Millie scrambled out of the van as soon as it stopped, hastily thanking Roland for the private tour and rewarding him with a generous tip before making a beeline for the Queen’s Park entrance.
She, along with the others, edged past a group of onlookers, including several of the ship’s crewmembers, circling around until they reached an empty spot near a cluster of uniformed officers. Millie let out a sigh of relief when she spotted Halbert standing between two of them.
The ship’s head of security, Dave Patterson, was also there.
“Can you see anything?” Danielle squeezed in next to Millie.
“No.”
“Something went down.” Annette pointed to yellow flags dotting the area.
“You’re right.” An oddly shaped chalk line was next to one of the flags.
“My first thought was that something had happened to Halbert. I’m glad to see he’s all right.” Cat glanced at her watch. “I need to head back to the ship to get ready for my day date with Andy.”
“I’ll go with you,” Danielle said. “I need to catch up on some laundry.”
“We’ll let you know what we find out,” Annette promised.
The crowd thinned, and Millie was finally able to catch Halbert’s eye. He made his way over. “Hey, Millie.”
“Hello, Halbert. What’s going on?”
“The Southampton Strangler struck again.” Halbert told Millie and Annette he could’ve sworn he saw the strangler the previous night. “I’m almost sure it was him. If only I had a way to call the police, this may have been prevented.”
Millie and Annette exchanged a quick glance. One of Halbert’s farewell gifts would take care of that problem.
“He murdered Clarissa Sinclair.” Halbert eyed them expectantly.
Annette shaded her eyes, watching as Patterson stepped away from the others and began talking on his cell phone. “Who is Clarissa Sinclair?”
“A London socialite turned reporter.”
“Interesting,” Millie murmured. “So, perhaps she was investigating the strangler and ended up being his next victim.”
“That’s what I was thinking.”
“I’m sorry to hear about such a sad ending to our time in Southampton,” Millie said. “Now that we’re here, are you ready to head over to the ship for our bon voyage party?”
A look of uncertainty clouded his face. “I-I was going to change my clothes.”
Millie recognized the shirt and slacks he was wearing as ones she had given to him after cleaning out Nic’s closet. “What you’re wearing is just fine.” She motioned toward the authorities, still gathered in a semi-circle. “Perhaps you should make sure the police don’t need you any longer.”
“Right.” Halbert hurried toward them. After having a brief word, he returned. “They told me I could leave.”
Millie guided Halbert out of the park, and Annette fell into step on the other side as they began making their way across the street to the security checkpoint.
She flashed her badge, briefly explaining she had obtained clearance from Donovan Sweeney to bring Halbert on board the ship.
“Ah.” The guard grinned. “Halbert’s getting the VIP treatment today.”
“I am.” The old man smiled back. “I’m gonna miss you, Kev.”
The guard’s smile vanished as he motioned toward the commotion across the street. “I heard the strangler struck again.”
“It appears that way. I’m gonna miss you, my friend. Stay safe.”
They passed through the gate and Halbert greeted several more members of the ship’s security team, friends he had made and crewmembers who had made it a point to check on the homeless man during their months in port.
Suharto waved the trio through as they made their way up the ship’s gangway. Once on board, Annette and Halbert stepped into the elevator while Millie darted up the stairs, reaching the elevator doors as they opened.
Halbert’s jaw dropped, his eyes wide as he gazed around in wonderment. “This is the bee’s knees. I always imagined what the inside of a fancy cruise ship might look like.” He ran his fingertips along the polished handrail as his eyes traveled to one of the ship’s twinkling chandeliers at the end of the corridor. “I cannot even imagine living on board this luxury liner. Thank you for inviting me.”
“You’ve been like our guardian angel, watching over us this summer. Because of you, Sharky has Finn and we have a new friend.” Millie eased the galley’s swinging door open and led him inside while Annette brought up the rear.
Sharky, Finn and several of the security guards Halbert had befriended, along with Oscar, Patterson’s right-hand man, were waiting inside.
