Rowan finally found her voice. “The omen.”
“Is that all?” Relief washed over him. “I’m not going to say it’s nothing because we both know that’s not true, but it’s okay. We’ve dealt with the omen before. We’ll deal with it again.”
“It’s not one omen,” Rowan countered. “It’s ... hundreds of them.”
Quinn wasn’t sure he heard her right. “What do you mean?”
“Look.” Rowan took him through the photographs a second time, going slow so he could absorb the magnitude of what they were dealing with. “Half the people on this ship are in danger of dying.”
Quinn was utterly flabbergasted. “But ... how?”
Rowan held her hands palms out and shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen anything like this before. I’m at a loss for what we’re dealing with here ... unless maybe it’s some sort of ship catastrophe.”
Quinn kept his hand on Rowan’s shoulder as he considered the possibility. “We don’t know what it is, but I promise to have Michael run his people through the paces in the engine room to rule out issues there. I’ll also see if we can get scouts out along the route to make sure there’s nothing that we could potentially strike as we’re going forward.”
Despite herself, Rowan felt relief at the words. “I didn’t know you could do that.”
“We can, but I’m going to have to come up with a reason why. Don’t you worry about that, though. I’ll think of something.”
Rowan cupped his hand against her cheek. “I don’t know what to do. I feel paralyzed because of this. There are too many to watch.”
“You said half the people are in danger,” Quinn pressed. “Is that a scientific number or an exaggeration?”
“An exaggeration. It’s more that I saw a hundred omens, and some were over group shots. Still, that’s far too many to narrow down.”
Quinn couldn’t argue with that. “Well, we have to take this a step at a time. Whatever is going to happen isn’t something that’s going to occur in some dark corner of the ship. We have that going for us. It will be out in the open, because that’s the only excuse for so many people being involved.”
“So ... what do we do?”
Quinn had no idea. “We go through the photographs again and see if we can pick out any similarities. I don’t know what else to do.”
That wasn’t what Rowan wanted to hear. “It will be a massacre if we don’t figure it out.”
“Then I guess we’re going to have to figure it out.”
3
Three
Quinn did his best to calm Rowan, but it was a losing battle. Ultimately he had to take a step back so she could sulk in private.
Truthfully, he was worried. Rowan’s gift was generally pretty reliable. The only times the omen didn’t turn out to be true were the instances where they intervened. Other than that, the omen was irritatingly correct the rest of the time. What that meant for a huge contingent of their guests was anybody’s guess though, and Quinn found he was unnerved as he watched the people flit around the deck.
What sort of catastrophe could cause more than a hundred people to die in such a short amount of time? Clearly the ship wasn’t plagued with a serial killer, a Jason Voorhees wannabe who would somehow manage to mow down a hundred bodies before anyone managed to take him out. No, whatever was happening was somehow different. The deaths had to come from a big event.
But what?
Quinn sat in the shade at the tiki bar and kept his eyes open for signs of trouble. Obviously he had no idea what he was looking for, but that didn’t stop him from watching all the same. At a certain point, the captain of the ship, Michael Griffin, took the open spot in front of him and leaned back in his chair as he signaled the bartender Demarcus Johnson for a drink.
“Good afternoon, crabby,” Michael drawled, amused when Quinn didn’t acknowledge his appearance. “You seem ... darker than usual today.”
Quinn didn’t bother to hide his scowl. “Darker, huh? Is that supposed to be an insult? If so, you missed your mark.”
“Well, woo-hee.” Michael made a face as he studied his friend. “You’re in a terrible mood, huh? There’s only one thing I can think of that would put you in a mood like that. I take it you’re fighting with the comely ship photographer.
“You need not dwell on it,” he continued. “Couples fight. I know you and Rowan never fight, but it happens to normal people. The glow is starting to fade from your relationship. The bloom is off the rose, so to speak. Fights are more common when those things happen.”
