Gone in a Flash Read online

  “Hey, after we eat, you want me to take Andy swimming?” Jenna asked. “You and Dad can hang out or do whatever.”

  Samantha flashed her stepdaughter a genuine smile. “That would be great.”

  Only she and Connor wouldn’t just be hanging out, they’d be looking for a murderer.

  “Is that the kid?”

  “Yep.”

  “Can you kill a kid? Because I can’t. There’s no way I’m killing a kid.”

  “We don’t need to kill him. Just … use him for a while.”

  And yes, he could kill a kid.

  Jenna watched Andy splash in the shallow end of the pool. He grinned and used his left hand to shove the swimmie on his right bicep up a little farther. She shifted on her seat and adjusted her sunglasses.

  But she couldn’t help noticing that the man to her left kept staring in her direction. She refused to acknowledge that he was starting to make her nervous.

  Seems like she remembered seeing him as they boarded the ship.

  Maybe.

  Chills crawled up her arms and she shivered.

  Connor saw the look on his wife’s face and knew she was planning something. Probably something he didn’t want to know about but wouldn’t be able to ignore. Because he was determined to be involved every step of the way.

  “So,” he said. “What’s the plan?”

  Her attempt at an innocent look didn’t work. She gave it up and said, “I want to find that body.” She tapped her fingers against her lips. “Where would you stash a body on a cruise ship?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “I wish I had my crime scene processing equipment. I’d go over that bathroom and the area right outside of it.”

  “The area’s been compromised by now,” Connor stated. “But we could still watch those tapes.”

  Samantha didn’t waste any time in agreeing with him. “Come on.”

  After a quick question to one of the staff, they headed for the security office.

  All it took was a flash of Connor’s badge and they were in. Officer Ponder looked a bit put out at their presence, but he didn’t argue. Motioning them over to the middle of the room, he waved a hand at the monitors. “This is the camera you want. The one facing the restroom. I’ve been going through the video and this is what I’ve got.”

  He pressed the button.

  “Sir?” A young officer approached. “We’ve got a situation near the pool. Young girl with a kid says someone tried to grab the little boy.”

  Connor snapped to attention and looked at Sam. “Jenna?”

  Samantha went white. “Andy!”

  4

  Connor bolted for the door. Samantha and Officer Ponder pounded after him. Her heart thudded. A cold sweat broke over her skin and all she could do was pray, Please God, not my baby. Her mind flashed back to when he was six months old. He’d been kidnapped by a serial killer and she’d thought her life would end. They bypassed the elevator and took the stairs two at a time, up nine floors. Adrenaline spurred her on even as her legs threatened to give out.

  Dread and terror mingled through her. There was no way she would survive it if Andy disappeared again. The thought gave her strength to rush on.

  They pushed past people, the head of security blowing on a whistle to alert those in front of them. The crowd parted and soon she found herself on the pool deck.

  Shoving the glass door open, her gaze immediately went to the kiddie pool.

  And landed on Jenna sitting on a lounge chair with Andy in her lap. Samantha skidded to a halt, her knees suddenly weak, her breathing came in pants.

  Connor grasped her upper arms and she leaned in to him. He stumbled, then caught himself. She realized his own legs might be feeling pretty shaky.

  “He’s safe, he’s fine,” she whispered.

  “We overreacted?” Connor huffed.

  “I don’t know, but … I don’t want to go … rushing up and scaring them to death. Let me get my breath … and we can see what’s going on.”

  “Good idea.”

  The security officer followed their lead and stood quietly, waiting.

  Finally, Samantha gathered herself together enough to walk over. “Jenna, is everything all right?” Her arms ached to snatch Andy into them, to smell his sun-drenched, chlorine-bathed little body. But she resisted.

  The girl looked up and Sam belatedly noticed the young security officer had moved to stand next to Jenna and Andy. Jenna’s chin jutted and she narrowed her eyes. “Someone tried to grab Andy.”

