Chapter Ten
Ten
The exchange had been interesting, Wes thought. Just as watching the group in Edward’s question and answer session had been.
Most questions were centered on the best uses and security for individual businesses. Some had been more specific regarding
the kinds of money that could be made on major websites and management.
Billy Cliffton and his grandfather, Elijah, had been there, with the young cruise director welcoming those who came into the
classroom and Elijah appearing to be somewhat bored, but springing into old-cruise-director mode when someone needed help
with something.
Jeff, Daniel and Broderick were all in attendance.
Strangely quiet, Wes thought. And, as they hurried along the hallway, his hand firmly on Chloe’s arm, he lowered his head and smiled. Chloe
had surely shown Jeff!
If, of course, Jeff had been the one to give his wife a black eye.
“I’ll admit, I thought you were crazy at first, accosting Jeff—” Wes began, once they were in the privacy of their cabin.
“I didn’t accost him. Seriously. That was an if-the-shoe-fits-wear-it kind of a comment. I happened to be close to him when
I said it,” Chloe explained.
“Right. But where I thought you were crazy, I think it came off rather perfectly,” he told her.
She smiled. “Thanks.”
“But we do need to watch it,” he warned. “We want to be friends with these people, watch what’s going on. And still . . .”
“Have a spat here and there so we look like we’re really married!” she said. “True. But I don’t think that newlyweds need
to fight that much.”
“We’re not real newlyweds. We’re on something of a second honeymoon,” he reminded her.
“But! If we’re on a second honeymoon, that suggests we more or less still like each other, right?” she teased.
He groaned. “Right!”
“And?” she said. “Did you learn anything?”
“Not really,” he said with a sigh. “Lots of people had lots of questions, but then tended to refer to their own businesses,
none of which would be in any position to rival Milestones.”
“And what about the guys—”
“They all arrived later than me—Jeff and Daniel and Broderick.”
“Which . . .” Chloe said thoughtfully.
“Which,” Wes suggested softly, “means that you think that one of them decked Celia. You don’t really think that hen-pecked
Jeff was the one who gave his wife her black eye?”
“Yeah, and I’m not even suggesting one of them.
Both Amelia and Celia went to their cabins before coming to the class and the so-called fairer sex is not averse to a bit of violence now and then.
And, oh, Darlene gave me a scare, too! You know, the young journalism major we met.
She started talking about investigative work.
So now, whoever this person—or these people—are, they may be afraid of not just Sally, but Darlene, as well,” Chloe told him earnestly.
“Okay, so we’re almost positive that one of these guys—or more—is pure evil. We just need to keep an eye on them—” he began,
trying to be assuring.
“Easier said than done,” she said flatly.
“George is always with Edward. Sally has a thing for Edward, so she’s always around him and George,” Wes reminded her. He
shook his head. “Whatever is going on, it’s changed up. I mean, maybe Edward was supposed to die when he went into the water—that
would leave a major power vacuum at Milestones. Did they plan on more? Who knows? But now I’m still curious about the fact
that Jeff was talking to Daniel last night—behind that massive Buffalo machine. And that they were talking about what happened
in Broward County.”
“I’m willing to bet that many people are talking about it,” Chloe said. “We just haven’t heard them. And that’s what’s worrying
me. What if something major is being planned?”
“Well, there’s this. I doubt if there’s a bomb on the ship. That could take the killer out, too, and this killer isn’t suicidal.
This killer, I believe, wants to rule the world through the internet, taking over every major company that handles anything
that has to do with communications, business and pleasure, records, security, gaming, you name it. And if you’re going to
rule supreme, you need to stay alive.”
“But if you’re the alpha dog in charge of your mission, you may not mind sacrificing a few of your obedient pups,” Chloe said.
“Or mind giving them a black eye for being too uppity?” Wes asked.
“So, either Jeff did freak out and deck Celia—which seems strange to me since he is so obsequious around her! But if it wasn’t him, then he must be in on whatever is going on—otherwise, even little chicken that he is, I think he’d have a problem with someone decking his wife. ”
Chloe smiled at him. “Wes, that’s because you would never let anyone hurt your wife!”
“Of course not! I’ve got your back.”
“I mean, your real wife. If you had one or I imagine when you have one.”
“If I ever have a real one,” he told her. “I can’t imagine she’d be any more wonderful than you.”
The words were out of his mouth before he realized two things—they were spoken honestly, and because they were on a case,
they were way too personal!
“Sorry!” he added quickly.
But Chloe was smiling. “That’s really nice. And you know what? When the time comes, I could do far worse!”
