Southampton Strangler Page 2

  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.”

  Chapter 3

  Millie circled what was left of the crate. “What is this?”

  “It’s a Quadski, an amphibious vehicle. I call it the PRV—a personal rescue vehicle.” Sharky ran a light hand along the shiny yellow hood. “This particular model is a high-tech, smaller version of a duck boat, part jet ski and part quad.”

  “It will be used for water rescues,” Donovan elaborated, “and will replace Sharky’s scooter.”

  “Nope.” Sharky shook his head. “I g
otta keep the scooter as a backup. Now that I’ve seen it in person, it’s a little too wide for some of the ship’s narrower corridors.”

  “We made a deal,” Donovan said. “Reef and night maintenance use one MOT and you use the other.”

  “MOT?” Millie asked.

  “Mode of transportation.”

  “Reef and I will hammer out the details.” Sharky began directing the men standing nearby. They loaded the PRV onto a large cart and wheeled it toward the gangway.

  Millie cringed, watching as the Quadski slowly made its way up the ramp. It squeezed through the opening with barely an inch of clearance on either side.

  With the crewmember entrance now completely blocked, Suharto ran to the bottom of the gangway and began directing returning crewmembers to the passenger entrance at the other end.

  “That’s cool.” Millie said. “I can’t wait to see it in action.”

  Annette tilted her head. “I have a question. How are you gonna launch that thing in the water if we’re in the middle of the ocean?”

  “I’m glad you asked. Follow me.” Donovan led the women along the dock to the bow of the ship. A large flat deck, supported by two thick black cables, jutted out of the side. “Check this out.” He signaled to a crewmember standing on the deck.

  The deck slowly lowered. It stopped, and then an inflatable ramp rolled out, flowing down into the water.

  Annette let out a low whistle. “That’s James Bond-ish slick.”

  Burum. Burum. The sound of an engine echoed from within the ship. Seconds later, Sharky and the PRV appeared.

  “There he is. Are you going to let him take it out?”

  “Not here,” Donovan said. “There are too many ships and boats in the harbor. He’ll have to wait until we’re in open water.”

  “I think he has other plans,” Annette said.

  Sure enough, Sharky was easing the vehicle onto the deck.

  “Hey!” Donovan made a timeout with his hands.

  Sharky’s face fell as he began backing the new rescue vehicle away from the inflatable ramp.

  “I need to remind him of our agreement before he convinces the guys to let him take it out.” Donovan sucked in a breath. “I hope I don’t live to regret this decision.”

  Millie watched as the ship’s purser hurried off. He ran into Dave Patterson near the gangway, and they had a brief word before both hustled back on board.

  “That was interesting.” Annette dusted her hands. “Hopefully, we’ll never have to use it.”

  “I have to say, it’s ingenious.” Millie flung a light arm across Annette’s shoulders as they trailed behind Donovan and boarded the ship. “Think of how much easier it will be to maneuver a smaller craft in the event of an emergency.”

  Back inside, Annette returned to the galley, while Millie made her way to Andy’s office. She found her boss seated at his desk. “What are you still doing here? I thought you and Cat were heading out.”

  “In a few minutes.” Andy tidied a stack of papers. “I was going over the passenger manifest. Siren of the Seas will be at capacity for the return voyage.”

  Millie had heard from several of the guests during their repositioning voyage that they would be returning to Miami at the end of the season.

  “And some of them are passengers who made the trip over with us. It should be exciting.” She changed the subject. “It appears the Southampton Strangler has struck again.”

  “I heard. What does this make now…three or four victims?” Andy asked.

  “Three confirmed, at least according to what Halbert said.”

  “Speaking of Halbert, how was the party?”

  “It was nice. It was also sad. I’m going to miss him. He loves the phone.”

  “You have a good heart.”

  Millie leaned her hip against the doorway. “What about you? Are you sad we’re leaving?”

  “I have mixed emotions. Although I’ll miss my sister, Sarah, Siren of the Seas is my home.”

  Millie nodded, understanding exactly what Andy meant. Michigan would always be home-home. But the ship, the crew, not to mention Nic, had captured her heart, and it was where she was meant to be. “Where are you taking Cat?”

  “Ah.” Andy wagged his finger. “I can’t divulge that information. Let’s just say, it will be an adventure.”

  “I hope you have fun.” Millie turned to go and then paused. “I’m happy for you, Andy. Happy for you and Cat.”

  “Me too, Millie. To think for years now, Cat has been right there, right under my nose, and I didn’t even see her until I really looked.”

  “Love can be a fickle thing.” Millie headed out to make her rounds. She swung by Sharky’s office first and found him, along with several of his maintenance men, tinkering with the PRV. Reef, the night supervisor, was there too.

  She caught Sharky’s eye before making her way over.

