“One of them just got away!” Larry called out to them.
Two other policemen hurried back to their car and gave chase to locate the getaway car. The other two officers arrested the captured men and hauled them over to their car.
“We have a woman in custody on board,” said the ship’s officer to the police.
One of the policemen called in for a backup. After the ship officer’s jobs were finished, Larry walked back to the ship with the officer.
“You’ll have to return the way we came out or our personnel up there won’t let you back on board,” relayed the officer.
They entered the open hatch of the cargo bay and the officer escorted Larry into the service elevator he could take to the tenth deck. The officer rode up with him.
“Do you think the police will catch the guy that got away?” Larry asked.
“It’s hard to say. He has business on these islands and his description would be hard to hide. If he manages to escape to Australia or the states, we’ll never get him behind bars,” the officer replied. “Oh, and we thank you for your assistance in this matter. I’m sure the Master of Arms will want to interview Mrs. Edwards.”
“I’m sure he does. Oh, here’s this back,” Larry said, handing over the small revolver one of the officers had loaned him
The elevator stopped on the tenth deck and Larry stepped out. Ronald, the Master of Arms, appeared outside the open elevator. He dismissed the escort officer and followed Larry back to his cabin.
Chapter 24
Relief
Larry knocked on his cabin door with his special knock since I had his room key. When I opened the door, after peeking through the eyehole, Trisha’s husband was standing with the Master of Arms. I opened the door.
“Ma’am,” the high-ranking officer said, “May I talk to you alone?”
“Larry, my room key?” I asked.
He reached into his pants pocket and handed me his card and my phone. I handed his room card back.
“We can talk in my room. It’s two doors down this way,” I said.
When he nodded, I began walking in the hallway with the Master of Arms trailing behind me into my cabin.
“First I want to ask if you are all right after your ordeal,” he queried.
“I’m a little sore in my shoulder but it’s okay. Have a seat?” I asked.
“Thank you. Please sit as well.”
I chose the edge of the bed facing him.
“I want you to know that most of your kidnappers have been caught.”
“What do you mean most?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him. My hands tightened into fists.
“One man did escape but we hope he will be picked up in due time.
My heart jumped a beat. I just wanted to crawl and hide somewhere.
“Tell me your story,” he continued. “What happened after you were taken with the woman from the fourteenth deck?” he asked and pulled out a small notebook and pen.
I told him what happened. “There the bearded man, I know to be a Vernon McCarthy, ripped off my necklace and discovered the jewels were fake. You should have told me,” I said.
“We needed you to believe they were real so Mr. McCarthy would believe as well. How did you know his name?
“He tried to get friendly with me a couple of days ago while I was reading my book.”
“What else happened after he discovered the jewels were paste?”
“He, I mean that McCarthy fellow, gagged and tied me onto a chair,” I said and stopped. I didn’t want to tell him about the chair righting itself up by Ivan.
“I managed to fall sideways, hurt my shoulder, and untie the rope around my wrists. Apparently, the restraints had been loosened by the fall. As soon as I got free, I hid behind the hatch door. When the woman returned, I escaped and locked the hatch behind me.
“In my attempt to locate a way out of the cargo hold, I hid in a large trunk, which was brought up to the seventh deck. You can check with the steward on that floor. He got the surprise of his life when I popped out. After I left the trunk, I came right here. I’ve been here in Trisha’s room ever since,” I explained.
He finished taking his notes and stood up.
“Thank you, Mrs. Edwards. Would you sign this form? I’m sure we won’t need to hear your story again for the police but just in case you remember anything, let us know and we can help you through it.”
“Sure, I guess I’d better pack and get ready to leave this ship, and you said my room would be compensated?”
“Yes and the drinks you may have consumed. I can’t say for sure about the tours as they are contracted outside of the Swedish Cruise Line, but I’ll see what can be done. Here is my card if you need to contact me,” he said, handing over the white cardstock with his name and official logo printed on one side.
“Thank you, oh, I have to say goodbye to one of your crewmen, a David Brook. Do you know if he is working somewhere on the ship?”
“Let me check,” he said, pulling out his radiophone and placing a request.
A few seconds later, he received a signal from the phone.
“Yes? Okay, thank you.” He looked up at me and said, “Mr. Brook has today off and has left the ship. Sorry, I do have his address on file and we can forward a message to him.”
“Oh, thank you, I do want to send a note. By the way, have you heard when the Ivan Ramanoff’s funeral will be held?”
“I’m not sure, I was just informed they found his body last night, but how did you know?”
“I guess one of the stewards told me. Well, I must be packing,” I said and gestured for the
