Ginger hurried back to the upper deck, letting out a breath of relief as she got farther away from Babineaux. She’d checked over her shoulder several times to ensure he hadn’t followed her.

Unlike when she’d left the ball to journey down to the pantry, passengers now filled the corridors and streamed past her. Had the dance ended already?

Ginger sensed there was something more drastic going on. The facial expressions weren’t those of folks who’d just enjoyed a pleasant evening of dance, drink, and socialisation. Worry and distress seemed to weigh the crowd down. She observed Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild.

“What’s happening?” Ginger asked them.

Mrs. Fairchild answered with high-pitched anxiety. “Officer MacIntosh put an end to the dance because we’re heading into a storm. He wants everyone to return to their rooms. It’s quite dreadful!”

Her husband reassured her. “Now, now, dear. The good fellow said it was just a precaution for our own safety.” He looked at Ginger as if he feared he’d have to comfort another hysterical woman. “It’s a light storm, soon to pass.”

Ginger reined in her shock at hearing the man’s voice. Things must be quite dire for him to feel the need to speak up.

“I’m sure you’re right,” Ginger said. Her stomach clenched at the news, and she wasted no time returning to Haley and Boss. Indeed, the wind had picked up tremendously, blowing ocean spray onto the outdoor corridor. Rain quickly grew from a drizzle to heavy droplets.

“You’re back early,” Haley said when Ginger arrived. “I thought these kinds of things went well into the wee hours of the morning.” Then, before Ginger could respond, she stared at her soaked gown. “What happened to you?”

“Officer MacIntosh shut down the dance because of an imminent storm. It’s pouring outside.”

“Is it? I hadn’t noticed.”

That didn’t surprise Ginger. Haley tuned out the world when she was lost in her studies.

Ginger removed her wet clothing and replaced her gown with a simple day dress. Though it was late enough to put on one’s nightclothes, Ginger didn’t feel it would be prudent with a storm brewing. One didn’t know what would happen or whom one might meet.

“How bad is it?” Haley enquired.

“I wasn’t actually in the ballroom when the announcement was made. I was informed by Mr. Fairchild that it’s not serious, and everyone being sent to their rooms was just a precaution.”

Haley lifted her chin. “Wouldn’t want to risk anyone accidentally falling overboard.”

Ginger checked the lock on the door to ensure it was secure. “The storm could provide an opportunity for someone to dispose of an inconvenient acquaintance.”

“Are you worried about your own safety?” Haley asked.

“It never hurts to be cautious. Something unnerving occurred this evening between myself and Babineaux.”

Haley leaned forwards. “Do tell.”

Ginger recounted the incident with the cook in the cool pantry.

“You should’ve come for me first,” Haley  said with a frown. “You could quite easily be shark food by now if he hadn’t fallen for your pistol bluff.”

“From what I could tell, the kitchen staff was occupied with the dance buffet,” Ginger explained. “I honestly thought I could slip in, look around, and be out again in minutes. Babineaux must’ve been watching my movements and followed me.”

“Highly suspicious.”

Before Ginger could reply, the ship swayed, and Haley’s books slid off the table. Boss’s head perked up, and he let out a soft howl.

“It’s okay, Bossy.” Ginger placed him on her lap and snuggled his face, finding comfort in his soft fur.

Haley retrieved her books, returning them to the table just as the ship banked on the other side, sending her books in the other direction. “I think we should batten down the hatches,” she said, collecting the stray books for a second time and locking them in one of the drawers in the sideboard. “At least the candlesticks are secured.”

“Do you mind putting my shoes away?” Ginger said. “I don’t want to let go of Boss.”

Haley picked up the shoes and locked them in the wardrobe while stating, “Would hate to get hit in the head with one of these heels.”

Again, the ship lurched sharply, and the tower of hat boxes in the corner tumbled over, showering Ginger’s hats over the room. She cringed at the sight of all her beloved headwear strewn across the floor, unprotected. Before she could gather them up, the ship rocked violently again.

“Hang on!” Haley said.

Ginger held Boss tightly to her chest as she desperately clung to the brass railing that was secured to the wall.

The electric lights blew, casting them into darkness.

Oh, mercy!

The storm experience was reminiscent of her voyage in 1918 from Port du Le Havre to Boston Harbor. The ship had hit bad weather mid-Atlantic and tossed Ginger about her room, damaging her arm. She had been certain she was about to join her husband in heaven. Her stomach had heaved so mightily that she was thankful for the opportunity to act unladylike into a bucket. Thinking about it now made her brow break into a sweat. Ginger had faced many dangers in the past, but none frightened her as much as the thought of death by drowning.

“Are you all right?” Haley asked, bracing herself against the brass rail on the other side of the room.

“I will be. I just don’t like the idea of perishing at sea.”

“We’re not going to per—” The bow raised sharply in a dangerous angle. Both Ginger and Haley lost their grip and were flung across the room. Fortunately, they rolled in the direction of the beds and crashed into their soft surfaces. Boss yelped as he fell to the floor.

“Boss!”

The ship levelled, allowing the poor hound to run to Ginger. If he’d had a tail, Ginger wouldn’t doubt it would be situated between his legs in fear.

“Haley, if we die tonight, I want you to know I love you as a sister.”

“Oh, Ginger. You know I feel the same, but we’re not going to die.”

“How do you know?”

“Gut feeling. Besides, we can’t die without first clearing your name.”

“So right, Nurse Higgins.”

The storm persisted in its intensity for a good hour. Ginger’s legs tired from constantly bracing herself, and she was grateful she hadn’t eaten much that evening. No doubt there would be some unpleasant messes to clean up when this was over.

The wind and rain eventually eased, and Haley lit the candles. Ginger comforted Boss whilst greedily being comforted in return. She felt for Haley, who had no one to hold.

Ginger lifted Boss towards her. “Would you like a turn?”

Haley snorted lightly. “I’ll pass.” After helping Ginger collect her hats and deposit them back in their corresponding boxes, she returned her books to the table. “I guess I’ll have to study by candlelight.”

Ginger rested in her bed with Boss tucked in beside her, her mind a jumble of thoughts. She considered the revelation made by Chief Inspector Reed, and his suspicions about her personal life. Had the mystery attached to her name made her more of a suspect in the chief inspector’s mind, or less so?

Then there was Babineaux—who now jumped to the top of the suspect list. He had motive and opportunity, but Ginger still lacked a reason for his keeping the corpse rather than disposing of it. Haley’s suggestion that a crime mob might be involved had merit. It was quite possible that Babineaux needed to prove to someone that the death had occurred.

However, if that was the case, it didn’t make sense why he’d reveal the body in the first place. Had he not pointed it out, everyone would’ve assumed the captain ended up overboard.

“I think I’m going to call it a night,” Haley said as she closed her books and put her pencils away in a drawer. Ginger agreed and replaced her day dress with her nightclothes. After cleaning up in the lavatory, she tucked into bed. The ship’s lurching calmed to a rhythmic rocking, and hopefully would help lull her to sleep.

Haley blew out the candles and said good night.

Ginger was about to respond in kind when she remembered.

“Haley, I almost forgot to tell you. Someone left me a note.”

Ginger heard Haley shift her body weight to face her. “What did it say?”

“‘If you know what’s good for you, you’ll mind your own business.’”