“And that’s great! Milestones really cares about George. I mean, this is possibly the most luxurious cruise ship in the luxury cruise ship space, and the company still sent him a personal caregiver—even though the ship has more than an infirmary, it has an actual hospital!” Jeff said. He laughed softly. “Wow! I would sure love to have his job!”
“We have our own company!” Celia protested.
Jeff laughed again. “Still, better that George fell overboard than me!”
Sushi arrived at the table and casual conversation continued, the group talking about their favorite ports, their own personal experiences with cruise ships. It was polite, easy conversation, and yet Wes found himself watching Celia and the way she looked at her husband every now and then.
Had she wanted to go after Edward Thompson in Montego Bay?
And was George’s presence making that difficult for her?
To be where he was, Wes knew, the man had to be an extremely capable agent. George had told him that in situations where coworkers wound up injured, he was able to help. Medicine had always fascinated him, and he was one of those weird people who enjoyed classes and school and always wanted to go back.
And still...
Well, he’d already done his best to impress on the man the danger he could be in, trying to keep Edward Thompson safe. Maybe it wasn’t so hard in the hospital situation. There was a doctor—or two doctors, at times—in the hospital along with two nurses. He could see anyone who was coming; anyone who came close to Thompson.
But in Montego Bay?
“Dancing?” Celia suggested, looking at Jeff as the meal ended.
“Um, hm. Casino?” he asked in turn.
She frowned. He groaned. “Dancing and then casino?”
“What do you feel like?” Celia asked Chloe.
Chloe smiled and stretched. “Bed! I’m excited about tomorrow. I want to make sure I get enough sleep.”
“Oh, sure, yeah, they’re going to sleep!” Jeff said in a whisper before smiling and looking at Wes and adding, “I think that’s going to be an ‘as you wish!’”
“It’s as I wish, too!” Wes told the man. “Maybe tomorrow night, back on the ship, we’ll dance—and even gamble a little!”
They rose and left the area, heading for the elevators with many of the people who had been dining and who were now going in different directions.
The ship did offer just about everything in the world.
But Wes knew that Chloe did want to get to the roombecause she wanted to know what his discussion with George had been about.
In the elevator, he saw that Howard Markowitz was behind him.
“Hey, man,” Markowitz said quietly, stepping out with him and Chloe when they reached their deck. “I wanted to thank you. I... My wife told me I was an idiot to be watching any news shows, but they were doing a report on that computer lady killing everyone and it got to me, I guess. I mean, it’s all being avoided on this cruise, which makes sense, of course, but... I kind of flipped out. And you probably kept me from a night in the brig.”
“Is there a brig on a luxury cruise?” Chloe asked, offering the man a small smile. “We understand, it is upsetting to think about those poor people and even the troubled woman who did it.”
“Uh, first, yes, there is a brig on a luxury liner—you must have a place to keep someone, passenger or crew, who poses a threat to others or who needs to be held for illegal deeds. But, Mr. Markowitz, please, whatever your fears—” Wes started to say.
“Oh, don’t worry. I won’t be attacking anyone else. My wife and I are leaving the ship—we’re going to fly home from Jamaica. I just can’t stay on this thing right now. I don’t know how to explain it, but I’ve been picking up the creepiest vibe. I mean, Mr. Thompson going overboard? Come on! Of all the people to be pushed over the rails? Right or wrong, I’m not comfortable. We’re leaving tomorrow. But I wanted to thank you for stepping in and keeping me from winding up in the brig!”
“Think nothing of it, sir. No problem,” Wes assured him.
“You know. You and your wife should get off this thing,too. I mean... there’s something just not right. I can feel it. I can really feel it!”
“Well, we can promise that we’ll be really careful. Chloe and I have planned this trip for a long, long time,” Wes lied, smiling over at Chloe.
“But we do thank you sincerely for the warning, Mr. Markowitz,” Chloe assured him.
“Well, keep thinking about it! There’s a way to go. And when you’re in Jamaica, well, you be careful there. Who knows what can happen on foreign soil!” Markowitz warned.
