The Way He Moves

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Thanasi had asked himself the very same question, except he’d phrased it differently. How could something like this continue to happen on his cruise ship?

He was used to people drinking too much and occasionally causing a scene. He was used to couples fighting, the occasional extramarital affair gone awry, one-night stands that turned into a disaster when one or another party expected more, the disappearance of items from cabins, people complaining about food. But smuggling and passengers attacks were different from the usual experience. And this public assault of a passenger on his ship was definitely not to be tolerated.

“It’s an unfortunate situation,” Thanasi answered, keeping his voice modulated and his response professional. “This ship holds a thousand passengers and is very much like a floating city. We have metal detectors that passengers pass through prior to boarding, and the luggage goes through a scanner. Short of running background checks on all of our guests, we are doing our best.”

Gilles Anderson didn’t appear appeased by his answer. In fact he’d become more indignant. His face had taken on a crimson undertone, and Thanasi could tell he was fighting to control his anger.

“Where was your security force when that woman was attacked? Have you seen the ugly bruise on her neck? You’ll be lucky if she doesn’t sue you.”

Thanasi had thought about that too. Americans were a litigious group, although Ms. d’Andrea was Argentinean. The first thing he’d had the Guest Relations personnel do was check her travel documents and that’s how he’d discovered who she was.

“I repeat, it was a very unfortunate situation and we’ll do everything in our power to make Ms. d’Andrea’s stay with us as comfortable as possible.” Thanasi removed his hand from his pocket and tried to discreetly pass on some beverage coupons to the Anderson man. “Please try to put this ugly situation behind you and allow me to buy you a drink or two.”

The man recoiled as if he had been struck.

“Don’t try to mollify me. I don’t want complimentary drinks. I just want to be assured that none of us will have to worry about our safety on board.”

Thanasi nodded. “I understand. As stated, this was a highly unusual situation. I’ve already alerted the authorities and we’re putting steps in place to increase security.” He turned, hoping the videographers were still shooting. Spotting them, he said, “See over there? Every movement’s been recorded on film. It was stupid of that man to try stealing the pendant, because as soon as we look at that tape he’s as good as caught. You have my assurance security will be visible for the rest of the cruise, and if necessary we’ll have headquarters fly back-up personnel in.”

Patti walked over to join him.

“Hi, I’m Patti Kennedy, your cruise director. Is there something I can help with?”

Gilles Anderson turned and immediately his stance became less aggressive.

“We have it all sorted out, I think. Nice job you did soothing the fears of the passengers and reminding us what we’re here for.” He smiled at Patti, seeming to like what he saw.

Patti flashed the man another wide smile, one that revealed perfectly straight white teeth and made her tanned skin look even darker. She was one of those people who came across as happy, healthy and even-keeled under the most adverse circumstances.

“Thank you. You’re very kind,” she said. “Why don’t you stop by the Emperor’s Club later and join Thanasi and me for grappa.”

Thanasi felt a flicker of annoyance as he watched the flirtatious exchange, but at least he had been included in the invitation. He just hoped he wouldn’t turn out to be the third wheel or the chaperone.

“Sounds good to me—I’ll be there,” Gilles said, smiling back and looking at Patti as if she’d just told him he’d won another cruise. Patti could charm the most disgruntled passenger.

“Look, I’m sorry about giving you a hard time,” Gilles said, turning back to Thanasi. “I’m just concerned about what happened to that woman. I came to relax and I don’t want to have to keep looking over my shoulder.”

Thanasi touched the man’s forearm lightly. “Not a problem. I understand. Trust me, your safety is my biggest priority. I’ll see you at the Emperor’s Club after the late show, then.”

“I’ll be there.”

After Gilles Anderson left, Thanasi and Patti headed back to their offices. It seemed every step they took, they were stopped by anxious passengers who wanted to have their fears assuaged.

“You were very good with the Anderson man,” Thanasi admitted grudgingly.

So far Patti had proven to be competent and supportive, but he’d never told her so. The two had completely different styles of dealing with people. She was more relaxed, looser, while he preferred a formal businesslike approach. It was what he was comfortable with and the way he’d been trained.

Patti tossed another devastating smile his way, the kind that went directly to a man’s heart. “I guess I’m putting my ‘charm school’ training to good use, eh?”

She’d picked up the eh from the Canadian crewmembers, and while her words were said in jest, there was an underlying edge to them. Thanasi had been very vocal about letting the crew know that he wasn’t a proponent of “charm school.” Hospitality training taught the basics, but he truly believed the only way to know what it took to work a cruise ship and deal with people was to be hands-on. He’d had to learn from the bottom up and he felt that was an asset.

