“How will Lucy get back to the ship if she sprained her ankle?”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. Wish us luck.”
“Good luck. Margaret and I are boarding now. We’ll see what we can do.”
Gloria thanked her before ending the call and motioned to Lucy. “Is your cell phone working?”
“Yeah.” She waved it in the air. “I have a screen protector and it didn’t fall far.”
A flit of uncertainty crossed Gloria’s face. “I’m not sure I have anything we could use to try to pick the lock.”
“Never fear.” Ruth adjusted her backpack. “I have an array of gadgets I keep with me at all times. I don’t recall noticing what the knob looked like but if anyone can pick a lock, we can.”
*****
“I hate to rush you because I know you have your own way of doing things but we’re kind of in a time crunch,” Gloria said.
Ruth finished emptying the manicure kit and checked her watch. “And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s past boarding time. Either the ship will wait until we’re rescued or we’re going to have to figure out our own way back to Miami.”
Gloria heaved a heavy sigh. “This is almost as bad as when Cat and Millie were stuck in Skara Brae on Orkney.”
“Except no one knew where they were,” Ruth pointed out. “Millie and the others know exactly where we are.”
“I suppose that’s one positive.” Gloria placed her hands on her knees, leaning forward to inspect the door. “The good news is this lock is an oldie.”
“Which may or may not work in our favor.” Ruth held up a metal nail file and pressed on the tip. “We’ll give this little gem a try.” She slid it inside the keyhole and gently wiggled it around.
Nothing happened.
“It’s too sharp. I need something with a blunt end, but not too blunt.” She set the nail file aside and picked up a pair of clippers with a slanted edge. Repeating the same steps, she slid it into the slot and gave it a light twist with the same result…nothing.
Working her way through each of the manicure kit’s tools, Ruth attempted to unlock the door, all to no avail.
“How’s it going?” Lucy hollered.
“The lock won’t budge!” Gloria hollered back.
Ruth tried her tweezers, twisting hard enough to bend the tips. “Crud. None of these are gonna work. Hopefully, Millie can work her magic and stop Siren of the Seas from leaving.”
“Not only not leave us behind but find a way to get us out of here before tomorrow morning.” Gloria winced. “I drank a mega-size Arnold Palmer lemonade and iced tea while we were on the beach.”
“Meaning you gotta use the restroom,” Ruth said.
“Time is of the essence in more ways than one.”
Chapter 28
Millie stood at the gangway, greeting guests while keeping watch for her cousins and friends, her concern growing with each passing minute.
Finally, to her relief, she noticed Liz, Dot and Margaret climbing the gangway and passing through the ship’s security screening.
She bounced on the tips of her toes, scanning the crowd for Gloria, Lucy, and Ruth.
Liz snatched her beach bag from the conveyor belt and rushed over. “Gloria, Ruth, and Lucy are locked in the lighthouse,” she blurted out.
Millie’s eyes widened. “Locked in the lighthouse?”
“After you left, they decided to tour the lighthouse. The plan was to check it out and be back before the boarding deadline,” Dot said. “Lucy tripped and sprained her ankle. They weren’t able to make it out in time, and the lighthouse employee locked them inside.”
