Cold Grave Read Online Free PDF

many hot chicks after a good time?’ Sunglasses were fixed to the friend’s eyes. ‘So where do they keep the champagne cocktails?’
    ‘I don’t feel so good,’ the third one said. His shirt was clearly inside out. Without warning, he ran toward the exit, hand to his mouth. His friends laughed then disappeared out the balcony door.
    ‘Were they the ones from your corridor?’ Anya asked.
    Martin shook his head. ‘Sounds like it was a huge night all over. If this keeps up, it’s going to be a very long fortnight.’
    Anya felt sorry for him. Clearly, things weren’t going well with his girlfriend, he had been kept awake and intimidated by other passengers, and by being a good Samaritan, had exposed himself to the risk of serious infection.
    A group of young women, all wearing sunglasses, silently traipsed to the juice bar. They, too, looked like they’d been up all night.
    ‘Maybe we’re the odd ones out. Somewhere along the line, we must have got old,’ Martin mused before consuming the last of his pancakes.
    Anya disagreed. ‘We just grew up. We had to. We’ve seen too many lives ruined by excess alcohol and stupidity, on what should have been a fun night out.’
    ‘Casualty and the Saturday Night Specials.’ He chewed and swallowed. ‘You know, I used to begrudge having to work those shifts, plus Christmas and New Year because I didn’t have a family back then. Truth was, I hated seeing lives destroyed by drunk drivers, senseless brawls and overdoses.’
    ‘We were lucky. In our day, people used their fists, now young guys carry knives and guns.’
    ‘I worry about Ben, Annie. How do we protect him?’
    She had wondered the same thing. ‘By encouraging other interests, like you’re already doing. Swimming, sport, study, weekends away, holidays, like this one. And show by example. It’s all we can do.’
    ‘You’re right.’ He locked eyes and Anya felt an intensity she hadn’t seen since they had separated. She wasn’t sure how to respond so she looked away.
    ‘Maybe you should head back to bed for a couple of hours and catch up on your sleep. You can use our cabin. I can check on Ben and—’
    Martin finished the last morsel on his plate and patted his belly. ‘After that meal, I should go for two runs, but a snooze does sound like a good idea. My cabin will be fine, but thanks for the offer.’
    He stood and left, while Anya chose to stay and finish her water. From her reading, a few years ago, people would average a one-and-a-half-pound weight gain during a week-long cruise. Now, it was more like three times that amount. Judging by the amount of food, even on kids’ plates, it was easy to see why.
    A table nearby was cleared. Two women sat with their meals and a clean-shaven man in a gaudy shirt quickly homed in. The conversation was loud enough for everyone to hear.
    ‘Hey ladies, fancy coming back to my cabin for a bit of one-on-one, or should I say, two-on-one?’ He did a pelvic thrust and made a ‘V’ with his hands pointing to his crotch. A mother shielded her young daughter’s ears and told her husband to hurry and finish his food.
    ‘Come on.’ He invited himself to a seat. ‘You came here for a good time, I can make all your dreams come true, ladies.’
    Anya found it difficult to believe that anyone would think a pick-up line like that would work.
    One of the women giggled and covered her mouth. The other didn’t appear impressed.
    ‘Thanks, but we’ve got boyfriends back home.’
    ‘So? Some of us have got wives, but it’s cool. What happens on a cruise stays on the cruise, if you know what I mean.’
    Within moments, the surrounding tables seemed to empty of families. There was something beyond annoying about the man’s arrogance.
    The two women excused themselves and left, despite vocal protests from the man. Anya saw him look her way, and decided it was a good time to check on Ben.
    As she left the buffet area, William approached.
    ‘Doctor Crichton, I’m