Page 25 of Tiki Hut Tragedy (Cruise Director Millie Mysteries #6)

“Don’t say a word. All you have to do is point at the RFID tracking site and I’ll figure out the rest.”

A flicker of uncertainty flitted across Sharky’s face.

“You’re conflicted.” Millie cleared her throat. “I get it. I shouldn’t pressure you into helping me. The last thing I want to do is for you to feel like I’m taking advantage of our friendship.”

“I want to help you. Seriously, I do.”

“And you have multiple times.” Millie gave Fin a pat on the head. “I’ll come up with a different plan to get the information I need.”

“Don’t go. I mean. I suppose if I show you the site and you find your own way in I won’t be breaking my promise to Patterson.” Sharky slid his work computer off to the side. He unlocked the filing cabinet, reached inside and removed a silver laptop. “It’s not hard to figure out which icon it is.”

Before her friend could change his mind, she hurried around the desk. Leaning in, Millie studied the images. By process of elimination, she finally figured out which one it was and clicked on the icon that looked similar to the ship’s keycards.

A screen popped up, and she promptly typed in the username and password he gave her.

Millie grinned. “Finfinder?”

“Sure. Fin’s name plus finder. It’s easy to remember.”

“I suppose it would be.” Double-clicking on the link, a new screen appeared with a box at the top, asking for a folio number. “Crud.”

“You need the passenger’s folio number,” Sharky said.

“Yep. ”

“Unfortunately, I’m only able to access the folio numbers for the guys who work under me. Someone I know has access to every keycard number on board.”

“Me.” Switching screens, Millie logged into Majestic Cruise Lines’ staff site, entered her login information and clicked on the passenger portal. She typed Wendy’s name in the search bar and pulled up her information.

With a couple of quick clicks, she opened the account and drilled down until she found her account number. She copied and pasted it into the search bar and pressed enter.

The screen quickly filled with details listing the areas of the ship Wendy had visited. The spa, several trips to the galley for the various eating events, the dining room, the theater, a handful of stopovers at the casino and even the fitness center. “This woman gets around.”

Starting from day one, she scrolled through the screen, slowing her search when she reached the Grand Turk port day.

It showed the exact time Wendy exited the ship and when she returned in the early afternoon.

Despite examining every single stop, nothing popped up as a potential clue. “This was a bust.”

“Who’s next?”

Millie consulted her notes. “Hannah Pryce aka Hotshot Hannah.” She cleared the screen, tracked down the woman’s folio number, followed by her account number and entered it in the search bar. Starting on the first day, Millie scanned her movements all the way up until the most recent activity.

“How’s it going?”

“So far, I’m not finding anything.” Working her way down the list, Millie accessed the activity of all potential suspects. “This was a bust.”

Sharky peered over her shoulder. “What about Astrid? ”

“Thanks for the reminder. I almost forgot.” Millie jotted her name on the list and returned to the passenger portal to find her folio number.

Astrid’s folio number was the same as her account number, and Millie guessed it was because her cabin only had one occupant.

Astrid’s activities popped up…pages and pages of them, even more than the contestants.

Sharky let out a low whistle. “This chick really gets around.”

“No kidding.” Millie enlarged the screen and began the tedious task of reviewing her activities. As she worked her way through them, she noticed a pattern—not about the various hosting activities, but about a spot Astrid frequented often.

She wasn’t the only one who noticed. “Astrid is a gambler.”

“Right? Look at how many times she’s visited the casino.

” Millie thought about Brody, how he was in charge of casino security most evenings.

Going back to the top, she noted the times Astrid visited…

almost always in the evening between the hours of ten and midnight.

“Is there any way to print off a copy of this?”

“Nope. No can do. Sorry, Millster. I can’t risk having a copy floating around.”

“I understand.” She scribbled the days and times on her scratchpad before wrapping up her search.

Millie logged out, double-checking to make sure she was no longer in the sites before gathering up her papers. “Other than finding out Astrid is a gambler, nothing hit my radar.”

“The one thing I know about you is you’re not a quitter,” Sharky said. “If you think someone killed Dixie, you’ll figure it out.”

Despite Sharky’s vote of confidence, Millie wasn’t convinced. So far, the only things she had to go on were Danielle overhearing a conversation between the contestants and the anonymous note she and Patterson had received .

The investigation took a backseat to work, and Millie dove into her afternoon schedule.

Keeping with the tropical theme, she worked her way through the list of events—from the Stormy Seas Sailboat competition to the Limbo on the Lido, and even a salsa class, taught by Alison, one of the ship’s senior dancers.

Her break arrived, and she mulled over the disappointing search results, the lack of solid clues. She texted Annette and Cat, asking if they had time to meet up.

Annette texted back first. If you’re hungry, swing by the galley and grab a bite to eat. I have a special treat.

Cat: On my way.

