The Singing Sleuth Meets His Matches

By D.B. Barton

Singles, Beware!
Navigating through the computer-dating world and the single scene can be outright dangerous. Behind every corner, romance scammers and con artists are out to break your heart and steal your money.

Come aboard the Pegasus and meet the Cruisin’ Singles as they search for love and adventure in the Western Caribbean. Included in the middle-aged group is: Jane Smith, the elegant cohost; John Smith, Jane’s handsome husband; Gina Devereaux, the elusive solo traveler; Jay Trent, the snobby retired businessman; Dawn Gilman, the widowed romance writer; Lonnie Neeson, the rugged physical therapist; Sean Pennisi, the suave and conceited misogynist; Jackie Miller, the free-spirited bartender; and Layla Miller, Jackie’s meddlesome mother.

Alec DunBarton, aka The Singing Sleuth, and his lovely wife, Paige, have been asked to keep an eye on the Cruisin’ Singles by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. After deciding they’re a harmless bunch, Alec is none too pleased to find one of them reclining on a lounge chair and strangled with knitting yarn.

To infiltrate the group and find the killer, the DunBartons must pretend they’re single again. Although dating can be murder, Alec faces the greatest danger from Paige. When a happily married man behaves like an eligible bachelor, anything can happen!

• Language: English
• Publisher: D.B. Barton
• Release date: Dec 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463414538

D.B. Barton

D.B. Barton is the award-winning author of The Singing Sleuth series. When she’s not dreaming of ingenious ways to eliminate unpleasant people, she visits exotic locales, bakes fattening goodies, and volunteers at the local hospital. D.B. Barton is currently working on her tenth book, The Singing Sleuth Digs Up the Past. She was born in New York City and resides in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband, Timothy Pavlenko, and two cats, Esme and Yoko.

Book preview

The Singing Sleuth Meets His Matches

D.B. Barton

The Singing Sleuth Meets His Matches

D.B. Barton

Smashwords Edition

Cover by Barbara Lambros

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

The Singing Sleuth Print Series:

The Singing Sleuth (2005, 2012)

The Singing Sleuth Returns (2007, 2014)

The Singing Sleuth Goes Home (2009, 2017)

The Singing Sleuth Crosses the Pond (2011)

The Singing Sleuth Does Vegas (2013)

The Singing Sleuth Takes a Bow (2016)

The Singing Sleuth Meets His Matches (2019)

The Singing Sleuth Finds a Leaf (2021)

The complete series can be ordered directly from

www.singingsleuth.com.

To my husband,

Timothy John Pavlenko:

Thank you for bringing

love, peace, and joy

back in my life.

To my readers:

If you yearn for someone to share your life,

please don’t give up.

It’s never too late!

Table of Contents

Pegasus Itinerary

PROLOGUE

Chapter 1: Come Sail Away

Chapter 2: Caribbean Queen (No More Love on the Run)

Chapter 3: Little Lies

Chapter 4: Private Eyes

Chapter 5: Dancing in the Moonlight

Chapter 6: Simply Irresistible

Chapter 7: What A Fool Believes

Chapter 8: Lowdown

Chapter 9: Fool (If You Think It’s Over)

Chapter 10: Who Are You?

Chapter 11: We May Never Pass This Way (Again)

Chapter 12: Games People Play

Chapter 13: Lonesome Loser

Chapter 14: Heartache Tonight

Chapter 15: Run Around

Chapter 16: Watching the Wheels

Chapter 17: Tin Man

Chapter 18: The Voice

Chapter 19: Goodbye Strangers

EPILOGUE

Copyright Acknowledgements

Pegasus Itinerary

Ten-Day Western Caribbean Cruise

To and From Fort Lauderdale

Saturday, 23rd of March: Fort Lauderdale (Florida)

Depart 4:00 PM

Sunday, 24th of March: Key West (Florida)

Arrive 9:00 AM, Depart 5:00 PM

Monday, 25th of March: Cruise the Caribbean Sea

Tuesday, 26th of March: Santo Tomas de Castilla (Guatemala)

