Page 28 of The Cruise Club

‘So, I’ve heard,’ Dicky concurred.

‘I knew that!’ Don shouted and stared angrily at his team.

‘But that doesn’t take away from the fact that…’ Dicky held up his hand for a drum roll. ‘Betty Cunningham, you and your team, the Trivia Titans, are today’s Golden Oldies Gang Quiz Winners!’

Fran and Sid leaped to their feet, and as Fran kissed Betty’s powdered cheek, Sid patted Betty on her shoulder.Dicky carried a bottle of champagne to the table and Colin and Neeta clapped their hands.

‘I’ll take charge of that,’ Betty said and snatched the prize from Dicky. Standing triumphantly, all ailments forgotten, she held the bottle as though she’d won the lottery.

There was a murmur as numerous Golden Oldies, already plotting revenge, grudgingly clapped the winning team. Don and Debbie came over to congratulate the Trivia Titans, and Fran asked Debbie if her necklace had been found. But before Debbie had time to reply, Don shook his head. ‘I told her not to bring the expensive stuff on holiday. It’s a goner, I’m afraid, but if I catch the culprit, I’ll skin them alive.’

Debbie rolled her eyes.

‘Do you have any idea where you might have lost it?’ Fran asked.

Debbie explained that she hadn’t a clue. An officer from guest services had taken a description and checked Lost and Found. He’d frowned when Debbie mentioned that she hadn’t used the safe in their room but assured her that a thorough search would be conducted and checked in the public areas.

‘It’s so upsetting for you,’ Fran said, ‘but someone will be sure to pick it up and hand it in.’

Debbie said that she hoped so and, taking hold of Don’s arm, led him away.

Colin and Neeta said they were going for a rest and, holding hands, disappeared too.

‘We must find Carmen,’ Betty gave orders as she drained the last of her cocktail. ‘She needs to press my outfit for tonight, and I want her to do my hair.’

Sid raised his eyebrow as Fran shrugged her shoulders. Releasing the brake, Sid took charge and wheeled Betty away.

‘What a smashing afternoon,’ Fran said as she linked Sid’s arm, and they moved through the ship to Betty’s cabin. ‘I hope that Carmen had a lovely time too.’

Chapter Thirteen

Carmen was, indeed, having a lovely time. In the comfort of her quiet cabin, her glasses were perched on the edge of her nose and her fingers flew over the keys of her laptop. The Rainbow Sleuth had finally got back on his detecting horse to saddle up and set off on his mission to solve a mysterious crime. Lost in her make-believe world and inspired by Ruskin’s talk, Carmen’s brain whirled, and words raced across the page.

Unable to relax, Carmen suddenly felt that the story might evolve in a more intriguing way. Her sleuth was piecing together clues faster than she could get them down and as she envisaged the quaint village, cobbled streets, and cosy Cumbrian coffee shop where the story’s pivotal scene occurred, Carmen focused.

‘Thank you, Ruskin!’Carmen whispered as she scribbled notes and typed away.

Outside, the view from the open patio doors was like a painting, and as the ship glided through the smooth waters of the Aegean, muslin window drapes caught sunlight thatfiltered through the fabric. But Carmen didn’t notice the slow-moving dance. She was in her own world, breathing life into her characters.

When a knock sounded on her cabin door, Carmen didn’t hear. When it came again, banging furiously, she almost leaped out of her seat.

‘CARMEN!’ Betty yelled. ‘Open up this instant!’

With a longing look at the screen, Carmen saved her work. Another few minutes and the chapter would have been reworked.

‘Coming, Mum.’ Carmen reluctantly pushed back her chair and brushed strands away from her face. Her fingers were clenched into fists as she marched across the cabin to fling the door open.

Standing on either side of Betty, Sid and Fran smiled apologetically. ‘Hello, love,’ Fran began, ‘your mum wonders if you’d be kind enough to help her prepare for dinner.’

Betty waved her cane. ‘You’ve been dilly-dallying all afternoon, Carmen. Anyone would think you didn’t want to spend time with your poor old mother.’

‘I’ve hardly been…’ Carmen began to reply but knew that reasoning with Betty was useless. Instead, she followed the group to Betty’s room where Betty flopped down on the sofa.

‘Your mum won a bottle of champers,’ Fran announced. ‘Shall I pop it in the fridge so it will be chilled, and you can both have a drink before dinner?’

Betty, her knuckles almost white, gripped the bottle like it was her last loaf of bread.

‘That’s a great idea,’ Carmen said and began a tugging match with her mother.

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