Strange Tidings Read online

  Strange Tidings

  A Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery

  Ivy Dawson

  Copyright © 2019 by Ivy Dawson

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Description

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Afterword

  Also by Ivy Dawson

  Description

  Life on a cruise ship is anything but boring. Shae Jordan has started getting used to that fact of life. Her relatively normal day is shattered when she meets a confused woman who asks her for help. Before Shae can do anything, the woman gives her a dire warning and disappears.

  Shae doesn’t have much chance to act on the warning, because at the same time a missing (and presumed dead) millionaire is found adrift at sea. When people start dying, they have to race against the clock to figure out if the mysterious man is who he really says he is.

  Who is the mysterious man? Why did the woman warn Shae? Will she be able to find the truth before it’s too late? And will Shae survive these strange tidings?

  Chapter 1

  The general spirit on a cruise ship is one of excess. People come on cruises to escape their controlled lives and have an adventure that’s passive and easy. They climb onto a massive cruise ship to lose themselves in excess and luxury while looking at some pretty views.

  Humans are adventurous creatures. Sometimes they want an adventure that’s easy and fun. There’s nothing wrong with that. Most people are extremely busy at any given moment, and they need a break from that. Cruise ships cater to that need.

  The staff is tasked with making sure that guests want nothing. There’s a constant stream of food entering the dining room, and empty plates are taken away to be refilled. A guest need only lift their glass in a certain way to be refilled.

  While most guests on a cruise ship are there to switch off mentally, some have a hidden agenda. They use the relaxed attitude and crowded chaos to mask their true intentions. Sometimes they get away with it. Most times they don’t.

  Contrary to popular belief, the security on a cruise ship is extensive. There are undercover marshals, security teams and all sorts of systems in place to ensure the safety of the ship’s guests. The Princess Araminta was a high-class cruise ship. Her guests experienced the height of luxury and world-class service.

  The staff aboard the Araminta was like a well-oiled machine. Everyone knew their place, and everyone was used to hard work. Every now and then, a crew member might enjoy a peaceful moment away from the chaos.

  Shae Jordan was sitting at a little café near the entrance of the ship, smiling at the man in front of her. As the Araminta’s resident amateur sleuth, it was rare for Shae to find a moment of peace. She also doubled as the ship’s photographer, so between those two jobs it always felt like someone was pulling her in a different direction.

  For once, she was enjoying a cup of coffee with a handsome man. Jax, the ship’s maintenance manager, looked at her in a way that made her heart skip a beat, and she was enjoying getting to know him better. It had been a while since anyone had made her feel this way. She was going to enjoy it and see what happened.

  “You’re kidding,” Shae laughed. “Please tell me you let go?”

  “Those dogs are faster than they look,” Jax protested, his eyebrows rising as he regaled her with the mostly true story of the time he went sledding in Alaska. “And they may be well trained, but nothing distracts a dog faster than food. I thought I was going to die.”

  “I can’t believe it,” Shae said, her eyes narrowing slightly at him as her mouth twisted in a teasing smile. “You’re a drama queen. Who would’ve known?”

  “I swear, it was terrifying.” He held up his right hand as if he was taking an oath. He leaned forward as he spoke, his eyes never leaving hers. It gave Shae a little thrill to notice the golden flecks in his dark brown eyes. “I’ll prove it you. The next time we dock there, I’m taking you on an authentic dogsled ride.”

  “Are you sure you want to do that?” Shae asked, leaning forward and resting her check on her hand. “I’m expecting big things now. What if it’s not as terrifying as you describe?”

  “Trust me,” he said, giving her a little smirk that revealed a hidden dimple, “it’s wild.”

  As was the nature of their jobs, Shae and Jax didn’t get to enjoy their peaceful moment for long. A tall, redheaded woman came bounding up, a perplexed expression on her face.

  “Shae,” Alexa, Shae’s best friend, said as she gasped for breath. “Something’s happening. I think you need to come see this.”

  “Can’t it wait?” Shae asked in annoyance, turning to her friend but looking briefly at Jax. He also seemed disappointed that they’d been interrupted but nodded encouragingly.

  Shae was a busy woman, and it wasn’t unusual for her to be called away at a moment’s notice. The life of a sleuth/photographer was busier than it sounded.

  Alexa gave her a pleading look and Shae sighed in frustration. Alexa wouldn’t have interrupted them unless something was seriously wrong. She was all in favor of Jax and Shae’s burgeoning friendship. She wanted to see it develop into something more, but Shae was a cautious person. It was hard for her to jump into anything, especially romantic relationships.

  Alexa was her polar opposite, so the fact that Shae was taking her time didn’t make much sense to her. Although Shae sometimes wished that she was more like her outgoing friend, her previous experience taught her to be careful when it came to matters of the heart.

  “What’s going on?” Shae asked, giving Jax an apologetic glance as she got up and gathered her things. She took out her purse to pay for their drinks, but he waved her away with a smile.

  “Go,” he told her sincerely. “We’ll catch up later.”

