Sea Bound, page 12
“We were planning our days in San Juan. Let’s go over the plan and see what you think of it,” Sarah responded. They turned the excursion channel back on and fast-forwarded to the side trips.
“I’m not interested in either one of those. Too much walking for me! Jeffrey is talking about wanting to see the Bacardí rum distillery. They have a tour that I think I could manage. Then he thinks we can find a tour of the city by bus or cab, or even by horse and buggy,” she added with a mischievous grin. Charles and Sarah exchanged a private look, both hoping Sophie wasn’t going to get hurt.
“Jeffrey has some sort of business in San Juan in the morning, and he said he will meet up with us around noon, so I’ll go with you guys in the morning, okay?”
“Of course! We hoped you would be with us all day,” Sarah said.
“Pa-leeez!” Sophie responded, tossing her head back arrogantly. “I do have a life, you know.”
Chapter 19
Later that night, Sarah heard thunder in the distance and the room was momentarily aglow from lightening. There was a tapping on the door adjoining Sophie’s room. “Should I be worried?” Sophie asked as Sarah opened the door.
“No. This is perfectly normal. Come on in and stay with me if you want. It will be over soon. They’re predicting a warm sunny day in San Juan tomorrow.”
But the thunder sounded closer and more frequent, and the lightening became almost continuous. Sarah pulled the drapes back and was mesmerized by the streaks of light flashing across the sky. Looking down at the water, she could see white caps surrounding the ship. The ship began rolling so violently that Sarah stumbled attempting to return to her bed.
“You told me this was a floating hotel! I don’t feel like we’re floating …”
“Sophie, relax. It’s just a little storm,” Sarah said, reassuring her roommate that they were safe. “Just lie down and relax.”
Sarah wasn’t as confident as she sounded, and she wished Charles would come to the door. She hesitated to call him this late. Still, she needed some reassurance herself. The ship was rocking back and forth violently, and several times the lights had flickered as if they were losing power. She wondered what would happen if the ship lost power but then decided there was probably a backup generator, like she and Jonathan had when the kids were young.
She thought about the storm that struck Middletown in 1973. She was pregnant with Jason, and Martha was only two. It had started with a routine thunderstorm, but suddenly it sounded as if a freight train were heading right for their house. Not knowing what to do, they all laid flat on the floor, Sarah covering Martha protectively and Jonathan enveloping them both in his arms. Since then, she learned that they should have moved to the basement where there were no windows.
The tornado hit their neighborhood, barely skimming past their house. When they dared to go outside, they found their neighbor’s house essentially gone and the houses across the street severely damaged. Neighbors stood around speechless, probably in shock. Sarah’s beloved garden remained intact, as did the picket fence Jonathan had built to enclose her precious flowers. She would have given them all up to the storm if it would have saved the lives of the elderly couple next door. It had been a bad year for storms, and Jonathan bought the generator to make sure they had electricity when the baby arrived.
There was a light tapping on the other door. Sarah slipped her robe on and made her way across the room, holding onto furniture. “Are you okay?” Charles asked when she opened it.
“We’re fine,” she responded. He looked over and saw Sophie’s eyes peeking over the covers that she had pulled up to her nose.
“I’m not sure we needed three rooms,” he said laughing. “I see you have a roommate again tonight.”
“We were both scared.” Sophie’s voice was muffled by the covers.
Sarah turned the bedside lamp on and sat down on the love seat. “I’m glad you two are together,” Charles said as he sat next to her.
“If this is truly a floating hotel, ask the doorman to hail me a cab.” Sophie tried to sound at ease, but Charles and Sarah could both hear the tension in her voice.
“Do you want to get up and have a drink?” Charles asked, looking toward Sophie. He had a bottle in his hand. Without waiting for an answer, he headed for the bathroom, where he collected three wrapped water glasses. Sophie slipped cautiously out of the bed and Sarah saw that she was still wearing her robe. The two women moved to the chairs and wrapped the extra blankets around themselves. It wasn’t cold, but they both felt more secure that way. Charles sat down near them on the love seat after pouring them each a shot of bourbon.
