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“Did you lose something?”
“No.”
“You do realize you’re standing in line at the Lost and Found kiosk, right?” Scott asked.
“Yep, I know,” Claudia replied. She stepped up to the counter. There was one person ahead of her, and he didn’t seem the least bit happy.
“No, my wife didn’t lose her diamond earrings! What are the chances she would lose both of them?” he asked, his voice getting loud before he reined himself back in. “Look, they’re not only expensive; they’re also sentimental. I gave them to her for our tenth wedding anniversary.”
“I’m sorry, but no earrings matching that description have been turned in,” the employee said.
“No, of course not. Someone has probably pocketed them by now,” the man snapped in disgust. He whirled around and, upon seeing Claudia and Scott, advised, “I suggest you keep a very close eye on anything you don’t want to go missing. Someone on this ship has sticky fingers.”
“I’m sorry about that,” the young crew member said in a thick drawl. “I can assure you, we take the safety of our passengers and their valuables very seriously here on Mermaid Fantasy. Your comfort and satisfaction are of the utmost importance to us.”
Scott looked at her for a moment and then bluntly asked, “I’m guessing you were told to say that? It sounded pretty rehearsed.”
She reddened. “It’s what my boss told me to say,” she admitted.
Claudia and Scott both chuckled. Their demeanor soon put the young woman at ease.
“Is that a Texan accent I hear?” Claudia asked.
“Yes ma’am, Houston born and raised,” the young woman confirmed proudly. “I’m taking a year off from college to see the world and get some work experience. What better place to do that than on a cruise ship, am I right?”
“It sounds like a dream come true,” Claudia smiled. “Do you like working here?”
“Oh, yes! It’s fantastic. Mind you, I’d rather be performing than taking complaints at the Lost and Found kiosk. I’m a singer,” the young woman said shyly. “Well, an aspiring singer. Right now I only perform once or twice a week as needed, but I’m hoping I’ll soon be a regular.”
“That’s pretty cool. Good luck!” Claudia told her.
“Thank you. Did you misplace something?” the young woman asked.
“What? Oh, yes. Well, not me specifically, but I’m looking for a man’s sandal.” Claudia described the shoe Chad had been wearing when he was killed. As it turned out, no companion sandal had been turned in at the kiosk.
“It can’t have vanished into thin air,” Scott said.
“Maybe it fell overboard somehow?” Claudia guessed.
“I’m sorry I can’t be of more help,” the employee apologized.
“A woman approached me at breakfast about a missing wallet,” Claudia suddenly remembered. “It’s pink leather, I think she said. Does that ring any bells?”
The young woman shook her head. “No, nothing like that has been turned in here.”
“Do things go missing often?” Claudia asked.
“I mean, I guess so. Sometimes we need to have two people working the kiosk.”
“Hmm, interesting. Is this the only cruise ship you’ve ever worked on?”
“No, I’ve spent time on one other one.”
“Did things go missing there as often as on this ship?” Claudia asked.
The young woman furrowed her brow contemplatively. “No,” she finally admitted. “But the other ship was smaller - it held fewer people. So it’s hard to answer your question with any certainty. But if I had to guess, I’d say things go missing around here an awful lot.”
“Thanks for your help,” Claudia said. “And good luck with your singing aspirations.”
“Maybe we’ll see you onstage sometime,” Scott added.
“Oh, I hope so!” the young woman beamed. Her enthusiasm was endearing.
“Should we head to the casino now?” Scott suggested.
“Sure.”
“I bet they’re making a killing there, now that everyone is stuck on the ship for who knows how long. It’s probably going to be really crowded,” Scott predicted. “I hope the slot machines are at least paying.”
“Claudia!” a familiar voice called out.
She turned to see Stan Howard rushing over.
“I missed you at breakfast,” he said disappointedly.
“What? Oh, right. We ended up having more of a brunch than a breakfast.”
Stan looked over at Scott. “You must be Claudia’s boyfriend,” he said, extending his hand.
“Yes. And you are?”
“A friend of Claudia’s,” Stan replied without missing a beat.
The characterization caught Claudia off guard. She wouldn’t go so far as to describe Stan as a friend. After all, they had only recently met and they had spoken a couple of times in passing. But she got the sense he was desperately lonely and in need of someone to confide in. She found herself taking pity on him.
“How is your father today?” she asked.
“He’s tired,” Stan told her. “I guess that big public tantrum took a lot out of him.”
“It’s nice that you get a break,” Claudia told him, trying to focus on the positive. Then, filling Scott in, she added, “Stan is his father’s caretaker.”
“Ah. So what are your plans for your free evening?” Scott asked.
“Funny, I was about to ask you two the same thing.”
“We have late dinner reservations,” Scott fibbed.
“Oh, great! Where? Maybe I’ll join you.”
“Unfortunately, they’re booked solid tonight. I was barely able to get the two of us in,” Scott said as he pulled out his phone. “But let’s check out the itinerary. It’s great having all the events right at your fingertips on your phone, isn’t it?” he asked as he scrolled.
“I’m not big on doing things alone,” Stan protested. “I would much rather do them...with someone,” he said, his eyes darting to Claudia.
“Ah, look at this!” Scott exclaimed, turning his phone around so Stan could see the screen. “There’s a singles speed dating event starting in ten minutes one floor below us. If you hurry, you can make it there in time.”
“I don’t know,” Stan said reluctantly.
“Why not?” Claudia urged, smiling brightly. “You only live once. Go have some fun!”
“I guess I could,” Stan replied slowly, still hesitant.
“Absolutely! But you’d better hurry or you’ll be late,” Claudia reminded him.
“Okay. I’ll give it a shot,” Stan conceded.
“Wonderful! Have a great time,” Claudia told him.
“Good luck!” Scott added with a wave.
As soon as Stan left, Scott looked at Claudia with an amused expression on his face. “That guy has a massive crush on you, you know. He could barely tear his gaze away from you long enough to look me in the eye.”
Claudia made a face. “I was only trying to be nice when I let him vent about his father to me. Now he seems to think we’re best friends forever or something. I think he’s a really lonely guy. It sounds like he spends most of his time looking after his father, which is a thankless job.”
“So now he’s dreaming about you falling in love with him and whisking him away from it all?”
Claudia laughed, her face red. “I hope not. That’s awkward.”
“Maybe he’ll meet the love of his life tonight and forget all about you,” Scott winked.
“I suppose stranger things have happened.”
