasn’t sure if she actually believed that.
“Oh, how cute!”
Rowan internally cringed when she heard a bubbly girl practically screech in her ear. She kept her smile in place as she turned to face the enthusiastic foursome heading in her direction. They looked young – not underage young but not old enough to know better young either – and they seemed thrilled to pose for a photograph.
The girls consisted of two blondes and two brunettes, and they were positively giddy when they stopped in front of the ornate photograph backdrop.
“Is this free?” one of the brunettes asked.
“Yes, it’s free, Jessica,” one of the blondes intoned, rolling her eyes. “That’s what the woman behind the counter just told us.”
“I was just checking,
Hayley,” Jessica sniffed, making a face. “You don’t have to be so mean.”
Rowan pursed her lips as she regarded the group, instinctively knowing exactly what she was dealing with. “Are you guys all sisters?”
“Just best friends,” Hayley clarified. “We all went to high school together – and Jessica and I grew up right next door to each other, in fact – but we were raised almost like sisters so I understand why you would think that.”
Rowan bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing. “You guys are going on a cruise together, though? Let me guess, is this a final trip before college?”
The other blonde nodded. “How did you know?”
Rowan shrugged. “Just a lucky guess.” She glanced at the flashing message on her iPad, which rested on the small table next to her. Each time someone checked in, the information hit her iPad within seconds. “So, if we have Hayley and Jessica over here, that means you guys are Kylie and Kara, right?”
“How did you know that?” Jessica asked, her eyes widening.
“Magic,” Rowan teased, grinning. “Why don’t you guys get together in front of that big display and I’ll take your photo. How does that sound?”
“And it’s free, right?” Jessica pressed.
“The photo here is free,” Rowan acknowledged. “If you want additional ones throughout your stay, though, you’ll be given the option of purchasing them.”
“That’s how they get you,” Jessica whispered.
Rowan’s lips twitched as she forced herself to swallow a giggle. “Situate yourselves however you want,” she instructed. “I will take four photos to make sure we get a good one.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Hayley said. She was clearly braver than the shyer brunette.
Rowan lifted her camera and pointed it at the girls when they were ready, firing off four photos in quick succession. She moved to her iPad to check out the proofs and frowned when she realized the girls were crowding behind her, eager to see the photographer’s work before she had a chance to clean it up. That was the last thing Rowan needed.
“Oh, I look fat,” the second brunette complained.
“You do not, Kylie,” Jessica chided. “You’re very pretty. You know that.”
“You’re definitely pretty,” Rowan said, keeping her voice light and even.
“We need another opinion because I’m not sure I believe you,” Kylie said, wrinkling her ski-slope nose. “Let’s ask him.”
Rowan raised an eyebrow when she realized Kylie was talking about a hovering Quinn. He’d walked through the lobby area at least four times while Rowan worked, but she steadfastly ignored him each and every time. They inadvertently made eye contact at one point but both jerked away their gazes as soon as possible when they realized they were staring at one another. Other than that, they pretended they didn’t notice the other’s existence and it seemed to be working as a denial tactic.
“I don’t think … .” Rowan didn’t get a chance to finish her statement because Kylie was already moving toward Quinn.
“We need a man’s opinion,” she said, grabbing Quinn’s arm and tugging him in the direction of the photograph display. He didn’t bother arguing, instead pressing his lips together and staring at the iPad screen as the girls gestured.
“Which one do you think is the best one?” Kylie asked.
“I think they’re all great,” Quinn said diplomatically.
Kylie rolled her eyes. “What do you really think?”
Quinn glanced at Rowan for help. “Um … .”
Despite her inability to get a read on Quinn or his intentions, Rowan took pity on him. “I like this one,” she said, pointing toward the third photo. “You all look lovely in this one.”
“What do you think?” Kylie asked, keeping her focus on Quinn.
“I agree with Miss Gray,” Quinn replied. “The third one is the keeper.”
“Okay, the third one it is,” Kylie said, offering Quinn a saucy wink. He didn’t return it or engage in the flirting. In fact, if it was even possible, his shoulders stiffened.
“Great,” Quinn said, moving to walk away. He stilled when he realized Rowan was intently staring at the photo in question, her eyes unblinking and focused. “What’s wrong?”
“What?” Rowan jerked her head away from the screen and immediately started shaking it. “Nothing is wrong. Why do you think something is wrong?”
“Because you look like you’ve seen a ghost or something,” Quinn replied, not missing a beat. “You’re extremely pale.”
“You are pale,” Hayley said. “You should get some sun or something. You work on a cruise ship, for crying out loud. If anyone should be tan, it should be you.”