Sophie took a gulp and spewed it across the room. “What’s that vile stuff?” she demanded.
“Here, let me add some coke to what you have left,” Charles offered, opening the mini refrigerator and removing two of the cokes they had placed there earlier.
“Well, that’s somewhat better,” Sophie admitted after taking a cautious sip.
“Surely that wasn’t your first taste of bourbon,” Sarah teased.
“You’re right,” she admitted, “but it’s the first in many years. I guess I had younger taste buds in those days. Anyway, it’s not bad with coke. Can I have a little more?” Sophie asked timidly. “It’s really warm going down.”
The three sat talking and enjoying their drinks, momentarily forgetting about the storm—that is, until an enormous wave lifted the ship high in the air and dropped it abruptly with a crash that caused both women to scream and sent Sophie onto the floor. Charles scrambled to help Sophie up. Together, Sarah and Charles guided her to the bed. While Sarah checked her over, making sure nothing was broken, Charles retrieved the bottle and glasses that had scattered across the floor. “I’ll call for the steward,” he said.
“Why don’t we wait until after the storm?” Sarah suggested. “I’m sure they have lots on their mind right now.”
Five decks up on the Mercury deck, where the exclusive balcony suites were located, one suite sat empty. The French doors to the balcony stood open, and the curtains blew back into the room violently. The balcony chairs were overturned. The radio was softly playing big band music from the 40s. “The sweetest music this side of heaven,” Matilda had often said.
Charles stayed until after 3:00 a.m., when the sea settled down. Sophie fell asleep around 2:00, and Charles and Sarah talked softly until Sarah, too, finally began to nod. He led her to the bed, covered them both, and tiptoed quietly out of the room.
About the same time up on the Mercury deck, Matilda was calling for the steward. “I’m sorry to bother you so late, but I need help with something.”
“No problem,” the steward responded. “I’m on night duty. I’ll be right up.”
When he arrived at the Knowles suite, Matilda pointed to the open French doors. “I can’t get these to close tight. Can you help me?”
“Were they open through that terrible storm?” he asked incredulously.
“I don’t know. I stayed down in the Jupiter lounge through most of it. It was like this when I came up.” Before closing the doors, he turned the balcony deck chairs upright and then secured the French doors.
“They seem fine,” he said, examining the locking mechanism. “Just keep them locked if we have another storm.”
Matilda smiled proudly as she prepared for bed. Calling for that guy was a stroke of genius!
Chapter 20
Early the next morning, Charles and Sarah made their way to one of their favorite breakfast restaurants, feeling the need for a hearty breakfast before they started out on their day’s excursion. They chose a table by the window where they could watch for dolphins. They were approaching the islands and had been told the sea life was very active in these waters.
“Isn’t that your friend Matilda sitting in the corner alone?” Charles asked. Sarah turned to look and the woman immediately dropped her eyes to avoid Sarah’s.
“Yes, that’s Matilda. She doesn’t seem to want me to notice her, though.” Sarah turned back toward Charles and continued eating. She was becoming addicted to the Belgium waffles stacked high with fresh berries and globs of whipped cream. Today she had them with blueberries and closed her eyes with each bite, wallowing in the decadent pleasure.
“We rarely see them together. Do you suppose there is trouble in that marriage?”
“Who?” Sarah asked, having been completely distracted from their conversation by the food.
“Matilda and Elwood.”
“Charles! That’s none of our business,” Sarah responded, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe he was at it again. “You are such a busybody!”
“It’s just strange …” he started to say.
“We don’t know what’s strange for them. Maybe they never eat together!” Sarah interjected. “As a matter of fact, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen them having a meal together. But who knows about other people’s habits. Eat your breakfast and get your nose out of their affairs.” She then added with a coy smile, “Concentrate on your own affairs.” He winked, not knowing how else to respond.
