Page 21 of Midnight

She dug her fingers underneath the strap, trying to loosen the hold. She looked behind her, seeing the bulk of another person, but then she was yanked backwards so forcefully pain burst behind her eyes. She let out a strangled cry and her arms flailed, her fingernails clawing at her neck. The front of the life jacket lifted as she fell, making it harder for her to grip the strap.

She was being dragged, even as she dug the heels of her trainers into the deck to try to stop it. She felt her vision blacking.

Then – relief. She dropped to her knees, coughing and spluttering, pulling the jacket over her head and tossing it aside. It spun across the polished decking, stopping by the railing. She turned to look for the culprit, but Elisabet was standing in the way, the door open behind her.

Whoever had tried to choke her was now hidden. She scrambled to try to see around the door, but there wasno sign of anyone on the deck behind. Her neck throbbed with pain.

‘Are you OK?’ It was Elisabet. ‘I saw you struggling – did you catch the strap in the door handle?’

Olivia shook her head, massaging her neck. ‘No, someone grabbed it.’

‘Seriously?’ Elisabet shut the door, looking from side to side down the now empty deck.

‘Everything OK here?’ Liam jogged up to them. ‘I noticed you weren’t with the group and came to find you. Come on, let’s get you to your feet.’

The two crew members linked under her arms and pulled her up. She stared behind her at the empty deck, no one in sight. But she’d felt the tug. The strap hadn’t caught on a door. Someone had tried to kill her.

But why had they stopped? Had Elisabet’s arrival spooked them just in time? Or was it a warning …?

Whatever it was, there was no doubt in her mind now. There was a threat on board. And she knew exactly who she had to speak to next.

9

‘Those people shouldn’t be drinking,’ muttered Elisabet. ‘Don’t they realize we’re in the middle of a safety drill? This is serious.’

Liam was still holding Olivia’s arm. ‘You sure you’re OK?’

‘Not really.’ Now the shock had subsided, her eyes welled up with tears from the pain. Liam fetched her life jacket but she didn’t put it on, clutching it against her chest instead. He led her back to the group.

She kept touching her neck with her fingertips. She wondered if it would bruise.

Patty wouldn’t leave her side, sticking to her like glue as they walked back into the lounge. But as Liam talked, going over an Antarctica-specific safety briefing and something about not touching the penguins, Olivia’s mind raced. She couldn’t concentrate. When she blinked, she felt the strap around her throat. She wished she’d never come on board. If she had kept her head, they would be together. How was she supposed to just relax and enjoy this cruise? What if something had happened to him? The niggle of the word ‘threat’ hung in her mind.

What if someone was now targeting her?

As soon as the muster was over, she needed to find Stefan the auctioneer, and demand he tell her what he and Aaron had been talking about in the restaurant. If‘the threat’ had followed her on board, that meant it had been in Ushuaia too. If someone had targeted her – and Aaron – then the police needed to know about it. All the same, she was tempted to lock herself in her cabin and not come out until they were back in Ushuaia.

Some of Captain Enzo’s words seeped through her haze of fear. Despite the fact that all visitors to Antarctica agreed to abide by rules put in place by the IAATO (the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators), it was essentially a place without government. There were no laws here or law enforcement. There was no rescue, no phone signal, limited internet – and no way to turn around and get off. Knowing that only deepened the pit in her stomach.

When all the groups had reassembled in the lounge, Captain Enzo took the microphone once more, explaining more safety features of the ship and what to do in the case of inclement weather. He made them all repeat the same mantra:one hand for oneself, and one for the ship.Essentially? They needed to remain prepared for rough seas at any time, which meant always having at least one hand free to grab a railing or a banister.

Out of the huge panoramic windows towering banks of cloud were building on the horizon over the grey sea. The waves looked manageable, the ship navigating the swells with ease. She could still see tiny outcrops of land, smudges of green and slate-grey rock. Birds congregated in swarms, shags, skuas and cormorants feasting in the krill-rich waters. She tried to concentrate on that. Nature was soothing.

You can learn so much from watching the birds.Suddenly her dad’s voice sounded in her mind. A memory of him:standing on the prow of their little sloop, heavy black binoculars around his neck. They’d been trawling the Isle of Mull’s coastline and hadn’t seen more than a couple of seagulls – but they had been treated to all seasons of weather in a single day. She’d whined and moaned, grown increasingly tired, wet and cold, begging to turn around and go home – until he had pointed at an obscure spot in the cliff. She looked through the glasses and realized he’d spotted a golden eagle. It sprang off the cliff as they were watching, opening its wings and soaring overhead.

Hard work, suffering and, yes, sometimes fear, were the price you paid to see the world’s hidden wonders. She wished she could sit back and enjoy it.

‘Are you all finished, Captain?’ Cutler was making his way to the microphone. ‘Mind if I say a few words before you dismiss us?’

‘Please.’ The captain gestured to the makeshift stage and took a step back, standing with his hands behind him, as rigid as a board.

A hush descended on the crowd, as most eyes turned to the front of the room. Olivia felt Patty tense beside her, the older woman leaning forward, her hands tightly clasped on her lap. She caught sight of Annalise behind her, who rolled her eyes but then turned her attention closely to the CEO.

‘Welcome, one and all. For those who don’t know, I am Cutler Hughes, CEO of Pioneer Adventures. This is a very special cruise, the inaugural voyage of our newly revamped ship. This has been a very difficult year for the travel industry, and I am delighted that Pioneer is at the forefront of reinvention. Central to that is our wonderfulart showcase, which will take place when we cross the Antarctic Circle. Please make a special mark in your diaries. This is the only place in the world you can buy a Kostas Yennin to take home – an artist whose work has made serious waves in the art world, especially in the wake of his tragic death.’ He paused, lowering his gaze for a solemn moment. Then he smiled again. ‘Above all, though, this is a celebration. A celebration of you, of this year and of the travel industry not just getting back to normal – but progressing.’

‘Hear, hear!’ someone said.

‘And as a special welcome to everyone, please join me now in a glass of champagne.’