Death on the Bella Constance (A Jesse Watson Mystery Series Book 6) (5 page)

“I love them,” I said, looking at Billy and back to the
salesgirl. “By the way, what’s your name?”

“I’m Jen. I think I might have told you earlier, but you only
had eyes for your husband and that dress.”

“We’ll take it,” Billy announced. “And the shoes. Doesn’t she
need a small dinner purse?”

“I’ll be right back.” She turned and disappeared.

“Mr. Big Spender! These shoes are three hundred dollars. I
can just imagine what the price of the purse will cost.”

“You should have what you want.”

“I do, Billy. I have you.”

He leaned down and kissed me lightly on the lips. He reached
into the pocket of his pants and pulled out his wallet. He looked through the
wallet, pulled out his Visa Card, and then handed it to me.

I leaned close to him and whispered, “I would never, ever pay
this much for clothes if we didn’t have that cash back in the safe. I want you
to know that.”

“I do, `ge ya.”

Jen returned with a silver clutch purse.

“I don’t even want to know what the purse costs. We’ll take
it all,” I said, handing her the credit card. “Let me go take off this dress
and these shoes. I’ll be right back.” When I returned and handed her the
merchandise, the transaction had been completed. Billy had already signed on
the dotted line.

“I’ll have these boxed up in a second,” Jen said.

Five minutes later, we were leaving the store with a mighty
expensive dinner outfit.

“I still can’t believe we paid so much for that dress.”

“Wait until you find out what the purse cost.”

“Oh, I never even looked. How much was it?”

“Let’s just say that we could’ve bought a good used car for
what’s in that shopping bag.” I started to open the bag to have a look at the
prices, but Billy stopped me.

“Look later. I don’t want you to worry about the money.”

“I’ve never been this frivolous.”

“You are on vacation, your majesty. You deserve the best and
I’m going to give it to you as long as I can.”

“That won’t be long, if we keep this up. I say we go find a
new tux for you.”

“That’s not a bad idea. I must be handsomely dressed, too, or
I will embarrass you.”

“That will never happen!”

We turned, started walking, and immediately noticed a men’s
shop right next door. Of course, not to be left out, the shop was named,
Loukas’ Shop for Men.

“I should’ve known,” I said, chuckling.

We spent fifteen minutes in the clothing store. Billy picked
out a fine-looking tux. It fit perfectly, and the pants didn’t even have to be
hemmed. It was as if the tux had been hanging there, waiting for him to come
along, and I told him so. That was all he needed. He already had a pair of shoes
he could wear, and he didn’t need a purse, so we were in and out faster than
one can try on an evening gown. Men shop quicker than women do. We agreed to
take our packages back to our stateroom and then maybe go for a dip in the pool
before dinner, but once we got back to the room that was put on hold
temporarily. Someone had entered our room while we were gone and had set up a
folding divider, normally used for dressing and undressing, in front of the
desk with all the electronic equipment.

“That was a good idea,” Billy said as he closed the door and
then put his package on the bed. “That way nobody can see our little spy
operation in case we have a visitor.”

“I’m uncomfortable with people coming and going in our room.
I want my privacy. This has to stop. Why couldn’t they wait until we had
returned?”

“I will call Loukas.”

“No.” I held up my hand. “Don’t do that. I don’t want to
offend them. I might bring it up in private when I see Bella. I don’t want to
make a big deal of it.” I sat my packages on the bed, and walked over to the
dressing screen.

An hour later, after watching Nell on the computer, and
listening to her and her husband bicker about money and his position in the
company, and Ruby and Jeff going through their packages after an apparent
shopping excursion, we were bored and ready for some fun. The other sister and
her husband weren’t in their room.

“They’ll be back soon, I’m sure,” I said. “The day is growing
short, and they’ll have to get ready for dinner some time soon.”

“Forget about them,” Billy said. “Let’s go for a swim.”

“I’ll get in the pool, but you know I can’t swim.”

“Yes, I do, `ge ya, and I think it’s about time you learned.
I will teach you. Now, go put on that skimpy little bikini you brought with
you.”

