Nate closed the stateroom door behind them, then turned to his husband with a disgusted sigh. “Was he the only ex-law enforcement on the whole damned ship?”
“Well, he was the only one the security officersknewof,” Joshua replied. He flopped onto the bed and then looked up at his friends. “Look. It would be best if you guys planned to go on the shore excursion. I won’t go without Colin.”
“None of us are going without Colin,” David announced. “Let’s go have breakfast. If we hear from Colin, we’ll arrange to do the old forest excursion later today. If we don’t hear from him, we’ll return to the cabin and discuss what steps to take.”
* * *
Blake Sinclair ledColin to the security team’s office, a small two-room area near the ship’s bow. Sinclair’s partner was seated at a desk but rose when they entered.
“This is Rob Dodson,” Sinclair told Colin, who shook the officer’s hand. “Is she still here?” Sinclair asked.
Dodson indicated a door that led to an interior room. “Louise is in there.”
“Introduce me,” Colin told Sinclair. “Then leave.”
Sinclair nodded and opened the door. Colin entered to find a woman who appeared to be in her early twenties seated near a small desk.
“Louise,” Sinclair said, indicating Colin, “this is Colin Campbell. He is a fellow passenger and a former campus police officer in Charlottesville, Virginia.”
The girl looked up at Colin, who offered his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Ms.…?”
“Stamford,” she replied. “Louise Stamford.”
“It's nice to meet you, Ms. Samford,” Colin repeated. “I’m terribly sorry about the circumstances. May I sit?”
When she nodded, Colin drew a chair to a respectful distance and sat. “Ms. Stamford, Officer Sinclair has asked me to talk with you because I’ve got quite a bit of experience with this type of investigation. Do I have your permission to chat with you about what you’ve gone through?”
When the woman nodded, Colin turned to Sinclair. “Thanks, Blake.” He indicated the door, and Officer Sinclair left the room.
“Let me tell you a bit about myself,” Colin said. “I’m no longer a campus cop. I’m now a prosecuting attorney in Charlottesville. I’m gay and married to a wonderful man. He’s a psychologist. We’re on this cruise with our two best friends, helping them celebrate their anniversary.”
Colin deliberately modulated his voice into low and calm registers as he talked. He could see her body relax, and her breathing became slower and more even.
“Ms. Stamford, may I ask you a few questions about last night? If there’s anything you don’t feel ready to discuss, tell me, and we’ll move on.”
Again, the young woman nodded, and Colin leaned towards her. “What can you tell me about the person who attacked you? Did you know him? Any kind of description would be helpful.”
“I was on my way back to the casino from the restroom when he grabbed me and dragged me into a storage room. At least, I think it was a storage room. The area was too dark for me to see his face, though I believe his hair was dark brown. He was tall and very strong,” Louise told him. “He had a gruff, deep voice, though that might have been faked, and I think he was wearing a uniform shirt with the ship’s logo on it.”
“This ship’s logo?”
“Yes. I remember being shocked by the notion that one of the crew was doing this to me.”
Colin hissed out a disgusted noise. “Can you tell me what happened next?”
“He tore at my clothes, mainly at my skirt and panties, then turned me around and…” She stopped and drew in a shaky breath. “He kept his hand over my mouth.”
Colin nodded. “Did he hit you? Are you injured in any way other than those injuries sustained in the assault?”
“No. He twisted my arm, but he didn’t hit me.” She glanced up at Colin and shrugged. “It all happened pretty quickly.”
“Louise, where are the clothes you had on last night? And did you shower after the attack?”
“I’m afraid I did. I was so disgusted by it that I wanted to clean up. The clothes are in my stateroom on the closet floor.”
“I can’t say I blame you. Once we’re done talking, we’ll take you to the ship’s physician if that’s okay. He’ll want to examine you for any evidence we might be able to gain.”
“No, that’s fine. I’d like to see the ship’s doctor.”
