Cruise to Murder (Z & C Mysteries, #2) Read Online Free

day of play on the island. We are staying the night tonight, so stay on the island as late this evening as you wish. Please enjoy your day. And thank you again for choosing The Sunburst for your cruise getaway.”
    Although the captain was speaking happy words, his voice came across as dull and uninterested.
    “It is probably his bedtime now,” Zo commented.
    Finally, they were ready, and were exiting their suite, when out from the suite to their left came Kathryn again.
    “Hey, Kathryn! We saw you having fun last night.” Zo smiled.
    “You bet. Did you get to talk to the Belmonts?”
    “No, not yet,” said Claire.
    “Well, I don’t think you could have had much of a conversation with them last night anyway. They were pretty well sloshed up in drinks, when I last saw them. I left the lounge before them, ya know. I know my limit.”
    Zo and Claire leaned forward, ready to hear more details.
    “Glad to see you girls again, but I’ve got to run. I’m late. See you around.” She hurried down the hallway.
    “Well, I thought I heard them clankin’ around last night,” Claire remembered. “They must have been really, really drunk, like Kathryn said.”
    “Well, on the ship is the best time for partying I guess. No drinking and driving.”
    “Hm…” Claire nodded in agreement.
    “But the Belmont’s seem like such a perfect couple. I can’t see them getting slap-silly drunk, unless they were alone I suppose.”
    “That’s what I was thinking. Anyway, Mother, do you think that I will be able to see Mr. Belmont today? I would really like to talk to him about my experience in journalism, if not just to meet the man face-to-face and get a handshake.”
    “I think you will at least get a handshake out of him during the trip.”
    “The odds are good. But maybe I should just wait outside his door until he gets out.”
    “Yeah right,” Zo said, then her eyes brightened. “But I have an idea!”
    “What?!”
    Zo opened her purse and fumbled through the mess inside until she came upon a piece of paper and a pen.
    “What are you thinking , Mother? Write him a note?”
    “Precisely!”
    “No, Mom!” she whispered loudly with embarrassment. “We aren’t going to write him a letter. I’ll just run into him by accident like you said.”
    Zo put the paper on the wall between the two stateroom’s doors and began to write.
    “Please, Mom. I was kidding about waiting outside of his room.” She tried to grab the pen, but Zo moved and quickly finished.
    “ I’m writing him a letter, not you, Claire.”
    “But you are my mother and that will look ridiculous and desperate. I’m begging you.” Claire clenched her fists, pleading.
    “How are you my daughter? You have really got to loosen up, my dear.” She folded the note in half.
    “At least tell me what it said.” Claire followed her to where she was about to slide it under Belmont’s door.
    “It says, ‘Your neighbors, Zoey and Claire Kane—in room 202— are inviting you to a small midnight party in their stateroom. Hope to see you there!’” She quickly pushed it under the door.
    “How silly,” Claire said. “Do you think they’ll actually come?” Her voice became serious with hope.
    “You never know unless you ask.”
    “You said ‘party.’ Who else will be our guests?”
    Just then a group of ladies in red hats came out of two other suites across from them, promptly followed by a group of young ladies wearing pink hats.
    Zo’s golden brown eyes looked keenly at them. “Oh, ladies!” They turned to see her. “There’s going to be a midnight party in our stateroom. You’re all invited.”
    “Really?” They chirped and commented amongst themselves cheerfully.
    “Are there going to be games?” one, most elderly, woman asked.
    “Absolutely,” Zo said.
    Claire’s face became hot. She could barely look the women in their faces.
    “So, I hope to see you all tonight. Mr. Belmont and his wife are invited also; so, they may