Nods went around.
“Well, then, I’ll let you go on your mission, Wesley. And thanks, all!” Billy said.
He was indeed cruising the room. He headed to the next table, cheerfully greeting the passengers, and Wes moved on over to the coffee buffet.
“Hey, there are some more folks who are giving classes,” Sally noted, nodding to indicate the table where Billy was talking to the group seated there.
“Yes! The older gentleman is from a company that develops software specifically for an older crowd—”
“Go figure on that!” Sally said, laughing. “But there is a difference now that we’re not spring chickens—kids go to school with their computers and tablets now.” She looked at Edward and grinned. “Remember when the remote control meant one of your parents telling you to walk to the television and change the channel?”
“How many more people on board are giving the classes?” Chloe asked. “I should have been paying more attention, except I was focusing on a few of the classes that I knew I wanted—”
“You’re with my main people,” Edward said. “We have eight others, but they’re only doing a few classes each, though they are welcomed, of course, by Milestones. You, my dear Chloe, are with...”
He lowered his voice and looked around conspiratorially.
“You’re with the cream of the crop! Quote me on that and I’ll call you a horrible liar—even if you did save my life!”
He was teasing her, of course, and it seemed that everyone was amused and their table was having the best time ever.
Wes returned with coffee and after a minute or two, their group rose, ready to head to their various projects for the morning.
Edward, George, Sally and Wes started to head out together for the session Edward was giving but Wes stopped suddenly, looking back at Daniel and Broderick.
“You guys cooking or coming this way?” he asked.
“We’re giving a speech—a repeat, really—for those who couldn’t come to our original class on cybersecurity,” Broderick said.
“We could cook for a minute, but... no, not me! I like my food delivered!” Daniel reminded them.
Grinning, Wes went on and followed Edward out.
Chloe turned to Celia and said, “Where is this cooking class? Jeff, are you going to it?”
“I’m taking a nap!” he said. “And this afternoon, all I have planned is lying on a lounge chair!”
“I have to run to the room for a minute,” Celia said.
“Room? It’s a ship, remember? You’re headed to our cabin!” Jeff told her.
Celia just groaned.
“I’m also heading to my cabin-slash-room!” Amelia told them. “And what to do with all my free time! Ah, decisions, decisions!”
“Cooking class is in the big galley, Leisure Deck!” Celia told Chloe. “See you there!”
Chloe made her way out of the dining area, heading for the elevators. As she did so, she smiled at those she passed,said hello to those here and there she had met casually aboard the ship or when they’d been at the falls in Jamaica.
She wondered again how they were ever going to catch a killer on the cruise. A killer? Killers?
And did they need to worry about everyone on the ship who had anything to do with the classes?
What the hell is the motive for it all? Simple greed? Simple greed could cost so many lives!
She’d had a class once on serial killers. It was estimated that twenty-five to fifty were active in the United States at any time. But that was a different animal than the killer or killers they were seeking. The deaths were targeted.
“Hey!”
