CSCI cruise mystery drama - pt 19 - CRUISE SHIP HEIST - Cruise Storytime

welcome to another edition of a cruise book at bedtime introduced by my good friend Hazel hello I'm Hazel Griffiths I'm currently working on board saga's Spirit of Adventure as the destination speaker that means I tell our passengers about the ports of call the things they can do and see in those places whether they wish to do a ship's Excursion or go ashore independently if you want to know more about that check out my website www.hazeljgriffis.net I hope you're enjoying a cruise book at bedtime if you haven't started at the beginning check it out here chapter 45 let's have dinner Georgie the good news is Ali is fine the bad news is I'd like to take a rain check on our dinner tonight's awkward I say waiting for the unknown okay that was too easy is she upset am I in trouble should I say something else I don't get a chance tomorrow no excuses it's a formal night and you'll be in full dress uniform she says seductively and hangs up the ship's moving and I appear to have left Cartagena behind just as smoothly as I've postponed Georgie she then appears on the public address system welcoming people back on board and listing the entertainment this evening now I know why I got off so easily she was about to speak to the ship I checked the mirror on the way to the door I might not be in uniform tonight but everything should be perfect it's a military thing and I now respect the ship as I reach the door the phone rings Kieran Phillips I answer even though dinner's off might you find yourself in my cabin later it's Georgie she must have finished talking to the guests I've no idea where it is so I would be lost 9725 not before 11 30. she says and the phone goes dead I wander into the sports bar where Jill has suggested we meet for a breed in a drink tonight there is a magician on in the main theater and his billing is based around his success on a TV talent show he sounds amazing and I like magicians I like all sleight of hand whether done by politicians Spin Doctors or my old military superiors they all make reality disappear and you learn to love the tricks for what they are rather than resent them thirsty I uncharacteristically order a beer one thing I forgot to do during our day out was take in water I should know better but in these new surroundings my guard is dropping the glass is almost finished before I put it down and I consider another although I'm not normally a beer man Jill Glides in like a goddess her chiffon dress looks like it's been made around her I smile in approval then notice it was part chosen because the cut perfectly shows the temptation of the tattoo as wonderful as this image is there is just something about her that says friend not lover it is a relief that Jill has not arrived with my daughter because that could become a complication would you like a drink while we wait for Ali perfect gin cocktail please she says to the waiter you look great I compliment her but without too much charm as if I understand how to appeal the barman elaborately makes her drink and it hits me that Ali may have planned not to be here and is trying to set me up there will be three of us won't there I asked Jill hiding my panic she hesitates and I sense a problem my brain rushes with an image of us out as a couple and being caught by Georgie I imagine all kinds of complications somehow more daunting than a gunman looking for me and his boss's wife no she says not three I know I've been tricked all the years serving King and Country behind lines and missing out on a life partner have thrust me into warp speed catch-up four she says I relax not too then after a moment of relief I panic Georgie has she and Georgie been talking working out who knows what Jill's face doesn't give away anything I look at her searching for an answer Ali has met someone and she wants to introduce you to him there'll be four of us and I hope you're as excited as I am I'm shocked and relieved at the same time What should worry me more my daughter having a boyfriend or that she told Jill before me my glass must have a leak it's empty and I'm too embarrassed to order another Audi enters looking stunning and dragging a young man with her I've no idea how to react none I've never prepared myself for this moment then I realize I know the young man beside her chapter 46 the trickster Dad this is Kristoff Ali announces he's a Cadet officer I wanted to tell you about him but I hadn't found the right moment sir Kristoff says Julie shaking my hand he's the Sailor the crew sent over to steal my notes as they heckled me on the bridge my poker face must have left me as I look at him accusingly I'm sorry about yesterday sir he apologizes Ali turned sharply unaware of his secret I guess telling Ali might have caused more concern about tonight why a sailor why not someone from her own Department how did this come about do the crew know our connection I ask they all know sir they knew you didn't know I was seeing e that is why they chose me that made it worse you played it well Kristoff I remember the torment of my early years it's nice to meet you thank you sir he says and I'm already trying to place his faint accent I see Ali relax though she's a little confused a drink here or shall we go through I ask let's go to dinner she suggests indicating for Jill and me to lead the way Jill takes my arm he seems nice she Whispers behind I hear Ali asking him what we were talking about Palermo is different from the Asian restaurant it's lighter the tables and chairs are green posing as garden furniture the design from the prince on the walls down to the napkins reflect Italy the waiter introduces himself briefly as the mix is more complex tonight yesterday's waiters put on a show for Jill and me but tonight as for our unit is not looking for outside distractions do you think the fish is fresh Jill asks there is only one way to know a fish is fresh Audi offers she holds our inquisitive stairs for the right amount of time catch it yourself Jill and Kristoff find her answer amusing but to Ali it was a memory and I noticed she's hurt Audi is an expert fisherman I explain my dad taught me to fish he preached if you can fish you will never starve she pauses and I didn't starve that is there is silence then she corrects herself my real dad not that you're not real Ali hugs my arm happy to be in second place and as concerned you're all grown up and have a boyfriend as I'm sure your father would be he'd find my new life a challenge but I know he'd understand I'd like to have known him I'd like to have met both her parents they raised a special girl she rarely speaks much of the past but tonight she has a Suitor who wants to know all about her he would tell tales of the Euphrates a river so full of fish he'd only have to work half a day that was before the fisherman got greedy and used Dynamite or electric shock to catch the fish in bulk she says so I think I'll have fish tonight for my dad me too Joe says although some fishermen used poisons lanate or chlorine powders which killed the fish making them float on the top if you ate those fish you'd be ill maybe I won't have the fish Kristoff joins the conversation how can you tell when a fish has been poisoned they turn blue Ali says where are you from Christoph I ask Bulgaria sir The Lads call me uncle they think it's hilarious uncle I'm distracted noticing Hunter on the other side of the ship with a female officer they're both dressed in officer whites but look too close to be just colleagues Palermo fills the space surrounding one Loop of the atrium on Deck 8. he must be almost a hundred feet away directly across the beam from me his partner has her back to me is it his wife didn't he imply he was single seeing them in the distance is making me uneasy is it that he's not watching over the ship and keeping us all safe me neither I didn't get it Dad get what it feels like I've been adrift for hours looking across at my partner in crime I forced my attention back to their conversation Uncle Bulgaria apparently he's a one more explains Christoph yes of course adopt it own it and they'll soon get bored uncle's a good nickname I have I'm Uncle Kristoff Smiles he's smart I like that but I'm distracted by Hunter I need to speak to him I'm sure he said he was single and it doesn't look like that he might be able to keep quiet about nearly seven million dollars each but can she Jill has noticed I'm distracted she's looking around the circular balcony to try and see what is stealing my attention you had that serious look in the tribal Village she's beginning to read me too well the waiter Rescues Me by taking the food orders and comes to me last I'll have the chicken romaine and I'll get salad to start sir please help yourself he says leaving the salad buffet will get me to the other side of the ship and closer to Hunter and his Mystery Lady but they're leaving I need to move quickly towards the food before he goes but we're on opposite sides of the circular balcony and a drop is between us there is no way I can catch him his arm is around her waist and they've both got their backs to me as they head in the other direction towards the sports bar Beyond my blood runs cold it's her hair I recognize her hair surely it can't be the woman from the airport the wife of El Rey foreign [Music]