Quinn narrowed his eyes, frustrated. “Excuse me?”
Taken aback, Michael’s shoulders hopped. “Rowan,” he repeated. “I’m here for you if you need me. I’m totally ready to call her names if you want me to boost your ego.”
Quinn’s annoyance doubled. “First off, don’t ever call her names. Second, I’m not fighting with Rowan.” That was true. Er, for the most part. Rowan was flustered and needed time to herself and Quinn agreed to give it to her. They weren’t fighting, though. They were merely taking some space and regrouping. It wasn’t the same thing.
“If you’re not fighting with Rowan, why are you so sour?” Michael challenged. “I’ve had five different people tell me that you’re making the guests uncomfortable with your intensity. I get that spying and staring is part of your job, but you’re usually subtler about it. Blink occasionally.”
Quinn sighed as he ran his hand over his short-cropped hair. “I don’t mean to frighten the guests.”
“Then why are you staring?”
There was no way Quinn could answer that question. While certain people knew about Rowan’s gift, only one of those people was onboard the ship. Quinn often thought Demarcus suspected, but the gregarious bartender wisely kept his questions to himself. Whatever he knew, he wasn’t pushing Rowan to tell her secret. Quinn was thankful for that.
Michael was a different story, however. As captain of the ship, he had his fingers in a number of pies, but he didn’t seem to suspect anything regarding Rowan. Quinn had gone out of his way to make sure that was true. He couldn’t very well blow Rowan’s secret out of the water after admonishing her to keep quiet.
“I’m simply nervous,” Quinn lied. “All these ghost hunters give me a headache. Have you listened to some of the things they’re saying? EMF readers. Ion counters. Thermal imaging devices. The whole thing gives me the willies.”
Michael snorted, genuinely amused. “You don’t like watching those ghost hunter shows I take it. I happen to love them. I was excited when I heard about this trip.”
Quinn couldn’t hide his surprise. “You like ghost hunters? That doesn’t sound like something you would be into.”
“Hey, I like hot chicks looking for information as much as the next person,” Michael drawled. “I don’t care if that information comes in the form of ghosts ... or news stories ... or even Victoria’s Secret bras.”
Quinn wrinkled his nose. “That statement makes no sense.”
“I know. I just like talking about bras.”
Exasperated, Quinn rolled his eyes. “Well, thank you for putting that in my brain for the rest of the day.”
“You’re welcome.” Michael amiably bobbed his head. “I don’t care how uncomfortable it makes you. I have a thing for ghost hunters. I’m not sorry about it.”
Quinn was the pragmatic sort so he chose to look at the bright side of things. “Well, at least you’ll have plenty of women to tickle your libido this go around. Women love it when the captain showers them with attention. I’m sure that will be no different for ghost hunters of the female persuasion.”
Michael grinned happily. “That’s what I’m hoping. I already have one in mind.”
“Oh, yeah?” Quinn arched an eyebrow. “Do tell.”
“That one.” Michael pointed at a tall blonde who sat on a lounge chair between two men. She had long legs and a shapeless bathing suit that hid her body, but her smile was warm and engaging.
“I recognize her,” Quinn said. “I saw her in the lobby earlier.”
“See. She’s hot. She has to be super hot to drag your attention away from Rowan.”
Quinn’s scowl was back. “I didn’t notice her because of that.”
“Whatever.”
“I didn’t. I noticed her because she was with two guys instead of one. I thought it was weird she was traveling with two boyfriends.”
“Oh, both those guys aren’t her boyfriends,” Michael said knowingly. “The one on the left is her boyfriend. The one on her right is her best friend.”
Quinn was rendered momentarily speechless. All he could do was work his jaw and stare at his friend.
“I didn’t stalk her or anything,” Michael offered hurriedly. “I don’t want you thinking that. I simply recognized her from a television show.”
“She’s on a television show?” Quinn flicked his eyes back to her, intrigued despite himself. “I don’t recognize her. What television show?”
