Millie reached for her cell phone. “The person didn’t check to make sure no one was still in there?”
“She rang the bell to let them know she was locking up, but by the time Gloria got to the bottom to tell her what had happened, it was too late,” Dot said.
“Something about the wind blowing and the woman couldn’t hear them,” Margaret added.
“Let’s call the lighthouse office.”
“Gloria already did. She got an automated recording, and then the line disconnected.”
“Great.” Millie blew air through thinned lips. “The ship is leaving in half an hour.”
“Ruth had some tools on her and was going to try picking the door lock,” Margaret said. “We haven’t heard back, so I’m guessing it didn’t work.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Millie jogged to the stairs, taking them two at a time until she reached the bridge. Using her new keycard, she let herself in and made a beeline for her husband.
Nic stood at the central control panel, chatting with the harbor pilot.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” Millie apologized. “Do you have a minute to talk in private?”
He excused himself and stepped aside.
“Gloria, Lucy and Ruth are locked in the lighthouse.” She gave her husband the abbreviated version of what had transpired. “The bottom line is, they can’t reach anyone who works there to let them out. The last update we have is that Ruth was trying to pick the lock.”
Nic’s expression grew grim. “Unfortunately, we’re required to leave port.”
“Because of the fee for staying over and the fact they weren’t booked on a ship’s excursion,” Millie said.
“Correct. You know the drill.”
“This is awful.” She cast a concerned look through the bridge’s wall of windows toward the shore. “They’ll have to book flights back to Miami.”
“Unless…”
“Unless what?” she prompted.
“We depart as planned and send Sharky in a rescue boat to pick them up.”
“Again, they’re trapped inside the lighthouse with no way out.”
“It appears they’ll need some assistance,” Nic said.
“I’ll go rescue them.”
“I figured you would volunteer. I’ll have Suharto arrange for a tuk-tuk. You rescue Gloria and the others. Sharky will pick you up at the port and bring you back to the ship. I hope they know how to swim.”
“You and me both,” Millie said. “I’ll grab some stuff and head out.”
Nic stopped her. “I don’t want you going alone. Take someone with you.”
“No worries. I have just the person in mind.”
“The tuk-tuk will be waiting at the gangway,” Nic promised. “Be careful.”
“I will. You’ll have a bird’s-eye view of us in that small tender boat returning back to the ship,” Millie said.
“Good luck.”
“Thanks. I’m gonna need it.” After making a quick call, Millie wasted no time changing out of her work uniform. She slipped her sneakers on, shoved her wallet, sunglasses and bottle of water in her backpack and took off.
