Page 21 of Tiki Hut Tragedy (Cruise Director Millie Mysteries #6)

Millie wrapped up her round of trivia outside the Winning Streak Casino, an event she’d squeezed in between early and second seating dining.

As luck would have it, Brody, the head of night security, strolled past while she was tallying the answers. She presented the winners with a medal…a red, white and blue neck ribbon they could proudly wear around the ship.

Millie had just finished placing the trivia supplies inside the cabinet when her cell phone chimed. It was a text from Nic: Still on for our romantic date this evening?

Millie: Absolutely. I can’t wait.

She added a heart emoji and hit send. Tucking her cell phone into her pocket, she made a beeline for the casino. It took a minute for her to track Brody down. She finally found him standing in the back chatting with the host.

Shiny, bright, glitzy and noisy, the casino was a place Millie rarely frequented, not only because of the tight quarters but because of the crowds. Weaving her way past groups of gamblers, she eased in next to him, waiting for him to notice her.

“Hey, Millie.”

“Hello, Brody.” She pivoted, studying the crowds. “This place is packed.”

“It’s like this every night, but even more so tonight because of the slot tournament. What brings you to my neck of the woods?”

“An incident involving two female passengers traveling with the same group.”

“Let me guess. You’re talking about the women who were fighting over a slot machine.”

“Possibly. Do the names Dixie or Wendy ring a bell? ”

Brody pulled a notepad from his pocket and flipped through the pages. “I keep notes seeing how Patterson likes daily reports, and this helps me remember. Yep. Dixie and Wendy were their names. They argued over Great Grapes.”

“Great Grapes? I shouldn’t be surprised the game is about food. Where is it, if you don’t mind showing me?”

“Over here.” Brody led her to the other side of the ship, to a main aisle where a woman sat playing the machine.

Careful not to “hover,” Millie watched as purple grapes dropped down, paying small amounts of money.

The cluster of grapes shook. Round purple bombs splattered the screen.

The machine whistled, making a loud racket.

The bonus abruptly ended.

“According to what they told me, the tall chick, Dixie, was playing the machine and left. Her companion, colleague, whatever you want to call her, started playing it and won a jackpot. Dixie came back and accused her of stealing her machine.” Brody told Millie that they caused a scene and he ended up escorting them out of the casino. “Haven’t seen Dixie around since.”

“You won’t. She drowned during a tiki hut excursion in Grand Turk.”

Brody made a choking sound. “I heard someone drowned, but I didn’t know it was her. Was the other woman on the same excursion?”

“Wendy was, which is why I’m here. You witness a lot of interesting altercations play out. Do you think Wendy was angry enough to want to harm Dixie?”

“Nah. I mean yeah, the conversation got a little heated, but to kill someone over a slot machine would be taking it to an extreme.” Brody told her Wendy had returned to the casino the previous night and apologized. “I’m not sure a killer would apologize for acting up.”

“True. I could be trying to create a mystery when there isn’t one.” Millie casually gazed around the room. “Out of curiosity, how many people do you kick out of here during any given cruise?”

“Sometimes none. Sometimes one. This week I’ve had a handful.” Brody nodded his head toward the sports betting section. “I do have someone on my radar. It’s a passenger who has been losing money on the sports betting and is close to being banned.”

“What a shame.” Millie shook her head. “You’ll probably be doing them a favor if you ban them from coming back.”

“It’s a woman. She’s a real looker and gets a lot of attention from the male passengers. She’s a flirt and they buy her drinks, stuff like that. I kinda feel sorry for her losing a bunch of money, but on the other hand, if you’re gonna gamble, you better know when to hold your cards.”

“And know when to fold…or something along those lines. It reminds me of a song. ”

“I’ve heard it, and now, it’s going to be stuck in my head,” Brody joked. A small scuffle broke out near the blackjack table. “Time to get back to work.”

Millie exited the casino, mulling over her conversation with Brody. Perhaps she was digging too hard, trying to turn a tragedy into some sort of mystery. Dixie and Wendy both had strong personalities, which meant they were bound to butt heads. Living in close quarters would only add to the strain.

With a quick pass through the lido deck, she ran down to her office to go over the following day’s schedule. Making a few minor adjustments, she logged out and began straightening her desk.

Danielle appeared in the doorway.

“I was getting ready to radio you to check in. How’s it going?”

“It’s been a loooong night. ”

“Let me guess…the mingling singles are driving you crazy,” Millie joked.

“It’s the Belly Busters.” Danielle pressed her fingers to her temples. “I hosted a Superhero Strong costume contest, and they played the song over and over.”

Millie’s eyes twinkled mischievously. She belted out a few of the words she remembered, improvising as she went. “I need a superhero sandwich before the night is through,” she sang loudly and off-key.