They had been dancing around the subject of intimacy for the past year. Sarah had clearly only wanted a friendship in the beginning, despite the fact that he was head over heels in love with her. But lately he noticed a flirtatious tone in her voice, as if she were sending him a message. He was no good at interpreting subtle messages when they were coming from Sarah. She reached over and touched his hand. He noticed she held his eyes a little longer than usual before she shyly dropped them. The secret language of women, he thought. I’ll never understand.
Charles had been married to one woman since high school. She died following a long, drawn-out illness that drained them both of all energy. After her death, he concentrated on his job and never thought about dating. At least, not until he met the lovely Sarah Miller. The day she walked into that coffee shop three years earlier, his heart took a tumble and had been tumbling ever since. He winked at her again.
What was that look? she wondered.
Before they had finished their meal, Sophie came hobbling into the restaurant. She was using her cane and appeared to be in pain. “Sophie, over here,” Sarah called. Sophie continued to their table and let out a deep sigh as she plopped into the chair.
“Phew. That was no easy trip!”
“What’s the matter? Did you fall again?” Sarah asked, seeing that Sophie was limping more than usual.
“No, it’s just my arthritis acting up. Just part of getting old,” she added, looking pitiful as she scanned their faces for signs of sympathy.
“It was probably that fall you took last night. Is your ankle really okay?”
“Fiddlesticks!”
“I’ll assume that means you didn’t injure your ankle. So are you going to feel like going into San Juan today?”
“I wouldn’t miss it!” she responded enthusiastically, forgetting about her quest for sympathy. “But I’m not going with you two. I’m going to wait here for Jeffrey. He’s arranging for a cab to pick us up at noon.”
About that time, Jeffrey walked into the restaurant. Sophie waved her hand, but he didn’t see her. He was hesitantly looking in the direction of Matilda. He started toward her table, but she waved him away with an almost imperceptible movement of her hand. Sarah and Charles both noticed it, however, and looked at each other.
“He knows Matilda, too?” Charles whispered, giving Sarah a look that said he might be right to mistrust the guy.
“Don’t start,” Sarah said quietly, hoping Sophie hadn’t noticed any of it.
“Don’t start what?” Sophie asked.
“He’s just being a cop, Sophie. Ignore him.”
Sophie placed her breakfast order and was talking about their plans for the day as Jeffrey approached the table. “Join us?” Charles offered.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Jeffrey responded, glancing over his shoulder at Matilda.
“I understand you have business in San Juan today,” Charles said casually.
“Yes, but only a couple of hours.”
Charles wanted to pursue the topic; in fact, he wanted to ask the nature of the business, but he knew Sarah would be upset with him for prying. He just looked at Jeffrey, waiting for details that never came. As Jeffrey placed his order, Charles noticed his hair sparkled a little blacker than the day before. A fresh application of shoe polish, Charles thought with a smile.
* * * * *
As the ship approached Puerto Rico, the three friends stood on the deck astounded by the beauty. White sands extended from the land out into the bluest of waters. “Maybe we made a mistake signing up for those tours. The beaches are breathtaking!” Sarah said.
“Do you want to cancel our land excursions?” Charles asked obligingly. “We can spend the day on the beach if you would like.”
“No. Let’s save the beach for when we get to St. Thomas,” Sarah responded.
As the ship approached the harbor, the landscape changed from palm trees on white beaches to a modern city with high-rises. “I didn’t expect this,” Sophie said. “This looks like Chicago!” As they were watching the slow approach to the island, the loud speaker sputtered and the captain’s voice blasted across the deck.
