Chapter 28

The rumor is that those two interfering fools have found the necklace. I wonder if they really did. Why would anyone go crawling under the table is beyond me. I thought it was a perfect place to hide it. They still can't pin it on me, as I made sure I had gloves on the whole time I handled it, even when taping it to the table.

I'd love to see if it's really been found. But how? How can I do that without anyone seeing me? Besides, it would be too dangerous. I must be very careful. If they have found it, then those two killings of mine were useless. But I'll still carry out my plans that have been in the works for a long, long time. What's another six months or so?

There are always rich people on board. For the last five years I've been pilfering from many guests, and by holding back lots of my own earnings, without my wife knowing, I've already saved close to twenty-three thousand dollars. I need just one more big haul to help me disappear forever. Then I can start a new life as a rich foreigner in another country, where maybe I'll get some respect.

This was supposed to be it. My plan wasn't to murder anyone, but Barsha and George were just too nosey. They should have just left it alone.

If the rumor's true, and they've found the necklace, I'll have to wait until the next cruise or two. And I'll have to start all over and check out the passenger lists. The same rich people go on lots of cruises throughout the years. I've seen many of them over and over again. In fact, I've seen that rich lady with the necklace before. Yes, her and her famous necklace. They come and go and come and go. But this was the first time I heard how incredibly valuable it is.

I'll have another opportunity. Many more opportunities. It's fun and exciting to steal from those rich people. They have so much that most of them don't even know that their things have been stolen. I'm like Robin Hood. I steal from the rich and give to the poor . . . me. But I was hoping to disappear right after this cruise.

There those two snoopers are again. All three of us servers are on this duty. I wonder if they're checking us out, or really baking in the sun. I wonder too if they think it's one of us. They haven't spoken to any of us now that they're here, but they will. They're always snooping around and asking the three of us questions.

I'm sure I'm in the clear. I've tried to be very helpful, telling them I send all my money home to educate my kids. They most likely think I'm an okay guy, so why should I worry? There's no evidence pointing to me. I made sure of that. I've just got to continue to remind myself to be very careful.

I think I'm going to go over there and tell them I heard that the necklace has been found. If they say yes, I'll tell them how happy I am. I can see Berta talking to them, so I'll have to wait. I wonder if she's a suspect now that she's become a believer like them.

Six more months and I'll be free. No more sending all my hard working money home to a wife and kids who don't appreciate it. Even if I can't make a big haul in the next six months, I'll still vanish and make do with what I have. By then I should have another three or four thousand. Maybe if I work really hard at it, I can come up with over thirty grand, all total. In fact I'll stop sending my money home in a couple of months. I'll make up some kind of excuse to my wife. What can she do about it anyway? Absolutely nothing!

I'm too close now in leaving. I don't want to make any mistakes. Whatever I can save should last me for over three years, and after that I can look for a job. My disappearance will have been forgotten by then. I should be able to make contact with people who can help me find work. With my personality, my new friends will think I'm a great guy. I can hardly wait to get off this tub and start my new life . . . with my new name . . . Jose Mendez. Yes, I like it. What I have to do now is act really friendly and helpful, so they don't suspect me.