Vanishing Vacationers (Cruise Ship Christian Cozy Mysteries Series Book 5) Page 10

  Millie had remembered bug spray, too. She had heard the mosquitoes on the island were the size of hummingbirds and bloodthirsty to boot.

  The girls headed to the nearest stairwell. Annette knew Millie’s aversion to elevators so she always took the stairs when she was with her friend.

  There were only a couple passengers ahead of them in the security line. The girls swiftly punched out and stepped onto the cement dock.

  Dave Patterson and his crew had already gathered off to the side. He glanced at Millie over the top of the crowd. She knew he hoped she would stay on the ship, but Patterson knew Millie would do whatever she could to find Cat, Danielle and the two Kingman boys.

  The ship’s scheduled departure…with or without the missing passengers and crew…was set for five p.m.

  G’ma Rae and Courtney strolled off the ship and made their way over to Millie and Annette. “We’re ready,” Courtney announced.

  Annette lifted a brow but didn’t say a word.

  Millie had forgotten to mention to Annette the grandmother and granddaughter would be coming with them.

  “You have bottled water and bug spray?” Millie asked.

  G’ma Rae patted her backpack. “Check.”

  “And snacks,” Courtney added. “Brandon and Nathan must be starving.” Tears welled in her eyes and she quickly blinked them back.

  G’ma Rae patted her arm. “We’ll find the boys, Courtney. Don’t worry.” She turned to Millie. “Right?”

  “That’s the plan,” Millie replied truthfully. It was the plan. Whether they would succeed was another story.

  Patterson approached the small group of women. “All of you are joining in the search?”

  G’ma Rae leaned forward. “My grandsons are missing. I’m not leaving this island until we find them,” she vowed.

  Millie sucked in a breath. She admired the woman’s determination. She hoped and prayed they were successful.

  Patterson waved two more men to join the throng nearby and focused his attention on Annette. “Have you decided where to start the search?”

  “Hassadona Pass,” Millie said. “Danielle was convinced that is where the Roush family went missing.”

  Patterson nodded. “Do you think the tracking device will kick in if you get close to Danielle?”

  Annette’s mouth dropped open.

  Millie grinned.

  Patterson was onto her. “Better close your mouth before you start catching flies,” he teased.

  “Hmm,” Annette frowned. “I hope we will get a hit.”

  Oscar, Patterson’s right hand man, and another security man approached. “Oscar and Felippe will accompany you.”

  Millie was relieved the two men were going with them. It was possible the women were walking right into a trap. If there were six of them, perhaps they would have a fighting chance.

  She remembered the man from the night before. They still had several hours before Cherelle arrived at the drug store. Even then, Millie wasn’t sure if she would have the names of the passengers on the plane. They didn’t have hours to hang around. They needed to start the search now.

  Patterson turned to Oscar. “Felippe, the women and you will start your search near Hassadona Pass. The rest of the search party will split into two groups. One group will start on the east side of the island, and the other part on the west side. My two groups will meet in the middle, and if we haven’t heard from you by then, we will catch up with you at Hassadona Pass.”

  Oscar’s eyes grew round as saucers. He had heard the rumors, that the gods had taken the vacationers and missing crew and sacrificed them. He shifted his gaze to Millie. “We cannot start elsewhere?”

  If they had had more time, they could have stayed together and searched but they didn’t have that luxury. The only thing that made sense was for them to split up. Since Annette had the best chance of tracking Danielle, they had to start at Hassadona Pass.

  Millie was certain Cat wasn’t at Hassadona Pass, unless someone had taken her there against her will.

  She hoped Patterson had a strategy for finding their missing friend. He couldn’t be in two places at the same time, which was why he decided to send Oscar, his second in command, to accompany the women.

  A non-crew member approached the group. Millie glanced at his tattered jeans, ripped t-shirt and black skullcap. It was obvious he was a local.

  Patterson nodded at the man and turned to Millie. “Bertrand is an islander. We need a local to help guide the way.”

