Page 61 of Tiki Hut Tragedy
“I guess I’ll have to.” Millie ended the call and waved her phone in the air. “It looks like I’ll be scoping out the casino tonight.”
“Good luck. I try to avoid the place unless I want to take a shower after I’m done.”
“The cigarette smoke can be a little much. However, in the spirit of a full investigation, it looks like I’ll have to bite the bullet.” Millie and Cat went their separate ways, with Millie hosting a round of trivia before the first seating dinner began.
It was Elegant Night, which meant Millie would eat at the Captain’s Table. On her way to her seat, she greeted the special guests who had been invited to dine with Nic. Donovan arrived moments later and made his rounds.
Nic showed up last, apologizing and vaguely mentioning an unexpected issue had needed his attention.
Millie caught his eye. Her husband shook his head and gave her a look that said he would explain later.
Having devoured Annette’s delicious lobster roll, Millie ordered smaller dishes from the appetizer menu…gazpacho soup and stuffed mushrooms.
The conversation flowed easily with guests giving feedback about their sea day. All the while in the back of Millie’s mind, she couldn’t help but wonder which one was wrong—Sharky’s tracking system he insisted was accurate or Brody who swore he’d never laid eyes on Astrid.
The meal ended, and Millie and Nic lingered, waiting until Donovan and the guests had left.
“What’s going on?”
“Remember the problem with the propulsion system?” Nic didn’t wait for her to answer. “It’s glitching again. Nothing serious, but enough that I’ve arranged for the fleet’s head mechanics to check it out when we return to Miami.”
“Better safe than sorry.”
“What about your evening?” Nic grasped his wife’s hand and kissed the top. “I spoke with Patterson. He mentioned your anonymous note about how the woman’s tiki hut drowning wasn’t an accident.”
“I’ve been doing a little digging around. So far, I haven’t come up with anything.”
“But you’re still digging.”
“Maybe.”
Nic pinned her with a stare, giving her “the look.”
“Okay, I am. If it’s true, I don’t like the thought of a killer getting away.” Millie told him about Astrid visiting the casino every evening, yet Brody insisted she hadn’t been there.
“How do you know she’s been there?”
“I…uh…” Millie could feel her armpits grow damp. “I can’t tell you on the grounds that I might incriminate myself.”
“I don’t know why I bother,” he sighed.
“My natural curiosity and inquisitiveness are what attracted you to me in the first place.”
“Yes, and I got more than I bargained for in that department.” He kissed her forehead. “All I ask is for you to stay out of trouble. If the unidentified person is correct, it means we have a killer wandering around on board.”
“I will.” Millie pointedly changed the subject. “I’m looking forward to visiting South Seas Cay tomorrow.”
Not only was the island one of her favorite stops, but it was a passenger favorite as well. Because the ship tracked the number of guests who got off in each port, a way to gauge a stop’s popularity, she knew the pristine private island was one many visited.
And who wouldn’t? Palm trees, ocean breezes, lounge chairs offering expansive views of the turquoise waters. A water park for the kids, an adults-only retreat. It was everything the Caribbean islands offered all rolled up into one, but without the hassle of dealing with hagglers or hustlers.
Nic returned to the bridge while Millie worked her way to the theater. She introduced the brand-new headliner show, a comedian. Stepping off the stage she watched from the sidelines.
Based on the enthusiastic applause and frequent laughter, he was well-received, and she was relieved. A few of the ship’s most recent entertainers had been, for lack of a better word, duds. Because it was her job to line up the entertainers, the pressure was on for her to deliver.
She returned to the stage to wrap it up. After finishing, she caught up with him. “Congratulations on a great show. The passengers loved it.”
“Thanks. I appreciate you giving me the opportunity.” A young man with sandy brown hairand an easy smile, he’d given Millie a good vibe from right off the bat. He engaged easily and, when checking in with her team, was thrilled to discover he seemed to fit in with Siren of the Seas’ staff, something not all did, thinking they were the “stars” who deserved preferential treatment.
