Peggy Dulle - Liza Wilcox 03 - Secrets at Sea (28 page)

I nodded.

“What happened?”

I relayed the information that Tom had been given about Brian’s death. She listened intently.

When I was finished, she said, “This is getting ridiculous. We’ve got to figure out what’s going on and stop that maniac before we end up as notches on his belt, too.”

“You’re not as feeble as Dorian thinks you are,” I told her.

“Of course not. Dorian likes to play the big strong man and I’m more than willing to be his damsel in distress.”

“But I have a feeling you can take care of yourself, can’t you?”

“Of course, I can, Liza.” She smiled.

Dorian came up and joined us. “How’s everyone enjoying the ride?”

“Wonderful, thanks,” I said.

Carmelita just sighed. “I think I’ll go down below and lie down.”

Dorian stood. “I’ll walk you down.”

Carmelita leaned her head on Dorian’s shoulder as they took the stairs down to the sailboat’s cabin.

Tom came up with a plate full of pastries and fruit and two glasses filled with orange juice. He handed a glass to me.

I took it and pointed to the plate. “Where’s yours?”

“I thought we could share this one,” he said. “We’re having lunch in an hour.”

“That’s true,” I said as I snatched a banana and pastry.

He laughed. “I can get more if we run out. There’s enough food down there to feed an army.” We munched away, gazing out over the water.

“Are you going to snorkel?” I asked.

“Probably. I don’t mind cold water and I can’t leave Mexico without getting in the water and seeing the fish.”

“That’s good. One of us should see the fish.” I patted his hand.

Tom ate his pastry. I took off my shirt and pants, closed my eyes, and worked on my tan. It was nice to relax and do nothing. I may have even fallen asleep for a few minutes, although I did hear Tom get up several times. He wasn’t very good at doing nothing.

“Hey, Liza,” Tom shouted.

“What?” I opened my eyes. Tom stood at the boat’s edge.

“Come and see the dolphins.”

Okay, that was worth getting up for. An entire school of dolphins swam next to the boat. A crew member threw fish and the dolphins jumped into the air and grabbed them. It was quite a sight.

A crewman yelled up at us, “Hang on!”

We grabbed the railing as another crewman unfurled the sails and they caught the wind. We flew through the water with the dolphins swimming next to us.

“Okay, this is way too cool!” Tom said.

“It sure is,” I agreed.

Several minutes later the dolphins lost interest in us and swam away. The crewman brought down the sails and we continued at a leisurely pace.

We pulled into a bay and dropped anchor. A crewman came up to us and said, “Lunch is ready, if you’re hungry.”

“Great.” I put my t-shirt over my bathing suit.

When we came down, Dorian and Carmelita were already seated at the table. We joined them.

“Did you enjoy racing the dolphins?” Dorian asked.

“Yes, that was fabulous,” I said.

“It was pretty cool, Dorian,” Tom added.

“There were dolphins?” Carmelita asked.

“We missed them.” Dorian patted her arm.

“Oh well.” She shrugged, but smiled and winked at me.

Lunch was bite-sized beef fillets smothered in a brown sauce filled with mushrooms, red potatoes, and broccoli.

“The food’s really good,” Tom told Dorian.

“Thanks,” he said.

“Dorian cooked it himself,” Carmelita said.

“What?” I asked.

“I love to dabble in the kitchen,” he said.

“Tom likes to cook, too,” I told them.

“I’d love the recipe for this sauce,” Tom said.

“Sure, I’ll get you a copy.” Dorian smiled.

The two men started discussing herbs, spices, and cuts of meat. I had no idea what they were talking about but it was nice they finally had something in common. A crewman came out and brought my chocolate melting cake. With two handsome virile men present, I had to feed the cake to myself while they talked recipes, which just wasn’t as much fun as having someone else feed me.

After lunch Tom and Dorian prepared to go snorkeling, Carmelita went into the cabin to rest, and I returned to my lounge chair. I was full and totally content. I should have known that was a bad omen. As soon as I lay back and closed my eyes, the screaming started!

Chapter 32

I opened my eyes and ran to the railing. Two crewmen stripped into their one-piece black swimsuits and jumped into the water. And then I saw Rod, Dorian’s bodyguard, come out of the cabin, pull off his blue flowered Hawaiian t-shirt and jump overboard.

My heart started pounding. Maybe I should be abandoning the boat, too. “What’s going on?” I yelled.

The crewmen were diving down repeatedly into the water by the side of the boat.

“What’s going on?” I shouted in my loudest teacher yard-duty voice.

Carmelita came up the stairs and stood by me. “Tom found something attached to the boat.”

“Like what?”

“I don’t know.”

“You mean, like a bomb?” I shrieked, grabbed her arm and dragged her down the stairs. “We’re getting off this boat!”

As we
reached
the bottom stair, Rod was climbing back onto the boat carrying something, Tom and Dorian right behind him.

He set it on the table.

“What’s that?” I said.