Arrive 7:00 AM, Depart 5:00 PM

Wednesday, 27th of March: Mahogany Bay, Roatan (Honduras)

Arrive 8:00 AM, Depart 5:30 PM

Thursday, 28th of March: Cruise the Caribbean Sea

Friday, 29th of March: Georgetown (Grand Cayman)

Arrive 9:00 AM, Depart 4:00 PM

Saturday, 30th of March: Cozumel (Mexico)

Arrive 9:00 AM, Depart 6:30 PM

Sunday, 31st of March: Cruise the Caribbean Sea

Monday, 1st of April: Coral Cay (Bahamas)

Arrive 8:00 AM, Depart 4:00 PM

Tuesday, 2nd of April: Fort Lauderdale (Florida)

Arrive 7:00 AM

PROLOGUE

Saturday Morning

23rd of March

5:57 AM EDT

Is that my cell phone vibrating? Alec asked from under the bedcovers.

Instead of answering him, Paige detached the phone from its charger. When she handed it to Alec, she remarked, I can’t imagine who’s calling you at this time of morning. Our ship just docked in Port Everglades a few minutes ago.

While Alec was barking into the speaker about the early hour, he suddenly laughed and gestured for Paige to get him a pen and paper.

As she handed him the items, she mouthed, Who is it?

Holding the phone a few inches from his stubbly chin, Alec replied, It’s our friendly homicide detective, Dan McGill.

Apprehension swept over Paige’s face as she perched on Alec’s side of the bed and tried to read his scrawl.

Now chuckling, Alec interrupted McGill’s monologue to dispel his wife’s fears and proffered, Don’t worry, Lass. No one has been murdered. At least, not yet.

Alec resumed writing, smiling on and off while commenting, You don’t say, and, No kidding.

When Alec hung up, Paige demanded, What did he want?

Rising from the bed, Alec kissed her slender neck and cooed, Our upcoming cruise to the Western Caribbean is going to be more interesting than we’d thought. A bunch of middle-aged singles are going to board the Pegasus today, and a few of them might need to be closely watched.

It didn’t take the DunBartons long to shower and dress. Alec brought Paige up to date as they readied for their day. Since neither of them were needed to help with the passenger disembarkation process, Alec suggested breakfast on the Lido Deck, followed by a quick chat with the ship’s cruise director. Alec swiped his notes off the bed and hurried Paige out the door.

The Lido Buffet was crowded. Passengers were seated at tables toying with leftover food and waiting for their debarkation numbers to be called on the ship’s loudspeaker. Among those present, there were some impatient to catch their flights home and others dreading their inevitable return to work.

Alec led Paige through an obstacle course of luggage. After passing tote bags containing vacation souvenirs and duty-free liquor, the DunBartons approached the dining table inhabited by the ship’s physician and Alec’s accounting assistant. Dr. Douglas Abbot and Regina Hill were deep in conversation when they arrived.

Glad to see his closest friends and two vacant chairs, Alec greeted his shipmates, exclaiming, We’re in for an exciting cruise!

Raising his brow, Dr. Abbot grunted. I’m too old for your kind of ‘excitement.’

Regina, a year older than the good doctor but more of an adventurer, quipped, Don’t pay him any mind, and tell me what’s going on.

While Paige set off for croissants and coffee, Alec explained. Dan McGill called me bright and early this morning to give me a heads-up. A group of eighty-seven singles from an organization known as the Cruisin’ Singles is going to board today. Two of them got into a brawl last night at the Lux Grand Beach Club, where the singles cohosts had a welcome reception.

Paige reappeared before Alec could continue and interjected, Did you tell them about that woman and the hotel bartender?

Now intrigued, the doctor inquired, What happened?

Paige, not allowing Alec to speak, grinned. One of the single women, Jackie Miller, went into a tirade with the bartender. She had talked to him on a dating site a month ago. Days later, she received pictures of him naked and ‘raring to go.’