“Do you have time for a coffee?” he surprised himself by asking Patti.

For a fleeting moment her gold-flecked eyes registered shock, though she quickly recovered. She shot him another of those wide smiles. “Sure. Where would you like to go?”

“My office. We’ll be able to talk without interruption.”

Thanasi would have much preferred an alcoholic drink, but they were still on duty and both needed to keep a clear head. In an hour or so he’d be accompanying Sean Brady, the Acting Chief of Security, to the brig, where they would interrogate the thief and attempt to get a written confession from him.

Opening the door to his office, he stood aside to let Patti enter.

Her wide gaze swept the room before she eased into the chair he gestured her to. “You’re always so organized and so neat,” she said, taking the seat facing his desk. “I’m the total opposite.”

“You just have your own style.”

Thanasi had seen her office and could vouch that she wasn’t a minimalist. Paperwork was piled in neat stacks, but she had mementos of her visits to different countries all over the place. Patti had everything from Love Leaves purchased in Grenada to Evil Eye trinkets collected in Istanbul. Her office reflected her personality. It was warm, friendly and a little bit over the top.

He, on the other hand, prided himself on order. The only way to keep on top of the arduous paperwork that came with his job was to have folders for everything. With the exception of his computer, the surface of his desk was clutter-free.

He picked up the phone and spoke into it.

“I need a fresh pot of coffee and Danish sent up right away.”

“Danish,” Patti murmured. “I’m not sure I can afford the calories.”

“You don’t need to watch your figure,” Thanasi said bluntly, and watched two little red dots pop out on Patti’s cheeks.

He’d never seen her blush before. She had a figure most women would kill for. He’d seen her in a swimsuit at the crew gym when she was swimming laps. She had a flat stomach, shapely breasts and long legs. She was the kind of woman men fantasized about but seldom could get.

“You flatter me,” Patti said, smoothing her hands over hips that were almost nonexistent. “If I get too complacent the pounds start piling on. It’s easy to let yourself go on a cruise ship with all this food around.”

“Tell me about it.”

Thanasi sucked in his gut, not that there was much there to suck in. During his off time, what precious little there was of it, he frequented the crew gym, pumping iron like a mad man. When you were forty-something you had to work at keeping in shape and keeping your stress-level down.

“Oops! There goes my beeper,” Patti said, standing. “Rain check on that coffee. We’ll catch up at the Emperor’s Club later.”

“What about dinner?”

Patti was halfway out the door. The consummate professional, she was already answering the call.

“ARE YOU SURE you’re up to going to the dining room?” Pia asked as she watched Serena painstakingly layer foundation on her neck.

“Of course. I’m not going to let something as silly as a nasty bruise stop me from getting out and about.” Serena continued smoothing makeup over the ugly black and blue bruise resulting from the attack. “Help me pick out something to wear to dinner and afterwards we’ll take in a show.”

Pia crossed over to the closet and threw the doors open. “I find it odd that you were the one singled out. There are a thousand people on board.”

“It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me either. A man kept bumping into me while I was dancing. All of a sudden there was this tug, and I was dragged across the floor. Thankfully the ribbon holding the pendant broke.”

Pia sifted through the clothing the butler had ironed and hung in the closet. “And be thankful that passenger flung his drink in the thief’s face or he might have escaped.”

“What passenger?”

“The dark-haired guy wearing cowboy boots. The videographers were filming, and I saw the whole thing on the big screen T.V. That’s how I knew.” Pia handed an elegant silk pantsuit to Serena. “Try this. A lace camisole underneath and you’re set. I’d wear the pendant, too—it would look good with black. No point in leaving it lying around the room after what happened. I can’t imagine why anyone would try to steal it, though.”

“I’ll put it in my purse. My neck still aches.” Serena popped the jewelry into her evening bag. She was still shaken up, and more terrified than she was willing to admit. All she wanted to do was put the unpleasant incident behind her. “I thought about handing it in, but I hate to let that man win. Besides, he was caught, so maybe the pendant does have some lucky charm.”

Pia stood in front of the full-length mirror, finger-combing her hair, and putting the final touches on her makeup.

“This dark haired man, the one who threw the drink, what did he look like?” Serena asked.

“He was hot, sort of a Hugh Jackman type—you know, the Australian actor.”

Serena bit down on her bottom lip.

“And this Jackman look-a-like is one of our dance group?”

