Page 72 of Below the Deck

Operator: This passenger fell during a patch of rough weather. They requested medical assistance.

M Robert: And this is the same yacht that just reported the deceased passenger on board? You’re sure about that? And the same caller?

Operator: Correct, Chief. Same captain, same crew, same passenger list.

M Robert: Do we know if this was also the passenger – did Captain … ah … Taylor report the casualty’s name to the coastguard?

Operator: Negative, sir.

M Robert: I see. Log the call as a priority notification. I want the full transcript too, please. If they were already on high alert, how did they end up with someone dead?

[TRANSCRIPT ENDS]

SAM

‘Oh, thank God – Sam – you’re here!’

Sam couldn’t make out the face behind the glare of a torch; its beam was ramming into his eyes and making him squint. But he recognized her voice straight away.

‘Lucy?’ he said, unable to disguise the irritation in his voice. ‘What’s going on?’

The squall had moved further off now. Through the fading light drifting through the sky lounge windows, Sam could just make out land on the horizon. There were only a few wisps of white cloud in the dull greyish-blue sky; the worst of the rain had stopped too, leaving only a light drizzle. They would soon approach Raiatea; it wouldn’t be long until they saw theLussoease its way into the bay and drop anchor.

He’d been enjoying a last few moments of solitude on the sofa back up in the sky lounge: a much-needed beat of silence after the chaos of the squall earlier, and his unsettling conversation with Eleni. He was content biding his time alone –waiting for the minutes to tick by until Rory’s hour was up and he could return and force what he wanted out of him.

Sam felt a touch less sure of himself now Eleni had found out about the blackmail – but he was still hopeful he could work on her. Get her to see the mutual benefits of what he’d suggested – it could be career boosts all around, if she just saw sense.

‘We need your help,’ Lucy said, her voice trembling. ‘Right now. Please, Sam – can you come with me below deck?’

Sam sighed.What do they need me for?‘Why? What’s happened?’

Lucy moved the beam of her torch away and Sam’s eyes adjusted in the dim light of the sky lounge to take in her features. Wide-eyed and breathing fast, she looked genuinely panicked.

‘It’s Nick,’ she gasped. ‘He just started going at Talia – attacking her, in her room. I can hear them in there, Sam – I think he’s actually hurting her.’

Sam’s jaw dropped.What the fuck?Nick, trying to hurt Talia? He didn’t seem like the violent type. But then … was it that surprising, really? Nick was cheating on his wife, so clearly he wasn’t a model husband. And he’d spoken to Rory so angrily last night at dinner.

In a flash, Sam remembered the shout of pain he’d heard in one of the cabins the other morning … his heart kicked against his ribcage. Is that what he’d heard – had it beenNickcausing someone to yell out in pain, or fear? How could Sam have missed it? He’d been so focused on finding out what the women could tell him about Rory, he’d not bothered to think much about their own relationships – about the secrets that might be lurking there.

If only hehadput a spy-cam in Nick and Eleni’s cabin. He’d not even considered planting something in Rory’s room,let alone anyone else’s. But if he’d actually done it, then he’d have known what was really going on. And that could have been useful for him too.

‘Sam – please,’ Lucy said again. ‘I can’t find Mark, Rory’s out of action, Eleni’s too scared to help, and I’m not strong enough to fight him off on my own – if Talia’s hurt, then she won’t be able to defend herself.’

‘What about the crew?’ asked Sam. ‘Shouldn’t we go and get the captain, or one of the deckhands? They’re strong lads, they’d be better at—’

‘They’re nowhere to be found!’ Lucy interrupted, flailing her arms around desperately. ‘I’ve looked everywhere. I think they must all be trying to fix the power failure in the engine room. We’re running out of time …’

The crew – and Mark – nowhere to be found?That was weird – shoddy from the captain, right after a squall. But the urgent plea in Lucy’s voice was stirring him. She clearly needed him – badly. This was a role he could step up to. Wasn’t this who he’d always tried to be – wanted to be, if only his own selfish desires hadn’t taken over? A protector of women; a hero; a saviour. Sam knew he’d never be able to take on a guy as built as Nick by himself – but with Lucy and maybe even Eleni to help, and if they could manage to find Mark or one of the deckhands on the way, well, they stood a fighting chance.

‘All right – I’m coming,’ he said. He got up from the sofa and followed Lucy’s quick steps down the first staircase, then down again. She was right: it was like a ghost ship. There was no one to be seen.

As they descended, he caught a flash of colour somewhere close to Lucy’s wrist – as if her hands had taken on a weirdblue tinge. He shrugged it off – the strange effect of the emergency lighting was playing tricks with his mind, probably.

Just as they reached the passageway below deck and approached Rory and Talia’s room, Lucy crouched to the ground for a moment near the doorway. It was an odd movement – as though she was reaching for something – but then she quickly stood again and pressed her ear to the door of the room. She was listening – and Sam did the same.

He heard nothing; the cabin was silent.

‘Look, I think we can open the door ourselves – the locks are deactivated with the power out,’ whispered Lucy.