Murder Cruises the Antilles

By R.F. Sullivan

A luxury cruise through the Antilles hosts a large political forum involving most of its vacationing passengers. Soon the political forum becomes fractious due to acrimony over restoring relations with Cuba.
When a dissenting delegate is found stabbed in the back near the forum rostrum, two detectives--one a petite blonde from the cruise line, the other the inimitable Jan Kokk--begin hunting the killer among the now terrorized passengers.
By the time the cruise ship reaches Curacao, Kokks home, a second passenger has been murdered and a female almost thrown overboard by the murderer. The two detectives succeed in identifying the killer but not until the fetching lady detective teaches Kokk a lesson in sleuthing--and romancing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Feb 8, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481711340

R.F. Sullivan

Living in the Hill Country of Texas, author Roy Sullivan, late of the US Army and US State Department, follows the antics of famous Curacao PI, Jan Kokk. The chase is tricky since Kokk flits from crimes in the Caribbean to Las Vegas, now back to the Caribbean. If you see the big Curacao investigator, tell Kokk his invitation to visit Texas is still open.

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© 2013 by R. F. Sullivan. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 02/06/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-1133-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-1134-0 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Eighteen

Nineteen

Twenty

Twenty-One

Twenty-Two

Twenty-Three

Twenty-Four

Twenty-Five

Twenty-Six

Twenty-Seven

OTHER WORKS BY ROY F. SULLIVAN

Scattered Graves: The Civil War Campaigns of Confederate Brigadier General and Cherokee Chief Stand Watie

The Civil War in Texas and the Southwest

Escape from Phnom Penh: Americans in the Cambodian War

Escape from the Pentagon

The Texas Navies

The Texas Revolution: Tejano Heroes

A Jan Kokk Mystery: The Curacao Connection

This work is fiction, The characters, situations, events and vessels portrayed are products of the author’s imagination.

DEDICATED WITH RESPECT AND ADMIRATION

TO THE GRADUATES

OF INFANTRY OFFICER CANDIDATE CLASS 2-60,

UNITED STATES ARMY INFANTRY SCHOOL,

FORT BENNING, GEORGIA

12 OCTOBER 1959-19 APRIL 1960

Roy F. Sullivan

1st Lieutenant, Infantry

Tactical Officer

ONE

Sunday

This midday on Fort Lauderdale’s pier 2 was strangely silent, like the hush while everyone awaits a hurricane’s arrival from the Keys. Even the usually bustling motor traffic on Hollywood Boulevard seemed to be holding its hydrocarbon-based breath awaiting the onslaught of bad weather.

The winds, turbulent just a minute ago, swept to the north, surrendering their place to an insipid breeze from the west. Only the scorching sun remained true and unremitting, raising the humidity index in defiance of the local Chamber of Commerce and travel agency blogs.

The Holland-Amerika Company’s cruise ship, Nieuw Leiden, rocked gently at anchor alongside the pier. Her lucent white hull sparked silvery flashes on the murky waters alongside. Overhead even the usual garrulous, diving gulls were temporarily absent.

The expected rush of ticketed passengers, almost 1300 of them, had yet to storm into the reception halls next door. Within the hour the nearby boulevards would be filled with taxis, vans and buses bringing eager travelers to pier 2.

A few of their early-arriving colleagues queued in the scant shade alongside the air-conditioned reception halls. The sight of the waiting luxurious cruise ship heightened their noisy ardor to be the first aboard. Instinctively the early arrivals waved tickets and passports, calling attention to themselves in hopes of speeding the baggage, security and manifesting pre-boarding chores.

Smiling, always smiling, white-uniformed cruise employees eventually surrendered to the passengers’ appeals and opened the processing hall doors.

Aboard the ship, those of the Nieuw Leiden’s crew who had been allowed ashore drifted back from shopping at the Hollywood and Lauderdale malls and donned their own white uniforms. Previously, loads of foods, beverages, and flowers, delivered by an armada of refrigerated trucks, had been carefully received, inventoried and stored below in the big ship. No one would go hungry or thirsty on this voyage through the islands skirting the Greater Antilles including the Bahamas, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Curacao.

Behind the massive control room, in the captain’s wardroom on deck twelve, the assembled ship’s officers huddled, seeming withdrawn. Their usual banter and bursts of camaraderie were on-hold as they awaited the entrance of the ship’s captain. Silently they arose in unison from their chairs as Captain Hayder entered, followed by First Officer Aboorden.

Seats, please! Hayder strode to the elaborate podium adorned with the Holland-Amerika crest. He nodded at the assembled group, then turned to the first officer taking his usual position beside the podium.

Captain Felix Hayder was of the old school, more familiar with the sextant and compass than the elaborate computer systems controlling this ship. He was one of the few active captains of the Holland-Amerika Company who’d served in the Royal Navy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. His crew often joked about their bearded captain’s outlook toward discipline and tradition. Their general agreement, sotto voce, was that his perspective was as outmoded as the Prince Albert whiskers he sported and carefully tended.

The ship’s crew is all present, Captain, Aboorden reported smartly, barely restraining from clicking his heels. The first officer was a younger, as yet non-whiskered, version of Captain Hayder. He aspired to emulate his captain as closely as possible in hopes of eventually commanding his own Holland-Amerika cruise ship like this one.

Aboorden continued his report. The engineering division reports all in readiness for departure. Fuels and lubricants are topped off. The supply division has been replenished and secured. All is in readiness for our first passengers to board.

And the detail to meet and greet passengers in the mezzanine? What about the baggage detail?

