“Where are we going?” she asked.
“My room.”
Amy stopped. “Robert. Seriously?”
“No, you’ll be glad. I have a surprise for you.”
Amy allowed herself to be lead. As Robert unlocked his door, she had reservations. Jack had said he was sorry, he’d said he loved her. She worried that if she and Robert slept together it would ruin any chance she had with Jack, however slim. But still she followed Robert inside.
At first Amy laughed when Robert wrapped the rope around her wrists. “Robert, what the heck?” When he shoved a rag into her mouth, she stopped laughing. He pushed her on the bed.
“Oh,” he said, “I’m going to have so much fun with you.”
***
Jack closed the attachment and turned toward Frank.
“Wow,” said Frank.
“I know, right?”
“What now?” asked Frank.
“I think it’s time to visit Bobby,” answered Jack. “He might be able to tell us something about Jojo’s death.”
Frank stood.
“No,” said Jack, standing, “I’ll go.”
“Do you think that’s wise?”
“Why? What do you mean?”
“I think it might be a good idea if I go with you. I don’t think Bobby will try anything stupid if I’m there too.”
“I think I can handle Bobby on my own, thanks.”
***
Jack knocked on Bobby’s door. He heard movement inside but received no answer. He knocked again. The door opened an inch.
“Oh hey, Jack. Do you think you can come back later? The doctor gave me some powerful drugs. I’m a little out of it.”
“Bobby, we need to talk. Now.”
Bobby nervously looked over his shoulder. “Really, Jack, can’t this wait?”
Bobby’s eyes widened. So did Jack’s. They’d both heard the same sound—a muffled scream. Jack jammed his shoulder against the door and pushed Bobby out of the way. He looked around the small room. It was empty. On the floor were some flip flops that had pink bows on them.
“Who do those belong to?” he asked.
Bobby shrugged. “Okay, I’m busted. I had a woman in here last night. She left them.”
“Look, Bobby, I know you sometimes go by the initials RJ. Pam Larsen, the woman murdered, had been spending time with a man who went by RJ.”
Before Bobby could answer, Jack heard the odd sound again. It was coming from the bathroom. Bobby went and stood in front of the door.
“Jack, I told you I had a woman here last night. The truth is, she’s still here. You go in there, you’re going to embarrass her.”
Jack didn’t want an awkward encounter with a strange woman, especially one that found Bobby attractive. “Get rid of her, then come see me in my office.”
“Will do, boss.”
Jack turned to walk out, but the sound coming from the bathroom was not normal. He looked at Bobby and recognized the panicked looked in his eyes. Jack pushed past him and threw the bathroom door open.
“Oh my God,” he said.
Amy was in the tub, her feet and wrists bound, a rag in her mouth, her face red from a mixture of tears and the still visible handprint on her cheek. Her eye was swollen. Jack looked over his shoulder at Bobby.
“You asshole.”
He turned and grabbed Bobby, punching him so hard he flew out of the bathroom and hit the wall. Jack kneeled. He took the rag out of Amy’s mouth.
“Hey,” he whispered, “you’re going to be all right.” Amy couldn’t speak through her sobs. Jack removed the rope binding her hands and feet. He used the rope to tie up Bobby. “I should kill him,” he said. “I could, easily. Just beat him until he’s dead.”
“No,” said Amy softly, “he’s not worth it.” Jack helped Amy stand and took her to the infirmary. The doctor examined her, then walked over to where Jack stood.
“She’s fine, aside from the obvious shock. She’ll have some bruising where he bound her and on her face, but she’ll recover. I gave her something to help her rest. She needs to take it easy.”
Jack took her back to her room and tucked her into bed.
“Jack,” Amy said. “Please don’t say anything to Katherine or Scott. Today is Scott’s brother’s wedding. I don’t want that overshadowed by what’s happened to me.”
“Are you sure? I would think you’d want Katherine with you now.”
“I’m sure.”
Jack nodded, then walked out. He went to security.