  It was a great idea. Who better than a local to help them navigate the island’s interior? Patterson was brilliant…not that Millie would ever admit it to him!

  Patterson and his men headed off in opposite directions.

  Millie and her entourage walked straight through the deserted town as they headed toward the salt ponds and beyond that, the rainforest.

  She glanced back one last time at the small village of St. Parrot and wondered if this would be the last time she would ever see civilization.

  Chapter 16

  The morning air hung heavy. Wisps of stray hair clung to Millie’s forehead and she swiped them impatiently as she trudged along the road.

  Bertrand took the lead, followed by Oscar, Annette, Millie, G’ma Rae and Courtney. Felippe brought up the rear.

  On the edge of town, the road narrowed. Up ahead were the salt ponds. The first rays of sunlight glimmered across the still waters.

  Bertrand stopped abruptly. He turned to face the others. “Do not get close to da salt ponds,” he warned.

  “Why not?” Annette asked.

  “If you catch a glimpse of your reflection in the pond, you will surely die,” he warned. “The gods, some of dem live in the bottom of the salt ponds. They will take your soul,” he explained.

  Millie was tempted to march over to the ponds, peer into the water and wave at her reflection so she could prove to Bertrand there was no such thing as “gods” but rather one God.

  She studied his face. The island native was dead serious and she did not want to insult him…or cause him to get angry and abandon their mission. No, Millie needed to go with the flow and focus on the task at hand…rescuing Danielle, the boys and Cat.

  The search party gave the salt ponds a wide birth and made their way to the edge of the rainforest, located just beyond the ponds.

  A few yards into the jungle, the trail turned into a footpath.

  Bertrand moved at a steady clip. His machete swung back and forth with expert precision as he cut a path into the jungle.

  The path grew uneven and Millie focused on her footing. The last thing she needed was to twist her ankle and risk being left behind to fend for herself.

  She was so focused on where she was going, she ran into the backside of Annette, who was directly in front of her and had abruptly stopped.

  “I want to check the tracker.” Annette pulled her cell phone from her backpack, switched it on and clicked on the icon for the tracking device.

  The screen was blank. She shook her head. “Nothing yet.”

  The trail grew steep. The climb was not for the faint of heart. Millie stopped to catch her breath and caught a glimpse of a clearing off to the left. She wondered if they were getting close.

  They trudged onward and upward for another mile. This time, Oscar stopped. “Check again,” he said.

  Annette pulled her phone from her backpack and turned it on. “Nope.” She started to shut it off and then paused. “Wait! There was a blip!”

  Excited, the group crowded around Annette and her phone. Millie watched the screen intently.

  Nothing happened.

  Disappointed, Annette lowered the phone. “Nothing. It was just that one blip.”

  It could have been an anomaly…or perhaps wishful thinking on Annette’s part.

  The group continued their trek. The brush grew thicker and it was getting more difficult to navigate the forest.

  “Spider!” Courtney shrieked as she jerked backward.

&nbs
p; Her grandmother whirled around. “Where?”

  Millie followed her gaze.

  Teetering on the edge of a crooked, winding vine was the largest, hairiest spider Millie had ever seen, other than in a book.

  Courtney darted behind her grandmother. “Do something!”

  G’ma Rae shook her head. “With what?” She lifted her empty hands.

  Bertrand retraced his steps. He studied the spider. “It tis a goliath bird eater,” he said.

  Millie had to agree. The spider was goliath all right. It could probably eat small children if hungry enough.

  “Don’t get too close,” Bertrand warned. “His venom won’t kill ya’ but the bite…it twill hurt.”

  “No need to worry about that!” Courtney jogged to the front of the line, a safe distance from the hairy monster.

  The spider was both creepy and fascinating. Millie doubted she would ever see one again. She pulled her cell phone from her front pocket, turned it on and snapped a couple pictures for her grandson, Noah, who was fascinated by bugs and spiders. He would be impressed.

  Bertrand made his way to the front of the line and the trek continued.

