“Dear Heavenly Father. We come to you today with Millie’s heavy heart. Lord, You know her situation, You know her plans to wed Captain Armati and You know what stands in their way.
Your Word says whatever we ask for in prayer and believe we have received it, that it will be ours. We ask you to move Millie’s mountain and believe your word that it shall come to pass.
Lord, we also lift up young Isaac and his family, that you stay close to the family and give them peace in this time of mourning. Amen.”
“Amen,” Millie echoed and lifted her head. “I feel better already.”
The pastor stood and Millie followed suit. “I haven’t seen you in church the last couple of Sundays.”
“Yeah. I’ve had to work. I’m hoping this week I’ll be able to make it.” She remembered Andy’s imminent departure. “Or maybe not. Andy is taking an emergency leave to take care of his mother and I’m filling in.”
“Oh dear,” Pastor Pete said. “I should have prayed for all of us.”
Millie grinned. “Hey. It’s not gonna be that bad.”
Scout led the way as they meandered to the church exit. She said good-bye to Pastor Evans and then headed to the sky deck railing.
It was late afternoon and the sun was starting to go down. It was time for her to take Scout home and time to track down Brody.
***
Millie found Brody in the crew dining room. Since most of the crew and staff were taking advantage of eating upstairs, the place was empty except for a few workers behind the buffet area.
“Just the person I was looking for.” Millie sat in the chair opposite her friend and watched as he took a big bite of pizza.
“The latest gossip around here is how two old ladies, dressed up in maintenance uniforms, were apprehended near the scene of Isaac’s death.”
“Someone is embellishing the truth,” Millie said. “Annette and I did a great job of keeping an eye on you, huh?”
“Yeah, for me,” Brody said. “Not so much for Isaac.” He shoved the rest of the piece of pizza in his mouth and chewed loudly.
Millie pointed at the shiner on his chin. “Your bruise is starting to fade.”
“I know that Patterson talked to you.” She lowered her voice, although there was no one around. “I think that Nevlin, your cabin mate, got into some sort of incident in the red light district last time we stopped in San Juan and you went there to bail him out.”
“Nevlin is my friend,” Brody said. “He was at a bar, misplaced his cash and asked me to bring him a few bucks to pay his tab. End of story.”
“The night shift maintenance crew was giving you a hard time because several of them saw you going inside the Emerald Isle Club and I think a killer on board this ship was using that information to his advantage. Do you know who Francisco Garcia is?”
“The name sounds familiar but I don’t know him,” Brody said.
“What about Hugh Mufti?” Millie asked.
“Yeah. He works in maintenance,” Brody said. “I’ve had to get onto him and Isaac Risang, among others, down in the lounge when they get out of control and obnoxious during their poker playing games.”
“Do they play for money?” Millie asked.
“They’re not supposed to but I’m pretty sure they do.”
Millie leaned back in her chair. “Isaac Risang is dead and Francisco Garcia, another one of the regulars at the poker table, left the ship. What if Francisco didn’t leave the ship? What if he was the person you found lying on the ground the other night?”
“Why him?” Brody asked.
“My theory is Hugh got into an argument with Francisco over money. It turned violent and Hugh killed him. Hugh was worried you saw something and he was desperate to get rid of you. Isaac Risang either knew something or Hugh Mufti owed him money so Hugh wanted to silence him, too, and found the perfect opportunity by setting you up.”
Millie shifted in her seat. “The whole harassment by other night maintenance crew was just a cover up, a non-issue. If my theories are correct, Dave Patterson will soon arrest a killer, Hugh Mufti.”
Brody crumpled his napkin and tossed it on top of his empty plate. “I have no idea how you figure this stuff out but I think you missed your calling in life.”
Millie hopped out of her chair and circled the table. “No. I think I’m doing exactly what I should be doing.” She gave him a quick hug. “Saving my friends from themselves.”
Chapter 23
“What do you think?” Millie twisted to the side so Cat, Annette and Danielle had a clear view of the elegant V-neck fitted dress. The cap sleeve wedding dress was the perfect length and it brushed the bottom of Millie’s knees. A decorative beaded band circled her waist.
“Turn around.” Cat made a twirling motion with her finger.
Millie slowly twirled.
“Is it comfortable?” Annette asked. “Can you sit without splitting a seam?”
“I hadn’t thought of that.” Millie glided to an overstuffed ottoman and perched on the edge. “Yes. It’s kinda stretchy.”
“Perfect.” Danielle gave two thumbs up. “You look like a million bucks. What about the veil?”
