Mystery on a Cruise Ship

By Christa Banks

After solving two mysteries in The Mystery of the Secret Room, the Anderson twins go on a cruise with their parents. After getting settled into their new quarters on the ship, Shelby learns from an elderly English woman that one of the dancers on the ship has gone missing. Shelby informs Daniel, and they visit the English woman, who then asks Shelby and Daniel if they would be willing to look for the missing dancer. Can Shelby and Daniel find the missing dancer before the end of the cruise?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662417566

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Mystery on a Cruise Ship

Christa Banks

Copyright © 2021 Christa Banks

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2021

ISBN 978-1-6624-1755-9 (pbk)

ISBN 978-1-6624-1756-6 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Dedicated to

Dr. Denise Abston, my pastor for several years

and who has always been there for me

Chapter 1

Iwould like to go swimming," Daniel said when the Anderson family had finished eating breakfast.

John replied, I think it would be all right for you and Shelby to go swimming, if Shelby wants to.

Sure. I’ll go swimming with you, replied Shelby.

So Shelby and Daniel put on their swimsuits and got ready to go. Shelby put on a light blue-and-white sundress over her swimsuit and put on her white sandals. Then they left for the pool.

While they walked, Shelby said, Daniel, how about you go on to the pool, and I’ll meet you there in thirty minutes.

Where are you going? asked Daniel.

I just want to go to the library real quick, answered Shelby.

Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you? asked Daniel.

I’ll be all right, said Shelby. I will be there in thirty minutes.

Okay, Daniel said. Hurry up.

Away Shelby went, and Daniel went on to the pool. He decided to wait for Shelby before he got in the pool. After thirty minutes, Daniel started walking around the pool area looking for Shelby. He went around the area several times and did not see his sister. Another thirty minutes had passed, and Shelby had not shown up. Daniel left the pool and went to the library. When he got to the library, Daniel did not see Shelby. He decided to go back to the room first to find his parents. When he did not find them there, he went out the closest door to the promenade deck. He found his parents sitting out on the deck, looking at the ocean.

Mom! Dad! Daniel called.

Daniel, what’s wrong? Susan asked desperately. Where’s Shelby?

I—I don’t know! Daniel exclaimed anxiously. We were on our way to the pool, and Shelby said she wanted to go to the library. She said she would meet me at the pool in thirty minutes. After another thirty minutes, I went to the library. But I didn’t see her!

Daniel, come with me back to the pool, and if she’s not there yet, we’ll go check the library again. Susan, you go back to the room, and see if Shelby is there, instructed John.

John and Daniel went to the pool and walked around looking for Shelby, but they did not find her. Then they went to the library. But they did not find Shelby in there either.

Susan got back to the room, but Shelby was not there. Shelby was missing!

Two days ago

The Anderson family was packing their suitcases for a nine-day Eastern Caribbean cruise. They were all excited about their first family vacation since Shelby and Daniel’s father returned home from Vietnam, where he had been missing in action for the last six years.

I can’t wait to explore the cruise ship, Daniel said excitedly.

Shelby said, I wonder if there will be a mystery to solve on the ship.

The next day, the Anderson’s flight left Colorado Springs at eight o’clock in the morning. They got to Dallas about ten thirty in the morning. Their next flight to Ft. Lauderdale would leave in a couple hours.

Finally, the passengers were called to board the plane. Shelby and Daniel sat together, and Susan (Mom) and John (Dad) sat in the row behind them.

After the plane took off, Shelby and Daniel talked about their last case (The Mystery of the Secret Room). Shelby said, I enjoyed having Christopher (Ryan) and Joanna (Emily) with us for a while. They both changed so much between the times we found them in the secret room to when they went to live with their new parents at the ranch.

Later, after the Andersons got to Ft. Lauderdale, they went to dinner and then drove to the pier to make sure they knew where it was. When the tired family got back to the hotel, they turned on the television and found a movie they all liked that had just started.

The next day, when the Andersons were on the cruise ship, they had to go listen to someone talk about safety on board the ship. The young woman up front talking told everyone that the cruise ship the Golden Iris was built in 1975.

Later in the afternoon, the Anderson family went to explore the cruise ship. They found a library and went inside to look around. When they left the library, they walked past a lounge with a piano. After that, they found a very elegant dining room.

Next, they went to the top deck to see the pool. John saw a sign that read, "The Ms. Golden Iris Dance Show nightly at 7:30 p.m."

Look everyone! exclaimed John. We should come back here at seven thirty this evening to see the Golden Iris Dance Show.

Right now we need to get back and get ready to go to dinner, Susan said, looking at her watch.

After a wonderful meal, they went to see the dancers perform by the pool at seven thirty. The dancers were all in beautiful costumes, and they put on a wonderful show.

After the show, the Anderson family walked around the ship to see what else was around. They came to a lounge where three middle-aged men and a woman played hymns on their stringed instruments (two violins, a cello, and a harp). Shelby thought the woman on the harp did an excellent job. The players