Read Online Haunted Destiny by Heather Graham - Free Book Online Page A

killed.”
    â€œWow,” Jude murmured, reading. “The list also includes the ship’s head of security, our friend, David Beach.”
    â€œI’d put him toward the bottom of the list,” Jackson said. “The man has an impeccable background.”
    â€œWhich may or may not mean anything.”
    â€œNo, but because of his size—”
    â€œHe’d be noticed wherever he went,” Jackson agreed. “And the last one we have here is the cruise director, Jensen Hardy.”
    â€œTwo passengers, Roger Antrim and Hank Osprey. One security man, David Beach. No regular crew members—dishwashers, stewards, mechanics. Three entertainers. Ralph Martini, Simon Green and Larry Hepburn. Plus the head of entertainment, Bradley Wilcox. And last, but for the moment we won’t say least, one cruise director, Jensen Hardy.”
    â€œEight suspects,” Jackson said. “I’ll talk to Beach. We’ll give him the list—minus his own name, of course. And we’ll keep a sharp eye on him, but he and his staff need to be on the lookout. You should go and see Alexi Cromwell again. Actually, I’d like to speak with her, too.”
    Jude stared down at Angela Hawkins’s report, which included pictures of the suspects. “I don’t believe any of these men are the one we followed on board,” he said.
    â€œNo?” Jackson shrugged. “Ghost or not, I haven’t really seen his face yet. I don’t get it. I don’t get what he was wearing. It wasn’t a mask. But he was disguised.”
    â€œA killer would want to disguise himself,” Jude said.
    â€œWell, we’ll see, won’t we? How’s your cell working out here?”
    â€œI’m set for international. Should be fine.”
    â€œLet’s head out. Don’t forget, I want to talk to Ms. Cromwell later.”
    â€œWe can arrange that,” Jude said.
    â€œAll right. I’ll go chase down David Beach. You see what you can do with the entertainer group and we’ll send for more info on our two passengers.” Jackson rose. Like many law enforcement officers in the field, he’d taken his coffee black and finished two cups.
    Jude picked up his own mug of black coffee and finished the last couple of swallows. He rose, too. “I’ll find Ms. Cromwell. But all in all, you might do better in dealing with her. I’m not sure she was...comfortable with my response to her last night.”
    He was surprised Jackson smiled at that. “I think you’ll do fine.”
    They parted ways.
    Jude used the stairs to reach the crew and entertainment level of the ship. He paused at her door. The entertainers slept late, he assumed, since they worked late.
    He raised a hand to knock on the door.
    It opened.
    Alexi Cromwell seemed very bright and attractive for someone who’d been up until at least 3 a.m. the night before.
    She glanced up at him warily—and yet as if she’d expected him.
    â€œMs. Cromwell, I’d like your help,” he began.
    â€œTo meet the ghost?”
    He didn’t answer that. Instead, he asked, “How well do you know your fellow entertainers—and do you ever get to know the passengers?”
    â€œSome of the entertainers I know quite well, but some are here on their first contract with the Destiny . Maybe you’d like to meet a few of them yourself?” she suggested.
    â€œI would, thank you,” he said.
    â€œCome to the employee cafeteria and lounge with me. I can introduce you to some of the people I know.” She looked at him anxiously. “Do you really believe the killer is on the Destiny ?”
    He decided not to lie to her. “Yes,” he said.
    â€œBecause your man—my ghost—came on the ship?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œBut since you don’t believe me and you think this guy is alive... Maybe if that’s true, he was watching what was going on, and then