Stowaway (6 page)

I sigh and take a
gulp of my drink. I choke when I feel his hand creep lower.

“Seriously?
Are you really trying to pickpocket me two days in a row? Do you have a death wish,
Mike?”

He jumps back,
like I’m suddenly made of hot coals.

“You’re that lady
from yesterday!”

“Yeah, and you’re
the stupidest criminal I’ve ever met.”

“Well, you look a
lot different,” he pouts, standing up. Then he storms off muttering.

I can’t help
laughing as he wanders away. Too bad I couldn’t wait for him to order me
something expensive before chasing him off. Next time, I promise myself.

“I won’t have to
worry with small jobs for long,” he says just before he ducks out into the
crowd. “I’m going to score big on this cruise. You just wait and see who will
be laughing then!”

Idiot.
I slurp down the rest of my drink and chomp on the complimentary cherry.

Finally, Luke
comes. He’s changed from his uniform to street clothes. I notice his hand is
closed around something.

“
Here.
” He motions for me to take whatever he has.

I hold out my
hand, and he drops casino chips into my hand. I count them and they amount to
less than a couple dollars.

“What is this for?
I think my life is enough of a gamble right now.”

“Found some change
in your pocket. And, that’s all I found there. Not even a credit card.
Thought you could use some better financial luck.”

“You snooped
through my clothes?”

“Yep,
while you were in the shower.
You don’t have a wallet or any identification
at all. Care to explain that?”

My first instinct
is to say no, but I can tell he knows. Besides, despite what I convinced myself
last night, I am a terrible liar. So, I have two options. I can jump into the
ocean and fight the sharks for freedom or I can tell the truth. Right now, the
sharks are looking pretty appealing. I take a deep breath before looking at
him.

“I snuck onto the
ship.”

There I said it. I
feel better, more like myself, telling the truth.

“Are you going to
turn me in?”

“A stowaway,” he
says, ignoring my question. “That’s what I thought. Most people jump at the
chance to get back to their own room. Last night, you jumped at the chance to
go to mine, and it certainly wasn’t because of my considerable charm. Believe
me,
you would have known if I had used it.”

“Hey! I am
offended! Who says I would fall for your stupid charm anyway?”

“Oh, you would’ve,
Maggie, trust me. You know, you’d be smart to be nicer to me right now. I
considered making you walk the plank, but since you have a murderer after us
both, I think it can wait. Besides, you’re pretty harmless. I looked up your
number on your phone and called in a favor with a police buddy. He was able to
tell me quite a bit about you. Not even a parking ticket until some tax thing.
I’ll bet that‘s what you are running from.”

“You looked me
up?” I say, feeling invaded and a little relieved at the same time that he
knows it all.

“Yep.
Anyway,” he continues, “you’re more benefit to me like you are. I can use you
as a human shield when the killer
comes
gunning for
me.”

“I’m sorry I
dragged you into my troubles, Luke.”

“It’s done now.
So, are you coming with me or not? I think you should. You owe it to me to get
me out of this mess. Decide fast. In addition to a killer, I’ve got a ship full
of crew to hide from. I’m supposed to be sick, remember?”

“Yes. Let’s go.”

“Great! Let’s go
earn you some spa money.”

The ship casino
looks like any gambling establishment, just in miniature as far as square
footage. Every slot machine is full, so we grab two seats off to the side and
watch.

“Hey Luke!” says a
voice behind us. It is the worker on duty.

“
Goran
!
Shh
, I’m supposed
to be sick today. Are you about to get off shift?”

“Yeah.
Hey, my hands aren’t cramping so bad from dealing since I started using that acupressure
thing you showed me. Thanks!”

“No problem, man.
Listen, my friend here really wants to play some slots, but forgot her card.
Can you stick around a few minutes longer while she plays a couple bucks, to
cash her out in case she wins something?”

“Sure
thing!
I owe you. Hey, my sister loves the autographed flyer I sent her
for her birthday. She said you rock. I am now the coolest big brother ever. I’m
quoting.”

