Page 18 of Love Overboard
“No,” Jon said as Lacey moved out of his arms.
Althea rushed to them. “You two were amazing. Can’t you show us one more time?”
Lacey jumped in before Jon had the chance to comply. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Jones. No double-dipping. Besides, isn’t it time for bingo in the main lounge?”
“Bingo?”
The woman’s gaze shifted, and Lacey delivered the final blow. “I hear they’re tripling the prize money today.”
Althea’s head snapped in the direction of the exit. She plucked the curly hair extensions from her bun and shoved them in her pocket. “Sorry, Jonny. We can finish another time. I got a pressing engagement.”
She scuttled off the stage as the instructor clapped.
“Everyone take your starting positions. Slow. Slow. Quick-quick. Slow.”
The tango music swirled around them as they stood to the side. A brash accordion whined, and the melody rose in a passionate, tremulous fervor.
Lacey quirked a suspicious eyebrow at Jon. “Don’t tell me you’ve switched jobs already.”
“What do you mean?”
“You never did stay in one position long—always on the hunt for greener grass.”
Jon shook his head. “Cruise director is about as green as it gets unless you’re the captain. I’m just filling in for a sick dance instructor who’s sleeping off his cough medicine. But I didn’t understand I’d be taking my life in my hands. I owe you big-time.”
“Forget it.” Lacey turned to leave, but he caught her.
“Not a chance.” He dragged her back until she was right under his nose. “Please know we all thank you.”
“We?” Lacey looked around.
“Me and every disc in my spinal column.”
Lacey laughed and pulled away to swat him. “You’re right. You do owe me.”
“I wait with bated breath to see how you’ll collect.”
He amped the wattage in his smile, and Lacey experienced the same old equilibrium problem. She should get some motion-sickness pills.
If only the malady was that easy to fix.
“Punta Verdad?” Collins tapped his notepad against his chin. “Where have I heard that name?”
He flipped through the pages as Jon updated the duty rosters in his computer. His toes still ached from dance practice, and there was a strange sensation in his chest. He rubbed the spot. Not exactly pain. A ghostlike hollowness mixed with anticipation had started the moment he held Lacey in his arms. He shook his head.Concentrate.
“Here it is.” Collins thumped a fist on the desk. “Last year, another cruise line caught three busboys transporting narcotics by taping them to their bodies underneath their clothes. When the Mexican authorities questioned them, they confessed they bought the drugs in an isolated location near Punta Verdad, where there weren’t any witnesses. Quite a coincidence the grandmas chose the same place.”
Jon refrained from arguing. He was 99 percent sure the Shippers had nothing to do with the smuggling. But on the 1 percent chance he was mistaken, he’d let Collins have his way. “Are you going to follow them?”
“Can’t. One got a good look at me in Cozumel while I was tailing them. Suspicious old gal. And curious as a cat. In an out-of-the-way site like Punta Verdad, she’d recognize me right away. You’d better go. I’ll set up surveillance on the ship and keep an eye on any possible suspects from the crew.”
“The Shippers are harmless. I’m sure they’re not—”
“Indulge me.” Collins tossed his notepad on the desk. “I’m the one with thirty years of experience. Remember?”
Jon twisted on his chair. How could he forget? Even if the aging detective didn’t seem to excel at his job, thirty years had to mean something, right?
The gentle buzz from his laptop filled the silence as he considered. He had fewer activities to supervise on port days with most of the passengers off the boat. He could get the dance instructor to cover for him. But what excuse could he give the Shippers for his tagging along?