  Millie’s armpits grew damp and she wiped the sweat from her brow. The sun was up and burning daylight through the tops of the trees, beating down on her. She was hot, she was sticky, and it felt as if the huge spider was trying to crawl on her.

  Millie was certain nightmares of large, hairy spiders would fill her nights for weeks to come.

  Courtney reached up and rubbed the sides of both her arms, shivering despite the heat. She tousled her hair. “It feels like something is crawling on me,” she groaned.

  Annette circled back to inspect Courtney’s hair, her back and her clothes. “Nope. You’re safe.” She patted Courtney’s arm. “Do you like cooking, Courtney?”

  Courtney nodded enthusiastically. “Yes!”

  “She loves cooking…and baking,” G’ma Rae said.

  “Good. When we make it back to the ship, safe and sound, you can come by the kitchen this evening to help me whip up my super-secret brand new breakfast brunch casserole. I named it ‘Savory Sea Day Lick Your Lips and Shake Your Hips Breakfast Bake.”

  Courtney snorted.

  “I’m kidding. I made it up.” Annette said. “I could use some help picking out a name.”

  “What’s in it?” the young woman asked.

  Annette leaned forward, cupped her hands and whispered in Courtney’s ear.

  Courtney raised a brow. “That should be a piece of cake. Let me think about it.”

  The spider was long forgotten as Courtney mulled over the perfect name for Annette’s secret new breakfast dish.

  Off in the distance, Millie heard the faint sound of water. She stopped. “Do you hear a noise?”

  The rest of the party stopped and listened.

  “Tis the waterfall,” Bertrand stated. “We are close to Hassadona Pass.”

  Annette pulled her phone from her pocket, switched it on and stared at the screen.

  Millie peeked over her shoulder. “Blips! I see blips!” she shouted.

  “Me too!” Annette agreed.

  Strong, steady blips appeared on the screen. “Danielle is close by!” Millie clapped her hands.

  A sudden “whooshing” whizzed past Millie’s head. Following the whoosh was a loud screeching noise Millie could’ve sworn was a banshee…or maybe a head hunter.

  She ducked and covered her head with her hand. “What in the world?”

  “Hit da ground!” Bertrand shouted.

  ***

  He didn’t have to tell Millie twice. She flopped onto the damp ground and covered her head with both hands.

  Someone’s shoe smashed into the side of her face. It was the bottom of Annette’s sneaker.

  The searchers remained motionless for several long moments.

  “I tink the coast is clear. You can get up,” Bertrand told them.

  Millie scrambled to her feet, brushing clumps of damp leaves from her pant legs. “Something tried to attack me.”

  Bertrand nodded. “It was a Howler Monkey. They won’t hurt you, but they are very curious and also little thieves.”

  Courtney reached up and touched the top of her head. “My headband…it’s gone!”

  “Ah. The monkey…he take it.” Bertrand stared up at the canopy of trees. “Probably to give to his girlfriend,” he joked.

  “That was quick.” Courtney was amazed. She gazed around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the jungle creature.

  Bertrand glanced at the phone and then waved them forward. “Come. We are gettin’ close.”

  The sound of rushing water grew louder the farther into the jungle they traipsed.

  Millie’s heart began to pound. They were almost there. She could feel it in her bones.

  “Dear God. Please help us find Danielle, Nathan and Brandon safe and sound,” she prayed.

  Bertrand chopped at a thicket of brush and stepped into a clearing.

  Oscar was next, followed by Annette and then Millie. She shifted to the side so the rest could step into the clearing.

  Millie sucked in a breath. Directly in front of them was a towering, magnificent majestic waterfall.

  She lifted her gaze to the top. “It is beautiful,” she whispered in awe.

  Millie reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone and snapped several pictures. She took a step forward and the ground began to crumble beneath her.

  In a flash, Bertrand grabbed her arm and jerked her back. “Be careful mum. We are on da edge of a cliff.”

  Millie looked down. It was hard to see through the cluster of ferns covering the ground. He was right. The group was standing on the edge of a cliff!

