Page 37 of Too Far To Sea
They’d reached the elevator. Dana pushed the button.
“Good evening,” McKay turned to leave, then paused. “The guy deserved what you did. Don’t feel bad about it.”
The elevator door opened, and a passenger exited. Three others remained in the elevator.
Not wanting anyone to get the wrong idea, Dana nodded slightly at McKay as she entered the elevator. As the door closed, she caught one last glance of him. Why did she always want what she couldn’t have? Right now, she would rather have a nice long conversation with him than to be curled up with her book no matter how grand of a gesture Miss Philipa made for her viscount. It didn’t beat a conversation with a real-life man.
11
Since McKay “officially”spent the day on leave, he had to work a night shift. Alvaro failed to mention the extra shift when he gave McKay the assignment to get the camera. McKay would have still agreed, but the extra hours were going to be hard to keep. Since Martina had worked a portion of his day shift, it was only fair that he work hers. If Alvaro was right, and a security team member was involved, any other work solution would be out of the ordinary. Not for the first time, McKay wished the ship served Dr. Pepper. In the end caffeine was caffeine, so he guzzled the ship’s cola of choice as he monitored the new camera through Alvaro’s tablet. Nothing unusual.
McKay covered a yawn. His body rebelled against being awake at two in the morning. The ship was quiet this time of night, with most of the activity happening in the casino where gamblers played round the clock, heedless of time or location.
He stood more to keep himself awake than anything. In the other room, two crew members monitored the CCTV feeds.
“Anything to report?”
“Nothing of import. A passenger left their power scooter in the hallway again. This will be their third warning.”
“Too bad we don’t have boots like they do for cars parked in the wrong zones,” said Ian.
“Wouldn’t solve the problem. It would still be in the hall,” said a crew member McKay rarely saw as they worked opposite shifts.
“An impound lot. We’ll tow it to the luggage area on deck 3.” Ian had a point.
McKay brought up the feed of the scooter on his tablet, then crosschecked with the cabin information. “It is a rental with our contracted company. The passenger signed the acknowledgement. I also show they had two verbal warnings from housekeeping. Who wants to play tow truck? We have a master key.”
“You’re serious? We can do that?” Ian turned to face him. Three months on board, Ian should have known the policy by now.
“Yes. Usually people stop after one warning. It’s been at least three sailings since the last time we had to take drastic steps. The cruise line has an arrangement with the rental company, so we can impound it for the rest of the trip.”
“Wow, Mac. I didn’t know you had a fierce side,” Ian stood. “May I have the honors? I delivered the first warning, and the woman was a first-class Karen.”
“Sure. I’ll print out the letter explaining that they are in violation of the agreement with the ship and the rental company.” It was petty, and if he had more sleep, he might have waited until morning. However, it was a fire hazard, so he felt justified. In the back of his mind, he knew the lingering annoyance with the groomsman that had bothered Dana fueled his actions.
By the time 0500 rolled around, McKay was ready to prop his eyes open with toothpicks.
Alvaro entered the office. He laughed at McKay’s report of impounding the scooter. “I get to deal with an annoyed passenger as your payback for having you work a double?”
McKay made a show of looking at his watch. “I predict they’ll be down by 0700 demanding their scooter back.”
Alvaro sat down at the computer. “According to the notes, the passenger was abusive to the crew members who warned her. Sure you don’t want to stick around? It’s been a good six months or so since we have had to remove a passenger from the cruise and she bears all the hallmarks of the candidate to be the next one.”
McKay covered his yawn with his hand. “I’ll pass. I’m back on at noon. I need as much sleep as I can get.”
He made it two steps out the door when Alvaro called him back in. “Mr. F is active on the camera.”
This early in the morning? “I’ll head over there now.”
“Keep me updated over the comms.”
McKay hurried through the crew prep areas to the eleventh deck. He stepped out into the hall.
Alvaro’s voice came through the earpiece. “He is leaving.”
McKay quickened his step, only to find the hallway empty. “Missed them.”
“Better luck next time.”
