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Melissa came running up behind them, and Olivia had never been more grateful to see anyone in her life. She held her arms up for the rest of the group to stay back as she approached. Robert ran back to his wife.
Melissa’s eyes were fixed on Olivia’s. ‘I heard somebody scream …’
‘It’s Liam. He’s …’ But Olivia couldn’t say it. She knew it would do no good for her to completely fall apart. She took in a deep breath, but still couldn’t trust herself to speak. Instead, she gestured with her head.
Melissa stepped past her and let out a low guttural moan when she saw. For a moment, there was silence. Then she jumped into action. She leaped to the man’s side, shaking his upper arm. ‘Liam? Are you OK?’ She looked up at Olivia. ‘Have you checked his pulse? What about this bleeding … can we stop it? Why has no one done anything?’
Olivia swallowed, but no one else was moving. She kneeled down next to Melissa. ‘You can’t save him. He’s gone.’
‘No. He can’t be …’
She was shaking. Olivia had to turn away.
‘I just can’t believe it. I just … I don’t know what to do any more.’
Olivia couldn’t look, but the image remained burned into her retinas. The wound on his head. There was no chance that was an accident. With her head bowed, all she could see were his hands. There were cuts on his palms – defensive wounds.
A shiver travelled down Olivia’s spine. He’d tried to fight.
‘Melissa, someone did this to him. Someone killed him.’
‘Who would do this?’
‘I told you. Sergei. His roommate.’
Melissa looked like she was about to interrupt butOlivia kept talking. ‘Listen to me. He was caught stealing from our cabin and was supposed to be locked up, waiting to be handed over to the police. I don’t know what he said to the captain to be allowed to leave the ship, but he’s dangerous. This proves it.’
Melissa’s eyes searched Olivia’s face. ‘Then we’re all in danger. But—’ she grabbed Olivia’s hand. ‘We can’t let the others know. We need to stay calm, not spread panic. That’s how we’ll be safe.’
‘But what if Sergei isn’t finished?’
‘Then it’s more important than ever that we all stay together. Help me cover up his body. Let’s get him on the pulk and we can use the spare blankets.’
She began without her, struggling to move Liam’s legs on to the sledge. Olivia’s mind was a blur. ‘He must have sabotaged the Zodiacs too, you know.’
Melissa tensed. ‘Who else has seen this?’
‘Robert. And probably Janine too.’
Melissa looked over her shoulder. ‘Then we might as well tell everyone the truth. I need people to trust me. But they don’t have to look at him like some animal at the zoo.’
They moved quickly until his body was fully on the pulk, and Melissa covered him with the blanket, tucking it under his head. Watching his face disappear – even with tenderness – made Olivia want to be sick once again.
Melissa handed her the ropes to the pulk. By then, the rest of the group joined them, brought together by the commotion. Melissa raised her hands, attracting all their attention. She was their leader now.
‘Everyone, gather round.’ Melissa shouted to be heardabove the wind. Olivia stood slightly behind her, scanning the crowd, expecting to see Sergei lurking in the background.
‘You found Liam?’ Cutler asked.
‘Yes. But I need you all to stay calm. I’m going to be honest. There has been an accident. Liam is dead.’
A shriek ran through the crowd, and Olivia stared at Melissa in surprise – she hadn’t expected her to be quite so direct. Patty looked like she was about to faint, clutching at Annalise’s arm. Aida was weeping, Robert trying to comfort her. Maxwell was gripping Lucinda’s hand, but her face was stony, her lips set in a firm line.
‘This is fucked up,’ shouted Tariq. His typical reserved nature out of the window.
Greg touched his arm. ‘Honey, calm down.’
‘Don’t tell me to calm down.’ Tariq wrenched away, but then tears streamed down his face, and he allowed Greg to fold him into a hug. Everyone was distressed, and the group threatened to fragment unless someone took charge.