Amit stood in front of the counter, which was filled with food. “Welcome to Annette’s galley, Halbert.”
Halbert hesitated, taking in the crisp, white linen tablecloths, the clusters of colorful balloons, the side table filled with drinks, surrounded by crewmembers who were there to say goodbye to their friend. “What…”
“The party is for you, our fond farewell to the British Isles and to our friend, Halbert.” Millie patted his arm. “We will miss you.”
“Yes,” Oscar echoed. “You have become a friend, Halbert.”
The old man’s hand trembled as he rubbed the tip of his nose. “You’ve touched an old bloke’s heart.”
The guests feasted on hamburgers, hotdogs, and brats, crispy French fries, an array of creamy salads, chocolate chip cookies and parlies, a shortbread biscuit. There was tea, canned sodas, coffee and a Victoria sponge cake, a decadent dessert Annette had been perfecting during the season’s teatime.
While they ate, Halbert’s friends presented him with gifts, special mementos, each as individual and thoughtful as the giver.
Annette and Amit’s gift was a portable cooler, something they knew he could use since several of the dock area employees often stopped by Halbert’s place to drop off food and bottled water.
Sharky’s gift was a handheld crank radio with a flashlight. “This is from Finn ‘n me. If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have my sidekick.”
“Who also helped rescue my pup, Scout, from the dognappers,” Millie reminded him. Her gifts were last, and she’d spent several days deciding what to give him, all items she was certain Halbert could use.
He teared up again when he unzipped the backpack and removed a package of socks, something Millie had purchased after discovering socks were one of the most requested items for the homeless.
There was also a new pair of tennis shoes, along with two fleece blankets, bottles of hand sanitizer, disposable wet wipes, a trio of toothbrushes, travel size tubes of toothpaste, boxes of Band-Aids and rolls of toilet paper.
“This is so kind of everyone,” Halbert’s voice cracked. “I’m already blessed from having known all of you.”
Millie swallowed hard. “I know this is a lot to carry, so I have a cart coming. We can load you up and then I’ll walk you home. But first.” Millie reached behind her for the small box, the final gift she had purchased for Halbert, something she hoped would not only make his life a little easier but also keep him safer. “This is for you.”
The others grew quiet, already aware of what special gift Millie had picked out for her friend. Halbert slowly unwrapped the package. “What…what is this?”
“A phone. It’s a cell phone—for you to keep in touch. I set up an account and will manage it for you. I already added my phone number.”
“I don’t know anyone, I mean, not anyone I could call to use the phone.”
“You can call me.” Millie paused, struggling to maintain her composure. “You can call and talk to any of us, and now you’ll have a phone for emergencies, to keep you safe.”
“Blimey. I don’t know what to say.” Halbert swiped at the tear that trickled down his cheek. “I’ve never had friends like this before.”
Halbert proudly showed the cell phone off to his friends. Millie had written his number on a sticker and attached it to the back of the phone. He called her over. “Can you help me put in some phone numbers?”
“Of course.” Millie stood next to him, entering the phone numbers of the crewmembers who promised to stay in touch.
Sharky and Finn were among the last to leave. “Halbert, my man, I don’t know how I can ever thank you enough for giving Finn a place to stay until Millie brought him on board the ship. I’ll never forget you.”
“Finn is a good mouser. I would’ve kept him but Gus and him didn’t hit it off.”
Sharky gave Halbert his cell phone number and shook his hand before turning to Millie. “You gonna be around for a while?”
“I’m going to help Halbert take his gifts back to the warehouse, but it shouldn’t take too long. Is your super-duper exciting surprise arriving soon?” she teased.
Sharky patted his radio. “It just arrived. I’m dropping Finn-meister off at home and then heading down to the dock so I can coordinate the unloading.”
“I can’t wait to see it.”
Sharky sidled up to Annette, giving her googly eyes. “Would you like to check out my sweet surprise?”
“Check out your sweet surprise?” Annette snorted. “I’ll pass.”
“You could at least go down to see what it is,” Millie chimed in. “Aren’t you curious to find out what Sharky’s surprise is?”