Rod held up his hand, took a pair of cutters from his pocket and snipped a few wires. He shook his head. “Amateurs.” He looked at Dorian and smiled. “Even you could have disarmed this.”

I walked closer. “Is that what I think it is?”

“It’s just a little incendiary device,” Rod said.

“But big enough to sink my boat.” Captain Reynolds stepped forward. Her fists were securely placed on her hips and she was frowning. “Does someone want to tell me why somebody attached a bomb to my boat?”

Dorian took the captain’s arm and led her into the cabin. Tom came over to me.

“Carmelita said you found the bomb,” I said.

“Yeah, I was sneaking under the boat to squirt you with water when I saw it.”

I slapped him on the arm.

“What’s that for?”

“For even thinking about squirting me with cold water.” Then I grabbed his face, brought it to mine and kissed him, long and hard. “That’s for finding the bomb and not letting me get blown up.”

“You’re welcome,” he said.

“Are you finished snorkeling?”

“No, we haven’t even started.”

“Go and snorkel. I’m going to try to get my heart to slow down and relax.”

Tom left and I went back to my lounge. I tried to rest, but just couldn’t. I kept waiting for another emergency. Finally, I decided to read for awhile. I reached into my beach bag and felt for my book.

My hand grabbed the little box. I’d forgotten I’d put it there when we were at the beach yesterday. I took out the box, opened it, and slipped the ring on my finger. My hand looked so good with it on.

“Is that what I think it is?” I heard Dorian say.

I looked up. “Yes, Tom gave it to me. It was his mother’s ring. It’s a little big, so we have to get it resized.”

Dorian sat on the chair next to me and took my hand. He looked at the ring. “It’s lovely, Liza.”

I held my hand in front of me. “It is, isn’t it?”

Dorian leaned back in the lounge chair and sighed.

“What’s the matter?”

“Besides having friends around me die and finding a bomb on the boat?” he asked.

“Well, there is all that.”

“Thankfully Rod was able to diffuse the bomb and we’re all safe.”

“I didn’t even realize he was here.”

“A good bodyguard knows how to be invisible.”

“Were you able to calm the captain down? She looked mad.”

“She was. It’s amazing how money can soothe angry people.”

“What did you tell her?”

He smiled. “I told her you were an heiress to a fortune and your step-brother wants you dead so he can inherit your money.”

“What?”

He laughed. “It seemed more believable than the actual story. We have no idea who’s trying to kill Carmelita.”

“And you?”

Dorian shrugged and closed his eyes.

I reached into my bag and pulled out my book. Oh, Tom had found the one I started earlier on the trip. The one I’d misplaced.

When I opened it, the group photo fell out. That’s right, I’d used it for a bookmark.

Dorian picked up the picture and looked at it. “I remember this picture.”

“You’ve seen it before?”

“Of course, your mother was obsessed with taking pictures and then she’d get copies and give them out. I tried to avoid them.”

“She always had a camera with her.” I smiled. “She’d take ten pictures when one would have done.”

“That’s true.”

“When was this picture taken?” I asked.

“Right before we got on the ship. We were standing around on the dock and talking. Your mother gathered us all together and took the picture before anyone could protest.”

I pointed to the figures I didn’t recognize. “Who are these people?”

“The four in the front are the crewmen who were going to take us onto the boat and,” he pointed to the most distorted figure, “as I recall, that’s Brian. Carmelita met him on the dock, he was traveling alone, and so she sucked him into the picture.”

“And he’s dead, too.”

“That just leaves me, Carmelita and her truly obnoxious escort, Carl.”

I pointed to young thing attached to his arm. “And her.”

Dorian smiled. “Oh yes, lovely Desiree.”

“I’m surprised you remember her name; that was four years ago.”

“I never forget a beautiful woman’s name or desires, Liza.” He smiled. “Besides, you know her, too.”

I took the picture and looked at it again. “No, I don’t.”

“That’s Emily.”

“What do you mean, that’s Emily? I thought her name was Desiree.”

“Emily, like your mother, obviously likes to change her hair color and style too. Although your mother never made us call her by a different name. It’s Emily before she was married to Jack, of course.”

“No, this woman is much younger than Emily.”

Dorian shook his head. “No, it’s her.”

“What do you remember about her?”

“She was very physical, quite exhausting, although a bit of a screamer.”

I hit him on the arm. “No, not that. She never mentioned she’d met my parents.”

“Maybe she’s keeping that quiet. She is after all, on this cruise with her husband.”

“She hasn’t said anything to you? After all, you two…”

Dorian frowned. “No, and a gentleman doesn’t remind a woman about a past affair if she doesn’t bring it up first.”

Then I remembered her comment about riding a stallion when she was talking about Dorian. Maybe she had brought it up and I just hadn’t understood her.

“What are you smiling about, Liza?” Dorian asked.

“Just thinking about my parents and how much they loved cruising with these people.”

“It was a wonderful group, although a little bizarre at times.”

“Bizarre?”

“They were always plotting to take their revenge on somebody.”

“The companies who pollute the earth?”

