Ship of Chance: A Novel of Mystery and Adventure

By Leonard Lewis

After earning a half-million-dollar reward for helping to capture a serial killer, Greg Paris treats his family to a cruise on the Queen of Hearts, billed as the largest gambling ship in the world. Accompanied by his wife, Dianne; their six-year-old daughter, Jody; Gregs brother, Steve; and Steves new bride, Inez, they set sail for Caribbean and Mediterranean ports.

But they quickly find out its not going to be the idyllic vacation they envisioned. Greg and Steve hear rumors of a murder and other disappearances that have occurred on this same ship on different cruises. Soon, they experience the violence firsthand. Inez disappears, and Dianne suffers a vicious assault. Its evident there is a serious criminal element aboard the Queen of Hearts.

Greg, an elementary school teacher in New York City and a former marine who served in Afghanistan, intends to track down Inezs whereabouts on the ship, find the perpetrators, and bring them to justice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abbott Press
• Release date: Nov 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781458211316

Leonard Lewis

Leonard Lewis served in the military and also worked in an elementary school. He has frequented cruise ships and has traveled to Spain, Sicily, Morocco, and the Caribbean, as well as Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Lewis is married and has three children.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

I won the reward of $500,000 for helping to bring a serial child killer to justice. Flush with dollars, I booked passages for five people on the Queen of Hearts, a ship that flew the flag of an oil-rich country.

It was a luxury cruiser that advertised as The largest gambling ship in the world. Hop aboard for adventure and romance to intriguing Caribbean and Mediterranean ports.

As I sat in the Queen of Hearts dining room with my brother, Steve, and my six-year old daughter, Jody, I wondered what was keeping our wives. About 3 o’clock my wife, Dianne, and my brand new sister-in-law, Inez, had left us at the ship’s swimming pool. They had appointments for massages in the beauty salon on Deck B, and they had promised to meet us for dinner at 6.

The sky was darkening. I checked my wristwatch. It was 7:30. Our wives were far too late, and I wondered why.

A couple joined our table. Even before he had fully settled into his chair, the guy said, Last trip out, this here ship was cruising the Baltic Sea. A gal went missing.

She fell overboard? Steve asked.

Nope, the guy said.

What then? I asked.

She was dumped over-board, the guy said.

How do you know? I asked. Apparently he wasn’t going to bother introducing himself although this was the first dinner of the voyage. We had put to sea this morning from a New York City pier.

The passengers were an international mix. But I figured that the guy who wasn’t introducing himself was a fellow American by the way he spoke.

The broad washed ashore in Denmark, the nameless guy said, with a knife stuck in her back.

I had lots of questions which I left unsaid although I was troubled by such gruesome news marring our honeymoons. Dianne and I called this voyage our belated honeymoon, occurring after eleven years of marriage. For Steve and Inez, the marriage was recent and the honeymoon timely.

I was also skeptical. How did Mr. Nameless come by his information? Why did he know about the murdered passenger, and I didn’t? Maybe he was a rumor monger. I decided to ignore him, at least until I could verify his story.

The nameless guy ordered filet mignon and gobbled it while his lady picked at her vegetarian meal. In between mouthfuls he tapped on a band aid on his face. Probably cut him self shaving. I figured that he was about my age, in his thirties, and she old enough to be his mother.

I ordered macaroni and cheese for my six-year old, Jody, because it was the only meal she would always eat. Steve and I sipped complimentary champagne, waiting for our women before we’d order dinner for ourselves.

Steve shifted about restlessly in his chair, lonely for his bride, I guessed. I had paid the ship’s fares for Steve and Inez, as a wedding present for my brother and his bride. What the heck, I could afford it. They had married at the end of June, just five days ago.

Tall, creamy tan of complexion, and curvy Inez hailed from Mexico. Earlier today Steve had complained that too many guys on ship ogled Inez. Later, when our party of five passed through a bar on the way to lunch, guys did more than just stare. Many of the men at the bar whistled and catcalled. What set them off was obviously Inez. She wore a bright red dress, with open squares and triangles that revealed portions of her breasts and slim waist. Her swaying hips and behind had a lot more wiggle and waggle in them than most women displayed.

