psychic crystal 03 - killer cruise (4 page)

“Impressive,” said Juliette.

“Here’s where we steer the ship, at the steering console. There are three ways to steer the ship—manually, on auto pilot, and with our backup. And besides these steering controls at the center cockpit, there are steering controls on each bridge wing.

“Our ballast tank is filled with sea water, so if the ship lists we can transfer the ballast from one side to another to make it upright again. We have two pumps, and it takes only two minutes to correct by computer. We wouldn’t want the beautiful lady to lose her balance.”

Alonzo reached out as if to catch Juliette off balance. He was flirting as though he knew her onboard marriage was a sham. Or maybe he just didn’t care about traditional matrimonial boundaries. And truly, First Officer Gonzalez was very nice to look at.

“We will cancel a port if it gets really windy,” continued the first officer, ignoring Will’s grunts.

“How long does the crew stay on the ship?” Juliette asked.

“For the captain, it’s ten weeks on and ten off,” noted the first officer. “The first officer rotates every twelve weeks, and the second officer every six months. After this cruise, I will have some free time.”

“Which he will presumably spend with his wife and four children,” said the captain, smiling, in an attempt to unruffle Will’s feathers.

“Oh,” said Juliette, sounding a little disappointed.

“I am my own man,” claimed Alonzo proudly.

Will smiled and wrapped his arm around Juliette’s waist.

“We try to keep the same team from cruise to cruise,” noted the captain, “except for the free time rotation.”

“What happens in case of emergency?” Kate asked.

“We use a signal horn and an alarm bell to sound the general emergency alarm, which is seven short blasts and one long blast.

“We have six hundred forty-eight fire hydrants and seven fire stations, with a dedicated certified firefighting team onboard, just in case. To ensure the safety of all guests, every week we hold a simulated emergency drill for crew members. We simulate fires, groundings, crash stops, man overboard. And on embarkation we hold a mandatory passenger drill to familiarize the passengers with onboard procedures in the unlikely event there is an emergency. An alarm will sound on the bridge if a detector has been activated. The panel will display the exact location of the alarm. Detectors can be activated by smoke or heat, or if removed or tampered with. Don’t touch this panel.”

“Do you have many emergencies?” Juliette wondered.

“More often than you would imagine,” confirmed the captain. “Mostly it’s someone who’s had too much to drink.”

“What happens in that event?”

“Well, for a man overboard, we reduce speed right away and follow emergency procedures, prepare a rescue board, and dispatch a rescue-and-medical team. We can stop the ship quite quickly, in seven minutes. We have a global maritime distress and safety system with medium and high frequency communications as well as satellite communications, which we test every day.

“We assess and evaluate emergency situations from the safety center here on the bridge with a variety of safety equipment controls and devices.

“On our last cruise, when we were in France, we had a medical emergency and had to medevac a passenger from the eighteenth deck. The chopper hovered around the ship, landed up here on the top deck, and then the crew rappelled down the side of the ship to get to the passenger and bring him back up to go on the helicopter to the nearest hospital, which was on Corsica.”

“What if there was an emergency that required you to evacuate the ship?” Kate inquired.

“We have twenty lifeboats—twelve hold 293 people each, and eight tender boats hold 267 people each, for a total of 5,652 people,” noted the captain. “Then we have two rescue boats, and two chute stations with nineteen life rafts, in total. Each life raft holds 158 people, so that’s a total of 3,002 people. We have 13,266 life jackets. Our maximum combined lifeboat and life raft capacity is 8,654 people.

“We have six engines and can go a maximum speed of twenty-four knots,” he said, speaking from around the chart table and showing the electronic chart display indicator systems.

“How deep is it here?” asked Juliette.

“Fifty meters, in the shallow depth, to 2,000 meters down,” the captain answered. “There are two officers on watch at all times in the cockpit during navigation, the first officer and the second officer. They use binoculars and report to the officers of the ship. There’s a lookout, an experienced seaman.

“Truthfully, the ship steers on autopilot—just follow the red line—but if the traffic or weather dictates, we can alter our course. We follow the traffic. Our bridge and Web camera shows a twenty-four-hour front view of the ship’s bow. Our maneuvering panel, located on the center of the bridge, controls the operations of the main engines and bow thrusters. This allows me to look down the sides of the ship as we pull into and away from a pier. We’re equipped with the most sophisticated telecommunications system available and a Navtex system that receives navigational warnings and weather forecasts.”

