Read Online Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark - Free Book Online Page B

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    Regan and Jack stared up at the poster. They both had the same thought. Left Hook Louie bore a startling resemblance to Tony Pinto, whosepicture they had just observed on the computer screen.
    â€œDo you know if he had any kids?” Jack asked Nora.
    â€œNot to my knowledge,” Nora answered. She glanced at the door. “Oh good, here are Alvirah and Willy.”
    The Meehans, Willy in a tuxedo like all the other men and Alvirah in a white silk jacket and long black skirt, were coming across the room and heading toward them.
    â€œSorry!” Alvirah said. “But for once I’m not the one who’s late. Willy started playing solitaire and was convinced he could beat himself. By the time he knew it was a lose-lose situation, he only had a few minutes to get ready. Isn’t that right, Willy?”
    â€œYou’re right as usual, honey,” Willy said amiably. “Alvirah found a deck of cards in the night table drawer, and I started fooling around with them. They’re not new, so we figured they belonged to the Commodore’s nephew. But we just bumped into him at the elevator, and he told us he hates cards. I’ve got them in my pocket in case anyone wants to play later.”
    The Commodore started tapping against the microphone and blew into it. “Attention! Attention! It’s time to give out the Santa Cruise medalsto all of you who have given of yourselves so generously this past year.”
    â€œFirst I’d like to call up everyone from the Readers and Writers group. It humbles me to be in their presence. . . .”
    Dozens of hands shot into the air, waving empty glasses to signal the waiters for a refill. It was clear that the Commodore was just warming up. One by one, he placed medals hanging from ribbons around the necks of each member of the Readers and Writers group. All the people who had donated to charities, including Alvirah, were next. Finally, when the medal was placed around Eldona Deitz’s neck, her husband and children were beside her. The eight- and ten-year-old girls, unable to contain their excitement, were jumping up and down.
    â€œAren’t you proud of your mommy?” the Commodore asked.
    â€œWe did all the work,” Fredericka yelped. “Mommy likes to sleep late. Daddy has to bring her coffee every morning or she can’t open her eyes.”
    Eldona grabbed her daughter by the elbow and smiled at the Commodore. “Fredericka is our little jokester. Aren’t you, dear?”
    Fredericka shrugged. “I don’t know,” she muttered.
    Finally the Commodore called up the ten Santas, two of whom were without costumes. “A little mix-up,” the Commodore explained to the crowd, “but all of these ten wonderful men will be running around the ship in these Santa suits for the next four days.”
    â€œGod help us,” Luke said under his breath.
    As the Commodore put the medal around Bobby Grimes’s neck, an obviously inebriated Grimes grabbed the microphone. “I should be wearing a Santa suit right now,” he growled. “But there’s a thief on board this ship. Watch out everybody! Anybody who would bother to steal two of these crummy outfits will have a field day with your cash and jewelry!”

13
    H arry Crater had scheduled a phone call to his cohorts for seven P.M., but the satellite transmission on his cell phone was not working. With increasing irritability, he waited in his stateroom for an hour, trying to put the call through at ten-minute intervals. At eight o’clock there was a knock at the door. It was Gil Gephardt, the ship’s physician, who had taken it upon himself to check up on Crater.
    Crater realized too late that without the oversized jacket, he didn’t look all that puny. He tried to slump as he stood looking down at his small-framed, owl-like visitor.
    â€œOh, Mr. Crater, we met briefly when you boarded the ship. I’m Dr.