Free Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark Page A

shock wore off, Maggie realized it was the best birthday gift she had ever received. “That lump has been boring me for the past ten years,” she laughingly told her friends, “and I’m the one who gets dumped.” An assistant bank manager, Maggie had resolved to make the most of her free time from that moment on. She had joined the Readers and Writers group and was now delighted to come on the cruise.
    â€œMaggie, we don’t need a murder mystery,” Ivy responded. “Wouldn’t it be fun to try and figure out who would take those Santa Claus suits and why?”
    â€œThat poor cruise director looks a little confused. There were probably only eight suits to start with,” Tommy Lawton, the vice president of the group, commented as he dug into his smoked salmon.
    I believe two suits were stolen, Ivy thought, and I’m going to make it my business to find out what happened. Then I’ll really have an excuse to spend time with the Reillys and the Meehans.
    Everyone agreed that the appetizers and theentrées they’d ordered were delicious. “This food is surprisingly good,” Maggie commented, as the entrées were being cleared. “And it tastes even better because it’s free.”
    The waiter began serving salads.
    Lawton looked perplexed. “Did you forget to pass these around before the main course?”
    â€œNo, sir,” the man sniffed. “This is the way they do it in Paris.”
    â€œNever been there,” Lawton said cheerfully. “Maybe if I win the lottery.”
    Ivy knew that if she had salad she’d never have room for dessert. Pushing back her chair, she playfully whispered, “Don’t say anything interesting till I get back.” As she exited the dining salon, she made a point of waving to the Santas who were seated at the tables along her path. She knew that one of them would be sitting at her table the next night. She couldn’t wait. She hoped it would be Bobby Grimes, the one who had told everybody to watch their wallets. Unless of course the Commodore banned him from wearing a Santa outfit. They’d given Grimes the hook after his outburst.
    After visiting the ladies’ room, Ivy decided to take a quick detour to the Chapel of Repose. It would be nice to include a description of the room in the e-mail she’d send to her mothertonight. No one would be there now, and she’d get a chance to get a good look around in peace and quiet.
    *   *   *
    â€œThis stupid suit makes me itch,” Bull’s-Eye complained. “I’ve got to take it off or I’ll go nuts.”
    They’d been sitting in the dark behind the altar, complaining to each other about how hungry they were.
    â€œThen do it,” Highbridge snapped.
    Bull’s-Eye stood up, removed the jacket and pants, and dropped them on the floor. Clad only in his boxer shorts, he began to stretch his arms and jump up and down. At that precise moment, the door of the chapel opened and the light was flicked on.
    For an instant, Bull’s-Eye and Ivy stared at each other.
    â€œAaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!” Ivy screamed.
    Before Bull’s-Eye could move, Ivy was out the door, her feet flying along the corridor and down the stairs, continuing to shriek as she made her way back to the others.
    â€œNow you’ve done it,” Highbridge said frantically, pulling on his beard and stocking cap. “Get dressed. We’ve got to get out of here.”
    Back in the dining salon, the Santa Cruisers were in for their second shock of the evening.Heads swiveled at the sounds emanating from the approaching Ivy. When she appeared in the doorway, she cried out, “I saw Left Hook Louie’s ghost! He’s in the Chapel of Repose getting ready for another fight! He’s with us on the cruise!!!”
    There was an instant of silence and then the tables with the Oklahoma Readers and Writers burst into laughter.