Deadly Reunion (4 page)

“I can’t find them,” Randy said.

I managed to shove words past my teeth. “Did you know a man died on board this afternoon?”

“You’re kidding.”

“No. He was in the stairwell near where we ate. We saw him.”

“That’s terrible. Look, there are some places.”

We squeezed past people to reach empty seats. Working to stave off apprehension, I took in the glamour of our space. Shiny blue-black fabric draped from the center of the huge ceiling also covered the walls. Swirling ceiling lights changed colors, making the fabric glitter in varying hues. The stage was vast. Showgirls dancing across it could have performed on Broadway.

How many people in this room were aware that a man here died? The people who ate with us this evening knew he fell. So did others who saw him down. I tried for an image of his face but mainly recalled his shirt in the bright shade of pink I loved best as a teen.

I glanced around. So many grownups and children were up here, many leaning toward the stage.

One face stood out:
Gil’s
. He was laughing, head cocked back like it did when he really chuckled. Automatically, I checked to see who was with him. Only men. Annoyance overtook my pleasure at seeing him.

I leaned toward Randy. He noticed and glanced at me. At least he didn’t pull away.

I was not trying to make Gil jealous. Maybe I wanted to let him know that if he lied to me, I would move on. There were not many good middle-aged men available, but I didn’t want one anyway. I considered my mantra, the slogan I kept trying to believe deep in my heart:
I am woman. I can do anything—alone!

My peripheral vision let me spy Gil staring at me.

I saw a dead man, and something about that is really troubling me.
I wanted to telegraph those concerns to my former lover.
I need to talk to someone about it. I need you.

No, I don’t!
I nodded as I tried to convince myself.

“They are great, aren’t they?” Randy said.

“Terrific.” I glanced at the stage. A dance performance was ending. I leaned slightly closer to him.

“Look. There they are.” He pointed below at Jane and Tetter on a curved sofa.

“I wish we could get their attention,” I said.

“We’ll do better. Come on. We’ll go and sit with them.”

I imagined Gil staring at my back as I left my seat and followed this still handsome man. But I really didn’t want jealousy. And I didn’t want him. I did want Gil to know my relationship with him was over. Lying to me would never work.

Randy rushed down the stairs. I had a difficult time keeping up and wondered if he always hustled so fast. He reached our friends. “We found y’all,” he said.

“Great.” Jane pushed over to give us more space. “Sit down. We can squeeze in.”

Tetter shifted closer to Jane.

Randy sat beside Tetter and patted the space left on the seat. “Come on, Cealie. You’re little.”

“Only in height,” I said with a grin.

He and Jane smiled at me. Tetter didn’t. Something was truly bothering her. Her restless eyes appeared so tense. Maybe she had more than one situation to solve. I needed to help.

People applauded for someone on stage. A semi-quiet moment ensured.

I took the opportunity to lean toward Jane. “Are any other guys from our class on board?”

“Not that I know of.”

“And you wanted to come,” I said to Randy, “without any other friends to hang out with?”

He frowned and looked offended.

“Other guy friends, I mean—it’s just that women like different things. We like to shop and gossip. And did I mention gossip?” I smirked.

He did, too. “That’s okay. I’m good with just y’all.” Eyes lowered, he appeared to sneak a glance at Tetter.

She faced me. “Where’s Sue?”

“In her room. She ran into the shelf holding her TV and cut her cheek. She’s okay now but wanted to rest.”

“I’m glad she’s okay,” Tetter said.

“But she learned that the man who fell in the stairwell died,” I said.

Tetter’s jaw dropped. “From what?”

“We don’t know. But Sue wanted to rest. We’ll see her at breakfast.”

Jane faced all of us. “Let’s eat in the dining room instead of the buffet. The newsletter says there’s going to be a celebrity chef. I want to check out his food.”

I kept out of kitchens as much as possible now that I lived alone, and I wasn’t especially concerned about chefs. But if Jane was, we’d go meet one. The orchestra music swelled. Silver and pink and gold lights swirled across a lithe dancer pirouetting onstage.

