As Laura stepped onto the ship, he took out his mobile and barked four short words into it: ‘The game has begun.’
‘WHERE’S YOUR BOARDING PASS, young man?’ the steward asked Tariq, barring his way. ‘And I need to see the dog’s papers too.’
‘They’re not travelling …’ Laura began, but the rest of her sentence was drowned out by the escalation of a row going on beside her.
‘Yes, ma’am, it’s true that we charge by the cabin and not by the person,’ the purser was saying patiently, ‘but that’s based on the understanding that, since there is only one double bed, a maximum of two people can share. If you wanted a family cabin you should have asked for one.’
A woman in a white sundress that contrasted sharply with her orange tan removed her sunglasses. ‘Are you telling me I have to break the heart of my ten-year-old son, Jimmy?’ she demanded in a shrill voice, indicating a podgy boy with ears that stuck out like wing mirrors, a coppery dusting of freckles on his nose, and hair that made him look as if he was the victim of a recent tornado.
Jimmy, Laura noted, did not look in the least bit devastated at the possibility of being made to leave the ship. He was absent-mindedly eating an ice cream while peering at a control panel dotted with flashing lights and multi-coloured buttons. ‘Dad? Dad, what do you think this does?’ he asked, indicating a scarlet lever marked: ‘For emergency use only.’
His father, a giant of a man in a loud Hawaiian shirt, brushed him aside and advanced on the purser. ‘Let me get this straight. You want us to break the heart of our boy and wreck his dreams?’
Jimmy’s right hand hovered over the lever. He had the look of someone who’d run a mile to avoid doing five minutes of sport, but his small, bright brown eyes were alive with curiosity, dreaminess and mischief. Laura decided he was like a cross between a naughty cartoon character and a squirrel.
‘I don’t think you should touch that,’ she said.
He regarded her with surprise. ‘Why?’
Laura was taken aback. Usually it was she who questioned everything, especially rules and orders, and it was odd to have the tables turned on her.
‘Because,’ she retorted. That was the favourite response of grown ups who didn’t know the answer but wanted to pretend that they did.
‘Because why?’
Beside her, Tariq coughed to hide a laugh.
‘I just don’t think it’s a very good idea, that’s all.’
Jimmy licked his ice cream. ‘Oh.’
Laura and Tariq turned their attention back to the row, which was heating up. ‘Sir, ma’am, I’m not telling you which of you should be disappointed,’ the purser was saying to Jimmy’s parents. ‘What I am telling you is –’
Laura was quite interested to see what would happen next, but she could feel the boy’s gaze boring into her. ‘What?’
He shrugged. ‘I was just wondering if you and your friend were in trouble with the law.’
Tariq was incredulous. ‘Do we look like criminals?’
Laura was unable to prevent a hot flush of guilt stealing up her neck. Had Jimmy overheard them talking on the dock? Did he know that Tariq and Skye were not supposed to be on board?
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ she said crossly. ‘Why would you say a thing like that?’
Jimmy gestured towards the crowded jetty with his ice cream, which had sprung a leak and now left a trail of green across his T-shirt. ‘Then why were you being watched by a sinister man with binoculars?’
‘What sinister man? What on earth are you going on about? Is this your idea of a joke? Leave us alone and don’t talk to us any more. Oh, and you might want to do something about your ice cream before it totally destroys the carpet.’
‘I want to see a supervisor!’ Jimmy’s father was ranting.
‘Is this going to take all day?’ demanded another passenger, waiting to board. There were murmurs of discontent from others in the queue.
The purser turned away and, in a whisper, asked the steward to call security in case things got ugly. Rolling his eyes at Tariq and Laura, he said: ‘Go ahead, kids. This might take a while.’ He checked Laura’s boarding pass. ‘Deck C, you’re on. Through that door and down two flights of stairs. Cabin 126.’
As he prepared to face the family once more, Laura heard him mutter: ‘Where’s a good tidal wave when you need one?’
Laura was very proud of Skye, who throughout this exchange had sat regally beside her. She gave him a big pat as she and Tariq ducked into the stairwell.