“Frank,” said Jack as he walked into security, “I need you to go to Bobby’s room, with handcuffs. If I do it, I might kill him.”
Paul and Brian listened in shock as Jack told them all what happened. Frank shook his head in disgust.
“I always knew Bobby was a freak. But I thought he was a harmless freak. You know, there had always been rumors about him, but I didn’t take them seriously.”
“I’m going back to Amy’s room to see how she’s doing.” said Jack.
***
Frank walked into Bobby’s room, half expecting him to be gone, but he was still on the floor, unconscious. Frank walked over and kicked him hard in the side.
“Wake up, you fucking idiot.”
Bobby stirred. Frank kicked him again.
“Stop, stop,” said Bobby, grabbing at the wall, trying to stand.
“You sure know how to pick ’em. Not only did you assault a guest, but you assaulted Jack Harney’s ex-girlfriend.”
“How was I supposed to know she was Jack’s old squeeze?”
Frank kneeled and untied Bobby’s feet, then his wrists. He pulled Bobby up by his shirt. “What did I tell you?” He shook Bobby like a doll. “Didn’t I tell you not to mess with her, that she had come on board with a lot of people? You dumb bastard.”
Bobby noticed the handcuffs. “What are those for?”
“What the fuck do you think they’re for? Jack sent me over to basically arrest you.” Frank handcuffed Bobby. “Don’t think this changes anything, Bobby. You’d better keep your big mouth shut.”
“Again with this. I can’t tell him you killed Matt without admitting I helped cover for you, and helped cover for Jojo killing Pam Larsen.”
Frank didn’t tell Bobby that Jack already knew, or had guessed, at everything. Everything except Frank’s involvement in Matt’s death. Frank took off the handcuffs.
“Why’d you take them off?” asked Bobby.
“Because I don’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to us. Now come on.” He led Bobby out of the room and into an elevator. When the elevator doors opened, Bobby paid little attention.
“Where we going?” he asked. Bobby looked around. He’d thought they were either going to confinement or security, but he suddenly realized they were outside the employee cafeteria.
“Why are we here?” he asked.
“Do you know what I did with Matt after I killed him?” asked Frank. “I threw him overboard.”
Bobby gulped. He hoped Frank was only trying to scare him.
“Oh yeah?” Bobby said.
“Yeah. Do you know why it wasn’t on any video?”
Bobby shook his head. “Why?”
Frank smiled. “Because this whole area is a blind spot. No cameras, no footage, no footage, no proof.”
“Come on, Frank. Stop screwing with me. I get it. You don’t have to worry about me. I swear.”
Frank smiled again. He shrugged and grabbed Bobby by the front of his shirt. “I’m not worried.”
“No, Frank! No!”
Frank laughed, then yanked Bobby back toward the glass doors that led inside.
“I was screwing with you,” Frank said.
Frank led Bobby back to the elevator and they traveled down. The confinement area was in the very bowels of the ship, down from the boiler room. It was in a small office. He opened the jail cell door, shoved Bobby inside, then closed the door. Bobby scurried to the far side of the cell.
&nbs
p; “You didn’t rape that woman, right?” asked Frank.
“No,” answered Bobby, looking disappointed.
“You really are a sick bastard. Be glad you didn’t rape her, because all Jack has you on at this point is assault.”
Bobby stood and placed his hands on the bars. Looking pathetic, he asked, “You won’t forget me down here, will you Frank?”
Frank laughed. Bobby never liked it when Frank laughed. “Sit tight. And remember, keep your mouth shut.”
***
Jack sat on Amy’s bed, caressing her forehead. A knock on her door startled him. Jack opened the door, and saw that it was Frank.
“Hey,” said Frank in a low voice, “I picked up Bobby like you told me to. He’s in a jail cell where he belongs. The little pervert.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem.” Frank left.
Amy’s eyes opened. “I’m feeling much better now,” she said.
“Well, just the same,” said Jack, “you stay in bed. Get some rest.”