“No veil.” Millie shook her head. “I plan to have my hair up with some loose ringlets on each side. I’m going for a chic upsweep.”
The sales clerk appeared. “It’s a beautiful dress. What do you think?”
“I’ll take it,” Millie said. “I’ll need three bridesmaid dresses for my attendees.”
“What?” Cat shrieked. “You want us to stand up with you?”
“I don’t do dresses,” Danielle said.
“Me either,” Annette chimed in.
“Come on,” Millie begged. “Not even for my special day?”
Danielle groaned.
Annette wagged her finger at Millie. “The things we do for you.”
“That’s what I thought.” Millie turned to the clerk. “I’ll be purchasing my dress plus their three. Let me take this off so we can start looking for them.”
“What about pantsuits?” Annette asked.
“When’s the last time you wore a dress?” Millie asked.
Annette thought for a moment. “High school.”
“Annette,” Cat chuckled. “Humor Millie. No one will see you but us two. You, too.” She pointed at Danielle.
The women finally relented. Millie and Cat had fun dressing their friends in several foo foo dresses before they settled on elegant, yet casual, tea length dresses in a spectacular shade of gray aptly named mist.
The dresses were ones the women could wear more than once and after the clerk bagged all four, Millie paid for them with her charge card.
They exited the store, each carrying their garment.
“Now for lunch,” Millie said. “I found an off-the-beaten-path Bayfront seafood restaurant not far from here. We’ll have to take a taxi.”
Taxis lined the streets of the shopping district. The women grabbed the nearest one, careful not to wrinkle their dresses as they crammed inside the back seat while Millie slid into the front passenger seat.
When they reached the restaurant, the hostess seated them at a table overlooking the bay. After they placed their orders, Annette turned to Millie. “I heard Patterson turned Hugh Mufti over to the local authorities.”
“Yeah. Patterson checked the video surveillance near the gangway exit at the time Francisco supposedly exited the ship and the person using the card was not Francisco.” Millie sipped her water and set the glass down.
“It was Hugh Mufti,” Cat said. “So the whole Brody and the gay bar angle was just a cover?”
“Yep,” Millie said. “Brody just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“There’s one other serious matter we haven’t touched on.” Millie turned to Danielle. “Have you heard anything from Patterson on the investigation into the date drug?”
“Date drug?” Cat gasped.
Danielle explained the incident in the cr
ew bar, how she suspected someone had slipped something into her drink. “Unfortunately, I don’t have proof and I can’t remember what the guys at the bar looked like.”
She went on. “So far, I’m the only one who reported that type of incident so I think they’re going to wait to see if it’s isolated.”
“Don’t go to the bar alone,” Millie warned.
“Trust me, I’ll be careful. If I have to use the bathroom, I’ll dump the drink out when I return and order another one,” Danielle promised.
The conversation drifted to Cat and Doctor Gundervan’s relationship. Cat was vague, telling her friends they were trying to take it slow.
“How was your date the other day?” Millie asked. “Did you have a good time?”
“The shopping part was fun.” Cat sipped her water. “We were going to stop by South Beach so we could say we’ve been there but once we caught a glimpse of the beachgoers and some skimpy beach attire, we changed our minds.”
When they finished eating, the girls gathered their things and caught a taxi back to the ship. It had been a wonderful day and a welcome break from the frantic pace of life on board the ship.
After dinging their key cards, Alison, one of the dancers, stopped them before they reached the stairs. “You have to sign the petition before you can go downstairs.”
“Petition?” Millie glanced at the clipboard Alison was holding.
“Yes. We’ve started a petition to send to Majestic Cruise Lines in support of someone’s upcoming nuptials.”
“You’re kidding.” Millie looked at Alison and then the clipboard. It was full of signatures, asking the cruise line to allow Captain Armati and Millie to remain on board and together. There was page after page of signatures and sudden tears burned her eyes. “You did this for me?” she whispered.
“Of course silly.” Alison handed Millie the pen. “We’re not letting you go anywhere. This place would be as dull as a butter knife.”
Millie signed her name with flourish and handed the pen to Cat, who was standing next to her.
“We have over 900 signatures already,” Alison said.
Annette was the last to sign. She handed the pen and clipboard to Alison. “Alison is right. Life wouldn’t be the same without you Millie.”
“I can’t wait to see what happens next week while Andy is gone,” Alison joked.
Millie frowned. “Thanks for reminding me. Neither can I, Alison. Neither can I.”
The end.
If you enjoyed reading “Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’,” please take a moment to leave a review. It would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Click here to review the book now!
The Series Continues...Look for Book 10 in the “Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries” Series Coming Soon!
