21. On Shaky Ground
W ith the sun on her face and solid ground beneath her feet, Poppy would never take land for granted again.
The scenery of the Amalfi coast had proved to be so captivatingly beautiful that Poppy regretted how little time they would spend here.
The freedom to go anywhere, without the fear of someone lurking in the dark corners, made her feel safe again, and when she walked out of the goldfish bowl and through the busy market, it made her never want to set foot on the Midas again.
When they’d got off the ship she’d been given back her purse and phone, but she didn’t dare turn it on.
She wasn’t ready for what might be waiting for her.
Still, she had found some cash in her purse that she was happy to spend.
Retail therapy had become her new favourite form of therapy, along with taking baths with Isaiah.
If it hadn’t been for the murderer targeting her and those close to her, she would be thoroughly delighted with her life.
She had a very attractive bodyguard who turned a blind eye to her violent past, a best friend willing to commit murder alongside her, and no one dictating who she should be, what she should do, or where she should go.
“We are going to run out of hands,” Isaiah said as she paid an older woman at a stall for a crochet dress for Mina and some bangles.Isaiah had got up extra early to talk with Captain Hamill and ensure the evidence was picked up and sent off properly before disembarking for the day.
“Nothing says ‘I’m sorry for taking you on a murder cruise’ like handmade clothing,” Poppy said as Isaiah took the bag from her and added it to the small pile. She didn’t get to go to many markets back home, so she wanted to support as many of the small businesses as possible.
“How about we go inside and get some coffee or something cold? I’m starting to melt,” he said, and she was undoubtedly tempted. It was coming up to lunchtime, and they’d been on their feet since leaving the ship at ten a.m.
“We could go in there,” Poppy said, pointing at a boutique with pink shutters.
Red velvet curtains and a mannequin wearing a red lacy nightdress decorated the window.
“Not a chance,” Isaiah said, shaking his head bashfully.
“Mr Rivers, I dare say you’re blushing,” Poppy teased, heading towards the door. “You could help me pick something out.”
He tipped her chin up. “I’m not going in there. And I prefer to be surprised. You go ahead and have fun – I’ll go get us something to cool down.”
“Wasn’t it your rule that we don’t go anywhere alone?” Poppy said, trying to tempt him.
“It wouldn’t be the first rule we’ve broken on this trip,” Isaiah said. “I won’t be long, and I’ll be waiting out here when you’re ready.” He kissed the side of her head and waited for her to head inside before heading to the cafe down the street.
It was hard not to get wrapped up in the pretty, unique sets inside the boutique.
She loved pretty underwear – not just to show it to someone, but because it always made her feel powerful.
Poppy decided to take the nightdress in the window and the blue, pink and red sets, since she wouldn’t get to come back anytime soon.
She wished Mina had come shopping with her, but the poor girl deserved a day at the beach.
She expected to find Isaiah waiting outside, but there was no sign of him in the quiet street.
“Isaiah?” She peered around the shop corner, but the benches were empty. He wouldn’t have gone far; he might have got caught up in a queue or sat in the shade under the awning because she’d taken longer than expected.
A shiver crept up her spine when she started down the cobbled alley to return to the market. Poppy glanced over her shoulder, hoping to see Isaiah, but no one was there. She took a deep breath. Days on board the Midas had made her paranoid.
She was only halfway to the café when the faint footsteps started to echo behind her. She started walking a little faster, hoping to return to the busy market and find Isaiah.
Emerging from the alley, she headed straight for the café with a sense of urgency, only to be abruptly halted as she collided with an easel and the woman with striking lilac hair sitting beside it.
“Shit, that stings,” Poppy exclaimed, rubbing her scraped knees. Her heart sank as she saw the mess she had made of the woman’s paints and easel.“I’m terribly sorry; I didn’t mean to bump into you. Can I help?”
When the woman with the lilac bob and tattooed sleeve didn’t respond immediately, frantically cleaning up her paints with paper towels. She gently tapped her on the shoulder, and the woman removed some earbuds. Poppy heard music blasting.
“I’m really sorry about this,” Poppy repeated, reaching for a few paper towels from the nearby chair to assist in the cleanup and hoping she hadn’t ruined the piece the artist was working on. It was astonishing how a small amount of paint could spread so far.
“Sorry, I had my headphones on full blast, and I didn’t want to let the paint set on the stones,” the woman said, pouring water from her bottle over the cobbles to wash away the remaining stain. Poppy stood the easel back up, and the woman placed her canvas on the stand.
