‘The guy?’ Carlos was no more enlightened and Ore could see the frustration blooming across Vicky’s face.
‘The guy that … messed with Annie.’ Vicky spoke slowly, cautiously holding Carlos’ gaze until the switch flipped over to understanding.
‘Ahhhh’ and then, as the cogs kept turning: ‘Oh no, that is very bad. I cannot believe Mr Chuck would allow that …’
‘Carlos!’ Vicky hissed and jerked her head towards Ore. He had revealed too much, apparently, but it was too late. Ore was determined to find out who Annie was.
Carlos waved his hand dismissively. ‘You worry too much, Vicky. She is one of us – “below the deck”, as you say.’
‘She’s literally a journalist, Carlos. Her job is to snoop.’ Vickylooked over at Ore, having up until then acted as though she were not in the room. ‘No offence,’ she offered half-heartedly.
Ore smiled, hoping the exchange could be laughed off – ‘none taken!’ – but Vicky had already turned back to Carlos.
‘I did not know,’ he admitted, and then to Ore he continued, ‘but you can promise all of this is uhh, how to say … off the recording?’
‘Off the record? Yes, of course. I wouldn’t reveal the sources for anything I publish to anyone without their consent.’
Carlos smiled triumphantly at Vicky, who rolled her eyes. Dudley remained silent and fuming in the corner, his eyes trained on the half-finished bowl of cereal in front of him.
Ore was used to people not liking journalists but the hostility in the room was growing ever more intense. She had at least learnt that Carlos would be a great person to interview, and that there was something dodgy going on with someone on the boat and a woman named Annie, which was more intel than she’d managed to gather from the whole previous day of interviews.
She quickly finished off her pastry and made her excuses. ‘Thank you for breakfast, Carlos; maybe I can catch up with you later. I’d love to hear more about life on the boat.’
‘I bet you would,’ Vicky muttered under her breath, just loud enough for everyone to hear. Ore ignored it and Carlos nodded enthusiastically.
‘Nice to meet you, Dudley.’ At the mention of his name he seemed to snap back into reality.
‘Yep, sure, you too.’ It was unconvincing, but Ore was grateful that she’d at least elicited a response.
In her hurry to leave she went through yet another door leading out of the mess and found herself out on the deck.
