Rex watched Cricket rearrange a pile of napkins on the white tablecloth. Her eyes were focused downward as she nervously picked up the pile and moved it to the other side of the round meat platter.
"The food looks good," Rex said. "I wouldn't think the cruise line would be so accommodating for such a somber affair."
"The cruise line has all sorts of ways to make passengers feel welcome," Cricket said in a low voice.
"I guess so." Rex was not convinced.
"That's what I'm supposed to say if anyone questions this event," she responded. "The service is about to begin. May I help you with something?"
"Just wanted to thank you for bringing my luggage upstairs. I thought after our week of me avoiding you and then how you locked Viv in the morgue, you might not be that accommodating."
Unless one of us required a memorial. Then we'd get lots of food and a big farewell.
"What do you mean?" Cricket looked confused.
"You know what I mean. I saw the panties. What day of the week were you?"
"None of your business," she snapped, turning her face away.
"Oddly, I also discovered another pair in the safe, and now they are missing," he continued. "So what's the deal with the fancy underwear? Does it have a significance other than necessity?"
Cricket spoke in a low voice. "I was his Tuesday and Thursday girl." She cleared her throat. "And Tonya was the Monday and Wednesday choice. He kept his weekends free for more spontaneous hookups."
Rex felt his gut turn. Despite his reputation, the panty explanation made his stomach churn. He knew he was judgy when it came to more than one partner at a time. He didn't admit that to people because it was no one's business.
"The thing is," he told Cricket, "Tonya was wearing the Tuesday panties on a Wednesday. I found that very odd."
"You would." Irritation flared in her voice. "I think that's how men are, concrete thinkers when it comes to sex. Women don't care what day of the week is embroidered on panties. If they're clean, then wear them." Cricket walked away, not waiting for Rex's response.
I guess this conversation is over.
Once he sat down, Viv turned to him. "What did you learn?"
"That women don't care what day of the week is embroidered on their panties," he said.
Viv didn't hesitate to add her two cents. "Such a stupid idea, putting the day of the week on underwear. I pick the ones that are clean. Plus panties with days of the week are kind of childish. Something a mother would buy for her toddler who was learning to dress herself."
"I never thought of that," Rex said, "never having had children." He shrugged.
The sound of tapping on a microphone interrupted further discussion. "I'd like to welcome all of the people who gathered this afternoon as we help Sandi celebrate the life of her father."
On cue, Sandi began to sob. "I'll miss you, Daddy," she called, her voice shaking with emotion.
Bertha, sitting next to her, offered a cloth handkerchief. Sandi snatched it and covered her face. One loud blow of the nose later, the captain continued.
"We've put together some words, and then we'll remove the ashes from the box, adjourn to the promenade deck, and distribute them to the sea. Afterward, Sandi would like to invite you to stay for refreshments and conversation.
"We'll have an open bar and lots of nibbles. So be sure to stick around." He smiled at the mourners before adding, "Don't eat too much! You need to get swimsuit ready for those Honolulu beaches. And that being said…" He reached into his pocket. Adjusting his glasses, he read from a list. "Don't forget to pack your bags and have them outside your door for a quick departure. You don't want to miss check-in at that luxurious hotel you’ve already booked.” He shoved the paper back in his pocket, giving a nod.
"Color-coded tags will be put on the bags so you can find them in the terminal as you debark. This can be quick and efficient, but only if you pack and follow instructions. Otherwise you might get left on the ship. No aloha for you!" He wagged his finger.
Because Rex worked other cruises, he knew the drill. The captain's speech reminded him of someone wrapping a stale cookie in a fancy box. Instead of warning people to pack and not delay, he'd tried to make it sound funny.
The captain took a pause and then began the service. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of…"
Sandi leapt to her feet. She swayed left then right, an animalistic wail hurtling past her lips. Rex's spine tingled.
"I can't do this. I can't let go, Daddy!" Sandi cried out. She ran to the table and shoved the captain aside. Grasping the wooden box, she clutched it to her chest. She sprinted down the aisle, making a beeline toward the exit.
A look of horror came over Bertha Alcott's face.
Before reaching the exit, Sandi stumbled. Tripping, she collapsed to the floor. The box of ashes flung ahead, escaping her grasp. Rex leaned over to see what happened.
"Looks like we have an unanticipated incident," he mumbled. "Check it out."
Viv leaned closer as Sandi sobbed, "Daddy," her face planted into the carpet.
Viv squinted. "Do you see ashes? I don't see any ashes."
"Nope. No ashes. Just rocks."
"What's this all about?" Viv asked.
"I have no idea," he mumbled. But in fact, he did have an idea. He'd suspected since that first show. I knew she was holding something back, but I went along. I was losing my insights even then.
Low murmuring from the assembled grew louder. When no one offered a hand, Sandi scrambled to her feet. She ran down the aisle and out the door, leaving the rocks and the wooden box behind.