“Not quite as flowery,” he told her, grinning. “But nice! So, beloved, shall we get ourselves out on deck to watch the wildlife?”
“We need to get ready and head out,” Chloe said.
“Exactly. Let’s do it.”
“All right! I’ll act especially married. I get to run into the bathroom first to get changed for our delightful day of hanging
out on lounge chairs.”
“Wow, painful,” Wes said. He lifted a hand quickly. “I know! I’m frustrated, too.”
“And you know what, darling? I really need a new bathing suit! The one I have with me is all frayed,” she told him, shaking
her head.
“I wouldn’t begin to choose an article of clothing for you,” Wes said.
“But you know me so well,” she teased.
He laughed. “Okay, I’ll act really married, darling. Get your own freaking bathing suit!”
Shaking her head, she disappeared first into the cabin and then headed into the bathroom to change for their day in lounge
chairs.
But as usual, she was quick and professional, appearing a moment later with a little lightweight pool dress over her bathing
suit.
He managed to get in and get out just as quickly.
Wes was grinning as they headed to the aft deck area with the adults-only pool. He had a feeling that both he and Chloe might
have enjoyed the kids’ pool with its two winding slides and “spray and splash” zones.
“Don’t worry,” Chloe said, pointing out a pair of lounge chairs with several empty near them. “We’ll get on the slide one
day.”
“Ouch!” he told her.
“Ouch?”
“What are you? A mind reader? I’m going to need to be careful regarding not just what I say around you, but what I’m thinking
as well?”
“Oh yeah?” she arched a brow to him. “What evil thoughts are you thinking?” she demanded.
“Ah, you don’t know!” he teased.
Chloe grimaced and walked over to the towel rack, procuring those fitted for the chairs and for use once they were wet.
“I’m going to the bar before anyone else can get here,” he told her when she returned.
“More of those—”
“Nonalcoholic beers, yes, they’re not that bad!”
“Everyone else seems to be having tropical drinks, you know, like margaritas or pina coladas or . . . Hm, you’re right. At least I can almost pretend that I’m having an iced tea!” Chloe told him.
Wes walked over to the bar, showed his premiere badge and ordered their drinks. The nonalcoholic beers had just been poured
into glasses when he saw that Jeff and Celia were heading to the bar. They seemed to be deep in conversation.
“Hey!” Jeff said, seeing Wes.
“Hey. We found some loungers right over there,” he said, pointing. “Chloe is putting towels down on several. Right by the
pool and the hot tub!” Wes said.
“Great. Hey, honey, why don’t you go lay claim to two of those chairs and I’ll get our drinks!” Jeff told his wife.
“That’s a decent plan!” she told him, waving to them and heading over toward Chloe.
Wes set his hands around his beer glasses, ready to head back over, too, but Jeff moved to block his way.
“You need to know something!” he told Wes earnestly.
“I do?”
“I know that you dragged your wife away this morning before she could take it any further. But you need to tell her! I didn’t
hit my wife, and I would never hit my wife!”
Wes grinned. “Not to worry. I didn’t think that you’d hit her.”
“Because you think that I’m too much of a wuss, right?” Jeff asked dryly.
“What?” Wes protested.
“I didn’t hit her because I just wouldn’t. She’s always saying something that aggravates the hell out of me. But I don’t hit
people because I’m angry,” Jeff told him, determined that Wes understand.
You don’t hit them. But if they have something you want, if they’re standing in your way, do you drug them and shoot them
point-blank?
He sure as hell couldn’t give away that thought.
“Look, Jeff, first of all, your married life is your business and no one else’s. Secondly, yeah, I figured I’m getting to
know you a little bit. You grew up in the same kind of household where I grew up. Men don’t get violent with women. You don’t
hit girls. Of course, we’re all trained not to talk the way we do sometimes, but we all know that hitting people isn’t right—no
matter how good it might feel!” he told Jeff.
And Jeff grinned at that.
“Unless they’re bigger than you are,” he said. “’Cause then they can hit you back and it can really hurt. Or, you know, if
they’re trained in martial arts or something like that,” Jeff said. “Yeah, I’m sorry. Celia said that she fell and I know
that’s the truth because I didn’t hit her.”
“I gotcha, Jeff, I gotcha.”
“How do you guys do it? You never fight,” Jeff said.
“Yeah, we do. Little things. We’re just pretty good at keeping it private. I, um, need to admit that we had a bit of a thing . . .
I told her that we couldn’t just assume that you’d hit Celia because Celia had a black eye.”