Luke laughs.

“No big deal,
Goran
. Glad she liked it.
Hey, Maggie?
Why don’t you try number three over there in about four minutes? It’s empty
now, so go have a seat. I’ll tell you when to play.”

What was he
talking about? But, I’m trying to keep a low profile and don’t want him
shouting my name again, so I wander over to the machine without a question.
Finally, after a bit more chit-chat with
Goran
, I see
Luke nod to me.

It’s a quarter
machine
, so at least it will take me a several tries to lose
my money. I really don’t see the point, but I figure it won’t hurt to have a
little fun on this trip before I die. So, I throw the first chip in and pull
the lever.

The pictures spin
around, and then land, with none of the three matching. I toss another chip in,
then another. I keep losing. That is just my luck these days. When I get to the
last chip, I kiss it goodbye, and slide it into the machine.

I pull the lever
and the pictures whir. Finally, they stop. One right after the other, each
picture flashes the same. I am just registering the fact that I won when the
machine comes to life with sirens and lights. Chips cascade out of it, spilling
on the floor.

Instead of being
happy, I watch it all in terror.
So much for keeping my head
down.
I wanted to win enough for a new hairdo, not enough to broadcast
my exact location to everyone on the ship.

Luke and
Goran
run over with empty buckets and help me fill them as
every eye looks at me. As
Goran
converts them to real
currency, Luke stands there grinning. Then, he leans over to whisper in my ear.

“See? Problem
solved.
Goran
and I have spent a lot of time analyzing
the patterns of these things. It’s not full-proof, but it’s pretty reliable.
Goran
will finish taking care of you. Meet me outside.”

“Is it enough for
a haircut?” I ask, as
Goran
tallies my total. We both
know it is much, much more.

“It’s enough for a
new hair style everyday this cruise, plus a massage or two,” he smiles. “That’s
good, because it’s the only win synched for this weekend. Congratulations!”

When Luke and I
get to the spa, Rose is sitting on the bench outside. She looks angry when she
sees me. I guess she has been waiting a while.

“I thought you
were meeting me here at eight?” she says. Then she looks at Luke. “I see. Well,
at least he’s cute, except for the scraggly hair and beard, so you’re forgiven
darling. Let’s go.”

Luke looks uncertain
now, and I look back at him helplessly as Rose grips my arm and leads me toward
the salon door. Then, she gives Luke
a
once-over and
wrinkles her nose.

“You are welcome
to come too along, dear. It looks like you could benefit from an appointment
here as much as we can. No sense getting our girl pretty, if we can’t hang her
on a handsome arm. Do I know you?”

Luke shakes his
head no to answer her question, then quickly catches up and holds the door for
the two of us. Inside, Rose and I sit side-by-side reading magazines. She is
having her usual once-a-week style set and her hair dresser is already at work
before I tell my mine what I want. Basically, I request the exact opposite of
what I have. I’m exchanging my long, dark curls for a sleek, blonde bob.

Luke is cornered
on the other end as two stylists argue with what to do with his rat’s nest.
Clearly, he has never set foot in here before. From their increasing volume, I
can’t decide if they want to toss him out or take him on as an artistic
challenge. Finally, he yells at them to stop hovering and sits down in a chair.
I can’t hear what else he tells them in a low tone as they huddle around, but
they look at each other with unsure glances and both grab scissors. I don’t
have time to watch the progress, because just them, my own stylist comes back
and gets to work.

An hour later,
Rose looks exactly the same, just fresher. Sir
Chipperley
has a new sky blue bow on his head and painted toe nails to match.

I, on the other
hand, look like a new person. It’s exactly what I was going for. I am now a
sleek platinum blonde with a straight bob, which is a big difference from the
mousy belt-length frizzy curls I had before. I usually only cut my hair when my
brush snags on the split ends and I can’t stand it any longer. Of course, I
almost break into tears when I see myself in the mirror. This look is not me at
all, but that’s the point. So, I decide to embrace and love it. Once I do, I
can’t stop flipping it around and touching the silky strands, which magically
fall perfectly back into place.

