Page 33 of Deadly Waves

Ally was affronted. “Why are you directing that at me?”

“Because I’ve met you.”

WILL LED the four men down a narrow hallway and into a part of the ship they’d yet to visit. It was the workers’ floor, and the accommodations were much more sparse than in other parts of the ship. James opted not to comment on it.

“Where is the other security?” he asked. “Do you have them out looking for her?”

“Yes,” Will replied. “They’re scouring every floor to make sure she didn’t fall down or get lost.”

James didn’t know why, but he was pretty sure that neither of those were legitimate scenarios. “Can you open her room?”

“It’s right here,” Will said, using a keycard to override the door system. “You might want to knock in case … .”

“I’m on it,” James said, rapping his knuckles against the door. “Zoe? Zoe Walters? It’s James Hardy. I’m with ship security. I’m making entrance into your room because we’re worried and want to do a welfare check.”

James pushed open the door, his face twisting when he got a gander at the ransacked contents inside. Someone had clearly tossed the room, and it was clear that Zoe Walters wasn’t present given the tiny size of the abode.

“Well, I guess that answers that question,” Jake said. “Someone’s definitely been in here.”

“And she’s not in here,” James said. “I think we might have our victim.”

Will fanned himself with the key card. “Oh, dear.”