Both of us changed out of clothes and put on our beachwear,
or maybe in this case—pool wear—and were ready for a frolicking time in the
water. Clad in proper attire, with sunscreen and all the necessities for
lounging by the pool, Billy and I headed for deck seven.

The stroll was enjoyable. The cool breeze kept the late
afternoon sun from being so hot, and the salt air was refreshing. It was
exactly what I expected. The mountains have the best air, but when I’m on the
water, I want it to smell like the beach… and I wouldn’t mind getting a little
tan without burning to a crisp.

The pool area was filled with lounge chairs, tables with
umbrellas and chairs, people sipping drinks, and kids jumping in the water,
splashing around with their parents. Fortunately, there was also a life guard on
duty.

“Hmm,” I whispered. “I was hoping for a little privacy.”

“You’re on a cruise ship with several hundred other people,”
Billy said. “The only real privacy we’re going to get is in our room.” Billy,
being the optimist that he is, can find the good in any situation, so he took
my hand and said, “Follow me.”

He led me to a nice, secluded area off to the left of the
pool in the corner where it seemed to be less crowded. We had full sun and
solitude. It was a perfect place to relax.

I picked up one of the towels provided, spread it on the
chaise, and sat down with my back to Billy. I put my pool bag on the floor
beside me, reached in, and took out the sunscreen.

“Would you mind?” I asked, turning my head in his direction.

“I’d be delighted to.”

Billy sat down in his chaise facing my back, and gently
rubbed on the lotion, his hands making circular strokes. His touch was
stimulating.

I stretched out on the chaise on my front side, so he could
rub down my back and legs, while I lay there basking in the warm glow of the
sun. When I turned over, I looked around and noticed several people staring. “I
think that’s enough,” I said, softly. “We have an audience. Maybe I should
handle the front side.”

Billy glanced around and smiled that charming smile of his.

Smiles flashed back at him.

When I looked up again, I saw that all those smiles were
coming from women—women of all shapes, sizes, and in an age bracket beyond
ours… and none of them were with a man.

“I didn’t realize this was also a ship for senior singles,
too.”

“You will see all kinds of people, `ge ya.”

“They look as if they’re on the prowl.”

Billy laughed and replied, “If they are, it’s because they’re
lonely. I bet their husbands are on the ship somewhere else, doing their thing.
Those women just want to meet people and socialize.”

I scanned the pool area again and saw a group of older men
congregating on the other size.

“If you look across the pool you’ll see a bunch of men about
the same age as those ladies. Perhaps they are their husbands.”

Our chitchat ended when Billy said, “Okay, It’s time for your
swimming lesson.”

“Do we have to? All these people will see us. Besides, I just
put on sunscreen.”

“They’ll be jealous because you’re so beautiful, and you look
hot in that bikini. Black becomes you.”

“Enough,” I said. “You win. Teach me how to swim.”

Billy dove into the pool while I chose to walk down the steps
and slowly submerge myself. When he popped up out of the water, he was right in
front of me with his arms extended.

“Give me your hands, stretch out your legs, and just try to
float.”

An hour later, my skin had turned into a prune, but I was
swimming from one end of the pool to the other. Billy did it! He taught me how
to swim! Let’s just hope I don’t have to put my newly acquired ability to the
test on the open sea. I would have reservations about my survival.

“I’ve had enough,” I said as I wiped the water from my face.
“Can we take a break?”

“I thought you were having fun.”

“I am, Billy.” I bobbed over closer. “Thank you so much. What
you taught me here today might some day save my life. Let’s just hope I don’t
fall overboard.”

“I would save you, `ge ya.”

Instead of trying to crawl out of the pool on the side, which
always looks awkward, we walked up the steps, Billy holding my hand the whole
time. I felt loved, and happy that everyone could see that Billy was my man.
Childish, I know, but it sure did make me feel good.

By the time we reached our table, a server came up,
introduced himself as Kody, and asked if he could get us anything. We ordered
iced tea—without the alcohol—and a plate of appetizers. We hadn’t eaten in a
while and I needed something in my stomach if I was going to make it through
the day until dinner.