“He might be. He was on the dance floor several times with that hot-to-trot redhead. I remember looking at him and thinking, Now, there is one classy man. He’s got a golden tan, dreamy blue eyes, and a smile that could stop a woman’s heartbeat.” Pia must have noticed Serena’s stricken expression. “Dios Mío, Serena, he’s not the man you think is Marc?”

Serena nodded her head slowly. “He sounds like the passenger I pointed out to you earlier.”

“Then you must contact him and thank him for his help.”

“I suppose I could. If I speak with him at length I might be able to determine if he’s really Marc in disguise.”

“Have the maître d’ send him a bottle of wine or something. He’s bound to call you and thank you.”

“Good idea. And while I’m at it, I’ll also send a bottle of wine to the man who returned the pendant. Let’s go. We’ll be late for the second seating.”

Serena picked up her purse and Pia followed her out. They’d both agreed that the Empire Room, the main dining room, would be their best choice for dinner. As they approached they spotted the long line of passengers waiting to enter.

“Why don’t we come back in fifteen minutes after it opens,” Pia suggested, “Now is as good a time as any to familiarize ourselves with the ship. If we start off on Helios we can work our way down.”

Pia led the way to a glass elevator, and after a short wait they joined a number of people getting on. Among them was a chubby, middle-aged, overdressed woman, clutching the arm of a man in suit and tie. She poked Serena’s arm and said, “Aren’t you the woman that man attacked? I witnessed the whole thing.”

“You did?”

“Yes. I told the security people that man was dancing way too close to you. All of a sudden he left his partner and lunged for your throat. We’re from Kentucky. We don’t have this kind of excitement at home.”

“Well, at least he was caught,” another passenger chimed in.

Everyone in the packed elevator was now staring at Serena. She was glad when the elevator stopped on Poseidon and several people got off.

“I hope he didn’t hurt you too badly,” the plump, plain-speaking woman said. The sentiment was echoed by several others and Serena thanked them for their kindness.

She was relieved when they reached Helios and she and Pia quickly circled the artificially lit sundeck.

“We’ll need to spend some time here,” she said as they did a quick walk-through of the Jasmine Spa, fitness center and Starlight Theatre. All the amenities of an upscale resort seemed to be here, the putting green, tennis courts, hot tubs and a spacious observation deck.

“Sign me up,” Pia said enthusiastically.

“We’ll come back tomorrow when it’s light. Shall we take the stairs to the next deck?”

“Sure.”

On deck eleven, Artemis, they stuck their heads into the main lounge aptly named the Court of Dreams. It was three stories high and very glitzy. It reminded Serena of a wedding palace with its ornate railings, sweeping staircases and marble steps.

In typical Renaissance style, cherubs floated on the clouds on the ceiling, and pink, white and gold upholstered sofas and chairs added to the dreamy effect. Tucked away in illuminated alcoves were vases of greenery and blooming roses or statues of the Greek gods and goddesses. On stage, angled slightly to the left, a massive, black concert grand piano dominated.

“This reminds me so much of a European grand concert hall,” Pia exclaimed.

“It is rather elegant.”

They took a quick look at the indoor and outdoor pools, popped into the Sunshine’s American Diner, where families with kids were chomping on hamburgers and pizzas while enjoying a more casual dining experience.

“The Empire Room should be open by now,” Serena suggested, heading for the stairs.

A tuxedo-clad maître d’ and several assistants hovered at the entrance of the dining room, greeting the few people trickling in.

“May I seat you?” he asked. The women gave him their Alexandra’s Dream cards. After scrutinizing them, he flashed an even larger smile. “I have been waiting for you.”

Serena’s eyebrows rose. “You have?”

“Yes, indeed. I will bring you to the captain’s table. Please follow me.”

CHAPTER FIVE

“NAME AND CABIN NUMBER, please.” Sean Brady, Acting Chief of Security removed a notepad from his breast pocket.

The sullen man hugging the wall glared at him but kept his mouth shut. His arms were folded across his chest in a defiant gesture.

Thanasi was starting to get impatient. He had other things to attend to. If this stonewalling continued, he would be late for dinner and Nick would not be pleased.

Captain Nick Pappas had issued a command performance to join him at the Captain’s Table, which meant there were VIPs on board who needed entertaining. Thanasi had become dependent on his hotel director and key officers to schmooze them.

“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” Thanasi interjected, slapping his palm against the brig’s wall. “This is the high seas and there is no established protocol to follow. Either you tell us your name and cabin number or we’ll go through your pockets and find out who you are ourselves. What will it be?”

The man gulped. A reaction at last. He was of slender build, and had a wild-eyed look as if he hadn’t slept in a couple of days. Thanasi thought he might be one of the professional dancers.