Regina nodded. I expect that goes on a lot.

There’s more, Alec resumed. "Jackie, while in an inebriated state, sexted pics of herself. When she refused to send more in the cold light of day, he threatened to put the earlier photos on the internet, along with her name and personal details.

Jackie told him to ‘go to hell’ and didn’t give it further thought until she recognized her blackmailer’s face last night. After she threw a drink at him, a man attending the singles reception joined her and confronted the lothario.

Alec paused to check his notes and continued, A Sean Pennisi got physical with the bartender, and the Fort Lauderdale police were called in.

That’s how Dan learned about the incident, Paige added.

Finishing his boiled egg, the doctor cautioned, Hmm. A bunch of singles looking for love. That’s a recipe for disaster.

Regina patted Dr. Abbot’s arm. Don’t be such an old coot. I hope some of them find what they’re after!

From the Lido Buffet, the DunBartons headed to the cruise director’s office. Luckily, they found Faith Rossi at her desk. Upon inviting them to take a seat, she asked, What brings you down here?

Getting right to the point, Alec inquired, Do you know anything about the singles group that’s going to sail with us for the next ten days? I’d like to know how our cruise line accommodates these passengers.

It can be confusing. Faith smiled. The group embarking today signed up through Cruisin’Singles.com, a travel agency in Orlando, Florida. The company books about six cruises a year for people in specific age ranges and on ships that have interesting itineraries. We were chosen on this occasion because CS is hosting middle-aged singles and our ship caters to seasoned passengers.

Do you have to arrange their activities? Paige frowned. It must be an enormous undertaking.

It is! Faith agreed. Thank goodness, this company sets up its own events. I just have to familiarize the cohosts, Jane and John Smith, with the ship and get them situated. They’ll take over from there.

Suddenly aware of the time, Faith rose. The Smiths are going to board in half an hour, and I’m supposed to meet them at the embarkation area. She took a moment to hand Alec a flyer and said, Here’s a program containing some of the Cruisin’ Singles events.

The DunBartons and Faith walked out of the office together. It wasn’t until Alec and Paige returned to their cabin that Alec glanced down at the handout he was given.

It read:

Cruisin’ Singles Events

The place to meet!

Pre-Cruise:

Complimentary Roommate Matching

Facebook Group Page for your Singles Cruise

Online Message Board

Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay

Airport Transfers

Welcome Cocktail Party at the Lux Grand Beach Resort

Activities during the Cruise:

Afternoon Tea: Daily

Bar Hopping: March 26th

Black and White Gala: March 31st

Board Games: March 24th, March 29th

Classes:

Pros and Cons of Online Dating: March 25th

Who Are You: March 28th

Love and Lust: March 31st

Cupcake Challenge Bake-Off: March 31st

Coral Cay Beach Games and Barbeque: April 1st

Farewell Dinner and Photos: April 1st

Ice Cream Socials: March 25th, March 27th, March 29th

Icebreaking Games:

Speed Meeting: March 23rd

Lock and Key: March 27th

Karaoke Nights: March 24th, March 29th

Latin Dance Lesson: March 30th

Lifeboat Drill: March 23rd

Line Dancing Class: March 27th

Mexican Fiesta Night: March 30th

Movie Nights: March 26th, March 28th

Pizza Parties: March 24th. March 28th

Poolside Get-Togethers: March 26th, March 30th

Orientation: March 23rd

Seventies Moonlight Dance: March 25th

Shore Excursions: Based on the number of participants

Single-Mingle Dining: Daily, 8:15 PM

Trivia Games: March 24th, March 28th, March 31st

Wine Tasting: March 30th

Yoga Morning Stretches: Daily

Post Cruise:

Airport Transfers

Post Cruise Get Together at the Lux Grand Beach Resort

Post Cruise Hotel Stay

Post Cruise Tour of Fort Lauderdale

Overwhelmed by the sheer number of events, Alec exclaimed, Blimey! They’re going to be a busy bunch.

With a glint of amusement in his eye, he added, We may need to infiltrate the group.

