by Diane Rapp
Kayla shook her head. “I’ll need more proof than this.”
“No!” The startled utterance caused them to look up. Natalia stood pale and frozen in the cabin doorway, her dark eyes wide, and her red lips forming an “O” of surprise.
“My dear!” Emily rushed forward to grasp Natalia’s icy hand. She tried to pull Natalia inside. “Come sit down before you faint dead away.”
Natalia gasped, “I can’t; she’s waiting for me! Get out before she hurts you both! Get out now!” She shoved Emily away in panic and backed into the dark corridor. Emily rushed out and wrapped her arms around Natalia’s trembling body.
As Kayla followed them into the corridor, the light spilling from the cabin abruptly vanished, and they were swallowed by a pitch black void. Kayla fumbled to turn on her flashlight.
“What happened to the lights?” She pointed the beam back into the open doorway and gasped.
“What is it?” Emily asked.
Kayla felt like she was hallucinating, but Emily’s sharp intake of breath confirmed her sanity. The cabin was completely empty, stripped of carpet, drapes and furniture. Emily grabbed Kayla’s arm. “We’re all getting the hell out of here,” she said. They ran the length of the corridor and up two flights.
They stopped in the friendly daylight of the upper landing, gasping for breath and trembling. Kayla wiped sweat from her forehead and eyed her silent companions. Emily leaned against the wall, bent over with her hands resting against her knees. Natalia gazed vacantly out the window, biting her lower lip.
Kayla asked, “You saw her? Tell us.” Natalia blinked and a tear trickled down her pale cheek unhampered. “Natalia,” Kayla pressed, “are you okay?”
“No.” She met Kayla’s gaze and folded her arms defensively across her chest.
Kayla wrapped Natalia in her arms, stroking the silken ebony hair as if she soothed a small child. Natalia dropped her arms to accept the hug. “The ghost wants me,” Natalia sobbed, burying her face in Kayla’s shoulder.
“What?” Emily stepped closer.
Natalia straightened and gathered her composure. “The Lady was floating above your heads in that cabin, waiting impatiently for me. I felt her hunger, her intense need, and I nearly took her hand…” A tremble rippled through Natalia’s slender body. She stared at the ceiling with frightened eyes, wiping tears with red-tipped fingers. “I feel her moving through the ship, searching.” Natalia crumpled like a limp rag doll.
“Help me get her into our cabin.” They each took an arm to support the limp girl. The elevator door opened with a ding and Emily said, “Good. They’ve got it running again. We won’t need to drag her upstairs.”
They carried Natalia through the open elevator doors, her arms draped over their shoulders, and Kayla jabbed the “up” button. The elevator machinery hummed to life. It rose smoothly to their floor and the doors opened with a familiar chime. When they stepped out, the doors slid closed, the lights flickered, and the elevator stood motionless, dead.
Kayla stared at the elevator doors and Emily shrugged. “We’re lucky the electricity didn’t fail while we were inside.”
Natalia woke and pulled her arms from her friends’ shoulders. “Don’t you see? The Lady ran the elevator and you stepped confidently inside. She’s everywhere!”
“Don’t be silly!” Kayla said. “The elevator worked because we had electricity for a short time. We were lucky. Come on!” Inside their suite all three collapsed on the sofa.
“Anybody need a drink?” Emily asked. Without waiting for an answer she forced her body out of the soft cushions, moved to the liquor cabinet and poured three liberal glasses of sherry. The amber liquid trickled down Kayla’s throat, spreading pleasant warmth through her chest. Natalia gulped her drink, grimaced, and sipped again more slowly. Emily sighed and sank into an overstuffed chair with the bottle on the side table.
“You got enough proof, Kayla?” Natalia asked raising her glass to request another serving from Emily.
Kayla frowned. “What did the Lady look like?”
Natalia pulled the red scarf from her disheveled ponytail, allowing her hair to spread across her face like a shimmering veil. “She looked delicate, thin, but the chiseled structure of her face is aristocratic; her elegant bearing conveys an impression of wealth. She’s got startling green eyes and wears her auburn hair in a loose layered cut, hanging over bare ivory-white shoulders.” As she spoke, Natalia pushed the hair back from her eyes. “She’s wearing a green velvet cocktail dress with a low-cut neckline to emphasize a spectacular emerald necklace—I’d say her necklace was unique.”
