CHAPTER 70
New Orleans, LA Sunday, July 11, 2021
THE MAJESTY OF ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST CRUISE SHIPS WAS the draw, and the brochures laid out magnificent photos of the spacious deck, massive swimming pool, and grand ballrooms. The tiny living quarters, where passengers slept after a full day out and about, didn’t get much attention in the RICL brochure. Cabin 3318 was small and cramped. After an hour of bumping into each other, Meghan Cobb laid down some ground rules. A line of pillows separated the bed into two halves. Their suitcases were stored underneath. He sat in a chair crammed in the corner. Meghan took a spot on her side of the bed.
“Thanks for doing this,” he said. “However it is you got roped into it.”
“I owed someone a favor,” Meghan said.
They ran through the plan and what they hoped to accomplish during the next couple of days.
“So, you’re not allowed to leave this cabin?” Meghan asked.
“It would be best for me not to. I’ll walk the halls each day when housekeeping comes to clean, but I’ll stay out of sight as much as possible. You, on the other hand, should get out and about. Make yourself seen.”
Meghan nodded. “I plan to at least get a hell of a tan out of this deal.”
“I’ll be out of your hair in two days. Then, you’ll have the cabin to yourself.”
“Do you think this will work?”
“I’m not sure, but I’m trusting the person who set it up.”
“Your name’s not really Aaron, is it?”
“No.”
“What should I call you then?”
There was a short pause before he answered.
“Aaron,” he said. “It’s probably best for you to just call me Aaron.”