When Luke’s
stylists finally turn him around, he is unrecognizable. His hair is cropped
ultra-short and his mountain man beard has given way to a clean-shaven face.
Everyone in the salon is silently staring at Luke, except my stylist. She is
still fluffing my hair with a few finishing touches when she notices the hush. Seeing
what everyone is looking at, she does a double-take and drops her comb. It is
so quiet that I hear the plastic tool clatter its way down my metal chair and hit
the wood floor.

“Wow, there’s a
fine-looking gent under there!” Rose finally says. “He could be a movie star or
something
!“

Luke’s stylists
look pleased with
themselves
, and he looks calm in the
eye of the storm. He must be in shock. He’ll get used to it. But I still feel
the need to ease his mind. I lean close, so I can whisper to him.

“Luke, it’s a
perfect cover. You look totally different.”

“Yeah, I haven’t
had my hair this short since before I joined the crew,” he finally says. “I
haven’t looked anything like this since…. Well, for a long time.”

Then, he turns on
his heel, swipes his ID card and strides out. I want to follow him, but I have
to figure out how to pay for my hair now.

 
Chapter 6

“Rose? I just
realized I forgot my card. If I pay you cash, will you put it on your tab?”

“Of
course!”

I hand her a wad
of my casino cash, give her a quick thank-you and bolt after Luke. I finally
find him, staring into the reflecting pool in the center of the promenade. He
has purchased an ugly lime green trucker cap and dark sunglasses from the first
kiosk outside of the salon, and is wearing both.

“Are you going to
toss a penny in and make a wish?”

He jumps, as if he
didn’t see me. He doesn’t even come back with a smart remark, which worries me.

“Why
the cap and sunglasses?
You look totally different, so no need to hide,”
I try again.

Instead of
answering, he just shrugs without looking at me. Why is he acting so weird
about his new look? And, I thought I would be the one to freak out.

“I’m sorry about
back there,” he finally says, glancing up. “I just needed to think. This may
have been a mistake. I guess it just really didn’t sink in how I would look.”

For the first
time, he notices my hair.
Touches it.

“You look
completely different, too.
Blonde, huh?
Good idea.”

Something is wrong
with him. He could handle a murder, but a haircut throws off his day? I don’t
understand. I start to ask, but just then I see a man coming toward us.

He is wearing a
black fedora and swinging a gold-handled cane in his left hand. It’s Carl. I
can see Teresa fighting the crowds behind, trying to catch him without luck.
She is towing poor Major along in his kennel, who is howling his complaint
every time she accidentally knocks him into people. I’d hate to know what he
would have to say if he could actually talk. I decide to speak to Carl, to give
Luke some time alone.

“Sir?”

He turns his face
in my general direction.

“Yes? Do I know
you?”

“I helped you
catch your elevator last night. Listen, I think that woman is trying to get your
attention back there. She keeps calling and looking at you. Can I show you to
her?”

“Oh, thank you,”
he says, which what I think may be a bit of veiled coldness at the mention of
Teresa.
 
If it was there in his voice, he
covers it quickly when he continues.

“Look, I’m sorry.
I don’t think I properly introduced myself at the elevator. I’m Carl Thomas.
Please, call me Carl. And you are?”

“Maggie Swift.
Pleased to meet you, Carl. Care for me to show you to Teresa?”

He slips his left
hand in a strong grip around my elbow and I navigate him toward the nurse.

“Carl! I have been
looking all over for you,” says Teresa when she finally sees us. “Why didn’t
you stop when I called your name?”

She is out of
breath and red-faced from her exertion.

“Teresa, I just didn’t
hear you, alright? Besides, it’s not like I’m going to wander off too far.
We’re on a boat in the middle of the ocean.”

“Yes, but your
sight…”

“Is
still passable.
I haven’t fallen overboard yet. Give me some room to
breathe!”