  They all took a step back away from the ledge.

  “This,” Bertrand announced, “is Hassadona Pass. The point of no return.”

  He lifted an index finger and pointed at a nearby wall of rock. Next to the wall of rock was a small dirt path, barely visible. “Around dat corner, the gods. They take you and you never return,” he said solemnly.

  Annette lifted her phone and pressed the power button. The blip was clear and strong. Danielle’s tracker and Danielle were here…somewhere. She turned to Millie. “Danielle is here.”

  Millie glanced at the edge of the cliff. What if Danielle and the boys had fallen off the side? She quickly dismissed the thought. Annette would not have been able to get a hit on the tracker if that was the case.

  It was simple. They would have to pass the point of no return. It was either that, or leave Danielle and the boys behind.

  G’ma Rae marched past Millie. “My grandsons are here and I’m not leaving without them,” she insisted.

  Courtney reached for her grandmother’s hand. “I’m going, too.”

  “We’re all going,” Millie said.

  “Not me.” Bertrand shook his head. “I brought you to Hassadona Pass. Twas my deal with Mr. Patterson. I will wait for you here.”

  Bertrand lifted his head and stiffened his back. The man believed that once they rounded the corner and passed the rock wall, they were goners.

  With Bertrand refusing to continue on, Oscar was now in charge of the search. He held out his hand. “I’ll lead the way,” he said bravely.

  Annette placed her cell phone in his hand and Oscar walked to the front of the line. He glanced back at Bertrand, who refused to budge. “We’ll be back,” he promised.

  It reminded Millie of the Arnold Schwarzenegger line from the movie, “The Terminator®.” She smiled despite the gravity of the situation. Maybe it was the lack of sleep. Maybe it was the fact she believed there was only one God, and He was protecting them.

  A Bible verse she had memorized as a child popped into her head:

  “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3 KJV

  Millie, cool as a cucumber, strode down the narrow dirt path. She rounded the corner and made her way past the point of no return.

  Chapter 17


  Millie inched her way around the large wall of rock and into a clearing.

  She took a hesitant step forward.

  Oscar’s arm shot out. “There may be another cliff.”

  Millie froze in her tracks. Oscar was right. They were in uncharted territory.

  Oscar pressed the power button on Annette’s phone and studied the screen. “We are very close.”

  Annette cupped her hands to her lips. “Danielle!”

  Millie cupped her hands and began to yell, “Danielle!”

  Soon, all of them were calling Danielle’s name, along with Brandon and Nathan’s names.

  It was hard to hear. The sound of the crashing water was deafening.

  Millie didn’t dare move for fear of falling off the side of the cliff and tumbling into the ravine far below.

  Annette dropped down on all fours and began crawling. She used her hands to guide her. When she got close to the cliff, she moved back.

  Millie, following suit, began to crawl.

  Courtney crawled to a spot a short distance away and G’ma Rae focused on an area on the other side. All the while, the women hollered for Danielle, Brandon and Nathan over and over.

  Oscar and Felippe cautiously inched along the path.

  “Wait! I hear something!” Courtney shouted. “Over here!”

  Courtney craned her neck and peered over the side of the cliff. “Brandon!” she shouted.

  A faint reply echoed out of the canyon.

  The women all began to shout frantically.

  A small voice from below grew louder. Someone was down there!

  Annette parted the ferns and slithered forward until her head hung over the edge of the cliff. “I see them…all three of them. They’re on a ledge about 20 feet below.”

  Oscar and Felippe hurried over. Both men dropped to the ground and crawled to the edge. “I see them, too,” Oscar said, “but how do we reach them?”

  Annette crawled backward, shifted to a sitting position and shrugged off her backpack.

  She placed the backpack in her lap and unzipped the back section, the largest part of the backpack.

  Annette reached inside and pulled out a rope, along with a three-pronged metal anchor. She threaded the rope through the hole in the end of the anchor, secured it with several knots and then forced the prongs into the soft dirt. “This isn’t gonna work,” she groaned.