Chapter 14
"What the hell went on last night?" Vanessa asked when I joined her for lunch on the bridge deck aft.
Everyone stared at me, and whispers of gossip drifted about.
It was uncomfortable.
"You probably just had a bad dream," Declan said. "Don't worry about it.”
"I know what I heard," I said.
"What did you hear?"
"I heard somebody scream for help."
Declan smiled. "You wouldn't be the first person to get out to sea, drink a little too much, and start hearing things. It happens to the best of us.”
"But I sat at the bar, right there," I said, pointing, "and talked to Kate.”
"Who is Kate?" Vanessa asked.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out.”
Declan chuckled. "There's nobody on this boat named Kate."
"That’s what your captain and first officer said."
"If that's what they said, then that's the case." Declan smiled, amused by it all. "Look, nobody gets on or off this boat that the crew doesn't know about.”
"My wife had a nightmare," Luciano said as he stepped to the table with Sophia.
They took a seat next to me, and I grew even more uncomfortable.
Luciano flashed a disarming smile. “Teagan did the right thing.
She heard what sounded like a murder. She acted upon it.
I think that takes guts. Lord knows my wife has scared the shit out of me at times with some of her dreams." Luciano smiled and kissed her cheek.
Sophia didn't look amused.
The staff served lunch, and we chowed down on burgers and fries. I felt a little better after lunch, but still unsettled. Maybe somebody had spiked my drink with a hallucinogen. I knew one thing—I was definitely swearing off alcohol, at least for a few days.
So much for my relaxing vacation.
After lunch, Vanessa pulled me aside and hissed, “What the hell were you thinking? You caused a major scene. You pulled Luciano out of bed in the middle of the night and accused him of murder.”
“I know what I heard.”
“Look, this is a major deal for Declan. You can’t screw that up.”
“So Luciano gets a pass?”
“No. He doesn’t get a pass. He doesn’t need one because no one was murdered.”
“Somebody screamed.”
“Sophia had a nightmare. She admitted it.”
“What about Kate?”
She scoffed. “From what I heard, you were pretty far gone last night.”
“You’re one to talk.”
“I’m not running around accusing people of murder.”
I frowned.
“I know you’ve been through a lot lately,” Vanessa said, softening. “That kind of thing messes with people’s heads. Don’t feel bad about it. You just went a little off the deep end. It’s okay. We all go a little crazy sometimes.”
“I’m not crazy.”
“I didn’t say you were crazy.”
“Yes, you did.”
Vanessa huffed. “Don’t be difficult.”
“I’m not being difficult.”
“I just want us to have fun. This is a special time for me. Declan wants to get married in San Montego. We were going to do it in six months, but he doesn’t want to wait. Neither do I.”
“That’s fantastic,” I said, putting on a smile. “I’m so happy for you both.”
“I want you to be my maid of honor. But you can’t go crazy on me.”
I gave her a look.
“I didn’t call you crazy,” she said innocently.
After a beat, I said. “I’d be honored.” We hugged, and I whispered, “I’m not crazy.”
“Well, we wouldn’t be friends if you were normal.”
We laughed.
“Are you ready for a shot?” Vanessa asked.
“No!”
“I’m kidding. This is all my fault. I got you started way too early yesterday.”
“You didn’t spike my drink, did you?”
“Would I do something like that?” she asked in the most innocent voice she could muster.
“Yes, you would.”
Vanessa gasped, feigning offense.
“Remember Amazing Fest. You put a tab of acid in my drink and neglected to tell me.”
“We had a great time though, didn’t we?”
“You had a great time. I thought I’d lost my mind.”
“You lost that well before then.”
I sneered at her.
“I do have some mushrooms and some really good weed.”
“Apparently, I have a hard enough time controlling my liquor.”
“Let me know if you change your mind,” she sang.
I wasn’t about to go near any mind-altering substances at this point.
Vanessa asked, “Are you still taking your meds?”
“What meds?”
“You told me your doctor had prescribed something for anxiety and depression.”
“No. I stopped. They made me feel weird. I was just a zombie on those things.”
“You can’t just stop taking them cold turkey. You have to taper. No wonder you had an episode.”
“I didn’t have an episode.”
Vanessa gave me a flat look, then sighed. “It’s obvious. The medication withdrawal mixed with too much alcohol. Trouble.”
Maybe she was right.
“Why don’t you go put on a bikini and meet me on the sky deck? We’ll lay out and sip daiquiris. A little hair of the dog.”
“I’ll lay out with you, but I’ll sip electrolytes.”
She smiled. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
Vanessa rushed across the deck to join Declan, who was talking to Luciano and Sophia.
I left and walked back to my stateroom. Along the way, I crossed paths with Pete. He smiled as he passed.
I thought about keeping my mouth shut, then I stopped and turned back. “Pete, can I ask you a question?”
He paused and looked back at me. “Certainly.“
“Do you know anyone aboard the boat named Kate?”