“Could you date the style of the dress?” Kayla asked.
“No. It was haute couture, timeless and very expensive. Our Lady had money and the dress was custom, probably unique.”
“How could you tell?” asked Emily.
Natalia shrugged. “I’ve commissioned custom-made costumes and only an expert fits a dress so perfectly.”
“Are you feeling better?” Kayla asked.
Natalia gazed at the amber liquid in her glass with a dreamy expression. “Well-fortified don’t you mean? I’m sure the Lady meant no harm; she just needs help.”
“What kind of help?”
“I don’t know.” Natalia’s red-tipped fingers stroked her hair. “Some ghosts get trapped at the place they died, unable to cross over, while others are totally unaware of dying and wander the earth confused. A few deliberately stay behind to finish a job left undone. I’d bet she stayed to protect someone or get revenge for her murder.”
“Revenge?” Emily asked. “The Lady was murdered?”
Natalia nodded. “That’s the feeling I get from her. We need to find out who she is and how she died to help her cross over. Let’s start reading the old log books!” Natalia dragged a box to the sofa and distributed volumes.
Kayla laughed. “After that experience, I thought you’d be out of here.”
Natalia frowned and gazed at Kayla with sad eyes. “I’m afraid, but she needs us so much that I have to help.”
Examining the first log, Kayla smiled. “This captain wrote in English. Listen—‘Weather is good. Ship is good. Arrived on schedule.’ Then the rest of the page is a list of expenses.”
“This one’s better,” Emily said. “He describes in detail the repairs made after storm damage, a real chatterbox. This could be a long session, so we’d better order sandwiches.” She left the cabin.
Natalia peered over the top of her book. “Do you believe in the ghost now?”
Kayla twined a lock of golden hair around her finger. “I’m not sure. I thought I was hallucinating when I saw a furnished cabin turn empty. I figure it can’t hurt to investigate. Whether it’s a ghost or someone playing elaborate tricks, we should investigate the Lady’s death and solve Emily’s problem. What’s the difference?”
Natalia huffed and turned the page of her book. “You believe! You just don’t want to admit it.”
Kayla grinned. “You’re feeling better. What happened?”
Natalia shrugged. “She scared me and I feel her loneliness. Some days I’d rather not possess a shred of talent and just pretend on stage.”
“Is it really so bad?” Kayla touched Natalia’s hand in a friendly gesture, but Natalia frowned and moved her hand away.
“You don’t understand!”
“I’d like to try.”
Natalia’s dark eyelashes glistened with tears. “Okay. Imagine going on a date at sixteen. The boy leans in for a kiss, but when his lips touch yours you visualize his death. Could you kiss that boy again, knowing he’ll die young?”
“Did you always see the future?” Kayla felt a twinge of sympathy, remembering her ex-lover Patrick dead at her feet.
Natalia picked at a loose thread on the sofa. “No. Once I saw my steady boyfriend kiss my best friend. Another time I saw how a boy I liked would look as a fat, balding adult. I knew a really sweet guy was gay long before he realized. I fear my visions will wreck
any relationship I care about.”
“Did your visions always come true?”
“No!” Natalia’s lips curled into a sardonic smile. “But when a vision did come true, it scared me silly. I’m careful not to touch people I like. I’d rather not see their future, even if it’s just a possibility.” She held her hands up in the air. “So if I avoid your touch, please don’t take offense.”
Kayla remembered nights when she woke in a panic, dreaming of Steven dying from a gunshot wound. She’d shake off the dream and feel grateful it wasn’t true, but Natalia didn’t have that luxury. How horrible to think your dreams foretold the future. “You must feel lonely. How can you avoid relationships?” Kayla asked.
Natalia lifted her chin defiantly. “I’d rather accept loneliness than live in dread. Flirting is fun so I remain aloof, mysterious. Let’s stop examining my life, thank you, and worry about who murdered the Lady.”
Kayla’s logical mind felt troubled. “What makes you so sure the Lady’s death was murder?” she asked.