The captain took his seat at the console in the captain’s chair. “First Officer Gonzalez will take you back on deck. I know this is a lot to absorb, but for now, just familiarize yourselves with the ship, relax, and we’ll have another meeting at dinner to go over the plan.”

“I’ve never been on a cruise before,” said Juliette. “Well, I came over from Europe on a ship, but it was nothing like this, not a fancy cruise ship. This ship is huge.”

“It’s made of seventy-seven million pounds of steel,” Alonzo pointed out. “Our electrical cables would cover 1,740 miles. We have the biggest outdoor TV screen at sea—323 inches; the longest waterslides at sea; and the largest crystal LED chandelier ever designed. There are sixteen passenger elevators and fourteen service elevators for the crew.

“The ship’s registry is in Nassau, Bahamas,” he added, “and we have nineteen guest decks. And now, unfortunately, I must leave my most beautiful guest.” He kissed Juliette’s hand again, ignored Will, and inclined his head to Jack and Kate. “I hope you enjoy your cruise.” He turned to Juliette. “And I hope I have the pleasure of your company again during our sailing. Perhaps at dinner at the captain’s table?”

Juliette blushed. “I would like that.”

Chapter Four

Juliette walked onto the balcony of her cabin and stared mindlessly out at the ocean. A large black crow settled on the railing, perching in front of her, bringing her back to reality. The crow hopped up and down. Juliette extended her hand, and the crow lighted on her arm.

Will followed her out onto the balcony and drew back when he saw her with the crow.

“Holy cow, Juliette,” he shouted. “Is that a hawk?”

Juliette laughed. “No, it’s a crow. He’s been following us since the ship set sail.”

“Isn’t that bad luck or something? My mama had the sixth sense, and she always used to say, ‘Where the crow flies, bad luck follows.’ ”

“Your mama was a smart woman, Chief Bradley,” Juliette said, stroking the bird’s back and cooing, “Old soul.”

“Why don’t you call me Will? We
are
married.”

“Not legally. But, all right, Will, there’s definitely something dark happening on this ship. Evil is lurking in our midst.”

“My mama predicted that my wife would die an untimely death, and she did. I should have listened to her. I should have protected her, and now my sainted wife is gone.”

Feeling his pain, Juliette put her hand on Will’s.

“I’m sorry for your loss. But unless you killed your wife, you aren’t responsible for her death.”

“I should have done something.”

Juliette patted the chair next to her and invited Will to sit down. He stared at the crow, hesitated, then took a seat. She turned to him. “How did she die, if you don’t mind my asking?”

Will inhaled a deep breath before he spoke, and even then his voice came close to breaking. “I haven’t talked about it with anyone, since I lost her.”

Juliette nodded, sitting perfectly still, ready to listen.

“It was a dark and rainy night,” Will began. “You couldn’t see beyond the windshield—the fog was as thick as pea soup, the way it gets sometimes in Graysville. My wife was driving home from the grocery store. She went just to get my favorite dessert for dinner. She didn’t see the tractor trailer that pulled out in front of her with no warning. And, like that, she was gone. As Chief, I got the call about the accident, and until I saw her car, I had no idea it was my wife I was looking at. She was the love of my life.”

“I’m so sorry to hear that.” Juliette placed her hand over his again.

“I still remember our last conversation. ‘Honey,’ I said, ‘would you mind picking me up one of those cream-filled chocolate cakes they have at the grocery? I’m in the mood for something sweet.’ If I hadn’t asked her to pick up the cake, then maybe she’d still be alive. I should have—”

“We can’t live our lives on maybes and should haves,” Juliette interrupted. “What good does that do? It was just her time.” She removed her hand and whispered, “How old was your wife when she died?”

“Thirty years old. We’d only been married for five years. My mama told me it wouldn’t last. She was always predicting gloom and doom, and she was always right. She saw a black crow the night my wife died.”

The Chief tried to swat the crow away.

“Stop that,” Juliette warned. “He is not harming anyone.”

“Why are you getting near that thing if it’s an evil omen?”

