Log In
Or create an account ->
Imperial Library
Home
About
News
Upload
Forum
Help
Login/SignUp
Index
CHAPTER ONE “CALL ME THE MOMENT that pendant is found, capisce?” Tracy Irvine’s grip tightened around the receiver. She could tell her ex-husband was losing patience with her. This was her last chance and she needed to deliver or else. Previously she’d screwed up badly and she might not have another chance to redeem herself. Her child’s well-being was at stake here, so she needed to play Sal’s sick game. It was the only way to get Franco back. He was her son, their son, and her reason for living. “I will, Sal, I promise,” she said, striving to sound confident. “I won’t disappoint you this time.” “You better not, bella, especially if you know what’s good for you. This is your last chance. There will be hell to pay if you don’t deliver this time around.” Sal’s raucous laughter resounded in her ear. “When will I get to see Franco?” Tracy asked, trying to hold back the tears that were welling. If Sal knew she was close to breaking, he would get uglier. He had a sadistic streak to him. “In
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO ON BACCHUS DECK, the five hundred plus passengers who’d signed up for the Rhythm Dancers charter were packed into La Belle Epoque. When Serena and Pia entered the dance club, people were milling around the champagne bar sipping colorful drinks. The information in the pamphlet indicated that the group was a diverse one, coming from different dance clubs around the world. Many passengers had signed up for the chance to rub shoulders with the pros and take lessons from the best. The more confident dancers were already out on the floor executing complicated twist and turns. So much for non-competitive dancing. The Bon Voyage party had been touted as the ultimate ice breaker: an opportunity for dancers to mingle and get to know each other. From the looks of things, it was shaping up to be a very competitive event, with dancers using the occasion to showcase themselves. Since it was standing room only, Serena and Pia found a spot off to the side with a decent view of the floor. “
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE “YOU DANCE LIKE A NATIVE,” the redhead said coyly. She’d commandeered Marc’s arm and practically dragged him onto the dance floor. With each sultry move her oversized breasts grazed his chest, but he still didn’t know her name, nor was he particularly interested in finding out. “You could say I am a native,” Marc answered smoothly, executing an underarm turn. “My mother was Argentinean, so I learned to dance practically before I could walk.” “Argentinean.” She looked at him, awed. “I thought you were a good ole boy from Texas. I checked out your boots.” He wasn’t sure how to take that. Was it a come on? “I’m from Canada. Alberta’s where I was born, but I’ve been working in Texas for a couple of years. The boots are my tribute to Texas, but we’ve got lots of cowboys in Alberta, too.” “Cool!” Marc couldn’t wait for the dance to end. He had no desire to discuss his personal life with a stranger. He tried taking the lead since he could almost hear her counting the salsa beat
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR THANASI KALDIS, the hotel director, ran a tanned hand through hair that was beginning to silver at the tips. He ground his teeth in frustration. This contract had been nothing but a nightmare from the very start. He’d been stuck with a mostly North American crew who weren’t used to working long hours, and complained every chance they got. And he’d had passenger issues on every single cruise. Retirement was beginning to sound better and better. What had happened to the days when people came on board a cruise to eat, drink and relax? Now there was always an agenda or some kind of incident that required the police or law enforcement. He had been happy to leave the Mediterranean, figuring all the drama of the onboard smuggling scheme that had been uncovered was over with. In the Caribbean he was hoping to get back to some kind of normalcy. But no, Patti Kennedy, his cruise director, and the ship’s librarian had come up with this ridiculous treasure hunt. Now, even before the s
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE “NAME AND CABIN NUMBER, please.” Sean Brady, Acting Chief of Security removed a notepad from his breast pocket. The sullen man hugging the wall glared at him but kept his mouth shut. His arms were folded across his chest in a defiant gesture. Thanasi was starting to get impatient. He had other things to attend to. If this stonewalling continued, he would be late for dinner and Nick would not be pleased. Captain Nick Pappas had issued a command performance to join him at the Captain’s Table, which meant there were VIPs on board who needed entertaining. Thanasi had become dependent on his hotel director and key officers to schmooze them. “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Thanasi interjected, slapping his palm against the brig’s wall. “This is the high seas and there is no established protocol to follow. Either you tell us your name and cabin number or we’ll go through your pockets and find out who you are ourselves. What will it be?” The man gulped. A reaction a