“She was on Phantoms for one episode,” Michael supplied. “I happen to love that show.”
“I’m not familiar with it.”
“It hardly matters. Her name is Harper Harlow. On an episode last fall, she went with a television crew to an abandoned asylum in Michigan. It was on an island. People died while she was there and she talked to a bunch of crazy ghosts who helped her solve a case.”
Quinn had no idea what to make of the story. “I see,” he said finally. “That sounds like great television.”
“Oh, take your judgmental attitude and throw it out the door,” Michael complained. “I’m telling the truth. She almost died. The boyfriend over there was with her. The best friend — who is gay, so it’s not as if she has a harem — was also there. Some of her other workers were along for the ride, too.
“The guy who was killing people was part of the filming crew,” he continued. “He had ties to the asylum through his mother or something. I forget that part of the story. It’s not important given how hot she is. Anyway, she’s the real deal and I’m going to invite her to eat dinner with me.”
Quinn was flabbergasted. “You just told me she was with her boyfriend and best friend. She’s not going to date you while on vacation with them.”
“You don’t know that.” Michael was used to getting what he wanted, and that included women. “I think she’ll be happy to spend time with me.”
Quinn merely shook his head. “She’s wearing an engagement ring,” he said finally, the glinting gem catching his attention when Harper moved her hand. She was the animated sort, and whatever she said had Jared belting out a loud laugh as Zander made a face and glared. “You’re not going to convince her to leave her fiancé for you. Also, I would appreciate it if you didn’t turn into a leech and go after taken women.”
“She’s not taken until she’s got a ring on her finger,” Michael persisted.
“She does have a ring on her finger,” Quinn shot back. “It might not be a wedding band, but they’re halfway there so ... just pick somebody else.” His annoyance got the better of him as he tried to calm his nerves. “While you’re here, there’s something else I want to talk to you about.”
Michael’s irritation at having his plans for the evening shut down was obvious. “Why would I want to help you? I have to find another woman to flirt with. Perhaps I don’t have time for you.”
Quinn let loose a world-weary sigh. “Can you please not make things more difficult than they already are? I’m sorry you can’t have the pretty ghost hunter. She is obviously spoken for, though. There are plenty of single women on the ship and I’m sure you’ll find them equally stimulating after a few drinks.”
The look Michael shot Quinn was withering. “You said you had a question.”
“Oh, geez.” Quinn rolled his eyes. “If you’re going to be difficult, just go. I’ll ask you the question later.”
“Oh, no.” Michael made a clucking sound with his tongue. “You’re the chief of security. Your needs are paramount in my world. What can I do for you?”
Recognizing that Michael needed time to calm down, Quinn decided to barrel forward and then escape quickly. The congenial captain wasn’t the type to hold a grudge. “How often are all the engines checked?”
Whatever he was expecting, that wasn’t it. Michael furrowed his brow as he regarded Quinn’s serious expression. “I don’t understand why you would ask that.”
“I’m simply curious.” Quinn chose his words carefully. “I had a nightmare last night. I never dream badly because I have Rowan.”
“Oh, you guys are gross,” Michael complained, although his lips curved into a smile.
Quinn took that as a good sign. “In the dream, one of the engines exploded and took out multiple people. That’s not possible, right? I mean ... I’m not an engineer or anything, but that was just a dream.”
“It’s technically possible but highly unlikely,” Michael clarified, causing Quinn’s stomach to hop. “We run through a series of checklists before every trip. Twice a year, the engines are tested to the point of fatigue to make sure nothing can go wrong. The odds of an engine actually exploding are so slim that you’re more likely to find a unicorn first. It is possible, though.”
“Could something else go wrong? I mean ... is there something else that could cause multiple fatalities on the ship?”
“We could sink.”
Quinn had already considered that. “We have lifeboats. In this day and age, help would arrive fast to save us. Sinking in the waters off the Bahamas isn’t the end of the world. It’s not like being on the Titanic.”
