The Missing Passenger Read online

  the missing

  passenger

  a cozy cruise ship mystery

  Liz turner

  Copyright © 2020 by Liz Turner.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Contents

  Prologue Break Out

  Chapter 1 Offshore Family

  Chapter 2 Death on the Dance Floor

  Chapter 3 A Watery Grave

  Chapter 4 Poltergeist

  Chapter 5 The Haunted Ship

  Chapter 6 Treasure Map

  Chapter 7 – M.I.A

  Chapter 8 A Ghostly Compromise

  Chapter 9 Last Wish

  Chapter 10 Happy Farewells

  Epilogue Bon Voyage

  Prologue

  Break Out

  “Peter,” a hushed whisper hissed, breaking the silence of the still night.

  “What?” the old man spluttered as he jerked awake in his cold bed. It took a few seconds for his timeworn memory to remind him what day it was.

  “It’s time,” the woman’s voice spoke softly, the warmth of her breath disturbing the icy air above his ear.

  Peter heaved himself out of bed, flinching as his heels touched the glacial cement floor. He was already dressed in black as he slipped his feet into his waiting pair of sneakers. He flicked his small backpack out from under his bed, cringing at the echo of clanking keys inside.

  Bed springs suddenly squeaked as Peter’s roommate flung himself over on the hard mattress, dreamily muttering about happier days. Peter froze and waited for poor Harry to settle down again. He wished he could take Harry with him, but the chances of being caught with two escapees were a lot higher than if he tried alone.

  “Ready?” the woman asked more urgently.

  Peter nodded in the darkness and carefully willed his stiff joints to cooperate as he moved towards the waiting cot. He winced in pain as he hauled his achy, inflexible knee up and onto the bed, gritting his teeth as he pulled up the next one. Out of breath, he collapsed on the hard mattress and tried to calm the rapid vibrating of his panicked pulse.

  The woman covered his body with a blanket and taped a drip onto his wrist before casually wheeling the cot out of the room and down the dimly lit, gusty corridor.

  “Don’t you people ever close the windows around here?” the man complained, trembling under his thin blanket.

  “Hush,” the woman ordered, turning the bed around a corner. “You’re supposed to be dying.”

  “Excuse me,” a snarling voice sniped, “but where are you taking him, Nurse Hannah?”

  “He needs immediate attention,” the nurse explained, picking up her pace. “I’m taking him to the hospital now! There’s no time to explain!”

  “Stop this instant! You don’t have authorization!” she said shrilly, her high-pitched voice rebounding off the walls from all angles.

  Nurse Hannah kicked up the speed another notch and raced towards the waiting ambulance.

  “Security!” a scream vented behind the fleeing pair.

  Hannah helped the driver fold up the bed and slide it into the ambulance. When she slammed the doors shut and stepped back, the driver instantly sped away with his sirens blaring.

  “What on earth do you think you’re doing?” an overweight, out-of-breath nurse yelled at her.

  “I told you, the patient is critically ill and needs instant care. There was no time to stop and answer your questions!”

  “I’m in charge of this facility, and you will answer to me,” the nurse roared.

  Hannah raised an eyebrow, but sighed in submission. “Yes, Manager Betty.”

  “Henry, chase after that ambulance, immediately!” Betty shouted at a quivering security guard. “I don’t care if he dies while we fill in his forms! We will follow protocol!”

  As the sleepy mob of night staff wearily trudged back inside the building, Nurse Hannah glanced longingly over her shoulder at the disappearing ambulance lights trailing red in the waning night. She chewed anxiously on a nail as Henry’s engine sputtered to life and followed in pursuit.

  Nurse Hannah closed the doors behind her, blocking out the frosty gusts. She risked another quick look out of the window and smiled to herself as she could just make out the figure of a bent-over frame hobbling slowly towards the manager’s car, the fading moonlight glinting silver off the ring of keys hidden in his hand.

  Chapter 1

  Offshore Family

  Gabriella Fischer closed her eyes and pushed her face up as she embraced the warm morning sun. Though they never experienced winter along the Pacific coast, the night had been chilly and Gabriella relished the dazzling sunlight reflecting off the clear water below.

  “Enjoying the sun, I see?” Sarah smiled at her.

  Gabriella laughed. “Too much summer and too little time in the cold has made me weak. I can’t believe I survived all those icy British winters only to find my teeth chattering on a cruise ship heading south.”

  “Do you ever miss home?” Sarah asked with a slightly downcast expression shadowing her face.

  “My home is wherever Nicolas is.” Gabriella winked at her friend. “Though I can tell you’re missing someone. I’m just not sure if it’s your parents, or if your heart has been snatched elsewhere…”

  Sarah’s eyes flickered with panic as she glanced around quickly to make sure they were alone.

  “Sorry. I forget how jumpy all of this makes you.” Gabriella chuckled to herself.

  “It’s not funny!” Sarah scolded her boss and closest friend aboard the ship. “If word got to the captain that –”

  “That you were in love with a man who lived on land,” Gabriella interrupted, “I don’t think he would throw your off board. He would just lecture you on protecting your heart and the dangers of long-distance romance.”