“Attention all passengers. There has been a change in our itinerary. We will not be discharging passengers at San Juan port at this time. I repeat: We will not be discharging passengers at San Juan port. Local officials will be boarding the ship for the purpose of conducting an investigation. Please extend your complete cooperation with these officials. Please return to your cabins and turn on your monitors. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
As the passengers roamed around the deck, watching for the officials and speculating as to what was happening, Sarah looked toward the railing about twenty feet away, where Matilda stood staring out across the water. Two ship employees appeared at her side and led her toward the staff elevator that went directly to the bridge. Matilda appeared to be unsteady as she leaned against one of the men for support. Sarah, looking astounded, turned to Charles and said, “What do you suppose that is all about?” Looking up just as Matilda was getting off the elevator on the top deck, she added, “Is that the captain up there?”
“Yes,” he responded, turning in time to see the captain greet Matilda and lead her into his office.
The ship had docked and the gangplank had been dropped. Dozens of armed police officers from San Juan began boarding the ship. “We should head for our cabins,” Charles said. “Where’s Sophie?”
At that moment, Sophie approached looking upset. “Jeffrey said it was essential that he get off the ship. He wouldn’t tell me why. I think he’s going to try to slip past the guards.”
“Guards?” Sarah asked looking confused. “What guards?”
“Look down there by the gangplank,” Sophie said, pointing toward the dock. Half a dozen San Juan police officers were blocking the gangplank, breaking rank only to let additional officials board the ship.
About that time, three black SUVs pulled up and men in black suits quickly headed toward the gangplank. The guards parted, letting them through. “FBI,” Charles said with astonishment. “What are they doing here?” he muttered to himself. Looking toward the bow, Charles caught sight of Jeffrey disappearing down a stairwell marked “Authorized Personnel Only.”
“Please return to your staterooms immediately.” The voice on the loudspeaker blasted once and then repeated the message at one-minute intervals until the deck was cleared. Charles and Sarah headed for the elevator, but she tugged at his shirt indicating she wanted to take the steps. “It’s a long way up, sweetie,” he said.
“I know, but look,” she responded pointing toward the dock. He realized what she was doing. From the vantage point of the metal stairway, they were able to see the activity on the dock and around the gangplank.
As they reached the next deck, they turned to see three military vans pulling up to the dock. Hordes of men and women in uniform climbed out and rushed toward the gangplank. The guards stepped aside, allowing them to board the ship. Within seconds, military personnel were swarming throughout the ship. Charles and Sarah moved back against the wall as a dozen or so hurried up the metal stairs and immediately fanned out. At a distance, they could see others ascending stairs to the upper decks. “We should be in our room,” Charles said. “They’re searching the ship.”
Suddenly small aircraft flew over their heads and out to sea, following the path taken by the ship as it approached land the night before. “Search planes,” Charles said with a frown. Coast guard boats were making ready and leaving their slips, headed in the same direction as the planes. “They’re looking for something! That’s for sure,” Charles added thoughtfully.
“Do you suppose someone fell overboard?” Sarah asked.
Hurrying on up the stairs to the Saturn deck, they headed for Sarah’s room. Once inside, Charles immediately turned the monitor on and opened the connecting door to his room so he could hear if anyone knocked.
“What happened to Sophie?” Sarah asked, surprised that she wasn’t already in her room.
“I don’t know. She was behind us, and then she veered off, probably toward the elevator,” he responded. “Let’s leave her door open as well so we’ll know when she comes in.” They pulled their chairs up so they could easily view the monitor. There was a scrolling message instructing everyone to stay in their stateroom until further notice and stating that additional information would be posted when it was available.
“What do you suppose this is all about?” Sarah asked Charles. She looked worried, and he reached over and touched her cheek.
“Don’t worry, sweetie. We’ll find out soon enough.” He didn’t want to say anything that would upset or frighten her, but in watching the action, he had originally suspected there might be a fugitive aboard. He thought the men had boarded the ship in a manner resembling the way SWAT teams might have boarded, but he didn’t see any firearms. But now, seeing the planes and coast guard search and rescue boats, he didn’t know what to think. Maybe they’re looking for a fugitive who they think might have jumped off the ship, he speculated, but decided that was a bit far-fetched.
