Page 124 of Player

Damn you, Finn.

I race out of the cabin, empty-handed, then down a hallway. Losing my balance, briefly, when the ship jerks again.

With every step, his deception sinks in.

I stop short when I exit onto the deck.

No.

No. No. No.

The ship has sailed away from port and is heading upriver toward the Atlantic.

With me onboard.

Without Finn.

Without my passport. No, he wouldn’t. He didn’t.

It takes ten minutes for me to locate the concierge. I’m in a blind panic by the time I approach her.

“There’s been a mistake. I need to get back to Derry.”

“You will. Give or take fourteen days.”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

“You another one of those who thought they signed up for the seven-day cruise? Hate to inform you, luv, but this is the long one.”

He booked me onto a fourteen day excursion? I’m going to miss everything. His fight. The uranium trading hands. The grand finale of my story.

What have you done, Finn?

“There’s been a mistake. I can’t leave Derry.” I grind my teeth together. “Can’t you call the captain? We’re not that far—”

She makes a clucking noise. “It’s written in the contract you signed.”

PaperworkFinnsigned.

“No unnecessary changes to the itinerary unless it’s a medical emergency.”

I pause, considering.

She gives me a look that says,Don’t even try bullshitting a bullshitter.But she must see the blind panic in my expression because she decides to take pity on me by getting on her walkie-talkie and relaying my message.

She talks a bit more in an accent that’s untranslatable, then ends the call. “All set.”

“Really? How long is it going to take to turn the ship around?”

She chuckles. “That’s brilliant. Turn the ship around. Luv, the first port the captain says you can get off in is London. He’s making an exception for you.”

London. “And ... if I misplaced my passport?”

Doom and gloom passes across her face. “Ye Yanks. Always losing yer passports. Sorry, you won’t be able to disembark without one.”

“What if I call the London embassy ahead? Request a replacement?”

She chuckles. “That’s grand. We’re at a ‘Level 3, luv. A substantial threat level. All kinds of security measures in place. We’ll be back in port by the time any replacement arrives.”