A Christmas Cruise Murder by Dawn Brookes

Author:Dawn Brookes [Brookes, Dawn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781913065041
Publisher: Oakwood Publishing
Published: 2019-12-19T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

The Bradshaws and Sarah were already seated in the Club Restaurant when Rachel arrived for lunch. She tried hard not to limp, but her right hip was sore and the stitches pulled with every step. The eagle-eyed Mary Bradshaw didn’t miss the signs, as her concerned look showed. Hoping Sarah had made up a cover story, Rachel would wait until the Bradshaws brought it up.

Pash marched ahead of her at speed, pretending not to notice the limp, but she was certain he had seen it when she went to the desk – if he hadn’t been the cause of it in the first place. He was the most ambitious among the waiters and high up on her suspect list, not to mention the fact she found him hard to like.

“Trust your instinct,” her father had always told her as she was growing up. “It will keep you out of many a tricky situation.” The advice had become a major part of who she was and often helped her solve crimes, both on and off cruise ships, but it would never be as reliable as good, solid evidence.

“Hello, Rachel. Sarah told us about your accident this morning. I hope you haven’t done yourself too much damage?” Mary Bradshaw clasped her hand as Rachel gingerly sat down.

“No, just a few grazes, that’s all. I’m fine.”

Gilbert Bradshaw winked. “You should stay away from slippery running tracks early in the morning. Sarah says you were fiddling with your earphones when you slipped. There’s a lot of moisture in the air at this time of year.”

“Anyway, Mum, Dad,” said Sarah, “I’m starving. What are we going to eat?”

At that moment, Mishka arrived to take their order. Having escaped any further enquiries about her ‘fall’, Rachel relaxed and enjoyed lunch while keeping one eye on how the waiters were behaving. Pash was attentive to the Bradshaws, but almost rude to Rachel, and he was definitely avoiding eye contact. Mary asked him about his home and Rachel was surprised to hear that he had a wife and four children whom he supported by sending money home each month.

“It must get lonely without your family, especially as they’re so young.”

I think he more than compensates with the casino manager’s wife, thought Rachel, trying hard not to express her distaste when he answered.

“I miss them every day, ma’am. The children are so good and my wife is beautiful. Never a day goes by when I don’t think of them, but we are poor in India and the money I earn here is much better than I would get at home.”

“Poor man,” said Mary after he’d left. “I don’t know how he copes, being away from his children. We miss you, Sarah, and you’re an adult; it must be impossible to be without his wife and children.”

“I’m sure he manages.” Rachel heard herself reacting in a way she wouldn’t normally do; perhaps it was due to the pain in her hip, but it didn’t escape Sarah’s notice. Rachel saw her friend raise her eyebrows and give her a warning look.

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