6. Whispers of the Sea
F ollowing Poppy on board, Isaiah found it hard to picture the petite five-foot-something killing anyone. Then again, looks could be deceiving. If beauty could lure a man to his death, then her deep blue eyes would sink him deep beneath the surface before he even realised he was drowning.
He admired her composure, considering that her boyfriend had brutally dumped her only minutes ago. No doubt a life spent in the limelight meant she had an excellent poker face.
“Welcome to the Midas . My name is Patrice, and I’ll be your personal butler for your time onboard.
If you would please follow me, I’ll escort you to your suite,” said the woman in a perfectly pressed navy uniform, smiling brightly.
Isaiah appreciated how she ignored the scene she had just witnessed.
It was easy to be distracted by the ship’s interior.
He admired the dark wooden floors, marble beams connecting each level, and the faint scent of jasmine that greeted every guest who boarded.
He could see why it was called the Midas , with its golden chandeliers, wooden finishes, and plush carpets.
The ship’s opulence was overwhelming, making him wonder about the kind of people who could afford such luxury.
He deftly stepped aside to avoid a porter pushing a gold trolley filled with designer luggage.
Following the porter was a woman decked out in an overwhelming amount of jewels, a tiny dog tucked under her arm.
He noted that all the staff wore the same navy uniform with a gold trident embroidered on the breast pocket.
“Sir? If you’d please follow us,” Patrice called. Isaiah frowned, realising he had missed what she said.
“Sorry, I was taking in all the extravagance,” he replied, returning to reality.
“No apologies needed. The Midas tends to make most first-timers speechless,” Patrice said, walking around a desk in the heart of the foyer, which was cluttered with guests.
“Please take these smartwatches and always keep them on your person. They act as your room keys and track your purchases. You can book restaurants, spas, and everything you’ll need while on board, since we don’t allow money or phones. ”
“You want us to give up our phones?” Isaiah asked.
“Given the exclusivity of our clientele, we are required to guarantee absolute privacy and relaxation while on board. If you need to make a call, you can use the phone in your room or come to the front desk here, and we will accommodate any need you may have.” Patrice outstretched her hand for their devices.
All three of them hesitated. “Don’t worry; they will be secured in your private safe and returned to you when we reach the end of our voyage at the Isle of Tranquillity. ”
“Two weeks of no doom-scrolling sounds good.” Mina shrugged, exchanging her phone for the watch. Poppy and Isaiah followed her lead, and he watched as their devices were secured in one of the many small safes behind the desk.
Patrice beamed. “I’ll take you down to your suite.” She guided them to a glass lift with gold doors, listing the ship’s amenities as they went. Isaiah pretended not to notice Poppy sneaking glances at him as the lift descended to the third floor.
“Thank you for what you did out there,” she said to him suddenly, while Mina chatted to Patrice. “Joshua has always had a flair for the dramatic. You helped de-escalate the situation before we became the laughing stock of the whole ship.” She didn’t say it as bitterly as he’d expected.
“No need to thank me; it’s my job to help you however I can. Even if that wasn’t the case, no man should ever put his hands on a woman.”
“I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of that in your line of work, but I wasn’t expecting it from my boyfriend,” Poppy said, remaining by his side while the others walked ahead.
“More than I would like. In my experience, those closest to us inflict the most damage.”
There was a flash of something in her expression: sorrow and guilt. She promptly concealed it with a small smile.
“Are we below sea level?” she called down the narrow hallway to Patrice.
“Yes, all our finest suites are below sea level– and thanks to our state-of-the-art lighting, you’ll have a sea view,” Patrice said.
The idea of sleeping underwater wasn’t too comforting; Isaiah didn’t want to wake up to find a Great White staring at him through the window.
He also would have preferred something closer to the lift, but the access door to the emergency stairs opposite their rooms would do nicely if they needed to escape quickly from any danger on board.
“Mina and Isaiah, both of your rooms adjoin Ms Roe’s suite, and your watches will give you access to all three rooms. It’s protocol for those with security,” Patrice said.
“All you have to do is place your hand on the handle, and it should open.” She demonstrated, and they followed her inside.