“I’m so sorry. I smudged your landscape,” Poppy exclaimed, admiring the market scene. The only difference from reality was that the people had been turned into caricatures. Poppy was sure she recognised the style, but she couldn’t place the artist. “Please let me compensate you.”
“Please, don’t worry about it! I was just having some fun. Using oil paints is always a gamble,” the woman reassured her, handing Poppy the bags she had dropped.Poppy moved her purchases to one bag to use the other as a makeshift bin for the paint-covered paper towels.
“Especially when you’re mowed down by a stranger on the street,” she said, embarrassed that her fear had caused her to hurt another person.
With everything back in place and the incident erased except for the smudge, she could focus on the artist properly.
The lilac hair, the nose piercing, the art on the canvas she’d knocked to the floor – she pieced it together.
“Phoebe! Phoebe Fletcher,” she exclaimed.
Phoebe laughed. “I don’t think they heard you the next street over.”
“Sorry!” Poppy clamped her hands over her mouth. “I recognised your work, and then it hit me. I’m—”
“I didn’t know painting the cobblestones was on the agenda.”
Both women looked up to see Isaiah and a striking man carrying a tray of coffee. Poppy let out a sigh when she saw they were iced; the heat had started to make her skin prickle.
“You could have helped us instead of watching,” Phoebe said, flicking some paint from her hands onto the man, who wore a white T-shirt and had a spider tattoo on the side of his head.
“I only went to get coffee. How’d you manage to cause trouble in less than five minutes?” Isaiah asked, taking the makeshift bin and throwing it out. Poppy noticed how the man checked on Phoebe, and she smiled at him reassuringly. Definitely a couple.
“You were supposed to wait for me outside the boutique. This time, you were the one who wandered off,” Poppy argued, to the amusement of the other couple.
“I didn’t wander off,” Isaiah said, “I ran into Axel when I was in the queue outside the café. I didn’t think you’d be so quick. But I see you’ve already met Phoebe.”
“Axel?”
“I think we’ve met.” Axel offered her his hand. “Last year’s music video awards?”
Instantly, Poppy recalled that terrible night. She’d lost in her category, and the cameras had caught her aunt giving her a good scolding. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t placed Axel instantly; not many people had giant spider tattoos on the side of their head, or such exquisite cheekbones.
“Right! Brothers of Anarchy. You won…” Poppy couldn’t remember what, but she knew they’d won. It had been an emotional speech, because they’d lost their lead singer in an accident earlier that same year.
“Phoebe and Axel, this is Poppy.”
“Poppy Roe!” Phoebe said. “Sorry I didn’t recognise you, and I’ve covered us in paint. What a great first impression. Isaiah mentioned taking some time off, but we didn’t realise he’d snatched up such a gem.”
Poppy loved her spirit instantly.
“We wouldn’t be covered in paint if I hadn’t run into you,” she pointed out.
“And I think I snatched him up. A mutual friend recommended him, and since he was already taking a holiday, I hired him to be my bodyguard for mine.” She suspected he didn’t want people to know about his secret investigation into her.
Isaiah locked eyes with her, and a silent thank you told her she had made the right decision.
“Don’t worry, she’s always covered in paint,” Axel teased.
Phoebe looked like she wanted to argue, only to look down at her paint-covered overalls. “He has a point.”
“Are you staying close by? We’ve got a villa that we’re renovating, and you’re more than welcome to stay with us,” Phoebe said enthusiastically.“The place is a bit messy, but I’d love to have you.”
“That’s so kind of you, but we’re only making a pit stop. We have to be back on the Midas by midnight,” Poppy said, though she would’ve much preferred to stay.
Phoebe’s eyes widened. “The Midas ? I’m jealous; I’ve heard the gallery on board is out of this world.”
She wouldn’t be jealous if she knew about the ship’s current death toll.
“If you want to go, I can book it next year,” Axel said, like it was nothing. Poppy and Isaiah exchanged a look. They couldn’t exactly recommend it, considering the murderous voyage they’d had so far.
“Don’t you dare; I get so seasick! But it would be incredible to have my work featured there,” Phoebe said,her eyes brightening.
“I’m sad to say I haven’t been to the gallery,” Poppy admitted, “but Isaiah knows the owner. I’m sure he would be excited to see your work.”