  Fear fluttered in her stomach as Andy reached for Connor. “Daddy. Hold me.”

  Connor did and Sam could see the relief winning out over the fear.

  “Tell me everything,” he demanded.

  “Andy was playing in the water. The next thing I know, he’s hollering and some guy has him and is trying to hold on to him.” A satisfied glint came into her eyes. “Andy was squirming pretty good, and with all of the sunscreen I put on him, I guess he was a little slippery. Andy slid right out of his hands and landed back in the pool. I ran toward them and the guy took off.” Her face dropped. “I’ve never been so scared in my life.”

  Andy still clutched his little truck. He ran it over his father’s head and said, “Vroom!” Then giggled.

  Samantha patted his little back. “Well, he doesn’t seem terribly upset about the ordeal, but we’re going to have to keep a close eye on him. Closer than usual.”

  “Why would someone try to take your boy?”

  The question came from her left and she realized Officer Ponder had been listening and taking notes.

  Samantha narrowed her eyes at the man. “I don’t know. Maybe it has something to do with the disappearing dead man. Whoever killed him obviously didn’t want him found. But he knows Andy and I saw him.”

  “So he kidnaps Andy, threatens him if you say anything else …” Connor said.

  “Or wants me to recant my story,” she said.

  “I’ll talk with the captain,” Officer Ponder said softly. “We’ll search the ship and see if we can find anything.”

  His sudden cooperative spirit sent Sam’s brows north. “You believe me?”

  “It’s not that I didn’t believe you before, but with no evidence …” He spread his hands in a gesture that asked for their understanding. “You’re asking me to search people’s personal space. To check each and every stateroom, explain that something is wrong on the ship. I must be very careful how I approach that and I must have a good reason for it.”

  Sam mulled that over and her eyes met Connor’s. The man was right. “All right. I get that. I’m thinking the body wouldn’t have been stashed in a stateroom. They’re cleaned every day, right?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “So, my suggestion is to search every place that isn’t well-traveled. Staff-only areas.”

  “What if he tossed him overboard?” Connor murmured.

  Sam thought about that. “No. There are too many people. That’s a big risk. Even from a stateroom balcony, I would think that would be too risky.”

  Officer Ponder nodded. “Fine. I will gather my staff and instruct them where to search.”

  Connor asked, “Could we have a look at the blueprints of the ship?”

  The officer’s brow rose. “A most unusual request.”

  “And I wouldn’t make it if I didn’t think I could help.”

  “I will have to clear it with the captain, but I’m sure he’ll say yes, and I will welcome your help.”

  Sam was a little surprised at the easy capitulation, but apparently once the man decided to take action, he liked to delegate. Which would work well for her and Connor.

  After making sure the guard would stay with Andy and Jenna, Samantha and Connor followed Officer Ponder back to the security office. He pulled out the blueprints and lay them across the desk.

  Connor looked at the massive sheets. “This is going to take forever.”

  Samantha agreed. “We’ve got to f
igure out a better way.”

  “I will have security on each floor start covering the staff-only areas of the ship.” He turned and picked up the radio that would allow him to speak to every security officer at once.

  While he did that, Samantha studied the blueprints. “Where would you stash him?” she asked Connor.

  “Somewhere out of the way, somewhere that would allow the ship’s operations to continue without interruption and with no chance of him being found.”

  “And someplace where he wouldn’t cause a stink.”

  Connor’s eyes met hers. “A freezer.”

  “It would have to be.” She pulled out her phone and started snapping pictures of the blueprints, going in a specific pattern so she would know which picture was what.

  “And why wouldn’t you just leave him in the bathroom to die? Why hide him when you knew someone saw him?”

  “The killer doesn’t want the ship to stop. Doesn’t want an investigation.”

  “So, this may not be just some random killing. Someone is dead because he was going to blow the whistle on something?”

  “Possibly. We need to account for every passenger on this ship.”