Amy sat up, and Jack put a few pillows behind her back and one behind her head, then sat on the bed.
“Now rest,” he said.
“Jack, about what you said …”
“I said a lot of things, Amy. Most of which I’m not proud of.”
“Jack, I know I hurt you. I’m sorry. I got scared.”
“Of what?”
“Of the future. It was happening so fast. All of it. But breaking up with you was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.”
“You could have talked to me, Amy. I wish you had told me how you were feeling.”
Amy’s eyes filled with tears. “Do you think we could try again?” she asked.
Jack stood. He walked a few feet, then turned around. “I don’t know,” he said.
“It’s that woman, isn’t it?” asked Amy. “You have a new girlfriend.”
Jack smiled. “No,” he said. “No girlfriend. But I have a new life in Tampa. A new job, new apartment.”
“I see.”
Thoughts of Amy had always been at the back of Jack’s mind, while working in Tampa, being on the cruise ship, dealing with three murders, even sleeping with another woman. Nothing had kept her from his thoughts for long. His heart ached, and he longed to hold her close. But he’d left Reno for a reason. He had moved across the country and started over. Now she was inches away from him, saying all the right things, and he believed her. He believed she wanted him back, that she regretted what she’d done. Was it enough? Was he willing to swallow his pride and follow her back to Reno? Where she might eventually hurt him again?
Jack sat back down on the bed. He took Amy’s hands in his and kissed them.
“I will always love you, Amy,” he said.
“But?”
***
Jack left Amy and walked toward the elevators, but instead changed course and went to the employee cafeteria kitchen.
“Hello again, Jack,” said Chef Philippe.
Jack was surprised to see the cake he and the chef had taken upstairs back in the kitchen.
“Why’s the cake back down here?” he asked.
The chef looked heartbroken. “After you left the ballroom, I had a chance to look more closely at my beautiful cake. It had been damaged, I assume by all the jostling in the elevator earlier. One of the layers was cockeyed.”
“Oh, Chef,” said Jack, “I’m sorry. Is there not enough time to bake another?”
The chef laughed. “No, a cake this ornate takes time. Plus, I’m very low on flour.”
Jack walked over to the flour container and looked inside. It was almost empty. He squinted as he reached inside the container and then he smiled. Jack turned back toward the chef.
“Chef,” he said, “I have a theory.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
On Thursday, Alex and Scott ate lunch then sat by the pool.
“I’m going to be sorry to leave this ship,” said Alex.
“Me too,” agreed Scott. “And just think, when you do leave, you’ll be a married man.”
Alex groaned, then laughed. “I’m kidding. I’m really happy.” He looked at Scott. “What about you and Katherine? Have you set a date yet?”
“Nah, we’ve only been engaged a short while.”
“Well don’t be surprised if she gets wedding fever after this.”
“Wedding fever?”
“Yeah, it’s when a woman goes to someone else’s wedding and then decides she must get married. Next, there’s house fever. Then there’s baby fever. One friend gets pregnant, then your woman wants to have a baby. You get the idea.”
Scott laughed. “Well do me a favor then. Don’t get Sophie pregnant for a few years at least.”
Alex laughed. “Oh, at least.”
“Well,” said Scott, standing, “it’s about that time.”
“Already?”
“Yep, let’s go get you married.”
Alex stood. He looked around. “Well, here goes nothing,” he said.
Scott put his arm around his shoulder. “I’m here for you, buddy. We’ll get through this together.
***
Thursday evening, the ship’s chapel was filled to capacity. Katherine sat five rows from the front. Scott’s mother walked over, bent down, and whispered, “Katherine, why don’t you come sit up front with the family?”
Katherine smiled. “Okay,” she answered. She walked with Scott’s mother to the front pew. Katherine couldn’t help but notice Kimy standing at the altar across from Scott. Katherine assumed Sophie had forgiven Kimy for what she’d done—anything to preserve the bridesmaids-to-groomsmen ratio. As Katherine sat, her eyes met Scott’s, and he smiled and winked. She looked at Kimy, who had a sour look on her face.