Millie arrived first with Cat close behind. They found Annette seated at her office desk. “That was fast.”

“I don’t know about Cat, but I’m starving.” Millie made her way to the RTG, ready-to-go meal rack .

Annette stopped her. “I have some leftover lobster salad from the specialty dining room’s lunch menu if you’re interested.”

“Lobster?” Millie licked her lips. “I knew I was saving my appetite for something special.”

“Speaking of appetite, how did it go with Sharky?”

“Whoops. I forgot your tote. I’ll bring it back later,” Millie said.

Annette waved dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. I can swing by his office and grab it.”

“Sharky tried helping, but it was a nothing burger. Maybe I’m way off, and Dixie’s death was accidental.” Millie told Cat what Danielle had said and about receiving the anonymous note.

“Someone else thinks the same thing,” Cat said as she scooped the creamy mixture onto her toasted bread. She ran to the fridge and returned with a jar of dill pickles .

Annette curled her lip. “Pickles?”

“On lobster rolls, they’re the best.” Cat placed an even row of sliced pickles along the lobster before carefully replacing the top piece of bread. She took a big bite and closed her eyes. “This is the best lobster roll I’ve ever tasted.”

“Thanks. It’s a new recipe,” Annette said. “I added a pinch of hot sauce and minced celery, which gives it a nice crunch.”

Millie nibbled at the edge, savoring the flavors. “It’s creamy yet not goopy, if this makes sense.”

“It has the perfect cream-to-lobster ratio,” Annette said. “I can’t take credit for perfecting it though.”

Barty appeared, carrying a tray of RTG meal bags.

“Barty is the one who helped tweak the lobster roll recipe.”

“You like it? ”

“It’s delish,” Cat murmured. “I told Annette that this is the best lobster roll I’ve ever tasted.”

“Thank you,” he beamed. “I have finally done something right.”

“You do lots of things right,” Annette said. “You’re doing a great job.”

“I am trying, Miss Annette.” Barty began placing the meal bags in the bin, chatting with crewmembers who arrived, looking for a quick, healthy lunch.

“He seems to be getting into his groove,” Millie whispered.

“We had a long chat, which I think helped.” Annette polished off her last bite of roll. “You mentioned Astrid visits the casino a lot. Have you asked Brody about her?”

“No, but it’s on my to-do list. I’m sure he’s run into her a time or two.” Millie gobbled up the rest of her sandwich and placed her empty plate in the dishwasher .

“Thanks for the yummy lunch.” Cat gave Annette a quick hug. “I owe you one.”

“A shopping spree at the gift shop?” Annette teased.

“If that’s what floats your boat,” Cat shot back. She nudged Millie. “Where are you going?”

“To find Brody and ask him about Astrid.”

She consulted her watch. “I saw him downstairs in the crewmembers’ lounge a few minutes ago. Mind if I tag along?”

“Not at all. The more the merrier.” During the hike down, Cat threw out theories about who had sent the anonymous note. “Dixie’s cabinmate should be at the top of the list of suspects, at least in my opinion.”

“Wendy is. However, it seems like she’s too obvious of a suspect. I mean, they argued in public, not to mention they’re both fierce competitors. Wendy would be dumb to kill Dixie. ”

They reached the employee lounge. At one end were pool tables, a dartboard and even a few table games. Lining the far wall were booths along with a corner snack bar. At the other end was a dance floor and enough room for a band to set up.

Although Millie rarely visited, it was popular with the younger crewmembers, a place to relax and unwind after a long shift.

Because it was still afternoon, there were only a handful of crewmembers inside, including Brody, who sat on a lounger, his cell phone in hand.

Millie came up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder.

He spun around. “Hey, Millie, Cat.”

“This is a nice, quiet way to spend a few hours.”

“Not much action, which is just the way I like it.”

“Because you have plenty of action in the casino,” Cat joked .

“No kidding. This cruise has been a busy one.” Brody scooched over. “Have a seat.”

“Thanks.” Millie sat next to him while Cat took an empty chair nearby. “Are you still escorting troublemakers out of the casino?”

“Not last night, but there have been a few.” Brody turned his phone off and shoved it in his pocket. “How’s your investigation going?”

Millie made an unhappy sound. “I still have a few people on my radar. Speaking of casinos, I’ve discovered the Belly Buster’s host likes to spend time there.” She pulled her scratchpad from her pocket. “Between the hours of ten and midnight almost every night, to be exact.”

“Sports betting, tables or slots?”

“I was hoping you could answer that question.” Millie gave him a brief description of Astrid.

“She doesn’t sound familiar. ”

“Do you have a picture you can show Brody?” Cat asked.

“Good idea.” Millie pulled up the Belly Buster’s website, clicked on the “About us” section and scrolled until finding Astrid’s photo. She enlarged it before handing Brody her phone. “This is her.”

He studied the photo. “I've never seen her before in my life.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”