Page 129 of So, I Met This Guy . . .

‘I don’t think he’s worrying about paying taxes,’ muttered Maggie.

‘Well, I think the reason why he’s on a cruise is pretty obvious,’ shrugged Flick. ‘It’s the perfect place for a romance fraudster—’

‘To meet someone?’ finished George.

‘To scam someone,’ corrected Flick. ‘I’m sure he’s already found his next victim. Some poor rich, elderly widow—’

‘Birdy.’

George and Flick both looked at Maggie, who’d gone suddenly pale.

‘We met a rich heiress . . . divorced, widowed, single, in her seventies, I’m guessing. She’s on the same cruise. I saw them together at the club in Ibiza.’

‘Together together?’ He raised an eyebrow.

‘I thought I’d got it wrong, been mistaken, that it wasn’t him.’ She was shaking her head, reality dawning. ‘He had his hand round her waist . . .’

‘And you’re telling me this now?’ gasped Flick.

‘Well, I got slightly distracted by other news this morning.’ She shot her a look.

‘Maybe this is a silly question, but instead of going on some wild goose chase around Europe chasing a cruise ship, why don’t you just get on board?’

George’s voice broke into their conversation.

‘You mean, go on a cruise with the man who stole my life?’ Maggie looked horrified.

‘You can’t.’ Flick shook her head firmly. ‘No visitors or members of the public are allowed on board. They’re really strict with security.’

‘There’s no exceptions?’

‘No, it’s impossible. I’ve done my research,’ added Flick.

‘Anyway, it’s a crazy idea,’ said Maggie.

At the mention of crazy, the two women looked at each other. And that was the moment they both knew what they had to do. Well, you know what they say about crazy . . .

Málaga

Day Eleven

Three more days to go

All Aboard

‘Wow, it’s gigantic!’

‘Like a floating city.’

‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it.’

The next day, after goodbyes and good-luck hugs with George at the train station in Valencia, Flick and Maggie found themselves at Málaga Cruise Port, at the Eastern dock, presenting their passports, having their pictures taken, and going through all the necessary security checks, before being whisked down the walkway that led on to the cruise ship.

‘Can you believe it’s nineteen decks high?’ Flick cricked her neck to gaze upwards.

‘Can you believe we’re getting on board?’ replied Maggie in disbelief.

Turning sideways, they both looked at each other; it was a look that said there was no turning back now.