Laura Marlin Mysteries 2: Kidnap in the Caribbean Read Online Free PDF Page A

in a whisper, asked the steward to call security in case things got ugly. Rolling his eyes at Tariq and Laura, he said: ‘Go ahead, kids. This might take a while.’ He checked Laura’s boarding pass. ‘Deck C, you’re on. Through that door and down two flights of stairs. Cabin 126.’
    As he prepared to face the family once more, Laura heard him mutter: ‘Where’s a good tidal wave when you need one?’
    Laura was very proud of Skye, who throughout this exchange had sat regally beside her. She gave him a big pat as she and Tariq ducked into the stairwell.
    They were halfway down the first set of steps when the boat horn sounded and a message came over the tannoy: ‘Will all visitors and personnel not travelling on the Ocean Empress today please leave the ship immediately.’
    Laura’s phone started ringing. It was Rowenna panicking about the whereabouts of Tariq. ‘Oh, no,’ said Laura, unable to bear the thought of saying farewell to her best friend and her beloved husky. ‘I really wanted to show you around the ship, Tariq. That annoying family delayed us.’
    Tariq hesitated. ‘We’re almost at your cabin. Maybe there’s still time for me to take a quick look inside.’
    Laura snatched at the chance of a temporary reprieve. ‘Oh, I’m sure there is. It’s only going to take a second.’ She sent Rowenna’s call through to Voicemail. ‘Come on, let’s hurry.’
    At the top of the next set of stairs, however, they were forced to slow. The light wasn’t working properly. It flickered on and off and snap, crackled and popped alarmingly. Laura hoped it was not about to burst into flames.
    The crackling stopped abruptly and they were plunged into darkness, Laura gripped the banister with one hand and Skye’s lead with the other. It was silly, she knew, but she felt a bit nervous. She was glad Tariq was right behind her.
    Light bathed the stairwell. A person lay sprawled on the floor of the corridor. Before she could make out whether they were dead or alive, the blackness descended. ‘Did you see that?’ she whispered to Tariq, not sure why she was whispering.
    ‘I know what I think I saw, but I’m really hoping I’m mistaken.’
    The boat horn sounded. The step beneath Laura’s feet rocked slightly. ‘Tariq, you need to go,’ she said into the darkness.
    ‘There’s no way I’m leaving you until I know everything is okay.’
    The light flickered on and Laura gave a cry. Lying at the foot of the stairs was her uncle. Skye bounded forward. Laura and Tariq rushed too, almost falling down the remaining stairs when blackness swallowed them again.
    As soon as the light crackled on, they flew to Calvin Redfern’s side. He was unconscious. His feet were twisted at odd angles and in the space between his trouser bottoms and socks his ankles had already swollen to twice their normal size. The husky licked his face.
    A sob escaped Laura.
    Calvin Redfern stirred. Wincing at the pain, he pushed Skye away and stared up at them groggily. ‘Where am I?’
    ‘On the ship – the Ocean Empress ,’ Laura told him. ‘You’ve had a bad fall. Uncle, Tariq and Skye will stay with you. I’m going to get help.’
    ‘No!’ With surprising strength and speed, his hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. ‘No help and no doctors. No one must know. Promise me.’
    In the instant before the light fizzled out again, Laura caught Tariq’s eye. He looked as startled as she was. ‘I promise,’ she said, not feeling as if she had any choice.
    Her uncle squeezed her hand. ‘Thank you.’
    The corridor flooded with light. Calvin Redfern struggled to sit up. His eyes widened as it dawned on him that not everyone present was meant to be there. ‘What on earth are you doing on the ship, Tariq? You’re supposed to be meeting Rowenna on the jetty. Laura, what’s going on? Why is Skye here?’
    ‘Umm, well, you said not to leave Tariq on his own …’ Laura stammered. ‘I was about to show him our cabin. Everything would