“Yes, they’d sit in the bar and plan out their little scenarios, down to every last detail.”

“Carmelita told me about it. She said you liked to participate, too.”

“It was entertaining and the companies certainly deserved the group’s loathing.”

“And what you could you contribute to the plan?” I asked.

“I’d finance them, of course. But I always told them not to do the jobs themselves. There are many people out there you can pay to do it.”

“Like Rod?”

“Yes, and he did come in handy today.”

“How many bodyguards know how to diffuse a bomb?”

“One that’s an ex-Navy Seal. I only hire the best, Liza.”

“I’m surprised you were able to find a bodyguard so quickly.”

“Rod is a friend. All I did was pick up the phone and he came.”

“Where’d you acquire him as a friend?”

“Because of my financial situation, I’m able to do things just for the sheer pleasure and satisfaction. I actually went through the Seal training, and spent five years in the unit. But I got bored and moved on.”

“You were a Navy Seal?”

He stood and took my hand. “Congratulations on your engagement, Liza.” He frowned.

“What?”

“It’s just sad you’ve become unavailable. Is there any chance you might give the ring back?”

“No.”

“I think I’ll go check on Carmelita.”

And he left.

I had a feeling I wasn’t going to get anymore of Dorian’s lovely attention. Tom would be happy, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. And I now knew why Dorian wasn’t afraid of Tom. No self-respecting ex-Navy Seal would be!

A few minutes later, Tom came up the stairs, soaked, smiling and carrying a camera.

“You took pictures?” I asked.

“Dorian had an underwater digital camera, so I borrowed it. I got some great shots. We can download them onto your laptop and then I’ll give him the camera back.”

“That’s nice,” I said, still thinking about the photo and Emily.

He dried off with a towel and sat on the lounge next to me. “I’m glad we decided to go with Dorian. This has been a great trip.” The two seemed to have bonded while snorkeling.

I glared at him. “Except for the bomb, right?”

“It didn’t go off, did it?” he said, smiling.

“Okay, I’ll give you that.”

I held up the picture. “I found that duplicate picture stuck in my book.”

“It’s the one with all the people in it,” Tom observed.

“Yes, Dorian says that’s Brian in the back, along with two crewmen who were going to escort them on to the ship.”

“That explains the three unknowns.”

“He also says the woman with him is Emily.”

“Emily and Jack, Emily?”

“Yes.”

“Let me see the picture.”

I handed it to him and he studied it. “It could be.”

“No, Dorian says it is. He never forgets a beautiful woman’s name.” I left out the rest.

“We need to let her know. She may be in danger.”

“How do we tell her when we don’t know why the rest were killed?”

“We don’t have to know why to tell her to be careful. Jack’s in the security business, so he’ll know how to keep her safe.”

“I’d want to know why,” I told him.

“Yes, you would, but other people don’t ask as many questions or need as many answers as you, Liza. Some people don’t need to know who or why.”

“Well, that’s stupid!”

“No, that’s most people in the world.” He reached over and lifted my left hand. “You put the ring back on.”

“I forgot I’d put it in my beach bag. Dorian said it was very nice.”

Tom frowned. “I’m sure he told you it wasn’t big enough for someone as beautiful as you.”

I smiled and leaned my head back. It was nice that things were getting back to normal between Tom and Dorian. A natural animosity, I thought, between two territorial males.

The catamaran started moving with a sudden jerk. We must be headed to the dock to get back on the ship. In some ways I was glad this cruise was coming to a close since the stress from the warnings, threats, bombs, and deaths had my last nerve raw and frayed. On the other hand, it had been nice to spend time with Tom and have unlimited food at my disposal. In that way I wished this cruise would go on forever.

Twenty minutes later we pulled to the dock and I sat up.

Tom was asleep in the lounge chair next to me. When I touched him on the shoulder, he jumped. “What?”

“Easy, Tom. It’s time to get off one boat and onto another.” I gathered up our things and put them into my beach bag.

We walked down the stairs where Dorian was talking to the captain. He handed her an envelope, leaned in, whispered something, and kissed her on the cheek. She blushed.

Carmelita and Rod came out of the cabin. She was straightening her top and he was pulling at his pants. I guessed she’d found a replacement for Brian.

Everything seemed back to normal.

We walked off the boat together.

“Thanks for a great day, Dorian,” I said.

“You’re welcome, Liza.” He nodded.

“Yeah, thanks, Dorian. I’ll get your camera back to you as soon as I get the pictures off it,” Tom asked.

“It actually belongs to Samantha, so keep it.”

“Who’s Samantha?” I asked.

“Captain Reynolds. And I more than adequately compensated her for the camera.”

“Okay,” Tom said. “Thanks again.” He took my arm and led me down the dock to the waiting tender.

I glanced back. Carmelita and Rod were huddled together and talking. Dorian walked alone. It had to be the saddest thing I’d ever seen because no matter how much money, good looks, and sexual magnetism that oozed from Dorian, at the end of the day, he was still alone.