Before the young man could return with our order, a woman in
her late twenties walked up to one of the tables and spoke with one of the
women. She held a photo in her hand, and from the look on her face, it was
either a bad photo of herself she just had taken on the ship, or it was a
picture of the devil. She looked our way and then said something to the woman.
The woman craned her neck to get a look at us.

“What do you think that’s all about?” I asked Billy as we sat
down at the table next to our chaise loungers, and waited to see what was going
to happen next. I could feel it, and I’m sure Billy could, too. Another
adventure was headed our way—like it or not.

The two women huddled together, making their way over to us.

“Here it comes,” I whispered.

“I’m so sorry to interrupt your afternoon, but we have a
serious problem,” the older woman said. “My name is Maggie Anderson, and this
is my daughter, Teresa.”

We exchanged greetings with a handshake.

“And since you’re the ship’s private eye,” she continued, “I
was hoping you’d take this matter seriously and realize there’s a real threat
here.”

The word had gotten out, and now everyone would want our
help.

The last thing I wanted was to be involved in another case.
This was our vacation! I wanted my privacy... and so did Billy.

“I think there has been some sort of mistake,” he said. “We’re
on vacation.”

“Then you’re not a private eye?” Teresa asked.

“Yes, I am,” Billy answered. “But…”

“Then you can help me, can’t you?”

“You see,” Maggie said, jumping in, “there’s this guy, Peter
Dawson.” She held out a picture for us to see. “He’s been stalking my daughter
for months now. The police caught him in the act and arrested him. But the jerk
made bail. We got a restraining order out on him, but that’s not going to stop
him from hurting her. He’s already threatened to kill her, and he doesn’t go to
court on the stalking charge until three weeks from now. He could do anything
in three weeks.”

“Please help us,” Teresa begged. “Peter Dawson is on this
ship. I saw him! He’s followed us!”

I looked over at Billy and could tell that he was giving in.
I could see it in his smile.

“Let me have a look at the photo,” I said. “I’m a pretty good
private eye, too. If you don’t believe me just ask my private eye husband.”

The mouth on both women fell agape.

“You’re a private investigator, too?” Teresa asked, surprised.
“And you work with your husband. That’s interesting. I’m sure you both have a
few tales to tell.”

Billy and I looked at each other and chuckled. I handed him
the photo, and then looked back at Maggie and Teresa Anderson and said, “More
than just a few, I can assure you of that.”

Billy looked up from the photograph and asked, “Have you told
the captain of your suspicions?”

“No,” Maggie responded. “Bertie from
Georgia
told me that you were the ship’s
private detective, and that you were staying in room 610, so we followed you.
The only problem we had was that Teresa forgot to bring the photo and had to go
back and get it before we could approach you. We have a restraining order. He’s
not supposed to come within five-hundred feet of her. If you could catch him,
he would have to leave the ship.”

“Bertie from
Georgia
, huh?” I mimicked. “Why am I not
surprised?”

“She’s a very nice person, but she argues with her sisters
all the time,” Maggie said. “She was starting to get on my nerves, but I did
get something valuable from her. She told me about Mr. Blackhawk. I didn’t know
that you were a private eye, too. That means both of you can work on the case.
Money is no object.”

“The first thing I want you to do is go to the captain and
tell him everything you told me. Show him the photo. Do you have another one?”

“Yes,” Teresa replied. “I have several, but they’re back in
our room. When I saw him on board, I told Mom, and she went with me to the
Computer Café. I downloaded a picture of him I have on my cell phone and had a
few copies made.” She started to cry. “All I wanted was to get away from him
for a while. I wanted to be able to stop worrying whether or not he was hiding
behind every bush or sitting in a car somewhere watching me. He does that all
the time.”

Her mother reached over, tried to soothe her daughter, and
then looked back at us. “If we go to the captain, will you help us then?”

“We are on our vacation,” Billy said. “But I promise that we
will keep an eye out for him. If we see him, we’ll have a chat with him.”

“I need for you to do more than that,” Maggie Anderson
pleaded, almost demanding. “I need your services, and I’m willing to pay you
whatever you want. I’m a widow. My husband and I ran a very successful dry
cleaning business for many years. I’ve since sold the business and have plenty
of money. How much do you want?”

