Chapter 29
“I’ll let you know when we’re ready.” Sharky eased the Zodiac alongside the ship and tossed the ropes to the crew members who were on standby, awaiting their return.
“Are they hooking us up and lifting the Zodiac?”
“I wish,” he said. “Unfortunately, the lift seems to have developed a glitch and has been randomly shutting off, so we’re gonna have to do this the old-fashioned way.”
“It looks like a steep climb.” Gloria’s eyes traveled up the side of the ship, following the portable ladder to the emergency entrance, a large square cutout. “Is the ladder safe?”
“One hundred percent,” Sharky said. “Harbor pilots use them all the time to get on and get off.”
“It might be a little nerve-wracking,” Millie said.
“Having done this a time or two, my suggestion is don’t look down.” Sharky tugged on the ropes, confirming they were secure. “We’re ready for the first volunteer.”
“I’ll go to make sure it’s working properly.” Felix carefully made his way to the other side of the Zodiac. Grasping the rubber rung with both hands, he stepped over the side and began climbing the ladder.
Up…up…up he climbed. He reached the top where crew members from the ship’s safety team pulled him on board.
A thunderous round of applause broke out from the upper decks.
Millie placed her hands on her hips and lifted her gaze. “Don’t look now, but we have an audience.”
“Great,” Gloria groaned. “How embarrassing.”
“Nah.” Her cousin waved dismissively. “Passengers love runners, or in our case, climbers. It’s bonus entertainment.”
“Now I know how Jeremy and the others felt when they were being rescued,” Ruth said.
“At least we aren’t on a sinking yacht, not to mention they got to use the lift,” Millie said.
Sharky gazed at the remaining passengers. “Who’s next?”
“I want to make sure Lucy is taken care of,” Gloria said.
“Medical is waiting for her. I agree Lucy should go next.”
Hopping on her uninjured foot, she cautiously reached for the rung.
Sharky stopped her. “How are you feeling?”
“A little lightheaded.”
“I’m thinking we should put a harness on you and lift you up.” He radioed his team, requesting that they lower a safety harness.
Within seconds, it appeared.
“Give me a hand, Millster.”
Working together, Millie and Sharky strapped Lucy into the contraption.
“I think we have it.” He checked the hooks and straps a second time. “Whenever you’re ready.”
“I’m ready.” Lucy tightened her grip on the ropes.
Sharky whistled loudly, jabbing his thumb in an upward motion.
Millie gritted her teeth, silently praying as she watched Lucy’s feet lift off the bottom of the boat. As if in slow motion, inch by inch she rose higher and higher until she was level with the opening.
The rescue team members stood waiting on each side. They grabbed the ropes and gently pulled her to safety.
Another round of spectator applause ensued.
“Ruth.” Gloria nudged her forward. “Your turn. Godspeed, my friend.”
“Time to knock off another bucket list item.”
Gloria made a choking sound. “Climbing the side of a cruise ship was on your bucket list?”
“No, but it sounds good.” Ruth scampered to the ladder and nimbly climbed to the top. She boarded and turned back to give her friends the all-clear signal.
“I suppose it’s my turn to bite the bullet.” Gloria wiped the sweat off her palms and grabbed hold of the ladder with both hands. “I’m thanking my lucky stars I used the restroom.”
“I bet you’ll never get locked in a lighthouse again,” Millie teased.
“Never ever.” Gloria gripped the rungs tightly before placing one foot and then the other on the lower rung. “If I don’t make it out of this alive, you’re the best cousin a woman could ask for, risking life and limb to save our butts.”
“Right back atcha.” Millie chuckled. “You’re one of the most fearless people I know. This will be a piece of cake.”
“As long as I don’t look down.” Gloria climbed the ladder one step at a time. Reaching the top, she waited for the crew members to help her inside.
“It’s your turn, Millie.” Sharky playfully punched her in the arm. “Show ‘em how it’s done.”
“Easy breezy.” She scanned the upper decks, lined with passengers glued to the railing, watching the scene unfold. Shifting her gaze, Millie could see the bridge wings and knew Nic was watching. She blew a kiss in his direction, sucked in a breath, and grabbed hold of the rubber rung.
Heeding Sharky’s advice, Millie kept her gaze slightly elevated. Step by step she steadily climbed to the top.
Millie’s final step brought her eye level with the entrance. Strong hands grabbed hold of her and pulled her to safety.
Donovan, Patterson, Andy, Annette, Amit, Cat, a slew of friends and fellow crew members who were on hand for the dramatic reboarding, cheered, hooted, and hollered.
Suharto rushed to her side. “You made it, Miss Millie.”
“I did, and I don’t think I want a repeat of a tender embarkation ever again, at least not like this one.” Millie hung out with the others, waiting until Sharky, the last person to board, appeared.
Working quickly, the team lifted the empty Zodiac and secured it. The hatch had barely closed when the ship began moving full steam ahead out into open water.
Millie looked around. “Where’s Lucy?”
“Already at the medical center,” Gloria said.
The Garden Girls left to check on their friend while the spectators drifted away.
Sharky stood talking to Suharto. Millie waited for him to finish before tapping him on the shoulder. “What an adventure.”
He grinned, flicking droplets of water from his hair. “We did it. Everyone made it back on board.”
“Thanks to you and Nic.” Millie impulsively hugged him. “I’m sure Reef told you about my keycard getting stolen and being used to sneak into the storage room.”
“He did.” Sharky told her he’d confirmed that only the contraband CBD was missing. “You think it’s the jokesters we rescued from the yacht?”
“I do, although I can’t prove it. I had better get back to work.” Millie thanked him again and ran upstairs for a quick change of clothes.
After changing, she returned to the main floor of the apartment where she found Nic waiting for her, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “How was the climb up the side of the ship?”
“On a scale of one to ten? A two.”
He pulled her into his arms and placed a light kiss on top of her forehead. “It was a nailbiter there for a minute. You even had a cheering section.”
“More like the entire ship was watching.”
Nic sobered. “How is your friend, the one who got hurt?”
“Lucy is being checked out by Doctor Gundervan. Her ankle is swelling, but I think she’ll be all right.” Millie slid her lanyard over her neck, placed Scout in his stroller, and accompanied her husband to the bridge. “I’m still ticked about having my keycard and cash stolen.”
“Sharky filed a report. The only thing missing from the storage room was the CBD gummies.”
“Who would know they were in there?” Millie didn’t wait for her husband to answer. “Jeremy and his friends. The guy has a drug problem.”
“Because he tried breaking into the cabinet and stealing energy drinks and had CBD on him?”
“Not to mention Tohan confided Jeremy planned to stop in Nassau to score drugs,” Millie reminded him. “I wish his father had paid to fly them back to Miami instead of leaving them on the ship for the entire voyage.”
“Disembarking in Grand Turk would have been the optimal result if they’re responsible for the vandalism and theft of your keycard and money. We have no proof,” Nic said.
“Has Donovan gotten word from corporate?”
“About permanently shutting down your old keycard’s access?”
Millie nodded.
“Not that I’ve heard. He still has it temporarily inactivated so it’s only a matter of time.” Nic studied her face. “You’re worried about it accidentally being reactivated?”
“I am. Who knows what the thief might decide to do? Access the bridge, the engine room.”
“Donovan’s office.” He eyed her thoughtfully. “It might not be a bad idea to keep an eye on our rescued guests.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Millie checked to make sure her pup was seated in the stroller and began pushing him toward the door.
“Captain!” A bridge officer rushed over.
Millie, noting the panic in his voice, paused.
“We need to return to shore!”