Page 67 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

I stood and walked to the window. Max said they were waiting for Rogers to arrive, and then they’d sail out to sea. But he didn’t know about the blockade.

“Can you see any ships on the horizon?” Ace leaned back in his chair. “I don’t know how Captain Smith is going to paddle by an entire blockade of ships.”

“I don’t have an ocean view. I can see most of the other ships and the island, part of the fort.” I stood on tiptoe and craned my neck trying to see the entire harbor. I studied the other ships from my limited view. We were on the biggest ship and the farthest out but still within blockade range.

“TheSea Stormis the biggest ship.” Ace sidled up next to me to peer out the opening.

I ate the last hunk of bread I still held in my hand and recalled the name written on the side of the ship when we climbed aboard. La tempête sur la mer. The storm on the sea. TheSea Storm.

My insides twisted into a knot, and the bread stuck halfway in my throat. I choke-coughed. Ace whacked me on the back.

“Ace, we have to get off this ship.” I moved to the table and downed the rest of my tea.

“I agree, doll. If I’m to cook a meal, I’ll surely walk the plank. What’s that disease that comes from spoiled chicken?”

“Salmonella.” I paced in front of Ace. “Marco’s not here. I don’t know why he sent us the name of theSea Storm. No one is here. Not Marco, not Sasha, not even our mark, Mortas.”

“I wonder where that dastardly devil Mortas is hiding?” Ace tapped his finger to his chin. “It’s not like him to miss all the fun.”

“Not only that. I think this is the ship that Charles Vane sets on fire during his escape. She’s French, and I never read about her in any of my research.”

Ace stiffened when my words hit home. “You’re right. How are we going to get off ’er before she bursts into flames?”

“We can make a break for it while Max and Rowan are at the pirate meeting.” I hoped they would get an invite, leaving the ship thin on mates to babysit.

Ace straightened, and his eyes widened. “What do you want to do, swan dive over the side?”

“Uhm…”

“Did you see how far down that is?” Ace looked at me like I was crazy. “I’ve been on cruise ships with less draft.”

I moved back to the porthole. “We can use the rope ladder. Steal one of the rowboats.”

“Let me get this straight. We’re going to sneak away from Shrug the Sentinel, climb overboard, scale down the side to a rowboat, then you and me are going to row a six-man skiff to shore?”

“That’s the plan.” I bit my lip. I felt terrible ditching Max.

Ace looked at me, dumbstruck. “I’m speechless.”

“That’s new for you. After we escape, we’ll need to find Vane’s ship and rescue Marco.”

“Hold the front hatch.” Ace flipped his palm at me. “Are you insane?”

“Probably, but Marco’s on Vane’s ship, and I need to find him.”

“You’re just going to climb aboard and ask him to accompany you home?”

“Yes.” I nodded with more enthusiasm than I intended. “After he hears what happens to him, he’ll come.”

“Not without Sasha.” Ace rocked back on his heels, recovered from my insane plan. He was now playing devil’s advocate. “And how are you going to drag ’er off the ship?”

“I’m not sure.” I paced the room. “We need to think this through. Iron out the details. We’ve got a lot of ground to cover.”

“You mean water.”

“Yeah, water.”

“Times up, cook,” Shrug called from the other side of the door before banging his fist a few times. “Yer needed to make the grub.”

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