Page 66 of Tiki Hut Tragedy
“Good. We have a clear signal. Where are you?”
“Standing by Lucky’s, right outside the casino,” Millie said. “Have you started tracking Astrid?”
“I have. She’s on the lido deck.” Annette’s voice grew muffled. “And on the move.”
Millie placed a light hand on Cat’s back and whisked her off to the side, out of the flow of traffic yet in a spot where they could monitor the casino entrance.
“She’s heading down. Astrid is on deck seven, passing by the gift shop. Depending on where you are, you should have a visual.”
“Coming from the direction of Ocean Treasures?”
“Correct.”
Millie casually slid to the side, giving her an unobstructed view of the corridor. A trio of passengers meandered in the other direction. A couple came toward them, followed by a woman, a voluptuous brunette with long flowing locks, wearing a clingy red dress and high heels. “I don’t see her.”
“She’s directly in front of the casino now.”
Cat squinted her eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. She just walked through the door.”
“I’ll head that way. Cat, you stay here and keep an eye on this side.” Splitting up, Millie picked up the pace, jogging down the corridor to the entrance Astrid had taken.
Annette rattled off her current position. “She circled around the table games and is walking over to the sportsbook counter.”
Millie frowned. The only people near the sportsbook counter were two men and the brunette who had walked in only moments earlier. There was no sign of mousy, brown-haired Astrid. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.”
“All I see is an attractive woman with long hair who doesn’t even remotely resemble her.” Millie spun in a slow circle. She spotted Brody talking on his radio not far from the cashier’s counter.
Moving at a brisk clip, she crossed the casino floor and waited for him to notice her.
“10-4. I’ll keep an eye out.” He replaced his radio. “Hey, Millie.”
“Hey, Brody.”
“What brings you to my neck of the woods?”
“I’m on the hunt for Astrid. By all accounts, she should be here, but she’s not.”
“Medium height, short brown hair. She doesn’t wear makeup and pulls her hair back,” Brody said.
“Yep. That’s Astrid.”
He shook his head. “Like I said before, I don’t recall seeing her. Maybe I can help you look.”
Millie motioned toward Cat, who was keeping watch near the other entrance. “Cat is helping, but it appears we could use another set of eyes.” She tapped her earpiece. “Are you there, Annette?”
“Yep.”
“Is Astrid still inside the casino?”
“She is. She hasn’t moved and is over by the sportsbook counter.”
Millie scanned the area. The same people were still in place…two men and the attractive, younger woman. “This is nuts. All I see are two men and one woman, none of whom is Astrid.”
Brody clenched his jaw. “Great. Here we go.”