Danielle clamped her hands over her ears. “Please stop,” she begged. “It’s already giving me a headache.”

“Sorry. I couldn’t resist.”

“You know how you mentioned you didn’t think Dixie’s death was accidental?”

“Yeah. ”

“You’re not the only one. I overheard two of the contestants talking. They said that someone drugged Dixie and pushed her into the water.”

Millie’s mind whirled. “No kidding. Who was it?”

“Off the top of my head, I don’t remember their names. I can tell you it wasn’t Wendy, Hannah or Gail.”

“Was it Astrid?”

“No. She was hovering in the corner, staring at her phone most of the time, except for the introduction when she basically warned the women to behave themselves.” Danielle told her when they realized she was listening in they started talking about something else.

“I told Patterson. He’s going to follow up. ”

“Were you around when Astrid mentioned an incident involving Wendy and Dixie inside the casino?”

“No, but Brody told me about it when I stopped by there a few minutes ago,” Danielle said. “They argued over a slot machine. He said it wasn’t serious, and he didn’t think it escalated to the point Wendy would’ve been angry enough to kill Dixie.”

“Unless something else happened later, after the casino incident and Wendy snapped.” Millie shut her laptop. “I need to head home. Nic invited me to dinner.”

Danielle let loose a flirty whistle. “A romantic dinner for two?”

“I don’t want to be late.”

Falling into step, they crossed through the theater and parted ways in the corridor. Reaching the bridge, Millie lingered in the doorway, the stress of the day melting away.

The quiet hum of the navigational equipment, the low lights and soft voices were a welcome respite. It was a special time of the day…when evening faded and she could slow down.

Millie thrived in the hustle and bustle, but she also craved the quiet of the evenings, when the stars came out, brilliant and bright in the night sky, far away from the city lights.

She was drawn to the wall of windows. Staff Captain Vitale stood nearby. He shot her a quick glance. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“God’s creation,” Millie sighed. “I love nights at sea when it feels like we’re the only ones on the planet, so peaceful and calm.”

“Like another world,” Vitale said. “Nic left a few minutes ago.”

“He’s home waiting for me.” Millie wished him an uneventful shift and crossed the bridge. She slid her keycard in the slot and eased the door open.

A whoosh of warm air flooded the hallway, which meant their balcony slider was open. She kicked her shoes off and hurried down the hall. Millie started toward the balcony when she noticed a bouquet of long-stemmed red roses sitting on the dining room table with a note propped up against them .

She admired the roses while reaching for the note. It was identical to her romantic dinner invitation. To my love. She pulled the single slip of paper from the envelope.

The flowers are for my beautiful wife…the love of my life. She flipped it over. Another gift is waiting for you in the kitchen.

Millie stepped into the kitchen and found a box of La Maison chocolates with another note sitting on top.

Chocolates for the sweetest person I know. She flipped it over. Another special surprise is waiting for you in the living room.

Millie pressed the note to her chest. Nic…the busiest person on board the ship, had taken the time to make their date night magical. And her heart burst with love for her soulmate, the man who had swept her off her feet.

Carefully placing it back on top of the box, she made her way into the living room. Soft music played in the background, and the smell of jasmine wafted in the air.

Sitting on top of the coffee table was a third note.

Inside was a certificate for a couple’s massage.

Along with the note was a card, a little ditty about two ships in the night, and it reminded her how she and Nic often teased each other about being two ships passing in the night.

At the bottom, he’d drawn a heart and written, Meet me on the balcony.

Millie put the card back where she had found it.

Yip. Scout scampered across the room.

“There’s my Scout.” Millie bent down to greet him, noticing a miniature bow tie tied around his neck. Clipped to it was another note. “Nic even got you in on the romantic date night.”

She unclipped the note and read it aloud. Dinner is served.

Nic, wearing a pair of fitted jeans and a silky shirt, appeared in the doorway. As he drew closer, she caught a whiff of his cologne, one of her favorites. Their eyes met, and Millie’s heart pitter-pattered.

He handed her a single long-stemmed rose. “Welcome home.”

“And what a welcome it is.” Millie melted into his arms, lifting her gaze. As if in slow motion, he lowered his head, capturing her lips in a long, lingering kiss.

All thoughts of work, of her hectic schedule and aching feet, vanished. It was only Nic and Millie, a moment frozen in time. Finally, she pulled away, breathless. “Thank you for the most romantic date night I can remember in a long time.”

“It was long overdue.” Nic caressed her cheek, his eyes filled with love. He tilted his head. “They’re playing our song. May I have this dance?”

Millie wrapped her arms around his neck. “For the rest of my life.”

The couple swayed to the music, moving in a slow circle. She closed her eyes, breathing in the magic of the moment. Right then and there, Millie fell in love with Nic all over again.