But we’re no longer single! Paige protested.

We can always pretend, Miss Anderson. I wouldn’t mind wooing you all over again.

CHAPTER ONE

Come Sail Away

Words & Music by Dennis De Young

Released: 1977, Genre: Progressive Rock

Saturday Afternoon—23rd of March

Alec was impatient for the Emergency Muster Drill to begin. Just as he checked his watch for the third time, the ship’s whistle blared seven short blasts and one long one. The signal was followed by an announcement on the loudspeaker for passengers to immediately make their way to their designated lifeboat stations on the Lower Promenade Deck.

As passengers assembled under Lifeboat Station Number Ten, two of Alec’s associates, attired in orange life vests, registered the guests’ names and cabin numbers by scanning their keycards with a handheld device. Among the people gathered were a few men and women wearing a blue lanyard that displayed their name and affiliation to Cruisin’ Singles.

Earlier, Alec was able to look up the names of McGill’s troublemakers and had learned to which cabins they were assigned. Eager to acquaint himself with Jackie Miller and Sean Pennisi, Alec switched posts with the beverage manager who was originally assigned to Muster Station Ten.

Alec had no trouble spotting Miss Miller. She was holding a bright pink souvenir glass in one hand and had two cocktail umbrellas wedged in her thick auburn hair. Beside her was a grey-haired woman with unblinking green eyes, which were levelled on the Cruisin’ Single male guests. Without checking her name tag, Alec surmised she was Jackie’s mother, Layla Miller. He had no idea, however, whether she hoped to find a man for her daughter or one for herself.

While Alec was asking the newcomers to take a few steps back and to their right, a striking couple approached the group. The woman, who was probably more accustomed to being on a private yacht, was with an athletic-looking gentleman in casual cruise wear. Although they seemed a formidable pair, a few of the singles welcomed them warmly. Alec soon discovered that they were the cohosts of the group―Jane and John Smith. Their common sounding names were in direct contrast to their striking appearance.

After the safety announcements were made, the crowd quickly disbanded. Hoping to spot Sean Pennisi, Alec watched the men depart. One fellow with an angular face and compact body caught his attention. He had an unpleasant way of leering at young ladies who were too youthful to be in his middle-aged singles group.

Wondering what may happen over the next ten days, Alec sang out:

I’m sailing away, set an open course for the virgin sea

Cause I’ve got to be free, free to face the life that’s ahead of me

On board, I’m the captain, so climb aboard

We’ll search for tomorrow on every shore

And I’ll try, oh Lord I'll try to carry on

I look to the sea, reflections in the waves spark my memory

Some happy, some sad

I think of childhood friends and the dreams we had

We live happily forever, so the story goes

But somehow, we missed out on that pot of gold

But we’ll try best that we can to carry on

A gathering of angels appeared above my head

They sang to me this song of hope, and this is what they said

They said come sail away, come sail away

Come sail away with me now

Come sail away come sail away

Come sail away with me

Still crooning the Styx lyrics, Alec entered his cabin on the same deck. Paige, having just tidied up their bathroom, declared, You’re back! Did you see your mischief-makers?

I did, Alec winked. I’d like your opinion of them. The singles group is having a cocktail reception at seven o’clock in the Constellation Lounge. Can you join me there for a pre-dinner drink, Lass?

Paige smiled. I see food and drink are never far from your thoughts.

Nor murder, Alec pronounced with a glint in his eye.

The Constellation Lounge was one of Alec’s favorite places on the Pegasus. It was on the uppermost deck of the ship and was located in the entire forward section. The windows looked out upon the ocean expanse and delighted its passengers with incredible views by day. During the ship’s recent refurbishing, cozy recliners had replaced less comfortable chairs and were now arranged in pleasant conversational nooks.

It was the very best place on the Pegasus to watch the setting sun dip below the horizon. At night, the lounge became magical. Mini lights in its ceiling sparkled in the configuration of starlit constellations.

Alec and Paige stepped into the lounge thirty minutes before