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

looked at Claire. “It’s more children from the cruise, who should be at home playing on their tricycles,” she commented quietly.
    “Mom, what has gotten into you? I was a child once.”
    “But I took you out to Chuck-E-Cheese for fun, not an island resort.”
    “Mom…” She eyed her with that look that meant don’t be ridiculous .
    The kids brought with them a football, that they could soak in the water to make it heavy and wet for some fun throwing. Zo and Claire watched as the youngsters walked further and further apart from each other, to catch the ball from more exciting distances. The parents sat on the rocks watching them play with smiles on their faces and a basket of goodies.
    “Hi…” The parents waved to Zo and Claire to acknowledge their sole presence.
    “Hello,” Claire said and Zo added, “Hi.”
    “Go long!” the older boy called for his sibling to get ready for a super throw.
    The younger one went right up next to the other side of the rocks, as far as he could go.
    “I’m ready,” the little one called.
    His brother threw the ball with full force. It spun in the air. The little one jumped and missed as the ball was too high over his head.
    “Oh no!” the mom called out as they all saw the ball go up and above some rocks out of sight.
    Claire looked at the boys’ fallen, sad faces. “It’s ok. I’ll get it,” she said.
    Zo just stood there in the water, watching every moment of her daughter exiting the pool and climbing up some rocks.
    Claire reached a plateau of dirt at the top. She was sure the football flew up there in that direction, but could not see it on the very flat and exposed ground. She saw a rocky wall to the right, and shrugging her shoulders, she thought, Maybe it could have gone behind there .
    She walked toward the wall. Hearing some flirtatious laughter between a man and woman, she froze in her steps. Taking a moment to think, she decided to slowly take a peek, just in case she could spot the football at all.
    Claire saw a back of a woman with blond hair, wearing a white bikini and floral wrap-around. “No, you’re so smart,” she said in a syrupy voice.
    They were holding each other and they suddenly started to kiss. Oh dear , Claire thought. Should I be watching this? …No. I just need to look on the ground for the ball .
    “You’re just so perfect, darling. Who could resist?” the man said.
    Claire listened in, her ears like radars, after that comment. Her brown eyes tried to see what the man looked like, but a large-leafed bush spread itself beside his face. She waited a moment, and to her great surprise, he stepped aside, revealing who they were. Her jaw dropped. Quietly, she walked back over to the edge of the rocks to wave her mother to come on up and see.
    “Did you find the football?” the father called out to Claire.
    “No,” she whispered, shaking her head and moving her arms. Honestly, the football could have been a cow patty at that moment, for all she cared.
    “Where’s our ball?” the boys called.
    “Shhh!” Claire put a finger up to her mouth.
    “Where is it?!” they called again.
    Zo quickly got out of the water, seeing the urgency in Claire’s movements and eyes.
    “Where’s our ball?” the older one asked again.
    “It’s gone forever,” Zo blurted out, upset at their obliviousness to her daughter’s request to stay quiet. She then trotted toward the rocks to climb up.
    “Hey,” the little one said and started to cry.
    “Oh, they were just asking,” the father said.
    “Oh, now Junior’s crying,” the mother added. “Come here, baby.” She called him over.
    Zo huffed, speechless, then continued until she reached the top where it leveled out.
    “Come on, kids, let’s go to the big waterfall,” they heard the father add loud enough for Claire and Zo to hear on purpose.
    Claire shook her head and Zo rolled her eyes and whispered, “What?”
    “Just come here.” She motioned quickly.
    The two went to the rock