The show was extravagant, yet I found myself peering up toward where Randy and I previously sat. Streams of light in chartreuse, burgundy, and electric blue flowed over the faces above. Gil was no longer in the area.

Maybe I didn’t want to stay around him, but disappointment at not seeing him ruined the rest of the performance for me. As soon as it ended, others in my group agreed that we were ready for bed. None of us wanted to stay around for the late-night performance, a comedy act with adult only material.

“This adult is too tired for all that,” I said, and the others agreed. “I’ll slip a note under Sue’s door to let her know about our plans.”

We parted for our rooms, promising to meet at breakfast.

My stateroom made me smile. The steward had folded back my covers and left two gold foil wrapped squares of chocolate on my pillow.

Since no one else would be sleeping with me, I ate the excellent candy. I then wrote a note about when and where we’d meet for breakfast, brought it to Jane’s room, and listened. No sound came from inside. No sliver of light shone under her door. I slid the paper underneath, returned to my room, changed into my gold knit pj’s with green dragonflies, and set my alarm clock.

Stretching on the comfortable mattress, I considered Randy. He always seemed a nice enough person, although I never knew him well. But having him in the mix felt different. Why would Jane invite only one man? And why would one man come with us?

Of course Stu used to be a guy, but Randy didn’t seem to know he was now Sue. None of us, I figured, had really kept up with each other since our teen years. I’d spoken to some classmates during the first couple of years after we finished school, but then we all went our separate ways for college or jobs and marriage.

A man I met died on this ship.

I wished I could have done something to help him.

What did Sue really know about that man?

Nagging uneasiness told me I was being deceived. People I’d known onboard might be hiding too many secrets. Even Gil was not the man I thought he was.

I worried about Tetter. Calamity could greatly alter a person’s life. I would make a direct effort to help that wonderful woman with hers.

Gloom set in. I drew the covers to my neck, concerned that more than one person on this ship could meet up with an unhappy situation.

An untimely death?

I needed to find answers, to strive to make certain no one I knew was involved in tragedy.

Shutting my eyes, I twisted and rolled over and turned.

Unable to shut the worries out of my mind, I switched on the light over my bed. I grabbed the book I’d put on the nightstand. It would get my thoughts on something besides problems and quickly put me to sleep. Smiling with anticipation, I opened my newest cookbook. Sleep came within minutes.

Chapter 4

I awoke surprised to discover I’d slept better than I had in a long time. The first three recipes I’d read in bed seemed so exhausting to shop for and prepare, they’d quickly sent me into dreamland. The ship’s light rocking had kept me in deep sleep. I showered, dressed in casual attire, shrugged into a light jacket, and opened the door of my stateroom. The scent of coffee and bacon greeted me.

Trays holding leftover breakfast dotted carpet outside a few neighboring doors, urging me to grab someone’s half-eaten biscuit or rush to the elevator. I tapped on Sue’s door first and received no response. Taking an elevator, I rode up and then spied classmates heading for the dining room. “Jane. Tetter,” I called.

They waited for me.

“Good morning,” Tetter said, a trace of a smile touching her lips. How nice to see her in a better mood. Now she should share her problems.

Sue bounded out of an elevator. Her heels were high, her skirt short, her makeup thick, especially on the bruised skin under her eye. “I saw we’re having a celebrity chef today.”

“Oo, that cut. How is your vision?” Jane asked her.

“I was fortunate that I didn’t strike my eye. But it’s okay.”

“Thank goodness,” Tetter said as we headed for the dining room.

“Gil,” I said.

He was in the crowd walking with us. He paused but didn’t kiss me or even try for a hug. “Hello, Cealie.”

“You followed me. You found out where I was going and followed me on this ship! I can’t believe you did that.”

“And we agreed, didn’t we? You would just go on your way, trying to rediscover yourself, and I would try to wait until you were done.”

“Yes. So why… Never mind. You’re hard-headed and determined, and when you want something, you go get it.”

“I believe that’s one of the things you like about me.”

“And I’m trying to imitate. You know yourself and what you want from life.”

“Including you.” He pointed at my chest.

My friends nestled near, listening to every word of our exchange.