  Sarah exhaled slowly. “That’s true, but I still don’t want the entire cruise ship knowing about my relationship.”

  “Well,” Gabriella cocked an eyebrow upon spotting an approaching problem, “I think it might be in your best interests to make it known soon.”

  “Why?”

  Gabriella nodded her head toward Billy Harlow, the new head-of-security. It was his first cruise joining them, and Mr. Harlow was eager to impress. As the stout man in his early forties strode confidently closer, he ran a hand through his greasy blond hair and cracked a grin at Sarah.

  Gabriella blinked. “Did he just wink–?”

  “Don’t even,” Sarah groaned.

  “Mr. Harlow,” Gabriella greeted him, “any news to report this morning?”

  “No, ma’am.” He grinned at her. “Everything is A-okay while Billy’s on the watch.”

  “And are you finding your way around the ship more easily?” Gabriella asked politely.

  “Yes, I only got lost twice yesterday,” he answered cheerfully, his small blue eyes fixed on Sarah despite addressing Gabriella for most of the conversation.

  “Excellent.” Gabriella winked at Sarah as she spoke. “I’m so happy to hear you’re settling in.”

  “Thanks,” he murmured before taking advantage of the conversation ga
p and fixing his eyes on his actual target. “How are you, Sarah Lang?” he practically whispered.

  Sarah begrudgingly responded after Gabriella nudged her in the ribs a few times. “I’m fine, Billy. How are you?”

  “Oh, I just love my life working on a cruise ship! Especially when I have a few hours off this evening to spend with a certain someone, if you know what I mean…” Billy wiggled his broad eyebrows up and down, and winked at Sarah.

  “I’m working, Billy,” she said curtly.

  “When is your night off?”

  “Sarah doesn’t take nights off anymore. She prefers to build up her leave and use it to visit her family in California instead,” Gabriella explained, rescuing her friend from the torturous exchange.

  “You have family in California?” Billy enthused, desperate to find common ground. “I have family in California too!”

  Sarah scowled at Gabriella before stepping out of the conversation and mumbling about seeing to her duties.

  “Did I say something to offend her?” Billy asked, concerned.

  “No,” Gabriella said, feeling the need to remedy the situation after witnessing her friend’s quiet suffering. “Sarah is a closed book, I’m afraid. I would move on, if I was you.”

  “Once I see a girl I like, I’m afraid it’s love for life!” Billy said, watching the retreating figure of Sarah with his hand covering his heart.

  “And how many times have you said that about a girl?” Gabriella asked, a disapproving eyebrow shooting upward.

  “Huh?”

  Gabriella shook her head and sighed. “Never mind.”

  “Excuse me,” an old, raspy voice wheezed behind Gabriella.

  “Yes, sir?” Gabriella flashed a smile at a decrepit old man. “How may I be of help?”

  “I was just wondering how many days it would take before we stopped at Puerto Vallarta?” the old man asked.

  Gabriella noticed with mild concern that the man’s skin seemed abnormally pale. His forehead showed a film of tiny sweat droplets, and he was hunched over as though utterly exhausted. “We arrive in port on day four of the cruise, so day after tomorrow,” she replied.

  “Thank you, dear,” the old man said before coughing into a white handkerchief.

  Gabriella stepped closer to Billy, who was gazing aimlessly out to sea. “Could you contact Doctor Pattison and tell her I need her on deck immediately,” she ordered discreetly so that the old man wouldn’t hear her.

  Billy’s face flashed alarm bells as his eyes darted from the old man and back to her.

  “Now,” Gabriella emphasized.

  Billy nodded and disappeared.

  Gabriella smiled at the old man, who had paled even more. “Why don’t you come and have a seat over here and I’ll see if I can answer some more of your questions.” Gabriella guided him gently to a comfortable armchair.

  “I feel strange, if I’m honest,” the man admitted, slumping down into the chair. “I just need to take one of my blasted pills, though they hardly seem to help.” He rummaged through his pockets.

  “Are you here with any family?” Gabriella asked while signaling to a crew member at the bar to bring some water.

  “No.” The man shook his head. “I decided to do one last trip on my own before kicking the bucket.”

  Gabriella chuckled slightly as her eyes fell on another elderly passenger who’d decided to take on her own last adventure and had never left the cruise ship since. “I hope that you bump into Pamela Savage then. She’s an absolute delight, and you might find you have much in common.”

  “Gossiping about me again, are you Gabi?” Pamela’s shaky old voice tinkled as she slowly approached.

  “Never!” Gabriella laughed. “But I’d like you to meet my new friend, Mister...”

  “Newland,” Pete said, scrambling awkwardly to his feet and smoothing down his button-up shirt. “Peter Newland, my lady.” He lifted Pamela’s wrinkled hand and raised it to his tight lips.

  “And here I thought the gentleman was a dying breed.” Pamela giggled as she winked at Sarah.

  “This is our dear Pamela,” Gabi said warmly. “She joined us for a cruise last year and loved it so much, she purchased a permanent suite and retire on board!”

  “Best decision I ever made.” Pamela nudged Pete with her elbow. “And Maximus loves it too!”

  “Maximus?” Pete said, his face plummeting with disappointment.

