Fatal Fall Foliage Cruise (Cruising Through Midlife: Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries #10)
Chapter 1
CHAPTER 1
E merald Queen of the Seas , Royal Lineage Cruise Lines
Itinerary
7 Night Cruise
Day One = Departure from New York, New York
Day Two = Portland, Maine
Day Three = Halifax, Nova Scotia
Day Four = Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Day Five = Boston, Massachusetts
Day Six = At Sea
Day Seven = At Sea
Day Eight = Return to New York, New York
Three hours from now…
The Victim
“Now that is what I call a successful party. But then again, any party with me in attendance always is.” I smirk at my reflection in the mirror, wiping off the last trace of lipstick with a slow, deliberate motion.
I can still hear the stray revelers enjoying themselves in my palatial luxury suite.
And why not? A true party never really ends.
I turn back toward my bedroom and the soft light from the chandeliers casts a golden glow over the plush velvet armchairs, the elegant chaise lounge, and the champagne flutes still sitting half-full on the marble table.
This cabin is simply a work of art—an intoxicating blend of modern luxury combined with touches of unapologetic opulence such as rich fabrics, gilded accents, and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a breathtaking view of the moonlit ocean. Everything here screams wealth, power, and perfection—just like me.
The lingering scent of champagne and expensive perfume still clings to the air. My jewelry clinks softly as I toss it into the little dish on the vanity and it sparkles under the soft bathroom lights. Much the same way I sparkle. I always do.
I lean into the mirror of this tiny blip the cruise line dares call a restroom and examine my face, my skin, my body.
Still flawless.
No wrinkles. No signs of aging. And there shouldn’t be.
I’ve got the best trainer money can buy, the finest skincare routine with the most exclusive—read expensive products—and it shows. I’ve worked too darn hard to let anyone—even someone as irrelevant as Trixie Troublefield—stand in my way now.
How in the world does that little mouse keep getting whatever—and whoever—she wants?
How? How did she land a hot man like Ransom Baxter, of all people?
A stud like that? With someone like her?
It’s laughable. Infuriating even.
But I’ve got plans for little ol’ Trixie and that stud she thinks she’s about to walk down the aisle with.
My hands grow steady as I unclasp my necklace and drop it onto the counter.
She stole from me once. Years ago. A dear boy who owned my entire heart.
My lips curl involuntarily as that old anger simmers once again. She thought she won back then. But this time? This time, I’ll make sure she knows what real loss feels like.
A soft laugh bubbles from me.
Ransom deserves more. He deserves me .
I let my silk robe slide off and pool at my feet before glancing at my reflection and admiring my curves and toned muscles.
Ransom needs a real woman. Not some wallflower who’s still hiding in the shadows of life.
I turn the shower on, and soon enough steam swirls through the air, filling the space with a warm fog.
“I’m going to take everything from her,” I say out loud. “Her fiancé, her perfect little life, her dignity—everything will belong to me.”
I head over and pick through my closet and the excitement of taking down that troublemaker builds with every passing second. This cruise was a brilliant idea—even if it wasn’t my own.
I stumble across a blood-red lacy number with a plunging neckline and a hemline that hardly covers my rear and hold it out.
“This will do nicely,” I muse as I hold it up against my skin. “There’s not a man on the planet who could resist me in it—certainly not a man like Ransom. That man is one hundred percent heat and lust. I can see it in his eyes.”
Of course, I’ll make sure Trixie spots the two of us together—in the throes of passion no less. She’ll watch as everything she holds dear slips through her fingers, just like it did for me all those years ago.
I know exactly what it feels like to have your world crash down, and I’ll make sure she knows that feeling, too.
The sound of the water hissing from the shower fills the room and I pause to look into the mirror one last time with this red lacy number pressed to my body.
Perfect.
I smile as I run my hands down my sides, feeling the strength in every inch of me.
“She has no idea what’s coming.”
Just as I turn back toward the closet, a cool breeze wafts in as if someone just opened the door. I’m about to turn around just as a pair of strong hands wrap themselves around my throat and tighten like a vise.
A choking sound emits from me as I claw at their grip, my nails tearing at them, but it’s no use. I do my best to turn to see their face, but they dodge and duck with my every move.
My vision blurs.
The room spins.
I try to scream, but not a single sound comes out.
Can’t breathe.
Help.
Someone, please.
I can’t go like this. Not here. Not now. Not on the night I’m set to exact my revenge.
Their grip intensifies and with it, darkness seems to creep in on me from all sides.
I can’t die.
Panic seizes me and electrifies me with a newfound horror. This can’t be the end.
If I die, Trixie wins. And I’m not leaving this planet without exacting my revenge.
Whoever did this to me will pay, and so will Trixie Troublefield for landing me on this cursed ship to begin with.
My body grows limp and everything goes dark.