Page 72 of The Situation Ship
“Or you could leave this cruise and go home. I can book your ticket, and you’d be safe in 24 hours,” Poppy offered, wanting to give her an out.
Mina took her hand. “We started this together, and we’ll finish it together. No one will scare me away.” Her words were a comforting reassurance of their unbreakable bond despite having known each other for so little time.
“Do you have a love bite on your neck?” Mina asked, leaning in close.
Poppy’s hand flew to her neck, and they burst into laughter. “We got stuck in a lift.”
“Got stuck or stuck in?” Mina teased.
“Oh God, don’t put it like that!” Poppy hit her with a pillow.
“I’m heartbroken, so you must tell me everything,” Mina insisted.
They settled on Mina’s bed for a debrief and dismantled the minibar. The best way to cure heartbreak was definitely asleepover with chocolate, tiny bottles of alcohol, and endless movies on theMidasstreaming platform.
With the sun on her face and solid ground beneath her feet, Poppy would never take land for granted again.
The scenery of the Amalfi coast had proved to be so captivatingly beautiful that Poppy regretted how little time they would spend here. The freedom to go anywhere, without the fear of someone lurking in the dark corners, made her feel safe again, and when she walked out of the goldfish bowl and through the busy market, it made her never want to set foot on theMidasagain.
When they’d got off the ship she’d been given back her purse and phone, but she didn’t dare turn it on. She wasn’t ready for what might be waiting for her. Still, she had found some cash in her purse that she was happy to spend. Retail therapy had become her new favourite form of therapy, along with taking baths with Isaiah. If it hadn’t been for the murderer targetingher and those close to her, she would be thoroughly delighted with her life. She had a very attractive bodyguard who turned a blind eye to her violent past, a best friend willing to commit murder alongside her, and no one dictating who she should be, what she should do, or where she should go.
“We are going to run out of hands,” Isaiah said as she paid an older woman at a stall for a crochet dress for Mina and some bangles.Isaiah had got up extra early to talk with Captain Hamill and ensure the evidence was picked up and sent off properly before disembarking for the day.
“Nothing says ‘I’m sorry for taking you on a murder cruise’ like handmade clothing,” Poppy said as Isaiah took the bag from her and added it to the small pile. She didn’t get to go to many markets back home, so she wanted to support as many of the small businesses as possible.
“How about we go inside and get some coffee or something cold? I’m starting to melt,” he said, and she was undoubtedly tempted. It was coming up to lunchtime, and they’d been on their feet since leaving the ship at ten a.m.
“We could go in there,” Poppy said, pointing at a boutique with pink shutters.
Red velvet curtains and a mannequin wearing a red lacy nightdress decorated the window.
“Not a chance,” Isaiah said, shaking his head bashfully.
“Mr Rivers, I dare say you’re blushing,” Poppy teased, heading towards the door. “You could help me pick something out.”
He tipped her chin up. “I’m not going in there. And I prefer to be surprised. You go ahead and have fun – I’ll go get us something to cool down.”
“Wasn’t it your rule that we don’t go anywhere alone?” Poppy said, trying to tempt him.
“It wouldn’t be the first rule we’ve broken on this trip,” Isaiah said. “I won’t be long, and I’ll be waiting out here when you’re ready.” He kissed the side of her head and waited for her to head inside before heading to the cafe down the street.
It was hard not to get wrapped up in the pretty, unique sets inside the boutique. She loved pretty underwear – not just to show it to someone, but because it always made her feel powerful. Poppy decided to take the nightdress in the window and the blue, pink and red sets, since she wouldn’t get to come back anytime soon. She wished Mina had come shopping with her, but the poor girl deserved a day at the beach.
She expected to find Isaiah waiting outside, but there was no sign of him in the quiet street.
“Isaiah?” She peered around the shop corner, but the benches were empty. He wouldn’t have gone far; he might have got caught up in a queue or sat in the shade under the awning because she’d taken longer than expected.
A shiver crept up her spine when she started down the cobbled alley to return to the market. Poppy glanced over her shoulder, hoping to see Isaiah, but no one was there. She took a deep breath. Days on board theMidashad made her paranoid.
She was only halfway to the café when the faint footsteps started to echo behind her. She started walking a little faster, hoping to return to the busy market and find Isaiah.
Emerging from the alley, she headed straight for the café with a sense of urgency, only to be abruptly halted as she collided with an easel and the woman with striking lilac hair sitting beside it.
“Shit, that stings,” Poppy exclaimed, rubbing her scraped knees. Her heart sank as she saw the mess she had made of the woman’s paints and easel.“I’m terribly sorry; I didn’t mean to bump into you. Can I help?”
When the woman with the lilac bob and tattooed sleeve didn’t respond immediately, frantically cleaning up her paints with paper towels. She gently tapped her on the shoulder, and the woman removed some earbuds. Poppy heard music blasting.
“I’m really sorry about this,” Poppy repeated, reaching for a few paper towels from the nearby chair to assist in the cleanup and hoping she hadn’t ruined the piece the artist was working on. It was astonishing how a small amount of paint could spread so far.
