Free Cruise to Murder (Z & C Mysteries, #2) by Zoey Kane, Claire Kane Page B

once she saw that Mike had gone into another room. She tiptoed across the way and unlatched the window and returned back out the door, pulling it shut quietly.
    “I don’t like it when you take chances like that, Mom.” They waited what seemed like an hour sitting down and whispering together. Finally, Mike came out, locked the door, got into his car and drove away.
    With some effort and Zo bruising an elbow , they both got inside. The house seemed empty. It hadn’t been swept or dusted in what looked like years. As they explored, they found a kitchen with rust stains on the sink and cracked linoleum. An entryway from the kitchen led to stairs going up and to another dusty, empty room on the left, which was probably at one time a bedroom. To the right was another bedroom, which was neatly clean with a desk and cabinets. Looking around they found maps with no marks on them, pencils, pens, a stapler—nothing at all unique. The files and cabinets were empty.
    “This is not what I expected from a billionaire,” Claire remarked.
    “I agree. This place is not treated like the tropical island getaway that it could be.”
    Claire looked disappointed, then spotted something of interest. “Wait, Mom! Do you see how polished that one brass light switch is? Look at the rest—dirty, dull and unremarkable.”
    Zo took that as an invitation to push it, top and bottom. No results; nothing.
    “It looks like a dead end ,” she said, flicking the light plate with a fingernail as she stood thinking.
    “ The only thing that is out of the ordinary is the coincidence of Mike being here. Weird!” She gave one really exasperated hard flick against the switch plate with her nail and it swung open. Behind it was a two-by-three inch indentation that had another push button. Claire pushed it. A portion of a wood-paneled wall opened like a door and revealed three shelves.

    CHAPTER NINE
     
    The two looked at each other with smiles.
    “What have we got here?” Zo said.
    “Ha! I know where your broach is , Mom.” Claire spotted it among other things on a shelf.
    “ Quick, let’s take pictures with your phone of everything here. Don’t touch anything unless you put it right back how it was.”
    Claire got busy, opening different documents and taking pictures. On a spurt of excitement, Zo took back the broach, pinning it to the inside of her shirt. Before they left, they relocked the window they came through, and locked the front door from the inside and pulled it shut. Then Claire took pictures of the outside of the house and the grounds.
     
    They were so glad to get back to their cabin aboard ship. Both took steamy showers and ordered their meals in. It was true what Larry said; the captain on the intercom stated that Customs was not letting anyone off the ship and that there would be an extra party arranged on the main deck with dancing and entertainment the next day.
    “At least we know one thing ; that one of the people at our table took my broach. Who do you think it was, Claire?”
    “I think it was Mike. He after all was the one who drove to the cottage with a key .”
    After the two enjoyed their dinner they decided to browse through the shops. Then they would order tea and cookies and go through Claire ’s pictures. They looked at hats, jewelry, scarves, belts, candy, and art work. A quartet was singing in a nearby lounge, adding ambiance to the fun.
    “I’m going to go down to the medical statio n on the third deck and get something soothing for my throat.” Zo rubbed her neck. “It’s beginning to tickle like I’m due for more coughing.”
    “I’m getting tired , Mom. I think I will go back to the room after I purchase this wallet and take a nap, before all the entertainment tonight.”
    “Okay, I’ll see you there.”
    Zo decided she better go to the restroom first. After finishing up, washing her hands, and then exiting, her eyes caught a glimpse of something from the island that interested her. She stopped in