“I see,” Moira said, striving for a soothing tone. “It’s okay. Look, why don’t you sit down? We can figure this out together. I—”
Without warning, the other woman lunged at her with the loop of rope, this time managing to slip it around Moira’s neck and tighten it before she could get her fingers around it. The deli owner struggled, her panic making her stronger than usual, but even her fear couldn’t overpower the other woman’s determination. Her lungs aching, she began to see black spots in front of her eyes and she felt her arms losing strength as she scrabbled mindlessly at the rope around her neck. When the door between her room and Candice’s room slammed open, the noise felt faint and distant, like a car door slamming far off.
A moment later, someone loosened the noose from around her neck and she thought she heard male voices talking, but she was too focused on the miraculous feeling of air coursing into her lungs to pay them any attention. Her throat ached, but she could breathe, and that was all that mattered.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Thanks,” she said hoarsely, reaching out to take the cup of warm tea and honey from the medic. Candice, who was sitting next to her on a bench in the infirmary, winced at the sound of her mother’s voice.
“How bad does it hurt?” she asked.
“Worse than a cold. Not as bad as the fire,” Moira said. The smoke inhalation from the barn fire a few weeks ago ranked as one of her worst experiences; even being choked into unconsciousness by a madwoman couldn’t compare.
“That woman belongs in jail for the rest of her life,” her daughter said, her hands still shaking with anger and fear. “She could have killed you.”
“She did kill somebody,” Moira pointed out. “I’m sure she’ll get her jail time.”
“She’d better,” Candice muttered.
“What happened after she attacked me?” the deli owner asked. “I don’t remember much. I blacked out toward the end.”
“Well, when she came out of the bathroom behind you and you knocked the tablet over, David freaked out and video called me. He told me to phone security, which I did, then he had me listen at the door. At first it didn’t seem like you needed help, but then she started choking you so I rushed in and started trying to pry her hands off the rope. Then security got there and took over, and the medics rushed you to the infirmary and got you to wake up and… here you are.”
“I don’t know whether to be glad that you saved me, or mad that you put yourself in danger,” Moira said with a sheepish grin. “I think I’m a little bit of both. You aren’t ever supposed to put yourself in danger for me. But, you know, thanks for not letting me die.”
“Mom, you can’t really think I was going to let some crazy lady kill you.”
“I know.” She grinned at her daughter. “You’re too much like me for that to happen.”
The second annual Grand Cruise Chef War was immediately cancelled the moment that Damien Warner heard about Nadine’s attacks. Moira wasn’t surprised, but was a bit disappointed that after everything she had been through, she wouldn’t have a chance to finish pitting her skills against those of the other cooks. She was surprised when Damien called all the contestants to the banquet hall, two days after her attack. Nadine was handcuffed in the security office and would remain there until they docked at a port.
“I want to extend my deepest condolences to all of you,” Damien told them once they had gathered. “None of this should have happened, and I cannot apologize enough for failing to keep you safe. Those of you that want to go home early, I will personally pay for your airfare. Those of you who want to stay, please do so, but the contest is officially over. That said, there is still the matter of the prize money.”
A few heads went up at that.
“As we were unable to complete the challenges, it’s impossible to name a winner. And since some of you were incapacitated during a couple of the challenges, I feel it’s only fair to disregard those results. But as far as I’m concerned, each and every one of you is a stellar chef, and so I’ve decided to split the prize money six ways. You’ll each be getting a share, and Linda Babcock will be receiving her husband’s portion.”
There were a few happy murmurs amongst the group. Split six ways, ten thousand dollars would be just over sixteen hundred dollars each. It wasn’t a ton of money, but it was better than leaving with nothing, and none of them wanted to have anything to do with the competition for longer than necessary, now that they knew for sure about the murder and the poisonings.
Moira opted to go home early. She just couldn’t see enjoying the rest of the cruise after everything that had happened, and Candice agreed that the best place to recover would be back in Maple Creek with their loved ones. By the time the ship neared a Haitian port, they had their bags packed and were ready to disembark for good. Before making her way off the boat, the deli owner had one last thing she wanted to do; she found Sofia and handed her the envelope with her portion of the winnings in it.
“I know it isn’t much, but you deserve it,” Moira told her. “Use the money to help keep your business running.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t—”
“Please,” the deli owner said. “I don’t need it, but you do. I know it’s not easy to run a small business, so let me do what I can to help.”
“If… if you’re sure,” Sofia said hesitantly.
“Take it.” Moira smiled. “And if you’re ever in Michigan, stop by my deli and say hi.”
“Or my candy shop,” Candice added. “You’re welcome to visit any time.”
“Thank you two so much,” the young woman said, throwing her arms around them both. “I never thought I’d make such good friends on this trip. I promise to stay in touch.”
“So do I,” Candice said. “Maybe I can take a road trip out west to visit you next summer.”
“Yes,” Sofia squealed. “That would be amazing. And once I get things settled, I can return the favor. I’m so glad I went on this cruise, despite everything. It’s nice to know that there are people out there like you. I really feel like things are going to work out now.”
They waved at her as they left the cruise, each feeling ambivalent about the events of their aborted vacation. Parts of it had been wonderful, and parts had been horrifying. Moira knew that they would both be glad to get home.
Curried Lobster Murder: Book 14 in The Darling Deli Series Page 9