“I’ll get right on that,” Rowan said, forcing a smile as she worked overtime to tamp down her panic. “I’ll make sure the photo is sent with your electronic package to the room. Do you guys need anything else?”
Thankfully for her, the girls weren’t really interested in Rowan or their photographs. Quinn’s arrival changed everything, and they seemingly forgot there was another person present.
“No, we’re good,” Kylie said. “Thank you so much for your time.” And just like that, Rowan was dismissed because Kylie could do nothing but fixate on Quinn. “So, what’s fun to do on this ship?”
Quinn swallowed hard at the determined look on her face. “Um … .”
“Why don’t you show us to our room and tell us on the way,” Kylie suggested, linking her arm with his. “I think that will be best for all of us.”
Quinn wanted to put up a fight, but he was resigned. “Sure,” he said, heaving out a sigh. “That sounds like a great idea.”
4
Four
This can’t be happening.
Not here.
Not now.
Rowan managed to hold it together for the few remaining passenger photos and then quietly excused herself with a tight smile so she could return to her room and catch her breath.
She had her own office to spread out in when it came time to edit photos. The equipment was state-of-the-art and brand new. She preferred solitude, though, especially after seeing … it.
It. She didn’t know how else to describe the image in the photograph. She’d been seeing it since she started snapping photos when she was a young girl and her father purchased her first camera. That hadn’t been digital. No, it had been an older model with film. Her father – a photographer himself – insisted she be able to develop film on her own because he deemed it important. It was a skill that she’d only utilized a handful of times. The advancement in technology made it almost obsolete. She still wouldn’t trade the knowledge for anything. Her fondest memories of her father revolved around that darkroom. That was before It showed up in a photo of him, though. That was before he disappeared on the eve of her eighteenth birthday and never returned.
The mark in the photograph was an omen. That’s what she’d determined on her own. She only came to that conclusion through trial and error, though. Every time it showed up, someone died. Even though no body had ever been found – or an automobile, for that matter – Rowan knew her father died ten years before. He wouldn’t purposely abandon her so there could be no other alternative. His body was still out there, perhaps in the lake that was so close to her childhood home even though the police claimed they searched it and he wasn’t there. He was gone. That’s all that mattered in the end. And that symbol – that omen – appeared in the last photograph she’d ever taken of him.
It was hard to describe, a squiggle with two loose points and several dots. She never found out what the symbol represented even though she’d tirelessly searched for it in books and internet forums. She knew what it meant for the people who found it in their photographs, though. It meant death.
Rowan saw the symbol frequently when she worked as a photojournalist. She expected it under those circumstances, though. She was often sent out on breaking news. She covered a bevy of terrible things, including fires, murd
ers, accidents, and kidnappings. The symbol’s appearance became commonplace for her. Most people couldn’t see the symbol in the photographs and no one ever recognized it for what it was. No one but her, that is. Rowan knew. She solved the riddle of the symbol when she was in middle school and it appeared in a photograph of her mother. She died shortly thereafter. She tried to talk to her father about it, but grief delayed the conversation and when she finally broached the subject with him he merely patted her head and told her she was imagining things. Rowan let him convince her of that at the time, but when the symbol showed up again – and death inevitably followed – she knew she was right.
Rowan was lost in thought when she returned to her room. She sat on the bed and looked through the afternoon’s photos. There were hundreds of them. She studied them closely, using her fingers to zero in on the images, but the omen only appeared in the one with the four girls. One of them – or all of them, for all she knew – would die … and soon. How could that be, though?
When she lost her job at the newspaper, Rowan had been secretly relieved. Seeing the death omens wore her out and since Detroit was such a violent city she felt haggard at times because she knew she couldn’t escape the nonstop death. When the layoff notice came, it was almost a blessing. Rowan could start over now. She could do it away from the camera – no matter how much she loved taking photos – and pretend none of it had ever happened.
Then, as if drawn to the obscure job board by magic, she found the listing for the cruise ship opening. She initially ignored it. She never fancied herself as a world traveler. The more she thought about it, though, the more she realized that the new job could be the answer to all of her problems. People died on cruise ships, of course. They died everywhere. The frequency would be intermittent and almost negligible, though. It would be rare.
So how could she be seeing death omens on the first day? It wasn’t fair.
Rowan frowned and rubbed her cheek as she studied the symbol in the photograph. She had no way of knowing which girl it was meant for. They’d all seemed healthy and happy at check-in. Sure, they’d been a little snarky, but Rowan chalked that up to their ages more than anything else. Now, though, she was convinced something bad was going to happen.
Welcoming Seas (A Rowan Gray Mystery Book 1) Page 3