“Mr Eckells has arranged the Empress suite for you – our best. The large floor-to-ceiling glass window allows for breathtaking views once we enter clear waters. Your bags have been placed in your allocated rooms.” Patrice indicated the pile of Poppy’s bags by a wardrobe.
I don’t know why one person needs so much luggage for two weeks at sea.
Still, Isaiah was relieved the staff hadn’t unpacked for them.
He didn’t want anyone to find the case files or gun in his suitcase.
He inspected his room, relieved to find it was closest to Poppy’s and the emergency exit. It wouldn’t be hard if he needed to get to her in a hurry.
“If you need any assistance, please ask for me when you dial the main desk. I’m here to cater to all your needs,” Patrice said before leaving them.
“Thank you for your help; we’ll let you know if we need anything,” Poppy said, walking her to the door.
“This suite is insane. The bathroom is bigger than my apartment. Do you know the sink is real gold?” Mina exclaimed, sliding over the back of the cream couch and hugging a shell-shaped cushion to her chest.
“I’m not surprised. I don’t think any expense has been spared,” Poppy chuckled, picking up a bottle of chilled champagne from the dining table. “How about a glass to celebrate the start of our journey? And cheers to new friends,” she added.
Mina handed her three champagne flutes from the bar by the door to her room. Poppy popped the bottle of champagne between her thighs –clearly not her first time – and started to pour.
“I don’t drink while I’m working,” Isaiah said, placing his hand over the third glass as Mina swiped one and downed it in two gulps.
“Live a little. I doubt I’ll even need your services this trip,” Poppy said. “You can come and go as you please. There’s no need to stick by me. I can even arrange a new room for you.”
Isaiah narrowed his eyes. She was trying to get rid of him.
“I think I’m going to go unpack while you two talk.” Mina looked between them,clearly not wanting to get involved.
“All guests must have a bodyguard; I’m afraid it’s ship rules. You won’t even notice me,” Isaiah said, not giving her any wiggle room.Winning her trust was clearly going to be a challenge.
“I find that hard to believe. I suppose I could use you to block out the sun while I sunbathe,” Poppy joked, standing up on her tiptoes and barely reaching his shoulders.
“If that’s what you desire, I’ll happily oblige.”
“You aren’t going to budge on this, are you?” she asked, looking him up and down.
“I get the feeling that neither are you.” He resisted the urge to smirk as he stepped closer, forcing her to meet his gaze.“If we get to know each other, we might just get along.”
“Careful what you wish for.” Poppy downed the rest of her champagne and walked to her room.
Isaiah followed, nearly bumping into her when she stopped short in the doorway. They stared at the rose petals and heart-shaped bedspread on the bed.
“Clearly, they were expecting this to be a romantic getaway,” Poppy said stoically.
He expected her to be upset, but her resilience was admirable.
Like a marble statue– breathtaking, but emanating a coldness that might cause him to turn to stone if he touched her.
He shook away the thought and reminded himself that he was here to find out if she had anything to do with the murders, not about her rocky love life.
“I can call someone to have it all removed?” he asked.
She frowned. “Why trouble someone?”
“Given your recent breakup, it makes sense that you’d be upset,” he said, daring to poke to get some reaction from her.
“It’s only a few rose petals – nothing to cry about.” Poppy shook out the comforter, distorting the perfect heart shape. Then she disappeared into the bathroom, which could fit a family of four, and returned with a wireless hairdryer. Within seconds, the rose petals were blown away.
“Now it’s just another bed,” she said, tossing the hairdryer into a drawer under the wardrobe.
“Can I ask why you boarded after what happened at the dock?”
“Joshua and I had a mutually beneficial relationship, and now it’s over.
” She shrugged. “You don’t have to worry about me breaking down in tears.
Besides, regardless of what Joshua decided, I wanted a holiday.
Tickets for the Midas are rare, expensive, and non-refundable.
I wasn’t going to let them go to waste.”
“But given all you’ve been through lately, wouldn’t you rather be home in the States than surrounded by strangers here?”
She sighed. “Am I being interrogated? Or are you just really terrible at small talk?”
He pulled at his neck, not used to being called out. “Sorry, force of habit. You don’t have to answer. I thought this might be easier if we got to know each other a little.”