Vanishing Vacationers by Callaghan Hope

Author:Callaghan, Hope [Callaghan, Hope]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2016-01-06T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Millie paced the corridor. It was getting late…almost five in the afternoon and daylight was fading fast. Soon it would be dark.

She had left Dave Patterson a message to contact her as soon as he was back on board the ship.

Oscar told Millie that Patterson had accompanied the two investigators as they searched for the missing Roush family. She knew they would return soon. No sane person would search the jungle after dark.

She had a fleeting thought that perhaps Patterson and the investigators had run into Danielle and the boys…or maybe the “gods” had gotten them, too.

If not, they would have to track down Mrs. Kingman to let her know what had happened. It was time to come clean and tell the grandmother her suspicions. She hoped the boys’ grandmother wouldn’t be too angry with her. After all, Danielle had promised she would not take the boys. Millie could not control Danielle’s actions.

For the tenth time, Millie radioed Oscar. “Anything yet?”

“No. Miss Millie. They have not boarded. It is getting dark,” he said.

“I know Oscar. This isn’t good.” She clipped her radio to her belt, lowered her head and closed her eyes. “Dear God. Please protect Danielle, Nathan and Brandon.”

“I heard you were looking for me.”

Millie’s head shot up. Patterson was back. With him were two men dressed casually in khaki shorts and short-sleeve button-down shirts.

Millie gave them a brief nod and turned to Patterson. “Danielle left the ship early this morning. She was going to search for the Roush family.”

Patterson lifted a hand and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m not surprised. You didn’t want to go with her?”

Millie shook her head. “No. I had to work at noon. I didn’t have time.”

Millie sucked in a breath. “She hasn’t returned.”

Patterson crossed his arms and rocked back on his heels. “Danielle is experienced enough to handle herself.”

“True,” Millie agreed. “The only problem is, is that she’s not alone. She has two young passengers, two boys, with her.”

Patterson’s mouth hardened in a straight line. His eyes bore into Millie’s eyes. “You’re serious.”

“Dead serious,” Millie replied. “The boys followed her off the ship. I can only assume they caught up with her and the three of them are somewhere in the jungle.”

Patterson glanced at the two investigators standing off to the side. “It’s too late to send out a search party now. We will have to wait until morning.”

He went on. “What about the parents? Do they know the boys followed Danielle off the ship?”

Millie sighed. “Kind of. The boys are travelling with their grandmother and their sister. Danielle and the boys told her they were going on a day excursion.”

Millie’s radio crackled. “Millie. Are you there?” It was Nikki from guest services.

Millie plucked the radio from her belt, lifted it to her lips and pressed the button. “I’m here, Nikki. Go ahead.”

“Uh. Mrs. Kingman and her granddaughter, Courtney, are here. They are looking for you…or Danielle. Something about her grandsons not returning to the ship yet.”

Since the ship had docked for the night, guests were free to come and go as they pleased.

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