The other floors held guest rooms, a large dining area, multiple decks to sit out on and enjoy the views, even a swimming pool. There was also a lounge with couches and seats. Juliet concluded that’s where the auction would probably be held.
All and all, their walk gave them lots to see and admire, but very little info in terms of strategy.
Now they were back in their room, dressing for dinner. Juliet tried not to let the thought of cameras spying on them from somewhere in the room bother her, but it did. She changed clothes as quickly as she could.
Her dress wasn’t formal or particularly fancy, but Juliet knew she looked good in it. The quintessential little black dress, but in a rich plum color instead, the perfect foil for her blond hair. The dress fell to just above her knees and had a slightly naughty V neckline. Nude-colored, high-heeled sandals completed the outfit.
“Wow.” Evan was slowly looking her up and down. “I’m not sure we’re going to make it out of this room.”
Juliet smiled. “Too much?”
He shook his head slowly. “No. Definitely no. Just enough.”
Juliet loved the hungry look in Evan’s eyes. She never thought she’d let someone close enough to see that look again.
Evan himself looked dashing in his jeans and black T-shirt, coupled with a stylish beige sports coat. He offered his arm. “Shall we go to dinner?”
Juliet hooked her arm through his. It was almost as if they were on a date, except for the being on board a ship miles from land, with over a dozen known criminals.
The plan while they were at dinner was for Evan to corner Morel and make some barely veiled threats about the emails. After all, Bob was Lisa’s husband. He wouldn’t like for her to be receiving emails of that type from anyone.
She’d already received three more since her arrival at Cady’s house this morning. The emails were escalating in number, in tone, in desperation. Juliet had turned off notifications for when she received an email, but she was still able to check them manually, which she’d done just before dinner.
She and Evan had gone over them together. And while they no longer caused that sick feeling of dread to course through her, she still hated reading them. Especially hated the word sweetheart.
Hopefully, Bob’s talk with Morel would eliminate the email problem altogether, or at least while they were working this case.
Dinner went smoothly, with Vince Cady announcing that the auction for the different items, including the drone codes, would take place the next afternoon. After dinner, they were herded, gently and tastefully, of course, by the staff into the large sitting room. It opened out to the water and people milled around with their drinks and desserts.
Juliet spoke with Maria Cady for a while, mostly just polite chitchat. The woman seemed very tight-lipped. Juliet wondered how much she knew about her husband’s business. Did she know what was really going on here? Did she deliberately turn a blind eye? Ultimately, it wouldn’t really matter.
Juliet noticed Evan talking to Morel across the room. Part of her wanted to go over and stand by Evan while he let Morel have it, but the bigger part of her wanted to stay away from the man completely. Just looking at him brought up memories of the Avilo brothers, making her stomach turn.
Juliet gave a polite excuse to Maria and went to stand outside near the railing. It was peaceful out here, darker and cooler, with no need to talk or even listen to other voices. Juliet breathed in the fresh night air and her stomach settled. She could handle this.
The sound of a match being lit just a few feet away startled her. She turned and saw Christopher Cady’s face as he brought the flame up to his slim cigar. He took a couple steps toward her.
Juliet started to back up, but forced herself to stop.
Don’t panic. You’re fine.
“Enjoying the peace and quiet out here?” Christopher asked.
He’s just a man talking to a woman. Making conversation. Don’t panic.
But tension suffused her body. “Yeah, it’s a nice night and it got a little stuffy inside. So I decided to come out so I could be alone.” Juliet hoped he would get the hint.
But no. Instead, Christopher took a step closer. “It’s beautiful out here, isn’t it? I love boats. They can take you to lots of private places, romantic places.”
Juliet just stared at the man. Lisa Sinclair was married, for heaven’s sake. Was Christopher hitting on her? She took another step farther away. Unfortunately, this led her into a little more darkness.
Even more unfortunately, Christopher took another step toward her. Juliet looked over to the main room where everyone was talking and mulling around. No one, not even Evan, was looking this way or paying her and Christopher the slightest bit of attention.
“I think I’m going to go back inside,” Juliet said. She didn’t want to be rude to Vince Cady’s son, but didn’t want to stay out here alone with him, either. He gave her the creeps, and the sweet smell of his thin cigar soured her stomach. “Bob will wonder where I am if I stay away too long.”
Christopher leaned forward and grabbed her arm where it rested on the railing. “Bob is a fool to allow you to be out here alone at all. No one should leave a woman as beautiful as you unattended.”
Juliet’s panic spiked at the feel of Christopher’s hand on her. But she forced herself to ease away rather than yank. “I have to go.”
“I would like you to stay and talk to me. I can tell you more about the boat. There’s lots of interesting facts about it you don’t know. Of course, some are better shown.”
Juliet turned away. “No, thanks.”
But Christopher wasn’t interested in taking no for an answer. He grabbed her arm again, just above the elbow. Juliet cringed, her