Tap tap tap sounded from the microphone. The captain spoke. "It seems the bereaved has been overcome by circumstances."
When no one bothered to disagree, he nodded toward the food tables. "But that doesn't mean we can't take advantage of hospitality and have a cocktail." He walked away to be the first one at the bar.
"That's not right, him drinking on the job," Viv murmured to Rex.
"Can't say I blame him. She's a handful, that Sandi."
"Yep." Viv took his arm.
After availing themselves of one drink and a couple crackers with cheese, Rex and Viv left the fake memorial and made their way back to her stateroom. Rex made a quick trip to his room, where he went through his luggage to retrieve the fortune globe. Returning to Viv’s room, he sat down on the edge of the bed to think. "Would you mind…" He looked at her.
"Mind what?" She dropped her purse and slipped off her shoes.
"I want to consult the fortune globe."
"You brought it here?" She looked surprised.
"It's in my suitcase." He reached for the handle to pull his bag closer.
"So the globe is for real, not just a mentalist’s prop?"
"Give me a minute. I'll show you and explain.” He unzipped his bag.
He lifted the globe, letting the white cloth drop away. "So do you remember when we first met, when I borrowed your house key and took it home?"
"You mean stole my house key and used it in a show," she tartly reminded.
He shrugged. "Okay, I see why you think that. But it turned out okay, right? I wanted to get to know you and—"
"Yes it did," she said primly. "For now."
"Anyway, the fortune globe is similar to the key. It holds a vibrational imprint. When I cradle it in my hands and then hold it to my forehead, the heat from my palms transforms the contents. On stage the heat from the spotlights also helps.
"The audience can't see the image but I can, and I saw who used it previously."
"But I'm not an audience and this isn't your show. Do you mean to tell me you used the globe for personal reasons?" Her skeptical expression made him feel uneasy.
Will she accept this or think I'm a lunatic?
"Yes," he answered her. "Think of it this way. I'm Rex, and separately I’m also a mentalist. As Rex, I can use the fortune globe for personal reasons."
Her eyes narrowed, so he kept explaining. "And I'm risking being called a lunatic by the most important woman in my life, just so you know." He gave her a hard stare.
To his relief, her eyes softened. She came to sit next to him on the bed. "I'm listening…"
"After the first show, I began to have symptoms, like I told you. The most startling was that I could no longer access my inner images. Probably why I didn't suss out what Sandi was up to right away. And then I didn't have Sutton or you to feed me ideas. So I kinda winged it for the last two shows."
"I noticed those shows were a bit different," Viv admitted. "As if you needed to keep things going and get the audience's approval."
"Correct," he said. "Of course, I didn't fool you." He leaned closer to kiss her cheek. "But now I'm feeling better, and I think I can use the globe for personal reasons.”
He enfolded the globe in both hands. His voice shifted to a singsong cadence.
"And then I'll hold it in my hands like so." He inhaled deeply, then exhaled slowly.
The liquid inside the crystal began to swirl clockwise, then it reversed. The water transforming into a white cloud which turned into a dark swirling mass.
"And now I'm holding it to my forehead," he said calmly.
He tuned out Viv, feeling the cool crystal against his skin. Once he held the globe in front of his eyes an image began to form. He recognized the first image instantly. The IT desk. There was no lineup of passengers or anyone standing to help answer questions. Just the desk. It vanished into the dark mass as another image appeared.
There were three people Rex did not recognize. They all wore red shirts with a logo over the pocket.
Then the third image began to form. Rex waited for it to stop so that he could see more clearly. He closed his eyes and inhaled. When he opened his eyes, he stared at Viv, who watched him with fascination.
"So I got two things," he said, reaching for the white cloth to cover the globe. "Three, actually. But I couldn't discern the third one."
"I see," she said, her voice cautious.
"According to the first image, the IT desk isn't up and running. I assume until further notice. They probably don't want passengers having any last-minute complaints."
"I get that," Viv agreed.
"And the second image, that's the interesting one. My interpretation is that Aloha Cruises is changing their branding. Red shirts replacing blue. I'm not sure why, but it felt urgent."
As he spoke Viv tugged at the towel elephant sitting near her pillow. She held it close to her body as if for comfort. "Will your images help us get answers to our questions before we debark?"
"I don't know," he said matter-of-factly. "But I want justice, whatever that would look like."
He made his way toward the closet holding the fortune globe to lean inside. Then he asked, "You have a safe in here, right? May I put this inside?"
She stood up. "Of course." She spun the dial on the safe and waited for him to slide it inside. By the time he turned around, Viv was sitting on the edge of the bed. She'd slipped her shoes back on, a determined look on her face.
He opened the door and waited for her to leave. "I want to bid a special goodbye to the Old Lady of the Sea."
"That sounds like fun." Viv breezed past. "We can pass through the food bar on the lido deck and snag a cookie on our way."