“There’s something in her eyes, she’s lost and worried.”
Kayla shivered at the tone in Natalia’s voice. “The Lady’s already dead, so you can’t see a vision of her future.”
Natalia frowned. “I see a turbulence building up around her. If she loses control, someone might die.”
“Why doesn’t she tell us who killed her?”
“She may not remember. Ghosts caught in limbo feel confused and afraid, drifting between madness and sanity.” Natalia’s eyes looked wild as she pushed her fingers through her hair. “I can’t let her gain control over my mind. I could become insane.”
Bang! The door burst open, making the girls jump.
“Sorry!” Emily laughed, juggling a large tray of food. “I didn’t mean to startle you.” Plopping the tray onto the coffee table, she grinned. “We’ve got enough goodies to feed a football team so dig in. This might be a long night.”
Kayla scanned pages full of details about food and supplies loaded, linens laundered, gallons of fresh water stored, and garbage dumped. Turning endless pages, she wished the ghost would point to the important book and save them time. When she lifted her gaze, she saw Natalia chewing her nail and looking mildly crazed. Perhaps it was safer to find the answer without the ghost’s help.
A knock at the door broke the tedium. Emily opened the door for a tall man in dress whites. “Good day, ladies, I’m Captain John Swenson. The steward said I could find Emily Schultz in this suite.” He paused expectantly.
“Oh, sorry, I’m Emily Schultz,” Emily said, blushing under the intense gaze of the captain. She held out her hand, which was engulfed by the captain’s large hand. “Come in, captain. I’d like to introduce my associates, Kayla Sanders and Natalia Baliskov.”
Swenson ducked through the door, removed his cap and shook each hand with a slight bow. “Pleased to meet you,” he said. With flaxen hair and blue eyes, Kayla thought Captain Swenson looked like Brian Dennehy in the movie Cocoon—she always preferred that heroic role to the villainous roles he played later. A tall Swede in his late fifties, Captain Swenson epitomized the perfect ship’s captain with broad shoulders, narrow hips, and crisp white uniform that enhanced his large angular body.
Swenson said, “I arrived to find Captain Lafort missing from duty. It is most unusual that a departing chief officer is not available for a handover to his successor.”
Emily’s face reddened. “Captain Lafort was most unsatisfactory in all aspects of ship’s management. I hope his rude departure doesn’t affect a smooth transition for you.”
Swenson grinned, gazing frankly into Emily’s eyes. “As the ship’s owner, your personal introduction to the bridge officers would be most appreciated. I enjoy the pleasure of a beautiful woman’s company much more than an ill-mannered Frenchman.” He extracted a piece of paper from his pocket. “We can discuss a list of good men I recommend for hire as we walk. You’ll excuse us ladies?” He glanced up briefly before steering Emily out of the cabin.
Natalia said, “He didn’t waste time zeroing in on Emily. Did you see how his fingers massaged her back as he guided her out?”
Kayla grinned. “Emily didn’t seem to object. She seemed smitten if you ask me.”
“Maybe it’s love at first sight. At their age I guess you can’t waste time with preliminaries, spot a likely candidate and charge ahead.”
“Captain Swenson seems like the type of man who charges forward at any age.”
Natalia smirked. “Did you notice the indentation on his ring finger? I didn’t think the Swedes believed in removing their wedding rings before boarding their ship like the Italians. I hope Emily’s careful.”
“She said he’s a widower. His wife died six months ago and this is his first assignment after settling her estate. I think Emily identified with him, hired him as much in sympathy as his credentials.”
Natalia’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean to sound tactless. Somebody should tell me these things before I stick my foot in my mouth.”
“You’re safe.” Kayla laughed. “You didn’t say anything in front of Emily. She may act like she’s all business, but I know she misses her husband. She might feel ready to date again.”
“Apparently Swenson will encourage her to date. He looked ready to devour her on the spot.” Natalia grinned. “In fact his expression resembles the look on Steven’s face when he’s with you.”
Kayla thumbed through the logbook she was reading. “I really miss Steven. He’d never fall for ghost stories or scare tactics. His deductive mind ferrets out clues that would point to a flesh and blood villain.”