  “You’re talking over five thousand people.” Connor sighed. “So we need the passenger list too.”

  “Let’s check out the freezers. Then we can concentrate on the passengers.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Connor turned to Officer Ponder. “Do you mind giving me an all-access key?”

  The man reached in his pocket. “I figured that would be the next thing you would ask for.” He handed the small card to Connor.

  Connor thanked him, then said to Samantha, “Come on, let’s get started.”

  5

  Connor led the way down the hall to the nearest freezer according to the blueprints. “Do you know how many freezers are on this ship?”

  “Too many to search?”

  “All the restaurants, not just the main dining room, have a whole slew of them.”

  “At least Officer Ponder seems to believe me.”

  “He certainly seems to be doing his best to be cooperative.”

  They reached the kitchen door. “Here we are.” Connor swiped the key and pushed open the door. They showed their badges and were granted entry into the kitchen.

  Samantha pointed. “I’ll start here.”

  “I’ve got this one.” Connor noticed the safety locks. “At least you won’t get locked in.”

  “Good to know.”

  Connor stepped inside the first freezer. Rows and rows of meat stared back at him. He couldn’t imagine the planning it took to feed five thousand people for a week. And he didn’t have time to think about it.

  For the next four hours, he and Samantha searched one freezer after another, only to come up empty-handed.

  Night fell and Connor and Samantha made their way back to the security offices. Mitch Ponder met them. “Find anything?”

  “Nothing.” Connor could hear the disgust in his own voice.

  “Us either.” Officer Ponder shook his head. “I’m afraid this is a fruitless endeavor. We simply don’t have the manpower for this and I can’t take up any more of my staff’s time looking for a man who may or may not be dead.”

  Connor sighed. “Let’s call it a night. We can pick back up in the morning.”

  “I’m afraid not. I’m going to ask for my key back now, please.”

  Connor and Samantha handed it over.

  Back in the room Samantha grabbed Andy up for a hug. “Did you have a good supper?”

  “Yep. I had chicken.”

  “Of course you did.” Connor exchanged an amused look with Samantha. That was just about all he ever ate.

  “How about you, Jenna? This couldn’t have been a great first day of cruising for you, having to babysit the whole time.”

  Jenna shrugged and smiled. “It was fine. I actually enjoyed hanging out with Andy. I told him everything he’ll ever need to know about how to treat a girl right.”

  Connor felt his heart break for his daughter.

  Even though she was an adult now, she was still his little girl.

  And even though he was well aware that most of the time it took two to make or break a relationship, he still wanted to punch Bradley in the face.

  Jenna said, “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to go take a walk, look at the stars, watch the moon, do a little praying …” She shrugged. “See you guys a little later.”

  “Sure.” Connor paused and frowned. “Hey, watch your back, will you? You can identify the man who tried to snatch Andy.”

  Jenna walked over and stood on tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll be fine, Dad. I need some breathing space.”

  “I’ll go with you.”

  She shot him an amused look. “That’s not me getting some breathing room. I’ll be safe. I’ll stay with the crowd.”

  “I really don’t think it’s a good—”

  “See you later.”

  Jenna left and Connor turned to Samantha. “I’m worried about letting her go around without me, but I guess I can’t do anything about that, can I?”

  Samantha sighed. “No, she’s a grown woman now. Her daddy can’t be tagging along behind and we don’t know for sure she’s a target.”

  He grimaced, but didn’t disagree. “After that incident today, I feel like I should keep an eye on her. And she might be a target. She saw who tried to grab Andy.”

  “I know.”

  “Think she’d kill me if I followed her?”

  Sam shrugged. “It’s either you or me.”

  Connor was out the door in a flash.

  Samantha watched Andy run his truck along the swirling pattern of the comforter. “I love you, Andy.”

  He grinned up at her. “I love you too, Mommy.”