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX SWEAT TRICKLED from Sal Morena’s armpits and down his sides. He should have known better than to hand off a job requiring some finesse to a petty thief. Now he had to make sure that cabin steward didn’t blab what little he knew. Earlier, Sal had wandered into the crew area and found the employee going through the unclaimed passenger bags. He’d watched him stuff several items in his pockets before skulking away. Then, and only then, had Sal made his presence known. The steward had almost had a cow when Sal approached him. Before he could open his mouth, the employee had begun babbling excuses about one of the passengers missing his bags. He’d supposedly been sent to look for them. “What’s in your pockets?” Sal asked him. “Oh, these, I’m just taking some stuff back to see if the guests can identify it.” Sal could smell the lies a mile away, and the fear. The man’s teeth were practically chattering. A fine layer of perspiration dotted his skin. Sal then moved in for the kill,
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN “HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE? How could a man simply disappear into thin air?” Nick Pappas asked, pacing the circumference of his spacious quarters. “We will find him, Captain,” Sean Brady quickly assured him. “There’s no way a man can just disappear off a ship.” “I guess you haven’t been reading the newspapers lately,” Nick muttered, adjusting the drawstring of his pajama bottoms. “This seems to be happening more and more—people going missing and never turning up.” Thanasi had asked Sean the same question. How could this be happening? They’d both been reluctant to awaken Nick at this god-awful hour, but they had no choice. Elias Stamos had to be called at his vacation home in Barbados before the incident made the newspapers. The port of Key West was already visible. The minute they docked, and even before the ship officially cleared, the police and authorities would be swarming the vessel. How to explain the disappearance of a man who’d been locked up with two security guards p
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT WHEN SERENA ENTERED the Polaris Lounge, Pia was already on the wooden floor dancing with the instructor. “You’re late,” her friend said, her raised eyebrows and slightly pursed lips indicating she would be quizzing the heck out of Serena later. “By ten minutes,” Serena answered, tapping the face of her watch. “Sorry.” Knowing that she had this dance lesson scheduled, she’d said goodbye to Marc and rushed to her suite for a quick shower and change of clothing. When there wasn’t any sign of Pia, Serena assumed that she was already at breakfast. “Good morning,” called the instructor, a man of medium height and build. “We started a few minutes ago. Go ahead and warm up.” Serena joined them on the dance floor doing a series of stretches to loosen up. She began dancing in place while watching the instructor’s mastery of an intricate tango step. “Why warm up by yourself, when you can warm up with me?” a voice called from behind her. She turned to see Sal Morena dressed all in bl
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE MARC TOSSED A HANDFUL of bills onto the bar. “Our fifteen minutes were up at least half an hour ago. Our table’s probably gone.” “I hope not—I’m starving,” Selena said. At Sloppy Joe’s Marc used his considerable charm to convince the hostess to seat them. It wasn’t quite midafternoon, but many of the patrons were already drunk. He ordered a Sloppy Joe and Serena chose a hamburger, and when their food arrived, they ate in companionable silence as they people-watched. It was Serena’s suggestion they take the walking tour after lunch. While they walked, she told him all about her desire to write a young adult’s book. She was going to use her time on the cruise to start it. “Has writing always been a passion of yours?” Marc asked. “Not really. I’m a publisher. My twin sister was the one with the dream. I want to write the book for her.” “What happened to your sister?” “Selena died in an equestrian accident when she was eighteen. She was my best friend, losing her was like losi
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN ELIAS STAMOS’S GRUFF voice came through the earpiece. “What the hell is going on, Nick? We haven’t had one single voyage that’s been uneventful. Now it looks as if an employee has jumped, or was thrown overboard. Reporters are calling me from all over the world.” “Security is on top of it and I am fully accountable,” Nick said evenly. “I am confident it will get resolved.” Elias took a deep, centering breath, obviously having trouble holding on to his temper. “What do these security guards that were drugged say?” “According to Sean they don’t remember much of anything, other than a man approaching with questions.” “And it would be foolish to ask if they are able to describe this person?” “Male. Dark hair. That’s about as much as they remember.” “Crew or passenger?” “They don’t know.” Elias snorted. “What a worthless lot. That description could match almost any male aboard. This voyage must end on a positive note. I’m trusting you to find out who’s behind this. Sadie and I w
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN SEEING MARC DANCING so intimately with another woman shook Serena more than she was willing to admit. They’d just made love and she was feeling both elated and vulnerable. Would he pull the same antics that he’d done before? There weren’t that many places to hide on a cruise ship, but what if he was out for a little fun and she had just been convenient? Serena took a deep breath and sipped on a glass of water. She’d almost convinced herself she didn’t care who Marc danced with, and therefore had no reason to feel possessive, when she caught a glimpse of him and Heddy sailing by. The brazen woman had all her assets on display and all eyes were on the two of them as she shook and jiggled every ounce of her flesh. Maybe she’d been taken in by a player, Serena thought, and not for the first time either. Eventually she would get it through her head that Marc was one of those smooth talkers good at getting a woman out of her panties in minutes. “Querida, it’s just a dance—one