I bumped my left knee bad playing soccer when I was a kid, Inez had explained to Dianne, who in turn told me. So my left leg is a little shorter than my right leg. It makes me jiggle around a lot when I walk. It’s so embarrassing.

I noticed that even her breasts jiggled.

One guy turned on his bar stool and reached for this Mexican firecracker’s behind with a cupped hand. His hand clutched her backside, but slid off, unable to hold on.

Wow! the guy said. What a great ass! Welcome to America, honey!

Steve socked the guy off his bar stool. He sat on the guy and pummeled him. Blood flowed from the man’s nose. Steve rested for a second or two, gasping, catching his breath. Then grabbing the man’s head in his hands, he pounded it against the floor.

Enough! I said. You’re going to kill a drunk!

I pulled a flushed and furious Steve off the man. Inez cuddled Steve’s face in one hand. Don’t, she said. That pig is not worth it. Our true love is all that matters.

You could see Steve’s body relax. The color in his face faded.

I lifted the drunk off the floor and onto his bar stool.

Some people don’t appreciate a compliment, the drunk muttered.

Steve and I walked out of the bar with our wives and Jody while onlookers guffawed.

Dianne wouldn’t have appreciated the drunk’s compliment if it had been directed at her; and being her husband, neither would I. Dianne was petite, blonde, and fair, and always straining delicate muscles on tasks too tough for her. She cherished massages and liked to linger at them. But she was always on time when we planned to eat out and go dancing afterwards.

Maybe Dianne had returned to our cabin to shower and apply make-up, I thought. Or maybe Dianne and Inez had lost track of time, gabbing nonstop, seeking to become well acquainted with one another.

About six months ago, the nameless guy said, a man disappeared from this ship.

No kidding? I said. Murdered, too?

Never been found, the guy said.

See? I said. Fell overboard. Run of the mill accident. I could tell that my sarcasm wasn’t lost on him.

Plenty people get knocked off, he said. And it’s real convenient to drop a body into the ocean.

How come you know about that lady with the knife in her back? I asked. I don’t recall hearing about it.

I was on that trip, he said.

If bad things happen on this ship, why are you onboard? I asked.

I have my reasons, he said. And I watch my back.

I reminded myself not to talk to this guy, or even look at him. Something seemed not right about him. He was about my age, and yet his gray-haired date appeared old enough to be his mother, maybe even his grandmother. He kissed her repeatedly while his hand stroked her back, and every time he kissed her she giggled. Glancing at my wristwatch, I saw it was now nearly 8. Our wives were now two hours late.

I excused myself and walked to our waiter who stood to one side of the swinging doors of the galley.

Were you on the last cruise? I asked. On that voyage in which a woman was stabbed to death?

He hurried away without a word, feeling a sudden urge to stand elsewhere in the dining room. I tried the same question on the hostess and a bus boy and got similar reactions. Deciding to try once more, I approached a waiter with gold rings in his ears and nose. I knew that the ship hired crew from around the world. I gave the foreign-looking waiter a peek of a twenty dollar bill in my hand.

Let’s make a deal, I said, holding the twenty close to his face. How many of these do you think its worth—just to tell me if a woman on the last cruise was murdered?

I no can talk about lady, he said. I no want to get fired. He grabbed my twenty and vamoosed.

Talk about the murdered woman seemed prohibited on pain of being canned. I returned to my seat between Steve and Jody and regarded Mr. Nameless with a changed attitude. His incredible story just might be true.

A swarthy man in a ship officer’s summer uniform with white short pants and short-sleeve shirt, lots of gold braid on his cap, and epaulets on his shoulders arrived at our table. A younger officer accompanied him, also in summer whites but with much less braid on his cap. The gangling young man stooped, I guessed, so as to tower less over his superior who was of average height.

Which of you gentlemen is Steven Paris? the senior officer asked.

I am, Steve said.

And Gregory Paris? he asked.

That’s me, I said.

Both of you gentlemen come with us, he said.

Why? I asked. You are?

I am Captain Gautier, he said. You must come with us.

What’s this about? I asked.