  She gave him a grateful smile and hurried away with Alexa. Her friend turned to her with a suggestive smile and wiggled her eyebrows at her.

  “You’ll catch up later? What’s happening later?”

  “Alexa,” Shae said sternly, but she couldn’t hide the happy smile forming on her face. “What’s going on? You made it sound serious.”

  “I don’t know if it’s serious,” Alexa admitted sheepishly, scratching the back of her neck. “I just know that it’s weird. Very weird.”

  “How weird can it be?” Shae asked with a nervous chuckle. “We’ve seen everything so far. I wish you would’ve told me that this stuff happens on a cruise ship. I just thought it would be like my normal job except on a boat.”

  “If I told you, then would you have believed me?” Alexa shot back. Shae didn’t answer. She didn’t have to. No. She wouldn’t have believed her friend. There were some things that just had to be seen to be believed.

  That’s the sentiment that stopped her from asking any more questions. Whatever Alexa had called her for had to be seen to be believed.

  Her mind ran wild with the possibilities as they made their way through the ship. The Princess Araminta was the best ship in her class. She could hold up to 3,000 guests at a time and make each one feel that they were the rulers of the aquatic palace.

  The whole ship was decorated accordingly to look like it was the home of oceanic royals. There were plush royal blue carpets with tasteful dark hardwood furniture. While every section had its own decorations or theme, there was a commo
n thread linking the décor.

  The luxurious food and surroundings almost made it easy to forget that 3,000 guests plus a few hundred staff members were all sharing close quarters. It was easier for the guests to forget, but the staff experienced an entirely different atmosphere. They had to move out of the way of guests and drop whatever they were doing to cater to a guest’s whim.

  This made navigating the ship slightly harder. Every employee had a badge number, and if a guest complained about them then they had to answer to a strict and unforgiving first officer. Shae and Alexa tried their best to make their way through the teeming decks, making sure not to make eye contact with guests and keeping a careful eye out for their ruthless boss.

  Eventually, Alexa led her into the security team’s office. Ivan, the head of security and possibly one of the scariest-looking human beings on the planet, was looking at an old woman as though she’d just asked him one of the riddles of the universe.

  The little old lady didn’t look remarkable by any standards, and Shae was slightly confused by all the fuss. It wasn’t until the little old lady looked at her that she finally understood.

  There was something in the woman’s eyes that wasn’t right. She looked right through Shae, as if she could see into her head and read her thoughts. She also had a terrified expression on her face that made Shae’s skin go cold.

  Shae’s phone buzzed in her pocket, but she ignored it. The woman looked intently at her, not saying anything.

  “The woman, she says she has important information,” Ivan explained, scratching his head slightly as he looked at her for help.

  “Hello,” Shae said hesitantly, smiling at the woman. “My name is Shae. Is there anything I can help you with?”

  She moved slowly, not wanting to give the old woman a fright. The old woman didn’t seem to notice, and just kept staring at her. Something was off, and the sooner they got to the bottom of it, the sooner Shae could get away from her.

  “I’m Estelle,” the woman said finally. “I have information about a murder.”

  Shae flinched and looked up at Alexa in shock. Alexa shrugged. She looked just as disturbed as Shae. Ivan shook his head in surprise but didn’t say anything.

  “Was someone killed here?” Shae asked gently. “What happened?”

  “There was a man,” the woman said, her eyes narrowing as she stared thoughtfully at the wall behind Shae’s head. “He trusted the wrong people and now he’s dead.”

  “What happened to the man?” Shae asked, trying to make eye contact with the woman. Estelle was determined though and kept staring at the wall.

  “I loved him,” Estelle admitted. “I shouldn’t have. He wasn’t mine to love.”

  “Was he married?” Shae asked, trying a different tactic. Her phone buzzed again, and she wondered if she could quickly put it on silent. As she reached for the device, Estelle gave her a warning look, and she quickly took her hand away from her pocket.

  “With children,” Estelle said, nodding firmly. “He didn’t love her. And she didn’t love him. He was such a lonely man. The loneliest man I ever met. He had all that money, but he didn’t have any love.”

  “Is that why he was killed?” Shae asked slowly. “For his money?”

  “I don’t know,” Estelle said, her eyes welling up with tears. “All I know is that he’s gone now. He was murdered.”

  “Who murdered him?” Shae asked. “Where did you see this?”

  “I didn’t see it,” Estelle admitted, her voice heavy. “I never saw him again. He came to say goodbye to me. I know he loved me too. He explained that it was something he had to do.”

  Ivan moved and took his phone out as she spoke. He looked at Shae briefly, shaking her head as though she shouldn’t bother with the crazy old woman.

  “What happened to the man you loved, Estelle?” Shae asked, leaning forward as she spoke to the woman.

  Alexa leaned back against the wall, watching the scene intently. Ivan frowned at his phone and began typing rapidly.

  “They murdered him,” Estelle said, her voice becoming more and more distressed.

  Ivan let out a curse and jumped to his feet. He began gathering things quickly, ignoring the old woman and her strange behavior.