Download All Hope Callaghan Books Here
(Read FREE In Kindle Unlimited)
Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery Series
Key to Savannah: Book 1
Road to Savannah: Book 2
Justice in Savannah: Book 3
Swag in Savannah: Book 4
Trouble in Savannah: Book 5
Book 6: Coming Soon!
Garden Girls Cozy Mystery Series
Who Murdered Mr. Malone? Book 1
Grandkids Gone Wild: Book 2
Smoky Mountain Mystery: Book 3
Death by Dumplings: Book 4
Eye Spy: Book 5
Magnolia Mansion Mysteries: Book 6
Missing Milt: Book 7
Bully in the ‘Burbs: Book 8
Fall Girl: Book 9
Home for the Holidays: Book 10
Sun, Sand, and Suspects: Book 11
Look Into My Ice: Book 12
Forget Me Knot: Book 13
Nightmare in Nantucket: Book 14
Greed with Envy: Book 15
Book 16: Coming Soon!
Garden Girls Box Set I – (Books 1-3)
Garden Girls Box Set II – (Books 4-6)
Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery Series
Starboard Secrets: Book 1
Portside Peril: Book 2
Lethal Lobster: Book 3
Deadly Deception: Book 4
Vanishing Vacationers: Book 5
Cruise Control: Book 6
Killer Karaoke: Book 7
Suite Revenge: Book 8
Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’: Book 9
Book 10: Coming Soon!
Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries Box Set I (Books 1-3)
Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries Box Set II (Books 4-6)
Sweet Southern Sleuths Cozy Mysteries Short Stories Series
Teepees and Trailer Parks: Book 1
Bag of Bones: Book 2
Southern Stalker: Book 3
Two Settle the Score: Book 4
Killer Road Trip: Book 5
Pups in Peril: Book 6
Dying To Get Married-In: Book 7
Deadly Drive-In: Book 8
Secrets of a Stranger: Book 9
Library Lockdown: Book 10
Vandals & Vigilantes: Book 11
Fatal Frolic: Book 12
Sweet Southern Sleuths Box Set I: (Books 1-4)
Sweet Southern Sleuths Box Set: II: (Books 5-8)
Sweet Southern Sleuths Box Set III: (Books 9-12)
Sweet Southern Sleuths 12 Book Box Set (Entire Series)
Samantha Rite Deception Mystery Series
Waves of Deception: Book 1
Winds of Deception: Book 2
Tides of Deception: Book 3
Samantha Rite Series Box Set – (Books 1-3-The Complete Series)
Get Free Books and More!
Sign up for my Free Cozy Mysteries Newsletter to get free and discounted books, giveaways & soon-to-be-released books!
Meet The Author
Hope Callaghan is an author who loves to write Christian books, especially Christian Mystery and Cozy Mystery books. She has written more than 50 mystery books (and counting) in five series.
In March 2017, Hope won a Mom’s Choice Award for her book, “Key to Savannah,” Book 1 in the Made in Savannah Cozy Mystery Series.
Born and raised in a small town in West Michigan, she now lives in Florida with her husband.
She is the proud mother of one daughter and a stepdaughter and stepson. When she's not doing the thing she loves best - writing books - she enjoys cooking, traveling and reading books.
Click Here For Hope Callaghan Books On Amazon
Hope loves to connect with her readers! Connect with her today!
Visit hopecallaghan.com for special offers, free books, and soon-to-be-released books!
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopecallaghanauthor/
Annette’s Super Easy Ooey Gooey Chocolate Melting Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
¾ cup (6 oz.) dark chocolate chips (I used Nestle’s 53% cacao chips)
¾ cup (6 oz.) butter
4 eggs – room temperature
¾ cup (6 oz.) white sugar
1/8 tablespoon vanilla extract
¼ cup (2 oz.) all-purpose flour
Powdered sugar*
*Use 8 oz. ramekin baking dishes. Makes 4 servings.
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Melt chocolate and butter in small saucepan. Cool 10 minutes.
While chocolate and butter is cooling, whisk eggs, sugar and vanilla in medium size bowl.
Add flour to eggs/sugar mixture. Mix thoroughly.
Mix chocolate with other ingredients.
Fill ramekin dishes ¾ of the way full with chocolate batter.
Bake for 14 minutes. Do not overcook. Outsides should be firm (cakelike) and middle should be gooey.
Remove. Cool for a couple moments and serve with vanilla ice cream.
*Optional: sprinkle top with powdered sugar after baking.
ook 9)
Cruisin' for a Bruisin' (Cruise Ship Christian Cozy Mysteries Series Book 9) Page 14