Page 34 of Love Overboard
What if Emily wasn’t behind this? What if the drug runners were onto his investigation and locked him in here on purpose? He had to stay alert and not get distracted by anything or anybody. That’s what he kept telling himself even as he leaned forward. His lips found hers easily, as if the room were lit by a thousand candles. He’d dreamed of kissing Lacey again many times. But never in a crowded storage closet.
A full three seconds later, she eased away.
“Sorry.” Her voice sounded unnaturally high. “It’s hard to see anything in this cave.”
He froze. That’s how she was going to play it? An accidental collision. Her lips had moved against his for the briefest moment. He was sure of it.
“Forget it.” Jon slid over and folded his arms in front of him. He flopped back, and his head hit the wall for the second time.
“Are you okay?” Lacey brushed his arm with hers.
He scooted to the left. “Fine and dandy,friend.”
The scent of cherries hovered under his nose, and he scrubbed at his lips. When would he learn? Romantic progress with Lacey was like sailing through the Bermuda Triangle.
A person was capsized before he knew it.
CHAPTER 14
EMILY TWISTED THE FLUORESCENT GLASSbulb in her hand before tucking it into her purse. She checked her watch. “I hope they’re making progress. Let’s give it another twenty minutes. It takes time to settle things.”
Daisy tsk-tsked. “Aren’t you ashamed of lying to the poor girl?”
“How did I lie?” Emily raised one finger. “I told her I was looking for something in the lost and found. Which is true. I was looking for an excuse to get her and Jon together.” She added another finger. “I told her it was dark. Also the truth.”
“It’s dark because you took the bulb and switched off the hallway light. Wasn’t that a little harsh? It must be black as chicory coffee in there.”
“They’ll be fine.” Emily peeked around the corner, but no one entered the shadowy hall on deck zero. “Lacey has her phone with her. That will help. All I know is there’s nothing less romantic than fluorescent lighting.” She lifted her walkie-talkie and pressed the call button. “Gerry, are you and Althea in position?”
The receiver crackled.
“Roger that. We followed Lacey’s roommate to the steward’s office. If she goes to the storage, we’ll head her off.”
“Maintain your post. We’ll join you soon.”
Emily and Daisy rode the elevator to the deck where the crew’s cabins were located. The doors opened, and a commotion sounded to their right. Emily rushed out to find Althea moaning on the floor, with Gerry crouched beside her, cradling her head. Lacey’s roommate, Abby O’Brien, stood next to them, her hands frozen on either side of her ears like she was being held up.
Emily knelt beside the pair. “What’s wrong, Althea?”
“Oh … oh, my gallbladder.” She pressed her fingers into her stomach. “Oh, it hurts so bad!”
Abby leaned over her. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Jones. I’ll go for help.”
Althea grabbed her arm, her eyes rolling under her lids. “Don’t leave me, baby,” she gasped. “I … don’t wanna … die … alone.”
Daisy slipped a handkerchief from her purse and wiped at nonexistent tears. “Please don’t leave her.”
“Thank you, Daisy.” Althea reached with trembling fingers. “I can always count on you in my hour of need.”
Gerry shook her head behind Abby’s back, and Emily clenched her lips. Althea was going for the Academy Award.
The tension of the death scene heightened as the woman’s voice faded to a whisper. “Don’t. Leave. Me.”
“Oh no, Mrs. Jones.” Abby’s red cheeks almost matched her hair. She grasped Althea’s hand. “I won’t leave you.”
“If only”—Althea coughed—“I could have found the love of my life before I kicked off.”
“For the fourth time?” Gerry droned.