“Let me see what I can do for you before we talk about
money,” Billy replied. “I’ll need to know Teresa’s social security number, so I
can do a background check.”

“Why do you have to check my daughter’s background? I can
promise you she’s got a clean record.”

“Through your daughter, I can find out about Peter Dawson.”

“You want to see if we’re telling the truth, don’t you?”

“No, that’s not it at all,” Billy said. “I can trace down Peter
Dawson through Teresa. Trust me. I know what I’m doing.”

“I thrust you,” Teresa said. Her tears had dried up. “I’ll
write the number down on the back of the photo.”

“Don’t write the number down on the photo. Just tell me what
it is. I’ll remember it.” She discreetly rattled off her social security
number. “Give me the photo you have with you now, and then go to your room and
get another one. After that, go straight to the captain.”

“What room are you staying in?” I asked.

“We’re on the fifth deck,” Teresa offered. “Room 525.”

“We’ll get back with you,” Billy said. “I’ll need to talk
with the captain and let him know that we’ll be on the lookout for this guy.”

All of a sudden, Teresa got a frightened look on her face.
“That’s him!” she screamed, her arm extended, pointing to someone. “It’s Peter
Dawson! Go after him!”

Billy and I looked to where she was pointing, but didn’t see
anyone who looked like the guy in the photo. “I don’t see him,” I said,
scanning the crowd.

“He’s dyed his hair and he has a moustache now,” Teresa
cried, her hands shaking. “He’s changed his appearance, but I know that’s him,
and he’s after me!”

Her claim was not to be taken lightly, if it was true. Billy
and I would soon find out.

Before Maggie and Teresa Anderson left to go visit the
captain, Billy advised them to stay together. He told them they would be safer
if neither one were alone until we could determine if Peter Dawson was indeed
on board. Teresa had been adamant about seeing him, and she was terrified.

Billy tried to calm her down. “If he’s on this ship, I will
find him,” he said. “I promise you. In the meantime, try not to worry.”

The two women walked away, hopefully, feeling better after
talking with us. Billy had told them we would help, so I guess we could add
another job to our fast-growing list. So far, one passenger had died, Loukas
was in danger of being murdered, and now we were being asked to find a stalker.
I wondered what else could possibly happen… and this was just the first day. I
was beginning to have my doubts about a restful, laid-back cruise.

Billy and I sat at the table under the umbrella and discussed
what just happened. “I’m sorry, Jesse. I know this isn’t what you expected,”
Billy said, apologizing. “But I can’t help it. I feel like I should help them.
Private detective work—it’s in my blood.”

I laughed and said, “It’s in mine, too. I know I shouldn’t
say this because we’re on vacation, but I feel as if we were sent here to help
these people.”

“It’s in your blood, all right,” Billy agreed. “We weren’t sent
here to help these people. These people found us. Our paths crossed. That’s
all. Now, it’s up to us to decide whether or not we’re going to help them. We
don’t have to.”

“But you want to… and so do I.”

“Then it’s agreed.”

A smile came to my face as I said, “I just thought of
something. The next time business gets a little slow, we can always take a
cruise to earn money. We’ve already picked up two jobs, and we haven’t even
gotten to the Bermuda Triangle. Can you imagine what that’s going to be like? We
might be able to add more jobs to our list!”

“You have silly thoughts.”

“Oh, you don’t think that could happen?”

“I don’t think weird things are going to happen when we pass
through the Triangle. No, I don’t.”

“You wait and see. I bet all kinds of events are going to
happen... strange things. I feel it.”

“Is this one of your intuitions, or is your enthusiasm
getting the best of you?”

“What time is it?”

Billy looked at his watch lying on the table and replied,
“It’s six-twenty. Why?”

“See, we’ve been on board for less than ten hours and look
what’s been developing so far.”

“I see your point.”

Kody, our server, returned with our drinks and a plate of
appetizers and asked if we needed anything else.

“We’re fine,” Billy said. “Thank you.”

“I’m sorry it took so long,” Kody added. “We had a bit of
commotion on deck.”