They were halfway down the first set of steps when the boat horn sounded and a message came over the tannoy: ‘Will all visitors and personnel not travelling on the Ocean Empress today please leave the ship immediately.’
Laura’s phone started ringing. It was Rowenna panicking about the whereabouts of Tariq. ‘Oh, no,’ said Laura, unable to bear the thought of saying farewell to her best friend and her beloved husky. ‘I really wanted to show you around the ship, Tariq. That annoying family delayed us.’
Tariq hesitated. ‘We’re almost at your cabin. Maybe there’s still time for me to take a quick look inside.’
Laura snatched at the chance of a temporary reprieve. ‘Oh, I’m sure there is. It’s only going to take a second.’ She sent Rowenna’s call through to Voicemail. ‘Come on, let’s hurry.’
At the top of the next set of stairs, however, they were forced to slow. The light wasn’t working properly. It flickered on and off and snap, crackled and popped alarmingly. Laura hoped it was not about to burst into flames.
The crackling stopped abruptly and they were plunged into darkness, Laura gripped the banister with one hand and Skye’s lead with the other. It was silly, she knew, but she felt a bit nervous. She was glad Tariq was right behind her.
Light bathed the stairwell. A person lay sprawled on the floor of the corridor. Before she could make out whether they were dead or alive, the blackness descended. ‘Did you see that?’ she whispered to Tariq, not sure why she was whispering.
‘I know what I think I saw, but I’m really hoping I’m mistaken.’
The boat horn sounded. The step beneath Laura’s feet rocked slightly. ‘Tariq, you need to go,’ she said into the darkness.
‘There’s no way I’m leaving you until I know everything is okay.’
The light flickered on and Laura gave a cry. Lying at the foot of the stairs was her uncle. Skye bounded forward. Laura and Tariq rushed too, almost falling down the remaining stairs when blackness swallowed them again.
As soon as the light crackled on, they flew to Calvin Redfern’s side. He was unconscious. His feet were twisted at odd angles and in the space between his trouser bottoms and socks his ankles had already swollen to twice their normal size. The husky licked his face.
A sob escaped Laura.
Calvin Redfern stirred. Wincing at the pain, he pushed Skye away and stared up at them groggily. ‘Where am I?’
‘On the ship – the Ocean Empress,’ Laura told him. ‘You’ve had a bad fall. Uncle, Tariq and Skye will stay with you. I’m going to get help.’
‘No!’ With surprising strength and speed, his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. ‘No help and no doctors. No one must know. Promise me.’
In the instant before the light fizzled out again, Laura caught Tariq’s eye. He looked as startled as she was. ‘I promise,’ she said, not feeling as if she had any choice.
Her uncle squeezed her hand. ‘Thank you.’
The corridor flooded with light. Calvin Redfern struggled to sit up. His eyes widened as it dawned on him that not everyone present was meant to be there. ‘What on earth are you doing on the ship, Tariq? You’re supposed to be meeting Rowenna on the jetty. Laura, what’s going on? Why is Skye here?’
‘Umm, well, you said not to leave Tariq on his own …’ Laura stammered. ‘I was about to show him our cabin. Everything would have been all right if it wasn’t for—’
‘But where the devil is Rowenna?’ Calvin Redfern demanded, his
voice rising.
His phone trilled in his pocket. As he reached for it there was a sudden, violent jolt. Laura had never been on a cruise ship in her life, but there was no mistaking the motion. The Ocean Empress had just set sail for the Caribbean.
‘CALM DOWN, ROWENNA. Calm down. Everything is fine. Tariq is safely here with us. Skye is on board too. Yes, I know the ship has set sail. Believe me, I’m all too aware of that. I’m terribly sorry for the short notice, but there’s been a last minute change of plan. Tariq and Skye will be coming on holiday with us after all. Would you mind getting in touch with Tariq’s foster parents and letting them know when we’ll be back. In the meantime, why don’t you enjoy a well-earned break? You certainly deserve it.’
Calvin Redfern hung up, mouth set in a grim line. ‘I’m trying hard not to be furious with the pair of you. What were you thinking? How am I going to explain to the captain that the Ocean Empress has ended up with a couple of stowaways?’
