Page 52 of The Situation Ship
“My head is throbbing, and I’m freezing. Can we please go back to the suite?”
Isaiah nodded and released her.
She checked under the last lounger and groaned, frustrated. “Where the hell are they?!”
“What’s wrong?”
“My heels are gone! I took them off when I heard the scuffle so I wouldn’t be slowed down, but I left them right by the loungers.” She pointed to the empty floor.
“A body and a pair of shoes – a killer with a taste for designer heels,” he quipped.
“What,you’redoubting me now?” Poppy snapped, heading inside before she froze to death.
Once she’d had a hot shower and changed into dry clothes, she could think more clearly.
“I’m not doubting you,” Isaiah assured her. “I just think the security aboard theMidasis more interested in cleaning up messes than protecting those on board.”
“You think they covered it up?” she asked as they got into the lift. “How? I couldn’t have been gone more than five minutes.”
“I think security saw what happened on the cameras and cleaned up while they kept you busy. They made sure not to leave a trace, including your shoes. They use Eagle Eye security– that software doesn’t need updating like they said itdoes,” Isaiah explained. “The captain might have been able to hide Patrice’s death, but with Calliope’s death being so public, there’s no way they would want news of a second on the same evening.”
“What about Joshua?! He needs help! Do you think they took him away to help him?” she gasped, unable to ignore the irony that she was trying to save the man she had plotted to kill just days ago.
“I don’t know. If he was still alive when they got to him, he should be in the infirmary. Still, they won’t let you anywhere near there,” Isaiah said, buttoning up his jacket on her as her teeth began to chatter.
“At least the infirmary will be easier to get to than the morgue,” Poppy said as the doors opened. “If he’s alive, then he has the answers we need.”
“Tonight we can’t risk heading down there. We’ve already been in cuffs once this evening.” Isaiah led her down the corridor. “Once things settle, I’ll figure out a way to find out if he’s in there.”
“Okay,” she agreed, lacking the strength to argue. The thought of Joshua being safe in the infirmary eased her worries. If the captain kept his presence a secret, the killer wouldn’t know they had failed, and he would be safe.
Ifhe was still alive. All the ifs were starting to make her head spin.
Poppy took a moment to ensure Mina was secure in her room. Thankfully, she was fast asleep and curled around a pillow. Poppy didn’t want to wake her and tell her what happened; one of them should have a nightmare-free sleep.
Isaiah was waiting for her in the sitting room.
“Mina’s out cold,” Poppy said, tossing his jacket onto the bed as he closed the door behind her.
“At least one of us is having a nice holiday,” he joked as he opened the minibar and took out a small bottle of whisky.
“I thought you didn’t drink on the job?”
“It’s for you; it’ll warm you up and help with the shock,” Isaiah said, pouring the liquor into a crystal glass.
“Thank you,” she said, taking a sip. Heat rushed down her throat into her chest.
She glanced at the door to Isaiah’s room. Technically, she had fired him. It wasn’t his job to protect her anymore, and she wasn’t sure if he would still want her to stay with him. She didn’t want to be alone; being with Isaiah distracted her from the sensation of blood on her skin.
Isaiah threw himself into the armchair. He looked as exhausted as she felt.
“I need a shower. I can still feel their blood on me.” Poppy sighed, perching on the edge of a lounge chair.
“Take a shower,” he told her.
“Can you stay here?” Poppy asked.
“You fired me. Are you sure you still want my protection?” Isaiah smiled softly.