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE “HOW ARE YOU FEELING this morning?” Pia asked Serena, handing her a steaming cup of coffee. Serena drew her knees up to her chest and pulled the covers around her. “Much better than last evening, and much more hopeful. Thanks for taking such good care of me.” “We take care of each other. Always have and always will. Why do you say hopeful?” “Because things can only get better, right?” “I love your positive thinking. It’s still downright scary, though. I mean, you were attacked, and whoever attacked you is still on the loose.” “Yes, I know, but I have to hope that the tapes from the security camera will turn up something.” Pia was dressed in her workout clothing and was probably heading for the gym. She nibbled on a square of toast as she sat on the foot of the bed. “Are you going to the kickboxing class or working out on the machines?” Serena asked, changing the subject. “It’s the treadmill for me today. I’ll do my usual two miles.” “Maybe I’ll join you.” Pia reached ove
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN THE NEXT DAY Pia invited Serena to join a group of people she’d met the evening before. They planned on taking the tender to Playa del Carmen, touring the ruins in Tulum, and then taking the ferry back to Cozumel where they would shop and sightsee. “Where did you meet these people?” Serena asked as they stood in the lobby, the agreed meeting place. “Last night they were at La Belle Epoque and we got to talking. Tracy Irvine’s a dancer on board and she was with them. It’s her day off and she volunteered to take us around. She seems pleasant enough, although a little unhappy. I feel sorry for her.” “Tracy? Why does that name sound familiar?” Pia shrugged. “I don’t know. But here she comes now.” Pia waved at a brunette who was hurrying toward them. There was something about her name and face that was familiar. It would come to Serena eventually. “Hey,” Tracy greeted Pia, “sorry I’m late.” The two women exchanged kisses. “This is my friend, Serena d’Andrea.” Pia nudged Ser
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN “YOU STUPID BITCH. You had that pendant in your possession and you handed it back to that woman. Why?” Sal was furious. “What else was I supposed to do?” Tracy cried. “She was going to call the police, but I have…ouch! Stop it!” Sal had her by the hair and there was no place to go, no place to escape to. She was sorry she’d agreed to meet him on the topless deck behind the smokestack, especially this late at night. Who knew what he would do to her here? “It would have been your word against the shopkeeper’s, so what do you care?” Sal said, yanking on a shank of hair. She cared deeply. She was tired of being a pawn in his sick game. She just wanted her child. Sal wasn’t even giving her the opportunity to tell him what she’d come to tell him, that she had Serena’s purse in her possession. “I couldn’t do that to the man,” Tracy pleaded. “It would have been wrong. He would have ended up in jail and he was innocent.” “What an idiot you are,” Sal said, tugging on her hair ag
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN “MY PURSE HAS BEEN STOLEN,” Serena said to Kali, who was standing behind the Guest Relations Desk. “Maybe you forgot it somewhere. I’ll check the Lost and Found bin and see if someone turned it in.” With a swish of dark hair she went off. Serena didn’t care for the employee’s dismissive tones, but what could she do? Report her for being inattentive? That would be petty and Serena would come off like a diva. She’d left Carlos and Charlie’s shortly after seeing Marc and Heddy together. She’d felt sick to her stomach, and it had nothing to do with drinking. Tracy, claiming she needed to get back as well, had left with her. They’d taken a cab to the ship, and Serena was certain she’d had her purse with her then, because she’d paid the cab driver. She had planned to go directly to her cabin and indulge in a little self-pity. She would order room service and sulk, or give herself a good talking-to. She’d come on a cruise to have fun, and she was not going to allow some lady’s
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN AFTER A RESTLESS night’s sleep, and dreams of being chased by masked devils, an early-morning run was just what Serena needed. Another sea day lay ahead and she had no place to be until midafternoon. Diego had promised to help her with her Hustle steps, and because it was formal night, she’d made an appointment to have her hair done. In between she planned to work on her book. Later that night, she and Marc were to compete in the Latin semifinals. Serena had just completed her third lap on the running track when Marc caught up to her. “Hey stranger,” he greeted her. “Hey yourself,” Serena retorted. She refused to let on that his deep blue eyes and tanned body were turning her on. “Where were you yesterday?” Marc asked. “What do you mean?” “I called you yesterday to ask you to go sightseeing with me in Cozumel, but no one answered.” Jogging in place, Serena tried to catch her breath. “I went to the ruins of Tulum with a group of people. We ended the day at Carlos and Cha
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN “WHAT HAVE YOU FOUND OUT about the dancer who was with the d’Andrea woman in Cozumel?” Thanasi asked Sean. He’d stopped by the security office on his way to the dance group’s cocktail party. Afterward he’d have to hotfoot it over to the captain’s cocktail party to be part of the reception line. “Tracy Irvine’s her name. She’s relatively new to the cruise business. She’s a Vegas showgirl.” “Anything else we need to know about her?” Sean tapped the tip of his pen against his desktop. “I’m not sure if this is relevant, but the dancers think she’s having a relationship with one of the newly hired escorts. He’s been seen coming and going from her room at all hours.” “Hmmm. I wonder if he’s the person she was with when your security guard interrupted their argument.” “Entirely possible. Unfortunately it was dark and my man didn’t get a good look at the guy before he ran off.” “Have you talked to Tracy?” “Not at this point.” “Then I suggest you do. Didn’t she say something t