Footsteps rang on the steps above. Before they could answer, he said quickly: ‘Never mind about that now. I need your help to get back to my cabin.’
He tried to stand and collapsed with a yelp, his face grey with pain.
Laura was worried sick. She regretted promising not to go for help.
Tariq, who’d promised nothing, said: ‘Sir, please let me call a doctor.’
‘No!’ Calvin Redfern’s face was contorted with pain, but he was adamant. ‘You have to give me your word, both of you. I feel foolish enough as it is without being made to feel like an invalid by some over-zealous ship’s quack. Nothing he or she could do anyway. Rest is the best cure. Let’s say no more about it. Now, could you possibly lend me a hand?’
With the aid of Tariq, Laura and especially Skye, who he used as a furry crutch, he managed to half crawl, half drag himself into cabin 135. It was every bit as luxurious as the brochure promised, its walls papered in baby blue. A navy and white candy-striped duvet cover lent a nautical touch to the bed. There was a lamp with a ship in a bottle for a base, and, beside the porthole window, a print of a yacht on high seas.
The children helped Calvin Redfern remove his boots – a distressing job because it was agony for him – and eased him onto the bed. While Laura arranged his pillows and made him as comfortable as she could, Tariq followed his instructions on treating severely sprained ankles.
‘Put a pillow under my feet so that my – ow – ankles are above the height of my heart. Thanks, Tariq. Now take a small towel from the bathroom. See that fridge over there? Check if there’s any ice in it. There is? Miracles never cease. Right, empty an icetray into the towel, wrap up the cubes and rest the whole thing on my ankles. The ice will help the swelling to go down. Thanks, son. You’ve done a great job.’
Tariq glowed with pride. He had the greatest possible respect for Calvin Redfern, to whom he felt he owed his life, and was wracked with guilt that he’d made him angry and caused him anxiety by coming aboard the ship.
Calvin Redfern collapsed into his pillows, beads of sweat on his upper lip. ‘Laura,’ he said weakly, ‘would you be kind enough to look in the front pocket of my suitcase? You’ll find a First Aid kit in there. A couple of painkillers and a glass of water would be very welcome right now.’
Mission accomplished, Laura was finally able to ask: ‘Uncle Calvin, how did you manage to sprain both ankles? What happened?’
‘An accident, pure and simple. I was on my way down the steps when the passage light went off and I was plunged into darkness. Unfortunately, I was in mid-step at the time. My foot caught on a carpet string or something and I tripped. That’s the last I remember until I woke up with Skye licking my face.’
He grimaced. ‘Good thing I have a whole week to recover before we get to the Caribbean. I’m really sorry, Laura, but I’m likely to be laid up and no fun at all for the best part of the voyage.’
Laura hugged him. ‘Don’t worry about anything except getting better. We’ll go now and let you sleep. Call if you need us.’
‘Not so fast,’ ordered her uncle in the closest he ever came to a stern tone. ‘I’m still waiting for an explanation from the pair of you. Have you any idea how much trouble we’re in? How are we going to afford to pay for Tariq’s cruise, accommodation and flights, Laura? What are the Antigua authorities going to say when we turn up with a dog with no papers and a boy with no passport, Tariq? I suspect that we’ll be put on the next flight home. Holiday over.’
Laura’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I’m so sorry, Uncle Calvin. It was my idea that Tariq have a look at my cabin and this is all my fault.’
Tariq interrupted: ‘No, it was my idea and it’s my fault. Laura was only trying to do something nice for me because she knew how badly I wanted to see the ship. Punish me, but please don’t be mad at Laura.’
‘Actually,’ Calvin Redfern said, trying to hide a smile, ‘it’s my fault. If you hadn’t stopped to help me, Tariq, you’d more than likely have made it off the ship.’
Tariq said suddenly, ‘I’ve just thought of something. I have my new British passport with me. It arrived last week and my foster parents told me to keep it with me for the holidays in case I needed it for identity or something. It’s in my backpack, with all my clothes.’
Laura sniffed and said: ‘Well, at least we won’t be deported from Antigua. We’ll only be jailed for helping two stowaways.’
‘I don’t suppose you have a few thousand pounds in your backpack, Tariq?’ Calvin Redfern asked, only half joking.
