He didn’t hesitate or ask any questions, which made me feel as if he again trusted my instincts and thought I was capable of investigating on my own. We walked up the stairs to the upper deck, where the top of the dolphin tank sat.

Jake, Johnny and Gilbert were gracefully swimming in circles. I think they all stopped and smiled at me-or my head was injured worse than I thought. I told Jagger to sit on the edge of the tank and I stood near him, looking around.

Several passengers were on the far side enjoying fancy drinks with tiny umbrellas in them and some were in the pool, splashing about. No one was close enough to hear us, so I kept looking at the dolphins and told Jagger about Betty, the monarchy, whatever I could think about Remy and my thoughts.

He told me how he’d gotten a flight to Bermuda and “poked” around there before the ship docked, but didn’t find anything of interest.

I wondered if he really flew there to “protect” me. Neat.

“I think there is some tie that we are missing. Some connection between whomever killed Jackie and whomever is involved with the medical-insurance fraud.”

“I agree.”

My mouth dropped down to my chin.

And Jagger smiled.

It felt wonderful. While basking in my glory, I waved to Gilbert, who waved his flipper at me! “How cute!” I started to laugh and tell Jagger about my aquatic friends.

Suddenly my laughter stopped.

In the darkened corner of the deck where the bar ended stood a shadowed figure-within earshot.

The sun blinded my vision so I couldn’t see clearly enough to identify who was watching and listening to Jagger and me. If it was Remy, I was glad to have Jagger nearby and wondered if he was “packing.”

“Well, maybe we should take a walk?” I said and motioned for him to follow.

Jagger got up and leaned near me. Before I could move, his arms were around me and his lips on mine!

Wow!

For a second, it didn’t matter who was lurking in the shadows, I had other things on my mind. But that crazy thought only lasted a second.

Besides, Jagger whispered in my ear, “Don’t look toward the shadow. Someone is-”

I should have been disappointed, but, well, this was Jagger. Workaholic extraordinaire. He must have seen the figure in the reflection of the window directly across from him. I had been busy looking at the dolphins, but that seemed to work out as a good cover.

Before he could finish his sentence, something flew forward and nearly missed our heads and the tank.

A fire extinguisher landed smack at our feet.

And the shadow disappeared.

“Stay here!” Jagger shouted and ran toward the other side of the deck.

I really couldn’t just stand there, so I hurried to the stairwell where Jagger had gone, clasping my necklace with one hand and grabbing the doorknob with the other.

When I stepped through the doorway, I paused. Silence. No one was running on the stairs. I cautiously made my way down and tried to see if the door to the lower deck was still closing. No such luck. Maybe Jagger was doing better than I. I wondered if Remy did come back onboard to finish some job he had started.

Who else was on his list of victims?

After several hours of searching, I went back to my cabin to see if Jagger had returned there. Betty hadn’t gotten back yet, but there was a note on my pillow-in Jagger’s handwriting.

Oh, yeah. I noticed the small things when it came to Jagger.

For a few seconds, I thought of Tim. Tim. Jagger. Tim. Jagger.

What a conundrum.

Jagger had said he would be searching in the background, as he’d put it, and that I should stay in the open. Go to the Bottlenose Lounge and stay there, since it was always crowded.

I looked down at my outfit and decided I had to change. My first thought was to put on something comfortable with good shoes for running if need be.

Then I realized Jagger was onboard and grabbed my slinky black dress and heels, telling myself if I had to save my life, I’d fling off the shoes and run like hell in my bare feet. I did, however, leave off nylons since they would be too slippery for running. Before I was done, I hooked my pink necklace back on.

Once ready, I went out the door, looked both ways-since I didn’t know if I was a target or not-and hurried to the elevator.

That same gang of giggly girls was on it and I was never so glad to see the annoying bunch. I stood silently and listened to them. One said she saw a passenger that looked like the “host” that was thrown off the ship in Miami, but the others said they saw him too and he was much better-looking.

I laughed out loud.

They all glared at me, and I said, “You had to be there,” while the door opened and I scooted out.

Jagger had been correct. The lounge was packed, and I figured everyone had their fill of Bermuda and since the ship was going to set sail very soon, they all decided to party and forget the island.

“Hey, Pauline.”

I swung around to see Hunter. Yikes. I hoped he didn’t recognize Jagger. Then I shook my head, and thank goodness my headache was gone. I was talking Jagger here. The guru of disguise wouldn’t let anyone recognize him if he didn’t want them to.

Hunter insisted I have a drink with him since it’d been some time since we’d seen each other. I wanted to say it was no great loss, but had to keep my mouth shut or risk blowing my cover.

Edie poured me a nice cold draft beer while Hunter had his usual Scotch. I leaned over to Edie and said, “I’m on the wagon tonight. Coke will do.”

Like a perfect bartender, she didn’t question me, but Hunter looked surprised.

“Migraine earlier. Too much pain med to mix with alcohol.”

It looked as if he bought that, but before I knew it, he had yanked me up and we were headed to the dance floor.

Music blared way too loudly for my head injury, but I sucked it up and moved farther away from Hunter. He kept trying to pull me closer. The dance floor became so crowded, we could barely move. Starting to feel claustrophobic, I said to Hunter, “My migraine seems to be coming back. I’ll have to sit this one out.”

I think he groaned in annoyance, but wasn’t sure over the blaring music, the yelling and laughter, and flickering strobe lights.

At this rate I might suffer a seizure.

When I got to a “clearing,” I looked up-and saw Tim standing in the doorway.

Remy must be back onboard!

I had to make my way over to him without being obvious and causing a scene with Hunter. All of a sudden, someone screamed.

I turned around and looked to where a woman in a skimpy silver dress pointed.

Jagger, eyes closed, was sinking lower and lower into the dolphin tank-with a stream of scarlet floating from behind his head.

Twenty-one

The Bottlenose Lounge could have been empty for all I cared. I ran so fast to the doorway, out into the hallway and up the stairs that the people shouting obscenities at me had no effect on me.

Jagger needed me.

When I got to the top of the stairs, I heard footsteps behind, but didn’t care. I yanked the door open and ran through. On the top of the tank, sitting near the edge and holding a knife…was Betty Halfpenny.

Oh…my…God.

No wonder she was so unusually nice!

I grabbed a life preserver from the wall, and rushed toward the water.

“Keep out, Sokol! You two have ruined everything,” she warned in a deadly voice. “Unless you want to be next.” She cackled. A cackle with a British accent.

Very eerie. Kinda like Mary Poppins without manners.

I stood on the edge of the tank, ready to dive in.

Betty grabbed my arm and sliced across my shoulder with the knife.

“Ouch!” I ignored the pain and smacked her across her face with the life preserver. I hoped it left a permanent imprint. “Let me go. He’ll die!”