Mystral Murder (Julie O'Hara Mystery Series) Read Online Free PDF

headache and wondered if it was from the wine she’d consumed. What was it, four or five glasses? Four: two at dinner and two at the Top Hat. Or maybe it was the sleeping pill. 
    Probably both. I don’t think I’ll take those pills again. I still feel tired.
    The angry words with Joe in the nightclub came back to her. She was sorry about their fight.  He didn’t really fight, she reminded herself .  He just wanted to keep drinking .  I better get back to the cabin. He may be worried about me. Or maybe he’s not. Oh, hell, I’m worried about him.
    Julie folded the blanket and put it back in the cabinet and then made her way back to the elevators. Along the way she noted that Horizons had activity and lights on inside, but wasn’t open yet for breakfast. These crew members must get up in the middle of the night to prepare all the food. Exiting the elevator on Deck 10, she passed her cabin steward, Miguel, who seemed to be on call twenty-four hours a day. When does he sleep? She wished him a good morning.
    And then she stopped, not wanting to open the door.
    What if he isn’t here?
    She steeled herself for the possibility and went in.
    Joe was there, all right.  Fully clothed, sprawled across the bed, along with a few small, empty liquor bottles from the mini-bar. The rest of the single-shot empties were scattered here and there. Julie sank into the armchair.
    What am I going to do? This ship is full of duty free liquor and bars. How can he possibly get sober here? Julie sat there looking at Joe, choking back a sob as tears welled in her eyes.
    Stop it! This isn’t up to you; it’s up to Joe. You’re not giving him enough credit! Orlando’s full of bars and liquor stores, too. Joe is strong; all he needs is an AA meeting!  Oh, God. That’s what he needs. Do they have them on ships?
    She picked up “Day Four” of the Mystral Bulletin, the ship’s daily itinerary, wiping her eyes so she could read it. There was nothing in it about AA. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have meetings. Why wouldn’t they? This ship is like a city!
    Julie grabbed the phone and called the desk.
    “Hi. Look…ah…I have a friend who needs an AA meeting.  Do they have them on the ship?  Right, Alcoholics Anonymous.” Please, God. “In the Bulletin, under the founder’s name? Okay. That’s great, great. Thank you so much.”
    There it was, right on the last page: “Friends of Bill W. meet at 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, Deck 2, Conference Room A”.  Now all she had to do was stay close to Joe until ten.
    Julie gathered the empty bottles and threw them in the trash. One by one, she took off Joe’s shoes. When he didn’t stir, she worked him out of his jacket, noting that he’d already lost the tie and unbuttoned his shirt. Then she stretched out next to him and put her arm over him.
    I love you, Joe.
    ***
     
    She was awakened by a tone, followed by the ship’s intercom :
     
    “PAGING ADRIENNE PARADIS.  PLEASE JOIN YOUR PORT CHARLOTTE AMALIE GROUP, GANGWAY ON DECK FOUR.  ADRIENNE PARADIS TO GANGWAY, DECK FOUR”.
     
    Julie realized they were docked in St. Thomas.  She hoped it wouldn’t make any difference to the “friends of Bill W.” She got up and quickly washed, brushed her teeth and changed her clothes.
    “Joe. Joe,” she said, gently shaking his shoulder. “Wake up. It’s eight o’clock.”
    “Hmm? Wha?”
    “It’s eight. We have to go somewhere, honey. Why don’t you go get in the shower while I make some coffee? We’ll have it out on the balcony, okay?”
    “Okay.” Joe pushed himself up to a sitting position and saw that he was still wearing his clothes.  A heartbreaking look of guilt and shame took over his face.  “Is everything all right?”
    “Yeah.” Julie said gently, “Go take your shower.”
    * * * * *
     
     
    CHAPTER 11
    T hey found Conference Room A and knocked on the door. It was opened right away by a man who was wearing a tan ship’s uniform.  He was a big guy with an even