All in readiness, Captain. Our band on the solarium is ready to entertain as soon as the passengers begin embarking. Aboorden smiled, anticipating the next question.

We expect a full load again?

Yes, Captain, almost. There are a total of 1278 ticketed passengers now being processed at pier 2. The usual security measures have been implemented and . . .

Security officer! Fumbling for his glasses with one hand, Captain Hayder interrupted the first officer’s practiced recitation.

Sir? The newly assigned security officer, Ensign Staaden, awkwardly stood among the third row of chairs. Nervously he looked to his comrades for some sign of support. This, his first public testing by the captain, found him nervous and flustered. He repeatedly blinked his eyes. Finding no relief there, he blotted his forehead with the back of his hand.

Are you satisfied that the boarding passengers are accurately identified and that all baggage has been carefully checked and cleared?

Yes, Captain. The ensign’s forehead still glistened as he stood at attention, trying not to stare at the area directly above his captain’s head.

He cleared his throat. All is in order, sir. Our security detail now in the reception area photographs each passenger, even the children. We compare ours to their passport photos. All suitcases and other carry-on items are X-rayed, as well as spot-checked by hand in the reception area for weapons, drugs and explosives.

What about liquor?

Liquor, too, Captain. I’m told we’ve already confiscated the equivalent of several cases.

Thank you, Mister Staaden, Hayder waved the young officer to his seat. Delicately touching his just-trimmed beard, Captain Hayder turned and glowered at his audience. All officers sat up straighter, especially the females. All were accustomed to, yet still feared, their captain’s fierce diatribes.

Security is not just Mister Staaden’s responsibility, he began, partially closing his eyelids as if receiving inspiration. Each of us share that responsibility, especially on this voyage, Hayder drilled.

"Each of us must be alert to odd behavior, unusual incidents, even unlikely comments from our passengers.

"Today a very mixed group joins us aboard the Nieuw Leiden. Some are the normal type tourists seeking rest and relaxation. We’re used to that type of passenger of course and we’ll do our best to serve them in our usual hospitable, generous and respectful manner.

"The other group, over eight hundred of them, are here to participate in a series of lectures and conferences about politics—American politics—and their upcoming elections.

"Do not be drawn into their political discussions. If you’re asked for opinions about those elections, simply say ‘I have no opinion.’

Their elections, I emphasize. There are likely to be heated arguments among these particular passengers. We can probably expect occasional unruly conduct from this group. Stay aloof of their entanglements! Be polite. Be objective.

A new voice cackled loudly from the back of the room. Seems like the eight hundred ‘Huns’ greatly outnumber our remaining passengers, the ‘Harmless’ variety. The remark was loud enough for all to hear but the speaker was not evident, nor did anyone stand.

Frowning, Captain Hayder held up his hand for silence and all eyes returned to him. "If I again hear those terms—‘Huns’ or ‘Harmless’—applied to our passengers on this cruise, I’ll discharge and put the guilty party ashore at the our next port of call!

Questions? Hayder called as he turned and strode out of the wardroom.

Motioning the first officer to follow him into the massive control room, Captain Hayder stopped by the starboard windows to stare at the already illuminated Fort Lauderdale convention center just beyond the massive piers. Who said that? Did you see who spoke? he demanded.

No, Captain I didn’t get a glimpse of a face. Didn’t recognize the voice either. Sorry, sir.

Seizing his first officer’s arm, the captain excitedly pointed toward shore. "Quick! Look there! Someone’s signaling us from the convention center’s top floor!

Your eyes are better than mine. Can you make out what it says?

Unblinking, First Office Aboorden stared at the flashing signal for a minute. Closing his eyes from the effort, he turned to the captain. It’s English. I think it says ‘Primary target just boarded.’

Hayder clutched his chest. My God! And me just a year from retirement!

TWO

Thirty minutes later, excited passengers lined the ship’s decks, amid the blaring of the brass band on the solarium and repeated air blasts from the ship’s huge dual exhaust funnels. The Nieuw Leiden, pride of the Holland-Amerika Company, carefully left its moorings and slowly swung into the deeper ship channel.

Huns and harmless, Captain Hayder mumbled as he stared at the second officer maneuvering the vessel.

He nudged First Officer Aboorden, also carefully watching the operation. "Ask around to see who voiced that ‘Huns and Harmless’ remark.

I fervently hope my dinner guests tonight at our welcome banquet haven’t picked up those odious terms.

The captain removed his ornate gold braided white hat, extracted a handkerchief and wiped his forehead. The usual five guests at my table include some of the leaders and speakers of this political consortium, I presume?

The head steward has prepared this list of the guests selected for your head table, Captain. As usual we based the candidates upon their relative importance during this consortium or forum going on during our voyage. We can make changes, substitutions or additions, sir. Whatever you like.

Aboorden offered a folder without taking his eyes off the second officer’s handling of the sensitive turbine controls. The captain grabbed the folder and began fanning his face with it. Be sure to tell our new security officer about that message flashed to someone aboard our ship which you were able to read. Who or what could be that ‘primary target’? Who . . . he stopped in mid-sentence, "possibly could have sent that message?

And who onboard received the message? A passenger? One of our own crew? He rubbed his chest as if suspecting an attack.

Breathing recovered, he punched the first officer’s arm. The target must be someone among the Huns, you think? Hayder violated his own dictum about using the word. I’d be much happier without this political crowd aboard my ship!

$$

Decorated floor to ceiling, the Manhattan Dining Rooms filled both decks two and three aft. The rooms sparkled with polished silverware