  “Her service dog,” Gabriella explained as she dropped to her haunches and rubbed the big rottweiler who was preoccupied with licking his paw and pretending not to notice the man eyeing his boss.

  “Well, if we’re allowed pets on board, then I’m definitely in for life!” Pete laughed.

  “I’m afraid Maximus is a special case. He’s essential to Pamela, so we made a concession. Besides, I almost forget he’s a dog sometimes.” Gabriella stroked her fingers down Max’s velvety ears and smiled stupidly as his face grew sleepy.

  “Excuse me,” a woman in a white coat approached. “You called for me?”

  “Ah, yes, doctor,” Gabriella nodded. “I’d like you to please have a look at Mr. Newland. He isn’t feeling himself and I would hate for him to be sick his entire cruise.”

  “Of course,” the doctor nodded.

  “Mr. Newland, I would like you to meet Doctor Nancy Pattison,” Gabriella said.

  Pete’s eyes widened with alarm and he almost seemed to look for an escape route.

  “There’s no need to feel alarmed, Mr. Newland,” Gabriella assured, confused by his sudden anxiety. “I would just like her to make sure you’re okay. Should you feel sicklier, please make use of her services.”

  “Oh.” Peter waved his hand, embarrassed. “Thank you for your concern, but I’m all right, I assure you.”

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Gabriella smiled, though she didn’t quite believe him. “You’re in excellent company with Pamela, but should you need anything, please alert me. My name is Gabriella Fischer.”

  “Ah,” the old man smiled, “could it be that you’re the lovely wife of our captain, Mr. Fischer?”

  “Why, yes. You’re correct, Mr. Newland.” Gabriella blushed slightly at the mention of her husband’s name as butterflies involuntarily skipped through her stomach. “Now, if you’ll please excuse me,” Gabriella dismissed herself while giving Nancy the nod to persist with attempting a check-up.

  Chapter 2

  Death on the

  Dance Floor

  “It’s so nice of you to invite me to dine with you this evening,” Pamela said as Pete pulled out a chair for her.

  He had wisely chosen one of the classier dining establishments available to passengers on the cruise and slipped a handwritten invitation to dinner under Pamela’s suite door. She had dressed for the occasion, wearing an elegant deep blue evening gown with a delicate diamond chain sparkling around her neck.

  “The pleasure is all mine.” A suave Pete smiled at his lady. “And might I add that you look radiant this evening.”

  Pamela blushed despite the rouge on her cheeks. “Thank you, Peter. You look rather dashing yourself in that tux. It looks brand new!”

  “I didn’t have much time to pack,” Peter admitted, stiffly easing his joints into his own chair. “I purchased most of my luggage just before departure.”

  “Shall we have some champagne?”

  “Excellent choice.” Peter raised a hand, signaling the waiter.

  “So, tell me about yourself,” Pamela said as she held her glass up for the waiter.

  “There’s nothing exciting to tell, really.” Peter sighed sadly. “I have an extensive family, most of whom pretend I don’t exist. There’s one that’s close to my heart, but I hardly ever see her. What about your family?”

  “Tiny,” Pamela said with a fond smile. “We’re very close knit. But after my husband passed away and all my children were married with their own children, I felt the need to embark on my adventure again instead of living through them.”

&
nbsp; “Oh, I can understand the call of adventure.” Peter chuckled before taking a swig of his champagne, relishing the bubbles as they fizzed across his tongue, the taste reuniting him with memories long forgotten. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, savoring the soft tranquility of the background music and the exhilarating air of freedom buzzing around him.

  “You’re smiling,” Pamela pointed out, observing her recent friend as he got lost in thought. “I love this piece of music too.”

  Peter opened his eyes slowly, a slight smile playing across his face. “I’m just excited about the cruise, that’s all. It’s been a long time since I could choose where I wanted to go and what I wanted to eat. Shall we order lobster?”

  “Lobster?” Pamela snorted, hiding her face timidly behind her knobbed hands. “I don’t think I have strength enough in my old, bent fingers to crack through the shells. Besides,” she continued with a borderline flirtatious flutter of her eyelashes, “a lady never orders something she can’t gracefully consume on her first date.”

  “You would look graceful no matter how much lobster juice you splattered everywhere.” Peter laughed for a few seconds before breaking into a cough. He patted his chest, pulled a pill container from his pocket, and quickly swallowed a small white pill with a swig of champagne. “Tell me,” he whispered as he leaned across the table towards her, “are your old, bent fingers strong enough to be led by me in a dance?”

  Pamela emitted an almost teenager-like giggle before placing her arthritic hand in his and allowing him to lead her to the dance floor.

  As Peter’s warm fingers curled around hers, his frame swaying gently in time to the music, Pamela felt his other hand push lightly into the small of her back as he confidently guided her across the empty dance floor. There was a round of applause as the watching restaurateurs expressed their gratitude for the elegant entertainment Peter and Pamela provided. He easily twirled her out and drew her back in, careful not to snap any brittle bones.

  With a few nudges from spouses and girlfriends, a few other men were persuaded to lead their partners onto the dancefloor and join the old couple who still put everyone else to shame with their grace.