  “Well? What do you think?” he asked.

  “It’s very cool. I can’t wait to see it in action. I mean, test mode. Not action, action.”

  Sharky licked his finger and swiped at a small smudge. “What do you think about me adding racing stripes, like the ones I have on my scooter?”

  Millie wrinkled her nose. “Will Donovan let you alter the PRV?”

  “I didn’t plan on asking him. Why would he care about a few stickers?”

  “The first thought that comes to mind is because this is a company asset and not personal property.”

  A flicker of hesitation crossed Sharky’s face. “Yeah. Maybe you’re right.”

  “So.” Millie pointed to the scooter parked in the corner. “What happens to your scooter?”

  “Sharky’s giving it to me,” Reef said.

  “ Loaning it to you,” Sharky corrected. “It’s a loaner. Besides, we’re sharing it.”

  “Fine.” Reef rolled his eyes. “You’re sharing it.”

  “Donovan said you won’t be testing it until we reach open water. I wouldn’t mind seeing you and the PRV in action.”

  Sharky promised he would let her know when, and then Millie headed out. Her next stop was the apartment where Scout, her small Yorkie, stood waiting by the door.

  Millie scooped him up and carried him onto the balcony. The port was bustling with stevedores, buzzing back and forth, loading boxes and bins.

  Her eyes were drawn to Halbert’s warehouse. From her vantage point, she could see the entrance to Queen’s Park. The police cars were gone now, and she said a small prayer for the woman who had died.

  Her concern for Halbert came flooding back, and she consoled herself with the fact he would now have a way to get help, if needed. “All right, Scout. It’s time to get back to work. How would you like to tag along while I do a final check of the Welcome Aboard show I’m co-hosting?”

  Ever since Scout’s recent kidnapping, Millie had been careful to keep close tabs on the pup whenever they left the apartment. And because there weren’t any passengers boarding yet, she figured it would be the perfect opportunity for him to get some fresh air.

  Millie gave Nic, who was seated at the conference table, a quick wave as they crossed the bridge.

  The Paradise Lounge was already buzzing with activity as crewmembers worked to set up tables for the Platinum Elite Diamond Welcome Aboard reception. Andy had gone all out by arranging for gourmet treats and premium beverages.

  Millie looked forward to the VIP guest parties and, over the years, had gotten to know several Siren of the Seas’ frequent cruisers.

  After answering several questions, they headed upstairs to the lido deck to complete the sail away preparations. Everywhere they went, they were met with smiling faces. Like Millie, the crew had enjoyed their British Isles adventure, but they were ready to head home.

  Kevin, one of the dancers, waved to Millie and then motioned for her to join him on the stage.

  “Hello, Scout.” Kevin patted the pup’s head, and he rewarded him with a hand lick.

  “How’s it going?”
>
  “We’ve had some minor technical difficulties with the sound equipment. Maintenance is working on it now.” Kevin rubbed his hands together. “How does almost two weeks of nonstop entertainment sound?”

  “Like a lot of fun and a lot of work.” Millie chuckled. “At least this time I know what I’m getting myself into.”

  They chatted briefly, and then Millie kept moving. She went from top to bottom, stem to stern, ensuring the entertainment staff had everything they needed for the long-haul home.

  She finished in time to drop Scout off at the apartment and then made her way down to the lobby to greet the arriving passengers. There was a buzz of anticipation in the air, from the staff at the guest services desk to the excursion desk crew to the cleaners, the bar staff, and everyone in between.

  Andy was already waiting near the passenger entrance when Millie arrived. She eased in next to him. “How was your afternoon?”

  “Fabulous.” Andy tapped the tip of his nose. “I got a little too much sun.”

  “So…what did you do?”

  “I chartered a sailboat.”

  Millie arched a brow. “You went sailing?”

  “Sort of. I would call it more of a romantic escape for two, including a specially prepared lunch.” Andy placed both hands behind his back and lifted his chin as he peered down at her. “It was quite lovely, if I do say so myself.”

  “I’m sure it was.”

  Their conversation ended when Suharto signaled the Platinum Elite Diamond passengers were making their way up the ramp.

  Millie heard their excited chatter, and then the passengers began pouring into the atrium while a fleet of servers passed out flutes of champagne.

  There were several familiar faces. Two of them were a couple Millie remembered meeting during their voyage to Southampton. Although their first names eluded her, she could remember the last.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Ponsford.” Millie smiled widely. “You’re joining us for the return voyage?”

  “Edward and Annabel,” the woman corrected. “There’s no need to be so formal, Millie. We’ve decided to spend a few months at our holiday home in Clermont. The grandchildren will be arriving via plane for a visit to Disney World during Christmas break.” Several passengers gathered behind them, and Annabel introduced their friends, who were also traveling to their holiday homes.