Page 7 of Too Far To Sea
The conversation turned to the sail away party. Dana left as soon as she felt she could. At the outdoor bistro, she asked for her icepack to be filled and treated herself to a warm cookie,which was easier to hold than the celebratory ice cream cone alternative.
Back in her cabin, she propped her foot on the bed with the extra pillow and let the ice do its work. Intending to read her new novel about a viscount and his list of marriageable debutantes, she pulled out her phone. A notification from the Hastings Security app filled her screen. She tapped to respond, unsure if she could login without connecting to the ship’s Wi-Fi system. To her surprise, the app connected immediately.
Hastings 2: Where does Peter hide his blue elephant when he doesn’t want to take a nap?
Oops, she’d forgotten to put that on the list of things her sub needed to know. At least the person texting couldn’t hear her laugh.
Dana: Behind the plant in the living room. If you can’t find it, ask the AI in the penthouse. She always knows where the elephant is.
The AI Colin Ogilvie designed was scary smart and bordered on creepy sometimes with how much she knew.
Hastings 2: Why didn’t I think of that?
Acting on a hunch, Dana tapped the reply.
Dana: ZoElle, is that you?
Hastings 2: Yup, the only thing Alan lets me near anymore is the computers. Watching Peter in the apartment qualified as a “safe activity.”
Dana: I won’t redefine his definition of safe.
Hastings 2: How’s the trip going?
Dana: Don’t be surprised if there is a viral video of my mother losing it on the plane.
The video phone on the app rang. Dana answered to see ZoElle Hastings, her hair in a messy bun. “I just wanted to wish you bon voyage.”
“I’m surprised my app works down here.” Dana flipped the camera to show ZoElle the room. “I’m not connected to the ship Wi-Fi and I don’t have international data on my phone.”
“That isn’t the suite you showed me. It looks like a normal—” ZoElle gasped. “—What cruise line are you on?”
Dana held up her key card and panned the room with her phone to show the full effect.
“No wonder I am having flashbacks.” ZoElle shuddered. “The kidnappers held us in a room so similar to that one only larger. What happened to the original suite?”
One of Hastings Security’s most publicized cases was when ZoElle and Alan posed as newlyweds and rescued an heiress from a deadly situation on a cruise. Who knew it was the same line her sister chose for her bachelorette?
“Motherzilla switched my accommodations. The room is growing on me. Private is good sometimes. Is this the same ship you were on in Panama?”
“I don’t know. Definitely the same cruise line. Did you know Colin Ogilvie designed an app for that cruise line about the time Alan and I got married?”
Not surprising that Colin’s technology for Hasting Security had been crucial in saving the heiress under their protection. “Is it based on the Hastings app?”
“Probably the same tech. That may be why your app is working on the ship. Colin may have built in a backdoor or something. At least now I know I can contact you if Peter loses anything else.”
“And I can contact you if I need to jump ship.”
“Is it as bad as you thought it would be?”
“You know my mother. She moved me to this lovely room. Who knows what else she has planned. At least Cheyanne wants me here so…”
ZoElle glanced away from the screen. “They found the elephant. Thanks for letting me bug you on your cruise.”
Dana laughed. “I should let you go before I get in trouble with my boss for using the company app when I am on vacation.”
“Don’t worry about him. Alan is too preoccupied with his impending fatherhood to micromanage the trivial things. Enjoy your cruise!” ZoElle closed the app from her end.
Dana sighed as she lay back on the bed. She reached for her ice pack and the lid fell off spilling cold water and ice on the bed. It was one of those days, or weeks. Dana cleaned up the best she could. The remaining ice wasn’t enough. She needed more. Dana checked the cruise app, there had to be a closer place than by the pool to get ice. An ice machine like a hotel would be nice. If she could wait an hour… no better get it now.