A grave matter, the junior, taller officer said.

Captain Gautier shot a stern glance at his junior officer. Not to be discussed here, the Captain said.

Oh, dear, the nameless guy’s lady said. I do hope everything is all right.

Steve jumped to his feet, toppling his chair, stooping to pick it up. I froze for awhile in disbelief. When I arose, my chair scraped the deck, and I almost lost my balance. I grabbed Jody’s hand to take her with us.

Are we going to see Mommy? Jody asked.

I hope so, I said. We should also be seeing your Aunt Inez.

I was thinking, I hope Dianne and Inez are okay.

CHAPTER 2

We followed Captain Gautier through the dining room, packed with people, raucous with chatter. The junior officer brought up our rear. We sidled through tables jammed close to one another. Everybody was having a blast, enjoying their fill of food, the couples at one table even singing: For he’s a jolly good fellow, slurring the lyrics, merrily drunk.

The chatter was more subdued in the passageway although loads of people were streaming from our first class dining room and the other dining rooms of the ship. I noticed one man robed in white and a woman in black robes and a veil, as was common in the Middle East. Another man wore a turban; perhaps he was a native of India or Turkey. These individuals were interspersed among men of the Western World, who were dressed in cargo shorts and tee shirts, or slacks and sport shirts. The Western women showed great variety in what they wore. Some wore shorts, tee shirts, blouses, skirts and dresses of various lengths and fullness, some tight, some cut to be revealing, some to cover fashionably or simply cover. Plain to see, The Queen of Hearts carried travelers from many countries.

We crammed into the elevator, got squashed against fellow passengers. I saw the Captain push the button marked, Sick Bay.

People exited the elevator at their stops. Some left us at the decks where their cabins were located, some at the gambling deck, some at the ship’s theater, physical fitness center, library, shops, computer center, barrooms, and ballroom, until we were alone descending to the Sick Bay. Maybe we’re going to find Dianne and Inez in the Sick Bay, I thought. Is one of them, or both, seasick? Or did they have an accident of some unusual kind? If they had any injuries, I hoped that they were minor. I said nothing, partly for Steve’s sake. Worry lines wrinkled his forehead. I tried to convince myself to think positively.

Dianne lay in one of the row of beds in the Sick Bay, her head bandaged. Black and purplish bruises marred her face. Her jaw was swollen, and her lower lip was split red in a corner.

As I hurried to Dianne’s side I heard Jody say, Poor Mommy!

Steve asked, Where’s Inez?

I managed a quick survey and saw that the other beds were unoccupied. I wondered, too, where Inez could be.

Come with me, Captain Gautier said to Steve.

I want to know where Inez is right now! Steve demanded.

We are doing our best to find her, the Captain said. We will tell what we know. You must remain calm. Please come with Mr. Lockhart and me.

Then the Captain addressed me. You and I will meet later. Your wife was mugged. I will do my utmost to capture the hoodlum responsible for this outrage.

I was ready to explode. Somebody had beaten Dianne! I’d like to smash his face! The rotten coward! I’d like to put him in one of those beds, with his body covered with bandages! With splints on his arms and legs! With a broken nose! With a broken jaw! I had to find out who had brutalized Dianne.

Steve departed with Captain Gautier and the junior officer. I had never seen my younger brother look so distraught. I empathized with him. Where was his beautiful Inez? I felt responsible in a way for Steve’s misery. Although I had meant well, if I hadn’t bought him fares for this voyage, he wouldn’t have to worry about the whereabouts of his bride. Was Inez missing? Was she—God forbid—worse than missing—stabbed in the back—dead in the ocean—food for the fishes of the sea? I told myself that it was useless to jump to conclusions.

How do you feel? I asked Dianne.

I’ll live, she said. Where’s Inez?

Don’t you know? I asked. You were with her. Tell me what happened.

’Oh, I hurt all over!" Dianne cried.

If you can’t talk now, Dianne, I said. I’ll wait until you’re ready.

Give me a minute, Dianne said. She closed her eyes. The right eye was puffed and blackened. None of her teeth were missing or broken as best I could tell, although her jaw bulged and appeared misshaped.