Alex looked very handsome in his black tuxedo, but he also looked nervous. She looked at his hands, which were shaking. Seconds later, the music began and everyone stood. Sophie looked beautiful as she walked down the aisle. Katherine looked again at Alex. His hands were no longer shaking.
An hour into the reception, everyone had already done the hokey pokey and the chicken dance. Scott and Katherine stood by the buffet table.
“Hey, leave some for the rest of us, will ya?” said Katherine.
Scott turned away from the table, holding a chicken wing in one hand. “Ya know what I’m realizing?” he said.
“That you only have one mouth?”
“No smarty, I haven’t seen Amy. Is she even here?”
“No, Mr. Observant, and she wasn’t at the wedding either.”
“Really? Why?”
“I stopped by her room. She wouldn’t even open the door. She said wasn’t feeling well and wasn’t coming to the wedding.”
“Wow, that sucks.”
“Yeah.
Katherine smiled when she saw Jack walking toward her and Scott. When Jack had dated Amy, he’d met Alex a few times.
“Hi, Jack,” said Katherine, “it was nice of you to stop by.”
Jack looked around. “Yeah, well I heard they were serving some good grub.”
Katherine and Scott laughed. “They were,” said Katherine, “but this one,” she nodded toward Scott, “has already eaten most of it.”
Jack smiled and said, “I can’t stay long. I wanted stop by and congratulate Alex and Sophie.”
Scott’s friend Jason walked over.
“Hi, Jack,” Jason said. He wore white pants and a bright pink shirt covered with a white blazer.
“Oh my gosh,” said Scott chuckling. “What are you wearing?”
“Hey,” said Jason. “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful. Speaking of beautiful, my date should be here soon.”
Katherine and Scott laughed.
“How’d you get a date for the wedding?” asked Katherine.
“Is she one of the bridesmaids?” asked Scott.
“No, don’t you remember?” Jason said. “I think I told you about her. The woman from Alex’s bachelor party.”
“There wer
e women at the party?” asked Katherine.
“No,” answered Scott. “Well only one.”
“Oh my God.” Scott started laughing then said, “Don’t tell me—you’re dating the stripper?”
“Yes. I’ve spent some time with her over the last few days. She’s a super cool lady. Not to mention beautiful—she has the most amazing blue eyes. And I’d appreciate it if you weren’t rude to her. So, be nice.”
“Of course,” said Katherine.
Jason looked at Scott, who held up his hands defensively and said, “I will, I will.”
“Ah, there she is,” said Jason.
They all looked toward the door, where a pretty woman with blond hair stood. She was neither tall, nor especially short. Scott vaguely remembered her; she was definitely more attractive without tears streaming down her face. Jason quickly walked over and took the woman’s hand. She resisted but finally allowed herself to be lead over to Katherine, Scott, and Jack.
“Miss,” said Scott, “if this man is bothering you, I’ll be more than happy to take him out and throw him overboard.”
Instead of smiling, Scott’s words seem to make the woman shrink. Jason looked at her with concern. He turned his back toward Katherine and Scott and whispered in her ear, “Are you okay?”
She laughed, but to Jason, it seemed forced.
“I’m fine,” she said, “just nervous to meet your friends, that’s all.”
Jason turned back around and said, “Scott, Katherine, Jack, I’d like you to meet—” Before he could finish his sentence, trumpets blared. The lights were dimmed and someone pushed the new couple’s wedding cake out of the kitchen. Katherine heard Sophie ask, “Where are the candles? I asked for candles.”
The lights were turned back on, since with no candles it was very dark. Sophie and Alex walked over to the cake, smiling, Sophie picked up a long knife and prepared to cut the first slice.
“What the hell is this?” she yelled.
“What’s going on?” asked Katherine.
“I don’t know,” answered Scott. “I’ll be right back.”
Scott, Jack, and Jason walked over to Sophie and Alex.
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