I had to pretend I still worked at St. Greg’s, the last hospital that I did management in OB/GYN. She seemed to buy it and told me about the jobs that she’d had. I really got the sense that Betty came from money.
“I love the way the British have their royal family, Betty. It’s so interesting and historical at the same time.”
She looked across the room. “My grandfather was an earl.”
Wouldn’t that mean his children would be royals also? I thought, but Betty didn’t look open to questions. How interesting. Europeans had such wonderful histories behind their lineage.
“Wow. An earl. That is neat.” We finished our meal and each had two cups of tea. Mine was decaf. Betty crinkled her nose at that and teased me that I didn’t drink real tea. I’d never spent this much time with my roommate, since our shifts often kept us apart. After she asked me a bit more about my current job, we cleaned up our trays and headed out of the place.
“Pauline, I’ve always wondered how they found you so fast to replace…Remy. How was that?” she asked as we walked toward the elevator.
Oops. First I shivered at the thought of Remy, and then I fumbled for a lie and wondered why Betty would care. How’d she come up with the question? “That’s an interesting question. I believe that my boss had connections with someone that had something to do with the ship. The Golden Dolphin line, that is.” Oh, damn. Even I wouldn’t believe that.
“Well, I’m off.” She got into the elevator and really didn’t look as if she expected me to join her.
I stood and watched the door close, then got another chill up my spine.
But this time it didn’t have to do with Remy.
I needed to find Jagger, so I made myself obvious by going out on the deck where the passengers were embarking from their tour of Bermuda. Saddened to see the island for the last time, I had to concentrate on work, and wondered if Tim would be sailing back or staying on the island to find Remy.
“You should be ashamed of yourself.”
I swung around at the sound of Jagger’s voice and smiled to myself. Did I know the guy or what? “What are you talking about?”
“Involving those two in your trick. They’re just about in pieces over your escape.”
Damn it.
“You didn’t holler at them or make them feel worse did you?”
He shook his head.
I’d have to call Goldie and Miles’s room and apologize. But first I had to talk to Jagger. “Come with me.”
He didn’t hesitate or ask any questions, which made me feel as if he again trusted my instincts and thought I was capable of investigating on my own. We walked up the stairs to the upper deck, where the top of the dolphin tank sat.
Jake, Johnny and Gilbert were gracefully swimming in circles. I think they all stopped and smiled at me-or my head was injured worse than I thought. I told Jagger to sit on the edge of the tank and I stood near him, looking around.
Several passengers were on the far side enjoying fancy drinks with tiny umbrellas in them and some were in the pool, splashing about. No one was close enough to hear us, so I kept looking at the dolphins and told Jagger about Betty, the monarchy, whatever I could think about Remy and my thoughts.
He told me how he’d gotten a flight to Bermuda and “poked” around there before the ship docked, but didn’t find anything of interest.
I wondered if he really flew there to “protect” me. Neat.
“I think there is some tie that we are missing. Some connection between whomever killed Jackie and whomever is involved with the medical-insurance fraud.”
“I agree.”
My mouth dropped down to my chin.
And Jagger smiled.
It felt wonderful. While basking in my glory, I waved to Gilbert, who waved his flipper at me! “How cute!” I started to laugh and tell Jagger about my aquatic friends.
Suddenly my laughter stopped.
In the darkened corner of the deck where the bar ended stood a shadowed figure-within earshot.
The sun blinded my vision so I couldn’t see clearly enough to identify who was watching and listening to Jagger and me. If it was Remy, I was glad to have Jagger nearby and wondered if he was “packing.”
“Well, maybe we should take a walk?” I said and motioned for him to follow.
Jagger got up and leaned near me. Before I could move, his arms were around me and his lips on mine!
Wow!
For a second, it didn’t matter who was lurking in the shadows, I had other things on my mind. But that crazy thought only lasted a second.
Besides, Jagger whispered in my ear, “Don’t look toward the shadow. Someone is-”
I should have been disappointed, but, well, this was Jagger. Workaholic extraordinaire. He must have seen the figure in the reflection of the window directly across from him. I had been busy looking at the dolphins, but that seemed to work out as a good cover.
Before he could finish his sentence, something flew forward and nearly missed our heads and the tank.
A fire extinguisher landed smack at our feet.
And the shadow disappeared.
“Stay here!” Jagger shouted and ran toward the other side of the deck.
I really couldn’t just stand there, so I hurried to the stairwell where Jagger had gone, clasping my necklace with one hand and grabbing the doorknob with the other.
When I stepped through the doorway, I paused. Silence. No one was running on the stairs. I cautiously made my way down and tried to see if the door to the lower deck was still closing. No such luck. Maybe Jagger was doing better than I. I wondered if Remy did come back onboard to finish some job he had started.
Who else was on his list of victims?
After several hours of searching, I went back to my cabin to see if Jagger had returned there. Betty hadn’t gotten back yet, but there was a note on my pillow-in Jagger’s handwriting.
Oh, yeah. I noticed the small things when it came to Jagger.
For a few seconds, I thought of Tim. Tim. Jagger. Tim. Jagger.
What a conundrum.
Jagger had said he would be searching in the background, as he’d put it, and that I should stay in the open. Go to the Bottlenose Lounge and stay there, since it was always crowded.
I looked down at my outfit and decided I had to change. My first thought was to put on something comfortable with good shoes for running if need be.
Then I realized Jagger was onboard and grabbed my slinky black dress and heels, telling myself if I had to save my life, I’d fling off the shoes and run like hell in my bare feet. I did, however, leave off nylons since they would be too slippery for running. Before I was done, I hooked my pink necklace back on.
Once ready, I went out the door, looked both ways-since I didn’t know if I was a target or not-and hurried to the elevator.
That same gang of giggly girls was on it and I was never so glad to see the annoying bunch. I stood silently and listened to them. One said she saw a passenger that looked like the “host” that was thrown off the ship in Miami, but the others said they saw him too and he was much better-looking.
I laughed out loud.
They all glared at me, and I said, “You had to be there,” while the door opened and I scooted out.
Jagger had been correct. The lounge was packed, and I figured everyone had their fill of Bermuda and since the ship was going to set sail very soon, they all decided to party and forget the island.
“Hey, Pauline.”
I swung around to see Hunter. Yikes. I hoped he didn’t recognize Jagger. Then I shook my head, and thank goodness my headache was gone. I was talking Jagger here. The guru of disguise wouldn’t let anyone recognize him if he didn’t want them to.