She opened her left eye, squinted with it, and said, The doctor told me I had no broken bones. I guess I was lucky. All right, I’ll tell you what I know.

I wanted to ask her if she had been raped, but dreaded asking the question.

With difficulty, she pushed herself to a sitting position. Her bed lacked a headboard, but she leaned back on pillows that I borrowed from the nearby empty beds to cushion her from the wall.

We had our massages, Dianne said. I invited Inez to our cabin. We talked while I put makeup on. I told her about you and me. She told me about Steve and herself. She wanted me to know that she was a legal resident of our country. Did you know that she received a master’s degree in nursing?

No, I didn’t, I said.

And that she volunteers two days a week at our local hospital? Dianne added. And that she plans to do volunteer work until she gets her American citizenship and gets a job? And that she donated a kidney to save her mother’s life back in Mexico? And that she volunteers as a teacher’s aide in a class that helps children of Latino immigrants with their English? And that the class was her idea. And…

Try to tell me just the important stuff, I said.

I think it’s important to know about Inez as a person, Dianne said.

Fill me in about Inez as a person later, Dianne. What happened to you two?

After our little talk, Inez went to her own cabin, Dianne said, to get herself ready for dinner. We agreed that she’d return to my cabin when she was ready to go, and we’d join you and Steve. I waited a real long time for her until finally I went to her cabin. Her door was open just a little bit. I called to her. She didn’t answer. I stepped into her room. It was dark. The lights were off. I felt along the wall, found the light switch, and turned on the lights. Inez wasn’t in her cabin. In fact, nobody was there. I checked the bathroom. It was empty, too. While I was checking the bathroom, the lights went on. Somebody attacked me!

Goddamn bastard! I said. Who attacked you?

I don’t know. It was so dark. Because the lights went out again. I couldn’t see anything. He must have sneaked into the room while my back was turned and switched the lights on when he entered. And then off again before he grabbed me. He put a hand over my mouth. He held me so tight. I scratched him as hard as I could. I bit his hand. He yelled and let me go. I ran out of the cabin, bumping into things because it was so dark inside that cabin. I was screaming as loud as I could. I got as far as just outside the cabin door before he caught up with me. He hit me, more than once, and knocked me out.

Did he…? I began to ask, but stop short because I feared the reply.

I wasn’t raped, Dianne said, realizing what I wanted to know.

Thank God, I said.

I poured Dianne a glass of water from the pitcher on the end table next to her bed.

What did the bastard look like? I asked. I remembered the scratch on Mr. Nameless’ face. Maybe he hadn’t cut himself while shaving. Maybe Dianne had scratched him while she resisted his attack. My Dianne, she was small, but spunky.

I never got a good look at him, Greg.

Where did you scratch him? I asked.

I think on his face, Dianne said, but I’m not sure.

Was it just one guy,I asked, or more than one?

I didn’t see anybody else. Dianne said.

Did Inez come back to her cabin while this was going on? I asked.

I don’t think so, Dianne said, but I can’t be sure. It was pitch black inside that cabin once the lights were turned off. Everything happened so fast. I was out cold because he hit me so hard. Next thing I knew I was being tended to down here by the doctor.

The doctor entered the Sick Bay and walked over to us. She should rest here tonight, the doctor said. A big man, he wore a white jacket, even though it was hot in this infirmary. The plastic tag pinned over his chest pocket read, Harold Berger, M. D.

When can I have her back? I asked.

Perhaps tomorrow, Dr. Berger said, barring complications.

The junior officer appeared in the doorway and said, The Captain will see you now.

Can I stay with Mommy? Jody asked.

Your mommy needs to rest, I said.

Jody and I kissed Dianne good night, and we followed the junior officer. By now, maybe the Captain and Steve knew Inez’s whereabouts, or at least more about her fate.

CHAPTER 3

I heard the sputter of a helicopter in flight. I remembered admiring the ship’s helicopter on its pad aft of the ship when we sat around the large pool on the main deck under a hot afternoon sun.

The helicopter’s crew must be searching for Inez, I thought, or anything related to her disappearance, although by now it was dark outside. The junior officer met us as we exited the elevator at the top deck. He led us to a cabin close to the bridge.

