‘Do what?’
‘How do you work out how much to charge each table? Each person?’
‘I haven’t,’ she says, looking at me as though I’ve gone mad. ‘Gee Man does it at the end.’
‘How?’
She holds out her palms. ‘How should I know? Ask him.’
I’d rather gouge my own eyes out.
‘Ask the Gee Man what?’ he says, approaching.
‘Maddie is just asking how you work out all the tabs for the drinks,’ Astrid says.
‘Leave that to me,’ he snaps.
‘Well, here are the totals for the tables I served,’ I say, showing him the workings out. He barely gives it a glance before shoving the paper in his shorts pocket. Shorts that are too tight and too short, I might add. ‘So how do you know what individuals have drunk? I know guests can drink what they like but what if Emir’s parents want a breakdown of their bar bill? Or, like that lady over there who just had water. I mean, do we charge for water or is it free? Where’s the price list?’
Garry seems incensed at this simple and, frankly, obvious question. ‘Can. You. Please. Stop. Bloody. Interfering.All-the-sodding-time!’
I jump at the hard tone, as does Astrid. ‘Come on, Garry. She’s only asking because she’s new. Anyway, howdoyou work out how much to charge them?’ she asks him. ‘I can’t see a till to ring anything up. And we get commission, don’t we? So, it makes sense to know how much the bill is.’
Garry’s eyes bulge before he simmers down, his mouth a tight line. ‘Girls, girls, girls.’ He drags the palm of his hand roughly down his cheek. ‘I said do not worry. I have it all in hand. Now, please, just do your fucking jobs. It’s enough that the new boss is planning a secret spot check when we call in at the port of Palamutbuku. What an arsehole. I bet he’s not checking up on the Bodrum North team. Yet, it’s okay to surprise us with a visit only one day into the trip.’
‘How do you know Jackson is coming to check up on us if it’s a secret?’ Astrid asks.
Garry rolls his eyes. ‘A source warned me.’ Then it’s as though he remembers how much he hates me and growls, ‘Not a word about this to anyone, okay?’
His words float around in my head. Jackson. Here on this boat. Tonight.
16
While I’m below deck and Emir is with his grandmother, I take the opportunity to nip back to my room to freshen up and to change my skirt which is splashed with all kinds of food and grease from the sizzling platters. It’s then that I realise the big wad of money and the grandmother’s watch are still in my pockets. I quickly take them out just as Tiffany bursts through the door, shoving them in the drawer before I spin round. I don’t need to give Garry or his team any more ammunition. ‘Hi,’ I shrill. ‘You’re back.’
She eyes me warily. ‘Yes, I need to change. Things got a little messy on the return journey.’ She grins to herself and begins stripping off in front of me.
‘I’m needed on cleaning duty… again,’ I say, hurriedly making my escape.
Tiffany sniffs the air. ‘Do this room, will you? The place smells like a rotting corpse.’
‘Maybe have a word with Astrid then, she’s the one who likes to throw up in here, not me.’ Before Tiffany can answer, I bolt from the room, grab the mop and bucket and head back upstairs. Most of the diners have left. I spot Emir and his grandmother still sitting at the table. I’m pleased to see she is smiling at something he is saying as I approach.
‘I hear you’ve been filling my grandson full of sugar?’ she says, grinning at me. I fix him a stern look.The double-crossing little…
‘I’m sorry. It was just a treat for being so good,’ I say pointedly. ‘But it won’t happen again, I assure you. Oh, by the way, Emir, did you tell your grandmother that you found her watch?’
Emir’s face falls.That’ll teach him.
‘Oh, really? Isn’t that great news?’ She lifts an eyebrow at her grandson. ‘I wonder where you found it… seeing as it was securely locked in my safe at home. A safe that is supposed to be uncrackable.’
Emir perks up, delighted.
‘I have your watch in my room. I’ll bring it to you as soon as I’ve finished cleaning the dining area.’ I pick up their empty plates. ‘Excellent, you’ve eaten all your salad.’ I give Emir a conspiratorial look. ‘Looks like we’re hunting for treasure.’
Emir immediately cheers, his eyes shining. His grudge about the watch, hopefully, forgotten.
‘I’ll drop my grandson back to his parents to get ready for this afternoon’s activity. What did you say it was, my dear?’