“As a magician Steven spots slight-of-hand and deception where everyone else accepts what they think they’re seeing. We should call Interpol and request his services.”
“I tried calling. He’s on some big secret assignment and his secretary couldn’t even tell me where he is.” A knot formed in her stomach. “I wish he was safe on this ship and could help us solve our mystery. Now that Emily has the answer to our INS problems, we could plan our wedding. He always faces danger while working for Interpol, so what kind of future do we have together?” Kayla understood Natalia’s fear of knowing the future and felt grateful she didn’t have that ability. She couldn’t choose between loneliness and love.
Chapter 4 ~ Logbooks
Searching through years of logbooks dragged on over the next week, sandwiched between mundane duties to get the ship ready for sailing. They eliminated a few boxes, making a list of shipboard deaths. Most deaths were from natural causes and they had boxes full of books unopened.
Kayla said, “I never realized how many people died of heart attacks on a ship.”
Emily nodded. “Elderly people enjoy cruising—they’ve got the money and the time—so there are a lot of coronaries on a ship.”
“Well, our ghost didn’t die from heart failure,” Natalia said. “The Lady was murdered. Maybe her killer plans to take this cruise and she wants revenge.” Natalia leaned forward. “Let’s look at the passenger list for this cruise. We could cross-reference repeat cruisers with the dates they sailed.”
Emily sighed. “I’m afraid all our passengers have sailed on the Sea Mist before.”
“What?”
“I thought it was a brilliant plan to announce our purchase. We sent letters to everyone who once sailed on this ship and offered a special rate to sail on her inaugural voyage with CCL. We received an overwhelming response, so virtually everyone on this voyage is a repeat passenger.”
“So much for my idea.” Natalia tossed a logbook into a box and rubbed her forehead. “It seemed like a logical way to narrow our search.”
“It’s still not a bad idea,” Kayla said. “We’ll prioritize the search based on our current passenger list, read those logs first. If any unusual deaths were reported, we’ll check those people out personally.”
Emily glanced at the unopened boxes. “I’d love to narrow our focus. We’ve got all previous sai
ling dates entered in the computer.”
“Good, we’ll sort the list by sailing dates and print a revised list.” Kayla turned on the computer.” The machine hummed and soon the printer printed a long list of names. They crossed out the dates of logbooks already examined and split the remaining names into three groups.
“Let’s meet these people before tackling more logbooks. If I shake someone’s hand, I can get a sense of who to investigate,” Natalia said.
“That’s an excellent idea and good for business,” Emily said. “It’s always good policy to greet passengers as they board.”
The phone rang, startling everyone. Emily got up to answer, listened a moment and handed the phone to Kayla. “There’s an important call for you.”
Kayla felt a flutter of excitement, hoping the call was from Steven. “I’m sorry to disturb you, Kayla.” She recognized the voice of her landlord, Jill. “There’s been a break-in at the cottage, so I thought I’d better let you know right away.”
“Someone broke into the cottage?” Kayla deliberately repeated the information for Emily and Natalia to hear. “We’ve got little to steal and the cottage is hidden behind your house. What happened?”
“I went over this morning to feed the cat. The back door was smashed and the house was wide open. The punks tossed your furniture around, slashed clothes, and the kitchen was full of broken dishes. I’m afraid the cat’s spooked, hiding in your bushes and won’t come out.” Jill sounded apologetic. “We didn’t hear a thing from our house and I’m so sorry to call with bad news.”
Kayla’s heart thudded. “Is Sorrel okay?”
“I think she’s just frightened. The kids try to coax her with food, but she just stares and hisses if we get too close.”
Kayla said, “Try salmon. She’s a real sucker for it. I left a few cans in the cupboard unless the burglars destroyed all the canned goods. The last time Sorrel escaped, salmon was her only weakness.”
“Good. We’ll give it a try.” Jill hesitated a moment, making Kayla wonder what else could be wrong. “They left something in the cottage, a note to Steven. It said, ‘Stay out of our business copper, or you’ll lose your girlfriend, too.’ The police are trying to contact Steven through Interpol. They think whoever broke in was after him. You’re lucky you weren’t home.”