  “What’s happening?” Shae asked curiously, looking at him.

  “They’ve found someone in the sea,” Ivan said gruffly, “on a boat. They’ve just pulled him out.”

  Alexa and Shae looked at each other in shock before getting up.

  “I’ll take you to Dr. Zooberg,” Shae decided, looking down at Estelle.

  “Be careful,” Estelle said suddenly, grabbing Shae’s hand. “They won’t want their secrets to come out. They’ll do anything to hide what happened to him. There’ll be more death. You’ll see.”

  “What?” Shae asked in shock.

  Estelle’s eyes were wide, almost manic as she spoke. Shae tried to loosen the woman’s grip on her, but Estelle was determined. Shae nodded slowly, feeling acutely uncomfortable. This seemed to satisfy the old woman, and Estelle nodded back resolutely before leaving the room.

  “What?” Shae repeated, feeling completely bowled over.

  “We don’t have time for the crazy woman,” Ivan said gruffly, pushing past her. Shae hesitated for a second before hurrying after him.

  Chapter 2

  When they finally arrived on the main deck, they were greeted by a curious crowd of onlookers. They surrounded an old man with a long beard who had a towel around his shoulders. The man was talking enthusiastically, using his hands to gesture as he spoke. The captain and the first officer looked at him in shock.

  “What’s going on?” Shae asked, walking up to them.

  The first officer, Mark, looked at her in annoyance and rolled his eyes at her. She chose to ignore him. Mark didn’t like her, and she didn’t like him. They were forced to work together a few times, but nothing could soften the animosity between them. Shae had stopped trying to get on his good side a long time ago. She was starting to suspect that he didn’t have one.

  The captain, on the other hand, loved Shae. He beamed when he saw her, relief clear in his expression. Captain Tim was a good man. He’d been sailing ever since he was a baby and spent most of his life on the sea. He eventually chose to take a commission on a luxury cruise ship instead of retiring for good.

  He once explained that he loved the sea too much to abandon her, and that’s why he loved working on the Araminta. He got all the benefits of retirement and still got to do the job he loved.

  He didn’t have much time for drama or murder investigations and chose to delegate such tasks to Shae and Mark. All he wanted to do was build ships in bottles, enjoy sunsets in exotic locations and be captain of a large and magnificent ship. Everyone else could handle the emergencies that sprang up along the way.

  “Shae,” he said in his booming voice, drawing her closer by putting his beefy hand on her shoulder. “We’ve got an interesting thing happening here.”

  “What’s going on?” Shae asked, ignoring Mark’s jealous stare.

  She’s gotten used to his behavior, and even learned how to come out feeling calm and collected. This didn’t mean that he didn’t get under her skin. There were times when she struggled to control her temper, and other times when she completely lost her temper.

  She was determined not to lose her temper now; despite the way he was glaring at her. Didn’t he have something better to do? Usually she tried to stay out of his way, but things didn’t always work out that way. The Princess Araminta was no ordinary ship.

  Shae had proven herself to be an effective sleuth throughout her few months of working onboard the ship. It wasn’t a job she asked for, but it was one that she took very seriously. She was a perfectionist and would work every job she was given until it was perfect. Mark was ambitious and prone to jealousy. Both were stubborn, which led to a few interesting encounters.

  “This man claims to be Samuel Van Houghting,” Mark explained, gesturing at
the old man who was dripping all over the glossy main deck. He said the name as though it was a celebrity, expecting her to know who he was talking about.

  “Who is Samuel Van Houghting?” Shae asked simply.

  Alexa and Ivan hung back, watching the scene warily. They knew what happened whenever Mark and Shae interacted. Captain Tim was completely oblivious though and motioned for Ivan to start helping the sopping wet old man.

  Alexa peeked over the rails; her eyebrows rose when she saw what the old man had been traveling in. It was little more than a rowboat, and it was already sinking. She shook her head at Ivan, and he raised his eyebrows too. The old man was crazy.

  They had left their last port-of-call a few hours ago, and the harbor was already just a tiny dust speck on the horizon. It was a miracle that they’d seen him at all.

  “He’s the heir of the Van Houghting Trust,” Mark said, taking some sort of delight in her ignorance. She ignored his smug tone and focused on what he was saying instead. “Valued at a hundred million dollars.”

  “That’s a lot of money,” Shae commented, peeking over the railings when she noticed Alexa’s reaction. “Surely he could’ve afforded a better boat.”

  “He did, and that’s what he disappeared on twenty years ago,” Mark scoffed. “No one has seen him since.”

  “Until now,” Shae pointed out, turning to the old man who’d been listening to them patiently.

  “Samuel,” the old man said with a grin that exposed his yellow teeth. “So nice to meet you.” He had a slight Danish accent, and spoke in a soft, soothing tone.

  “Shae,” she said, hesitantly shaking his hand.

  He didn’t look like a millionaire. He looked like a crazy homeless person who pushed a cart around and spoke to imaginary people.