“True.” Michael’s expression was thoughtful as he stared at his friend. “So ... a dream caused all this?”
Quinn nodded without hesitation. “Yeah. It made me uneasy. I don’t know how to explain it.”
“Not everyone on the ship is a ghost hunter,” Michael pointed out. “I bet we have some dream interpreters, too. Do you want me to ask around?”
That was the last thing Quinn wanted. “I’m good. It was just a dream. I’m being ridiculous.”
“I happen to think you’re always ridiculous, especially when it comes to that girlfriend. Still, you might track her down so she can distract you. She’s good at that ... and you’re clearly a little off.”
“Maybe I’m simply unnerved by the ghost hunters,” Quinn mused. “They make me nervous. Some of them are weird.”
“Yeah, well, there are all types of people.” Michael flicked his eyes back to Harper. “All kinds of hot people.”
“Don’t even think about it,” Quinn warned, extending a finger. “She’s obviously off limits. I don’t know anything about her boyfriend, but he looks the type who could beat you senseless without breaking a sweat. If I have to jump in and save you from your own mouth, I’m not going to be happy.”
“The boyfriend is a cop,” Michael offered, more to himself than to Quinn. “I remember from the television show. He was pretty much a basket case when the girlfriend disappeared in the asylum. He took off to find her, though, and didn’t come back until he’d thwarted a killer and found her.”
Amused despite himself, Quinn hiked an eyebrow. “Thwarted?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Has anyone ever told you that you watch too much television?”
“There’s no such thing as too much television.”
“Yeah, you definitely need to start reading more.”
“EVERY GUY ON THIS SHIP wants me,” Zander announced as he sipped a rum runner and appreciatively gazed around the deck. “I am the king of the world.”
Harper lowered her sunglasses so she could meet her best friend’s steady gaze. “What makes you say that?”
“Look around.” Zander extended his hand. “I’m the center of attention. Everyone thinks I’m a fine specimen of my gender, and they can’t understand why I don’t have anyone with me on this trip.”
“You have me,” Harper pointed out, grinning when Jared hand
ed her a bottle of water and slid her a sly wink. “Maybe they think we’re a couple.”
Zander made an exaggerated face. “Oh, please.” He waved off the comment with a dismissive hand gesture. “Nobody thinks we’re together. It’s obvious we’re friends, but I’m far too good looking for you.”
Harper’s mouth dropped open. “I can’t believe you just said that to me. I’m equally as good looking as you. In fact, well, some people think I’m better looking than you.”
“They do not.”
“They do so.”
“They do not.”
“They do so.”
“And who are these people?” Zander queried. “Who are these poor souls with cataracts who think you’re better looking than me?”
“Lots of people think it,” Harper fired back. “Tell him, Jared. Not everyone thinks he’s better looking than me.”
“That’s true.” Jared sipped a fruity drink as he flipped through the ship’s welcome magazine. “I happen to believe Harper is way better looking than you, Zander.”
Zander snorted so hard Harper was surprised he didn’t blow snot in his drink. “Of course you have to say that. You’re her boyfriend. If you don’t say she’s prettier than me, you’ll get in trouble. Your opinion doesn’t count.”
“She is prettier than you,” Jared stressed. “It’s not something I simply say. It’s something I believe.”
“Oh, you’re so adorable.” Zander shot him a pitying look. “It’s probably best you’ve convinced yourself it’s true. It will cut down on issues in the future.”
“Whatever.” Jared rolled his neck and flipped another page. “Heart, don’t listen to him. He’s just trying to get you going. He’s bored without Shawn and he’s decided that you’re going to serve as his primary form of entertainment. He’ll get over it once he meets some new people and can serve as the center of attention for an entirely new group of desperate souls seeking entertainment.”
Ghostly Seas: A Harper Harlow and Rowan Gray Mystery Page 3