Annette pinched her index finger and thumb together. “My level of interest is about the size of a mustard seed.”
“You can go, Miss Annette. I have the kitchen under control,” Amit said.
“I suppose.” Annette sucked in a breath. “Okay, I’ll admit I’m more than a smidgen curious. Let me get the party stuff cleaned up. I’ll meet you on the dock in fifteen.”
Sharky helped Halbert and Millie load up the cart and then accompanied them as far as deck one, where he and Finn parted ways with them.
During the walk to Halbert’s warehouse, he removed his cell phone from his pocket several times to admire it. “I’ve been thinking…I have a niece who used to live in nearby Midanbury. I might see if I can find someone to help me track down her telephone number.”
“I can help you.” They reached Halbert’s warehouse and unloaded his gifts. Millie removed her cell phone from her pocket and began searching for Eloise, his niece’s number. “I found an Eloise Kingswell in Midanbury.”
“That’s her.” Halbert’s eyes lit. “Can you write her number on a piece of paper?”
“I’ll do one better. Give me your phone.”
Halbert handed Millie his new phone, and she showed him how to add a contact.
“Look at all the people I can call.” Halbert began counting as he scrolled through the list.
Millie spent the next several minutes showing him how to pull up the names and numbers, how to listen to his messages, and then delete them.
“I’ll try not to spend too much time on the phone,” Halbert promised.
“You can use it whenever you want.” Millie explained she’d purchased an unlimited calling plan.
“That must cost a lot of money.”
“The cost was reasonable. Besides, it will be worth the peace of mind knowing you’re safe and able to reach someone if you need help.” It was time for Millie to say goodbye to her friend, and she could feel her throat clog again at the thought. “We’ll talk soon.”
“Can I call you tomorrow?”
“Absolutely. If I don’t answer leave a message, and I’ll call you back.”
“Thanks again, Millie.”
“You’re welcome.” They reached the entrance, and she impulsively hugged him. “You take care of yourself, Halbert.”
“I will, Millie. Me and Gus, we’ll be just fine.”
She gave him one final wave before making her way along the dock. When she turned back, he was still standing there, a sad smile on his face as he waved his new phone in the air.
The guard at the gate stopped her. “Gonna be sad to see the last of Halbert. Do you think we’ll be back here again next summer, Millie?”
“I would like to think so, but from what I’m hearing, the answer is no.”
“And you would know.”
Millie reached the loading area. A wooden crate dangled from a yellow crane. A large white sticker with “this side up” in bold red letters caught her eye.
Sharky, sporting a hardhat and holding a megaphone, stood nearby, barking orders. “To the left. No. A little to the right. Watch it! You’re letting it down too fast.”
She spied Annette and Donovan Sweeney, the ship’s purser, standing off to the side and wandered over. “Well?”
“I’m getting ready to take his megaphone away from him,” Donovan said. “He’s making the delivery guys nervous.”
“Back this way. Easy…easy…and…we have it.”
As soon as the crate was on the ground, Sharky snatched a crowbar from a maintenance worker’s hand and wedged the flat end under the top.
“I’ll be right back.” Donovan eased past the women and approached Sharky.
The two appeared to have a heated exchange, and then Donovan rejoined them. “Sorry about that. Sharky needed a little reeling in.”
“He’s been talking about this for days now,” Millie said.
“Days? More like weeks,” Donovan said. “Honestly, I was surprised when corporate approved the expense. It cost Majestic Cruise Lines a pretty penny.”
The sides of the crate were off now, and Millie glimpsed an oddly shaped object.
Sharky rubbed his hands together as he circled it several times. He plucked a box cutter from his pocket and began making a long slit in the cover. He walked to the other side and made another cut. With the help of one of the maintenance guys, he carefully removed what was left of the protective cover.
Annette’s eyes narrowed. “What is it?”
“I still can’t tell.” Finally, Sharky and the worker stepped away, and Millie was able to get a clear and unobstructed view. “I’ll be darned.”