There was a moment of glum silence, and then Laura said: ‘Hey, I’ve had a thought. Tariq, didn’t the purser tell Jimmy’s parents that the ship owners charged per cabin, not per person? When I won the competition, my uncle and I thought we’d be sharing a cabin. Now it turns out we have one each. Uncle Calvin, would it be okay if Tariq and Skye stayed with me – at least until we get to Antigua?’
The painkillers were taking effect and Calvin Redfern’s voice was thick with tiredness. ‘Good thinking, Laura. I did read something about that in the brochure but didn’t take any notice of it at the time because, like you, I thought we’d be sharing a cabin. Yes, it’s absolutely fine for Tariq to stay with you because you’re in a twin room with two beds. Pass me that folder on the dresser. I’ll check the hotel details for Antigua.’
A minute later he looked up. ‘We have a three-bedroom villa to ourselves so there’ll be no problem there.’
He ran a weary hand over his eyes. ‘Well, that’s a relief. There’s still Tariq’s air ticket back to London to think about, but we’ll worry about that later. From memory, I have thousands of unused Air Miles I earned through work that might take care of it. Now all we have to worry about is one very large husky. We can’t exactly hide him. He’ll go mad if he can’t exercise. Laura, when you rescued Skye, were you given any documents for him?’
‘Loads. I have his pedigree papers, his rabies and vaccination certificates, his pet passport…’
‘His pet passport?’ interrupted her uncle. ‘Why didn’t you say that in the first place?’
‘I’ve only just thought of it. Besides, it’s sitting in my bedroom at Ocean View Terrace. It’s not much use to us there.’
‘No, but we can email Rowenna and get her to scan it and send it to us. It may be that he’s covered for the Caribbean. If so, our problem is solved. Not’ – he put his cross face on – ‘that you deserve to have got off so lightly.’
‘Sorry,’ said Laura.
‘Sorry,’ added Tariq, looking sheepish.
‘Having said that, now that we have a plan and things seem to be working out, may I say how happy I am that you’re with us, Tariq – and you, Skye – especially since Laura is going to need the company.’
‘Thanks, Mr Redfern.’ Tariq gave him a huge smile. ‘I’m pretty happy about it too.’
‘So am I,’ added Laura fervently.
They really did leave then, because her uncle’s eyelids were drooping and Laura wanted him to rest and forget for a wh
ile how a broken stairwell light had ruined his voyage. She wondered if he had grounds to sue.
When they emerged from his cabin, however, they saw that the light was working perfectly. So perfectly that there was no mistaking the Hawaiian beachwear of the man and woman barrelling noisily down the corridor, their son trailing behind. Laura thought he had a lonely air about him, but when he spotted her and Tariq he gave them a cheeky grin.
‘Daylight robbery is what I call it,’ his mother was ranting. ‘Wait till I get back home. That travel agent’s life won’t be worth living.’
Laura groaned. ‘Just our luck to be on the same deck as them.’
‘Don’t worry about it,’ Tariq reassured her. ‘It’s such a massive ship, this will probably be the last we ever see of them.’
It was only when Laura unlocked the door to their cabin that she cast aside the worries of the past few days and her spirits truly lifted. While cabin 126 was a mirror image of her uncle’s in terms of decoration, it also had doors opening out onto a balcony, beyond which a limitless stretch of ocean was visible. Skye rushed over to the railings and barked at the flying spray.
Laura’s whole being flooded with happiness. Despite everything the Fates had done to prevent it she was on board a luxury cruise liner, heading for the Caribbean. Best of all, Tariq and Skye were with her. They were in the middle of the sea. What could possibly go wrong?
LAURA’S DETECTIVE HERO, Matt Walker, had a saying: If something seems too good to be true it usually is. But she’d not found that to be the case with the ship at all. If anything, the Ocean Empress exceeded her expectations by about a thousand per cent.
There were so many forms of entertainment they made her head spin. On that first afternoon, when she and Tariq had explored every corner of the cruise liner, they were like kids let loose in a chocolate bazaar. Especially since they’d discovered that everything really was free – or, at least included in the prize. That meant they could try anything, do anything, or eat anything they liked.