“What happened?” I queried him, anxious to hear any piece of
gossip not related to death or killers.

“One of the passengers was running on deck,” he replied.
“Running on deck is strictly prohibited unless it’s an emergency. There’re
signs everywhere. It’s a matter of passenger safety.”

Billy and I glanced at each other.

“Was it a man, by any chance?” I asked.

“As a matter-of-fact, yes, it was.”

Billy stood up, reached over, picked up the photo, and then
held it up for Kody to see. “Imagine a moustache and dark hair,” Billy
suggested. “Could this be him?”

Kody took the photo, stared at it for a few seconds and then
said, “I believe it could be. Why do you ask? Has he been bothering you folks?”

“No, not us,” Billy replied. “However, he has been following
one of the passengers.”

“Should I report this to the captain?”

“No, he’s being informed as we speak.” Billy stepped closer
to Kody and continued, “Kody, would you like to make twenty dollars?”

“Sure,” Kody said, beaming. “If I can, I’d be glad to. What
do you want me to do?”

“I can’t give you this picture, because it’s the only one I
have. Take a good look at it, and if you should see this man again, I want you
to contact me. We’re in room 610. Call us, or try to find us somehow, and let
us know where he is.”

Kody looked at the photo again and said, “His face is burned
in my brain. I’ll keep a lookout for him, and if I see him, I’ll let you know
immediately.” He handed the picture back to Billy.

“One other thing, Kody,” I added. “You can’t tell anyone
about this, okay? Discretion is very important. He might just have an interest
in our friend, but she’s not interested. You know what I mean? We sure don’t
want to make a scene.”

“I understand, Mrs. Blackhawk,” he replied as he smiled.

“How do you know my name?”

“There’s a rumor going around that there are two private
detectives—and one is an Indian—who were hired to protect the owner, Loukas
Constance.” He looked up at Billy. “Crew members talk.”

“It seems that way,” I said looking at Billy and then back to
Kody.

Billy reached into his wallet, pulled out a twenty, folded
it, and then handed it to Kody. “There’s another fifty in it if you can lead us
to the guy. And remember, keep this to yourself.”

Kody took the cash and stuffed it into his pocket. “I’ll keep
my eyes open and my mouth shut,” he said. “I’ll be back to see if you need more
drinks in a little while.” He smiled and then walked away.

“I hope that was a wise move,” I said.

“Crew members talk,” Billy said, sitting back down. “Word
will get out about our guy, and someone will find him. Let’s just hope this
isn’t a witch hunt for a man who’s innocent.”

“Our guy?” I laughed. “Since when did he become our guy?”

“When I told Teresa we’d help her.”

“I have to go along with her,” I said as I nibbled on an
appetizer that looked like a stuffed seashell. “Women don’t forget the face of
a stalker, no matter how much he changes his appearance… unless he’s really,
really good at putting on make-up and dying his hair.”

“It could’ve been a wig.”

“I don’t think so,” I said. “Men look ridiculous in wigs.
They don’t wear them, do they?”

“It could be a good wig.”

“I doubt it.”

Billy and I took a last dip in the pool, and then we headed
back to our room. It had been a long day, and I was looking forward to a hot
shower with my husband before dressing for dinner. We had just rounded the hall
when Maggie and Teresa Anderson met up with us. They were hurried, and both
seemed to be in a tizzy.

“We had a talk with the captain,” Maggie said. “He said he’d
look into it.”

“Yeah, sure,” Teresa added.

They were very unhappy about their conversation with Captain
O’Riley, so I tried to calm them down by saying, “If he said he’d check it out,
he will. He’s always looking out for his passengers. He’s a good captain.”

“I know he’s a busy man,” Maggie went on to say. “But this is
serious. I tried to tell him how dangerous this man is, but he brushed me off.”

“Why don’t we take this to our stateroom?” Billy commanded,
more than asked. “We can talk in private. How about it, ladies?”

The three of us glanced at each other, and then silently
followed Billy to our room. He stuck the card in the slot, opened the door, and
said, “After you.” He waited for us to enter, walked in after us, and then
closed the door.