“No really, they know me. I could draw them out and you can do your part.”
“No, Susan, it’s too risky,” Trisha warned me.
“Madam, I must agree with your friend. In the meantime, all we can do is keep an eye on these men.”
I leaned in. “Isn’t there a ballroom dance scheduled in a couple of nights? I could wear the necklace and you can have civilian officers dancing near me. I don’t see any other way to stop this man. If he killed these two men, he’s not going to stop if I’m holding out on his goods.”
Everyone looked at each other and back at me.
“We will give this some thought and determine if we can keep you safe,” said the Master of Arms.
“And if you can’t?”
“One of us will stay with you at all times,” Larry said.
“As much as I love you guys, I need my space,” I replied.
“Ms. Edwards–“ the purser started to say.
“That’s Mrs. Edwards, please.”
“Mrs. Edwards, all we can do for now is increase security on your floor. Please stay near your friends and maybe we can hold this man and his associates for another reason.”
“But you don’t know what that reason is yet, do you?” I asked. “All right, but if anything happens to me, I’ll expect my estate to be compensated for my cruise. Please consider my offer,” I quipped, rising from my chair. I didn’t mean to get smart with the officer but this whole scenario had begun to tire me.
Trisha and Larry stood as well.
“Where will you be going now?” the officer asked.
“We are going on the tender to meet our tour guide,” I asserted, holding my chin high.
“Good. I want you to know we do take this matter seriously. Please stay close to your friends for now,” he suggested.
I agreed and the Master of Arms unlocked the office door for us. We took the elevator to Deck Three this time for the tender ferry. After we inserted our room keys into the ship’s security device, we strolled straight out to the smaller craft.
The ride over to Kaua’i was a choppier than the other transports we used, but this sea current around the island is different from the ocean waters of Oahu. The schedule stated on our tickets we will take a bus to the Waimea Canyon and a history tour around town before the ship sailed at four o’clock.
As much as I didn’t want to be chaperoned, I enjoyed Trisha and Larry’s company. The ferry dropped the passengers off on the pier. When we spotted our guide holding up our ticket number, several people congregated around the woman who explained that we will see the Grand Canyon of the Pacific and maybe a few native birds on the tour.
I looked around and didn’t see the men that chased me yesterday. “Darn, I was hoping they would leave the ship,” I thought.
Our tour bus was ready with the motor running as we lined up to climb on board. Trisha and I found two empty seats four rows back and Larry sat on the bench across from us. Due to his size, no one wanted to sit next to him. Our knowledgeable guide explained that this island had the first settlers and several kings during the eighteenth century. It remained independent until 1810. Looking over our maps, the land is round-shaped with lots of mountains.
“Kaua’I, well known now for its golf courses, also has beautiful sandy shores, and breathtaking valleys,” our guide said. “If you are staying another day, our beaches on Na Pali coast are located on the eastern shore. Today, we are heading west to Waimea Canyon Park which will take us about an hour.”
She took her seat by the driver as the bus moved forward out of the parking lot. The ride was smooth without hitting too many potholes during the drive out of the city and into the countryside.
Emerald mountains soared above us as we drove through the national forest. After forty-five minutes, the bus came to a stop at Canyon Lookout. Yes, the yawning crack in the Earth did have the same coloring as the Arizona Grand Canyon but this one’s features didn’t go on and on for two hundred plus miles, just ten.
We took our photos of the gap in the Earth and various yellow and white flowers near the curved metal railing. As everyone returned to our bus, the driver helped me and few others up the curving stairs into the tour coach. It can be tricky if you are unfamiliar with the climb. Trisha and Larry were right behind me.
My friends had finished their water bottles to drop into the waste can the tour guide had provided. I still had some left in mine.
“Want to walk around town and see if we can locate a place to sit and have some ice tea?” Trisha asked.
“Actually, I’d rather go back on the ship. I know a bar where they make excellent raspberry tea. You’ll love it and the bartender is very patient.”
“When did you have one of those?” Larry asked, narrowing his eyebrows in suspicion.
“After my formal dinner. I wanted some ice cream but that station was closed so I ordered the tea. Well?”
“I’d like to go back to the ship. I’m getting a little tired, Hon,” Trisha said.
Larry relaxed back into his seat as we caught the next tender ferry to our ship. I noticed another cruise ship sitting out in the bay as well. After skidding across the water with the sun low in the sky, we arrived at the Swedish Star and climbed out of the tender into Deck Three.
“What deck was that bar on?” Trisha asked.
“Twelfth.”
“They might have it on the seventh deck bar inside,” Larry proposed.
“I want to sit outside,” I said.
“So do I. Larry, could you run back to our cabins and get mine and Susan’s jackets? Here’s my key card, Hon,” Trisha said, offering the plastic square to her husband.
“Okay, you go with Susan, and I’ll
