Page 47 of Below the Deck

M Robert: Leilani, how much do crew members know about the guests who come on board during a charter?

Mme Bambridge: Ah, well – we get a preference sheet for everyone. It tells us the kinds of things they like to eat, and anything they don’t like. And they tell us in there about what they’d like to do on their trip. The captain also gets a bit of background information about the primaries – you know, what they do, where they come from, any special occasions taking place during their charter. That kind of thing.

M Robert: And the captain shares all this kind of information with you?

Mme Bambridge: Yes, monsieur. We have a meeting the day before the charter starts, usually, and we go over it all then.

M Robert: That was the case with this trip?

Mme Bambridge: That’s right – there was nothing unusual. Nothingto worry about – no allergies or over-the-top requests.

M Robert: But you wouldn’t learn things like whether any of the guests have a criminal record, for example? Or if they’d been arrested, suspected of crimes in the past – things like that?

Mme Bambridge: Oh, no. No, never. We don’t ask about things like that, and we don’t expect to find them out, either. If they’re paying good money to be there, well then … how they live their lives when they’re not on board the yacht is not our business.

M Robert: Yes, that’s as I thought. So is it a surprise that we learned one of the guests on this particular charter had a previous arrest for assault on their background checks?

Mme Bambridge: No, honestly. I can believe it of some of those men.

M Robert: But it wasn’t a man. It was one of your female guests. She was arrested for attacking a male victim. So, you can see why we need to investigate this more thoroughly …

Mme Bambridge: Excuse me? One of the women has been arrested in the past? For assault, you said …

M Robert: Leilani, you seem distressed. Are you all right? What’s upset you?

Mme Bambridge: No … no – it’s just – it’s what you just said. It turned everything upside down – you see? Topsy-turvy? Just like a boat in a storm … I’m sorry, monsieur, I need some air. Please …

M Robert: Interview terminated at 19:19.

[TRANSCRIPT ENDS]

ELENI

Nick was just leaving their cabin as Eleni reached the bottom of the stairs below deck.

He stepped out into the corridor and lit up as he saw her; Eleni’s stomach did its usual flip-flop. Even hungover, with dark circles under his eyes and messy hair and unbrushed teeth, he was the most beautiful man she’d ever laid eyes on.

‘How are you feeling?’ she asked. ‘Are you heading up for some breakfast?’

‘Yeah, and coffee. All the coffee.’ He kissed the top of her head. ‘You already been up?’

‘Yep. I’m sorry – I was hungry, and I didn’t want to wake you.’

‘You going to stay here in the cabin while I eat?’

Eleni nodded. ‘I think so. I can wait for you, then we’ll decide what to do on the sail. See you in a bit?’

‘Yeah.’ He gazed at her for a moment. ‘I’m sorry about last night. You know I love you, don’t you?’

‘Of course, Nick.’

‘And?’

‘And … I love you too.’

Back in the cabin alone, Eleni sat on the bed and tried to hold back the tears of frustration and fear that threatened to overwhelm her. How could this be their last day? How was she still floundering; missing every possible opportunity to bring her plans to fruition? She took her phone out of her bag and listened to her sister’s message again, out loud this time.

‘Try to stop worrying, sis. I know it’s hard, but – everything’s going fine. Not much longer to go – you can do this.’