“You didn’t see the commotion when we were getting off the ship?” Broderick asked her.
“We were at the tail end of the line,” Bryan told them ruefully. “I was afraid that we might miss the bus!”
“So how—” Darlene began again.
And, of course, the full explanation went around again. They knew that Amelia had given Sally bad chocolate.
“Then they must charge her with something!” Darlene said. “Assault at the very least. I think I told you that I wanted to be an influencer, maybe even sharing real news! I took a lot of classes, because being an investigative reporter was something I’d been thinking about and my trying to decide just which way to go meant lots of journalism and media classes but also forensics and criminology!” she told them proudly.
“She could be an attorney! She’d be great,” Bryan said proudly. “But she’s also great on camera!”
“I’ll bet you’re great at what you do!” Gina said.
“Thank you, and coming from you... Well, thank you! It’s quite a compliment!” Darlene said.
Gina laughed. “I just try to look good. Investigative reporting? That’sdoinggood!” she said. “Ah, we’re back!” she noted, indicating the fact that they had returned to the bus’s spot at the parking lot by the docks. “Strange that they didn’t drop us in their little town, let’s head out to lunch there.”
“I think they did at one time, but from what I heard through a crew member, people didn’t like it because they were all wet and salty and needed showers. Anyway, thebuffet is open all afternoon—I read those pamphlets they gave us all!” Wesley said. “And you know what? I’m with that passenger who wanted to return to the ship. I need a shower!”
“I guess we could all use showers,” Chloe said. “I’m beginning to feel like a salt lick, too.”
Murmuring arose as agreement went all around that they should have showers. Whoever wanted to join the others could do so down at the casual restaurant where they’d met so often—and which was just about always open.
The bus parked and they all headed off, ready to have their eyes scanned and allowed back on the ship.
As soon as they reached the room, Wes pulled out his phone. He nodded to Chloe who knew that he was calling George.
“Four minutes while you talk this time!” she told him.
She headed into the shower, not stopping to get clean, dry clothing. He smiled to himself. They both knew they had no time.
But neither was she going to pretend that him seeing her in a towel was any kind of a problem now.
George answered Wes’s call immediately.
“You can talk?” Wes asked.
“Yeah, cool, beautiful day. Edward and Sally are fine. In loungers, but talking about a late lunch or early dinner,” George told him, and Wes knew that he was with Edward and Sally, smiling and pretending it was a casual conversation while moving away a bit so that he could speak.
“Amelia was indignant, insisted she was innocent, confronted with the ship’s security footage, then swore she was just trying to be nice, and she didn’t know that she had given Sally chocolate that had nuts in it. Claimed she bought the chocolate in Jamaica and had no idea what it contained, then pretended she didn’t know that Sally was allergic to nuts. She started demanding a lawyer, claiming we had no proof she was trying to do anything to anyone except be nice. Okay, so the crime occurred at sea, but this ship’s registry is in the USA, the company owns the island, but it’s small, very few facilities, and the captain is going by the fact that there is a United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and because Sally might have died twice under suspicious circumstances, he’s holding Amelia until they investigate further. She is being held in the brig, though she’s threatened every lawsuit known to man, sworn that while the corporation may have billions, they’ll be penniless by the time she’s done with them. Good thing Captain Millbrook is no pushover. He’s explained that for the safety of others he must investigate further before he can set her free on the ship with so many other passengers.”
“I’d like to figure out a way to talk to her,” Wes murmured. “Find out—”
“If she’s an idiot or involved with other events, you know, like pushing Edward Thompson overboard?” George asked dryly.
“Yeah, though the two don’t jive, unless...”
“I know. I’ve thought that myself.”
“Unless, of course, Amelia needed to get rid of Sally so that she could get closer to Edward and cause anotheraccident.”
“Right.”
“So...”
“You can talk to her,” George told him. His voice lowered further as he said, “You’re going to need to speak with Assistant Director Alonzo, Wes. You’re in your cabin. Give him a call. As you know, this call and that one can’t be traced.” His voice suddenly went up again. “Glad to hear that despite your few difficulties, it was an amazing dive! Yeah, Edward,” he said, indicating that the man was close enough to him to hear anything that was said. “Great! Edward and Sally aretalking about casual dining again—late, late lunch or early dinner! Okay, see you soon.”
George ended the call.