The Captain’s conference room, the junior officer explained. It’s stuffy in there. The air conditioning is not working. Lockhart knocked to announce our arrival, opened the door for us, and entered the cabin after Jody and me.

Captain Gautier sat at the head of a table, a neutral expression on his face. He had removed his cap and placed it on the table next to him. I noticed streaks of gray among the black and a receding hairline. His face was sweaty and very pale. His upper body bulged under his short sleeve shirt and appeared beefy.

Don’t you have anything else to do, Mr. Lockhart? the Captain asked the junior officer.

The junior officer—a.k.a. Mr. Lockhart—wheeled and left the conference room. I realized that Mr. Lockhart got disrespected by his boss.

At the table Steve sat across from Captain Gautier. My brother’s head rested on his folded arms. He lifted his head to peer at Jody and me through half-closed eyes, then bowed his head and said nothing. I took a chair opposite Steve, sitting Jody on my lap. Tough to have your bride abducted during your honeymoon, I thought. Still, I hoped Steve would pull himself together and be helpful in efforts to find Inez.

How is the lady of your household? the Captain asked me

Dianne’s beat up pretty badly, I said. But I think she’ll be okay.

I wish her a most speedy recovery, the Captain said, sympathy in his tone.

Thank you. I said.

The Captain wasn’t American, I thought; his English was slow and sometimes old-fashioned.

Have you found the scum who attacked my wife? I asked. What’s happening about Inez?

That’s right, Steve said. What’s happening about Inez?

Our helicopter has been searching for her, the Captain said.

We heard your helicopter, I said. As I spoke, it sputtered even louder, which I knew meant that it was coming in for a landing.

We’ll resume the search in the morning, the Captain said, when we have daylight.

I mean, what else are you doing? I asked.

The Captain became a silent Sphinx.

You’ve got to do more! I said.

I shall request that other vessels in our area help, the Captain said, in the morning.

Have your crew search the ship now! I said. The bad guys might be holding Inez prisoner!

I will not upset my passengers by a search of their cabins, I said. My passengers paid for a good time, and I shall give it to them. It would not be the first time a lady drank too much and got into trouble. She may show up tomorrow, embarrassed but wiser.

She may show up in bad shape or dead if you don’t act now! I said. Stop at the nearest port and ask the police to investigate!

You would be well advised to leave the matter to me, young man, the Captain said. I have experience in such matters.

Did you ever save a single missing passenger? I asked. I’m beginning to doubt it!

I command this ship, the Captain said. You need to know we have a brig. I have used it so far only for dead beats. But it is available to restrain trouble makers.

Send the helicopter back up, Steve said, still in a fog.

The Captain did not even reply to him. What about this Captain? I thought. His ship had a record of at least one murder, that somehow had been kept quiet, and also apparently other missing passengers. Today the rape and murder of Inez may have already occurred or was about to occur. Yet the Captain seemed reluctant to make a rigorous effort to find her.

True, police or crew looking into a possible kidnapping or murder aboard ship would be a wet blanket for spenders in the ship’s shops and casino. Also discourage future travelers from booking a voyage on the Queen of Hearts when the news got out, as it surely would. Business considerations aside, though, did the Captain have a secret motive for dragging his feet?

Word of this attack is bound to spread, I said. You’ll see a real panic then. Especially if passengers feel you’re not going to do much to protect them.

I do not like being, as you might say, second guessed, Captain Gautier said. Leave now, young man, while you are still able to do so.

Captain Gautier’s threat ticked me off, and I figured Steve and I could get real nasty with him. We were both half a head taller than the Captain, and each of us had more muscle than he. Before teaching in an elementary school in New York City, I had learned how to fight while serving with the marines in Afghanistan.

A year after I enlisted, Steve joined the Navy and was assigned to a destroyer. I had heard his stories of the fist fights of gobs on shore leave. Even before he became a seaman Steve was good in a free-for-all. His bad temper had gotten him into frequent fights.

My younger brother and I could beat Captain Gautier silly if we wished. Would that help Inez? No,