Read Online Death on the Bella Constance (A Jesse Watson Mystery Series Book 6) by Ann Mullen - Free Book Online Page A

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