“Yes, including me,” I told Gil. “And that’s the real killer—you agreed to let me go. And then you rushed after me.”

A thought flashed. I did believe there was a killer involved on this ship who had brought about the death of Jonathan Mill. I wanted to share this concern with Gil more than any other person. But I was ticked off at him.

He shook his head, eyes steady on me. “I’m a terrible person. You deserve better.”

Why wasn’t this getting any easier. How could I argue with him if all he did was agree? I took the break in our discussion—our heated discussion, but only on my part, I realized—to glance at my friends.

Jane grinned at me. Tetter eyed me, no expression to give away how she felt. Sue pushed her lower lip out in a pout. Randy joined us. He smiled extra wide.

I turned to Gil. He was walking away. “Where are you going?” I asked.

“To the dining room. I’ll see you later.”

“No, you won’t.”

“Whatever you say.”

Darn it, why did he always make me seem like the bad guy? Was I?

My classmates closed in. “He’s hot,” Jane said.

Randy moved close to me. “Boy, you told him off. Good job.”

“I didn’t want to tell him off. I—”
love Gil
. I stopped myself from voicing my thoughts. “I’m just furious with him for telling me one thing and doing the opposite. That’s totally wrong.”

“It’s contemptible,” Tetter said.

I nodded and continued toward where we would eat.

“Cealie, you shouldn’t have done that.” Sue’s voice was so loud the crowd around us stopped and faced me.

“Oh, come on, Sue. He’s a great guy. But do you really think it’s okay for him to tell me untruths?”

“You’re lucky to have someone. And now you’re shoving him away.”

“I don’t have him. I do not have Gil.”

“Gil?” a stately, well-dressed woman entering the dining room with us said. “What a nice name. What’s his surname?”

“Thurman.”

“Gil Thurman, mm, a strong name. He’s probably a strong person.” The twinkle in her eye let me know she might be interested in this strong person.

I walked inside with my classmates, a waiter telling us we could sit anywhere this morning. Creatures of habit, we headed for our table to the left. I glanced to the right and spied Gil. He was sitting beside a man, a young family across their table. People streamed inside. Waiters tried to keep up, pouring water and juice in stemmed glasses, filling cups with coffee and hot tea.

I stared at a window to see the promised beauty of nature outside. I spied pale blue water with dark mountainous land beyond. Today we would be heading into a spectacular setting, Glacier Bay. Nothing yet broke my sour mood. I did not want to take part in more conversation with people I sat near.

Chatter at our table kept up, mainly between Randy and Jane. They spoke of jobs they’d had or still had, and marriages and kids and grandkids. Once they reached the ages of their offspring and how terrific the little ones were, I grew extra antsy. I knew my children and grandchildren were the best but wouldn’t take away my friends’ praises of their own.

Sue made furtive glances in all directions and appeared agitated. I had no idea why, except that she mustn’t have married and, even with the sex change, certainly couldn’t carry children. Hearing all the talk about others’ families might hurt her.

“I hope they take our order soon,” I said. “I guess they’re a little slow since so many people are coming in at one time. I’ve been on a few cruises, and most people eat at the buffets in the morning.”

“I’m getting kind of hungry myself,” Jane said.

“After all you ate last night?” Sue asked, tone annoyed.

“We all ate like it was our last meal,” I said, wondering why she was so irritated.

Randy sat so close to Tetter, their arms pressed together. She didn’t seem to notice. She did not shift her arm away but kept an intent look at my face, as though deeply engrossed in what I was saying.

With my mind soothed from my encounter with Gil, I considered how to handle a new concern. I watched passing waiters. Most looked like they were on their first voyage, learning from those with more experience. I spied one with an assured countenance and waved him over.

“Ma’am, can I do something for you?” he asked, bending toward me.

“You certainly can. I need to know what happened to the man who fell in the stairwell out there last night.”

Sue sucked in a loud gulp of air.

The waiter straightened. “I am sorry. I do not know.”

“You don’t know, or you aren’t supposed to tell? We met him. We know he died. I need to know what caused his death,” I insisted.

Sue grimaced. Others at our table looked merely inquisitive.

“Please tell me what happened,” I said to the waiter.