The video cut off as she ran offstage.
“Holy cow.”My chest felt tight with secondhand embarrassment.“That was the most brutal thing I’ve ever seen, and I’ve had visions of murder.He verbally eviscerated her.”
“Yep,” Pippa said.“That’s why I recognized her last night.She was the first person voted out of the top ten that season.I’ve seen him say some mean stuff to contestants, but nothing like that.After that episode, his critiques were more gentle, mixing good with the bad.I’m pretty sure a producer had taken him to task about crossing the line from smart-mouthed mean-girl into hateful bully territory.”
“She made it all the way to the top ten just to be treated like that?”Gilly’s hands curled into fists.“I’m not sad he’s dead, if I’m being honest.”
I couldn’t blame her.I barely knew the man, but after watching that, I wanted revenge for Charise too.
“There were worse singers in the top ten,” Pippa said.“But he seemed to have a real bee up his butt about Charise.”
I nodded.“After seeing that, I’d say she’s definitely at the top of the suspect list.”
“Do you think Callie’s been informed yet?”Scott asked.
“I’m sure they told her last night,” I said.“But I didn’t hear anything from her room.”I glanced at Ezra.“Did you?”
He shook his head.“Nothing.”
“Hmm.”I sipped my coffee.“I’m sure they’ve found her by now.”
“Well, we can’t do anything about it right now,” Gilly said with a sigh.“So, I vote we go get breakfast.After that, I want to hit the sun deck, catch some rays, and read.”
“And the murder?”Pippa asked, raising a brow.
“If it is a murder,” Gilly said, playing devil’s advocate, “let’s leave it to the professionals.”
Ezra shot her a dry look.
She wiggled her fingers at him.“You know what I mean.Ship security professionals.”
“And if they try to cover it up and call it an accident?”I asked.
“If that happens, you have my permission to ruin your first real vacation in years,” Gilly said.“Until then, leave it alone.Okay?”
I didn’t want to argue, so I nodded.Ezra caught my eye, his brows slightly raised.I gave a small shake of my head.
Good.He was still with me, and I was with him.Gilly hadn’t found Sebastian.She didn’t do CPR or watch him get shocked again and again with no result.She hadn’t heard the second person on the deck.She wasn’t invested the way Ezra and I were.
“Okay,” I said finally.“Let’s get breakfast and see where the day takes us.”
There wasa consensus to eat breakfast in the main dining room, where we’d had dinner the night before.The breakfast cooked to order sounded delicious, and I was in the mood for some over-medium fried eggs, bacon, and crispy hash browns.The chances were slim to none that Charise would work both breakfast and dinner shifts, but I’ll admit that was partially the reason for my vote.
“I’m having the avocado toast with the poached egg,” Pippa said with enthusiasm.
“How millennial of you,” I teased.
She rolled her eyes.“I’m practically Gen X.”
Gilly snorted a laugh.“Pippa, sweetheart, I love you like I love my left foot, but in no way, shape, or form are you practically Gen X.”
She lifted her hands and began lowering fingers one at a time.“My parents neglected me.I was left to fend for myself before and after school...”She paused, seemingly stumped.
“Go on,” Gilly told her.“I’ll wait.”
Pippa put her hands down.“It’s too early in the morning to think this hard.”
“All right, Nora.Let’s show her how it’s done.”Gilly held up both hands.