  Her heart expanded. He was a later-in-life baby, born when she was nearing forty. But even now, she wondered how she had gone through the first part of her life without him. Grinning, she leaned over and tickled his belly until they were both breathless with laughter.

  A noise from upstairs distracted her, made her pause. She looked up, her nerves suddenly on edge. No one should be up there.

  Connor and Jenna were gone. It was just her and Andy in the suite.

  So why was she hearing noises upstairs in the loft where the master bedroom was?

  Mentally, she ran through the layout of the suite, wondering how someone could get upstairs without her knowing about it.

  The balcony.

  The sliding door to the bedroom might not have been locked. She just didn’t know.

  Another sliding scrape sounded.

  Like a drawer being opened.

  Did the person not know she and Andy were down here? How could he not have heard their laughter?

  Pulling Andy to her, she snatched his truck from the bed and hurried to the door.

  “Mommy? Whatcha doing?”

  “We’re going to go find Daddy.”

  She twisted the knob and pulled. Nothing happened. Sam yanked again, her blood pounding furiously through her veins.

  He’d jammed the door.

  She raced back to the phone in the room Jenna and Andy shared. Picking it up, she held it to her ear and pressed zero.

  Only to realize she had no dial tone.

  Real fear surged swift and hard.

  And her cell phone was in her suitcase. Upstairs. Where the noise was coming from.

  Thinking fast, she moved to the bathroom, opened it and stepped inside. She shut the door behind her. “Andy, I don’t want to scare you, but I need you to stay in the bathroom while Mommy takes care of something.”

  “No, don’t want to.” His little brows drew together over the bridge of his nose.

  “Please, honey. There’s a bad man in our room. I need to make him go away. Okay?”

  Now his brows shot up. “A bad man?”

  “Yes, now I need you to hide in the bathroom so he doesn
’t hurt you.”

  “The man from the pool?” His lower lip jutted and fear filled his eyes.

  So he had realized what was happening in his own limited little way. “Maybe. I need to find out. Now stay in here. Promise?”

  “Stay with me.” His little fingers grasped her hand.

  She gently pulled from his grasp. “I want to, but I need to make him go away, then I’ll give you a big hug and we’ll get some ice cream.” She pressed the truck into his hands. “Now hold on to this and I’ll be right back.”

  Maybe it was the promise of ice cream or maybe he caught the desperation in her voice, but he didn’t argue or beg her to stay. The lost look on his face nearly killed her.

  She couldn’t spend any more time reassuring her son. She had to see what was going on.

  Opening the door, she stepped out. With one last look at her frightened son’s face, she shut the door.

  Connor followed Jenna to the pool area. It had taken a few minutes to figure out where she’d gone, but he’d finally tracked her down. She’d stopped for a milkshake at one of the restaurants and then wandered through a few shops.

  Aimless wandering that told him she really wasn’t taking in anything. Her thoughts were deep and she was distracted, not watching her back like he’d warned.

  Satisfaction filled him. He’d made the right choice.

  Finally, Jenna stopped at the pizza place and snagged some cheese pizza. She grabbed a table in the corner, placing her back to the wall. A pang hit him as he realized she followed his example on that score. Or maybe she’d just remembered what he said about watching her back.

  Connor glanced at the crowd. No one looked out of place or particularly menacing.

  He started to relax a fraction, when a young man about Jenna’s age approached her table. He said something, she smiled and Connor growled.

  But the young man sat and Jenna offered him a slice of her pizza.

  He would have to have that “don’t talk to strangers” talk with her once again.

  Grudgingly he admitted the fellow looked like any other normal red-blooded male who would be attracted to a girl who looked like Jenna. But Connor wasn’t letting his guard down. Or taking his eyes off the people around his daughter.

  While the two got to know each other, Connor again scanned the crowd and stopped when his gaze landed on a guy dressed in jeans and a short-sleeved polo shirt. A baseball cap hid his eyes, but Connor honed in on him.