“We’re communicating,” Juliette murmured, continuing to stroke the crow’s back delicately. “Now why couldn’t you be a swallow? Swallows at sea are a good sign.”

Caa-Caa
. The crow sounded off like he was trying to justify his presence to Juliette.

Juliette continued to stroke the crow calmly. “I know. You are a great big, handsome thing. And so sweet to drop by and pay me a visit.”

Chief Bradley moved closer to Juliette and started to rub her back, imitating the strokes Juliette was using to pet the crow.

“That’s a nice dress you have on, Juliette.”

“Stop touching me, Chief Bradley,” Juliette said evenly.

“I’ll stop touching you if you stop calling me Chief Bradley. We’re married, so you can call me by my first name.”

“Like I said, we’re not
really
married, Will, and stop touching me.” It was obvious the Chief hadn’t been with a woman in a long time. He was horny as a rhinoceros and just as clumsy.

“You touched me first,” the Chief replied, tapping his forefinger on the spot where her hand had touched his.

Juliette shrugged. “I was just trying to comfort you.”

The crow fluttered, left his perch on Juliette’ hand, and started to attack the Chief.

“Get him off me,” Will screeched.

Juliette looked at the crow, and they came to an understanding. The crow flew off.

“I swear that crow was jealous,” Will sputtered.

“A big man like you, afraid of a little crow?”

“That crow was huge. It was a killer crow.”

Juliette laughed.

Will continued to massage Juliette’s back.

Juliette twisted out of Will’s reach.

“I told you to stop touching me.”

“Then stop wearing such a sexy dress. It’s giving me ideas.”

Juliette rolled her eyes. She turned to face Will. “
We
need to come to an understanding,
Will
. Outside the cabin, we’re man and wife, but I won’t tolerate your manhandling. In case you want my advice, I don’t think most women appreciate that kind of behavior.”

“We’re newlyweds,” quipped Will.

“That’s wishful thinking.”

“A husband has his privileges.”

“Not a fake husband. In the privacy of our own cabin, I’m off limits to you. I’ve had enough of men trying to control me, use me,” said Juliette, shaking her head in disgust.

Will continued to rub her shoulders and neck.

“Then don’t dress like you want to be
un
dressed.”

“My daughter picked out this dress—my whole wardrobe, in fact. We’re on a cruise, for heaven’s sake. Do you want me to dress like a monk?”

“Just don’t expect me to behave like one,” Will responded.

“I’m leaving now,” Juliette announced, getting out of the lounge chair. ”I’m meeting Jack and Kate in the bar before dinner.”

Will followed her inside and locked the door to the balcony. He rummaged through Juliette’s closet and found a black wool shawl, which he wrapped around her shoulders.

“Here, wear this. It can get cold on the ship in the evening.”

Juliette tried her best to be gracious, but she remained cynical. “Thank you,
Will
.”

Maybe the chivalrous Chief had a little Andy of Mayberry in him after all.

Chapter Five

“Juliette, we’re over here.”

Kate waved from a white leather couch in the bar, where she was seated next to Jack.

Juliette smiled when she saw Kate. She was so grateful for the opportunity to spend some relaxing time with her daughter, the daughter she’d been searching for and hoping to reconnect with her whole life, ever since that monster, her former lover, the Reverend Carter Coulter, had snatched her away. Thankfully, the nightmare was over. She had reconnected with her daughter after a painful separation and their lives were finally on the right path.

Juliette made her way to the couch, and Kate patted a space next to her. Jack nodded and moved to make room for Juliette.

“You know, I don’t think I’ll ever get over how much you two look alike,” said Jack. “Where’s your better half?”

“Don’t even joke about that, Jack. He’s still in the cabin, probably primping in front of the mirror. He said he’d join us in the bar before dinner.”

“Is he behaving himself?” Kate asked, straightening her black pencil skirt.

“He’s pretty much a horn dog,” Juliette replied.

“I think he likes you, Juliette,” Kate said.

“He has the hots for you,” Jack clarified. “He told me you were the first woman he had an interest in since his wife died.”

Juliette sighed doubtfully. “I might believe that if he didn’t ogle me like I was a call girl. I can tell he’s the kind of man who’s used to getting his own way.”