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN TRACY WAS WASHING the heavy theatrical makeup off her face when she heard a knock on her door. She still ached all over from her fall, and had barely made it through the evening’s two performances. At this late hour, she was in no mood for guests. The knocking continued. “Ms. Irvine. It’s security. Open up.” Tracy let the water trickle through her fingers. What did security want with her? “Ms. Irvine, it’s extremely important we speak with you.” “I’ll be right there.” It was useless pretending she wasn’t in. Everyone knew everything there was to know on the ship, and what they didn’t know they made up. She threw more cold water on her face, grabbed a towel and patted herself dry. Snatching her robe off a hook on the bathroom door, she slipped into it. “Yes,” she said, opening up and facing two grim-faced security guards she didn’t recognize. “Ms. Irvine, the Acting Chief of Security wants to see you in his office,” the taller one said. “At this hour?” “Yes, ma’am.” “Do
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN SERENA HAD BEEN LOOKING forward to the Grand Cayman shore excursion, but now with a twisted ankle and an aching shoulder, she doubted she’d even be able to swim with the stingrays. The outcome could have been far worse, she supposed. Thankfully Marc had pushed her out of the way when that lounge chair came tumbling down. Unfortunately he had gotten hurt in the process and was off to the hospital for an MRI. Serena was worried about him. Balancing most of her weight on the metallic walking stick with the claw feet the doctor had given her, she hobbled from her suite. If she was going to be stuck onboard she might as well smell the sea. As an afterthought she decided to take her laptop with her. She made sure the pendant was tucked into the case. She was planning to hand it in early, but until she did, she wasn’t going to risk losing it. Serena nodded at the security guard stationed in the hallway before getting on the elevator. She took it one floor to Artemis and slowl
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY “MAY I SPEAK WITH SERENA, please?” Marc asked when a female voice answered the phone. He assumed it was her roommate, Pia, who’d answered. It was his third call and the first time the phone had actually been picked up. “Who’s calling?” the woman asked. “Marc—uh—Gilles,” Marc stammered. “Which one is it? Marc or Gilles?” He cleared his throat. Serena’s roommate sounded as if she was onto him. “It’s Gilles Anderson.” “Ah, Gilles. Serena may already be asleep. If she’s awake I’ll let her tell you about her trip to Grand Cayman.” “Grand Cayman? I thought she was resting up.” Through the earpiece Marc heard muffled voices, then Serena came on the phone. “How did it go at the hospital?” she asked, sounding amazingly low key and not like the bubbly woman he knew. “Long, tedious, with lots of questions and paperwork. I don’t think the nurses were familiar with cruise insurance.” “And your tests?” she probed. “They came back fine. I had a mild concussion. The doctor signed off, a
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE SERENA’S TEETH CHATTERED as she was dragged across the open deck. A cold, wet rain stung her face and drenched her clothing. Tracy had a hold on one arm and Sal the other. They led her toward an area that was even darker and more secluded. She could feel the cold blade of the knife against her neck and her ankle throbbing mercilessly. She was pressed against the railing. Her first thought was they might toss her overboard just as they’d done to the cabin steward. Think, Serena. Come up with a plan. A phone clipped to Sal’s waistband jingled. “I have the woman,” he grunted. “I will bring her down the stairs but it will be a slow process in the dark…yes I know we do not have much time…yes, I know the ship is set to sail soon.” “Where are you taking me?” Serena asked when Sal twisted her arm behind her back. “Some place where no one will find you unless your family comes through with money.” His ugly laughter rang out and goose bumps popped out on her arms. “Tracy will
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO HOURS LATER after being thoroughly checked over by the doctor and grilled by the police, an exhausted Marc sat across from Serena on the promenade. “It’s time we talked,” he said. “I’m open to listening to whatever you have to tell me.” She wasn’t about to make it easy for him. There was still that matter of him walking out on her six months ago without explanation or a follow-up call. He brought her palm to his lips. “I am sorry for the pain I caused. There was a vindictive drug lord out to get me. I didn’t want you involved. There was no way I would endanger your life.” “What about you leaving me in a hotel room sleeping. How do you explain that?” “You didn’t get my note?” “What note?” “I left one on the nightstand. It had my phone numbers and e-mail addresses on it.” “I never found it,” Serena said. “But when you didn’t hear from me what stopped you from calling?” Her eyes didn’t leave his face. Marc thought about that. It had been a tough decision, but he’d belie
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
← Prev
Back
Next →
← Prev
Back
Next →