Page 147 of So, I Met This Guy . . .

Only, he was never going to do that. Doing that meant you had to accept you were wrong and express remorse. Doing that would mean getting caught. And fraudsters don’t like getting caught.

‘Watch out!’

Re-entering the room, Philip the Butler called out a warning but it was too late.

It all happened so quickly. A flurry of movement as he leapt up from the sofa. A scream from Birdy as he pushed past her, knocking the drink from her hand, the glass smashing against the coffee table, her face not far behind. Blood splattering on the carpet. Call a doctor. Call security. Oh my God. Are you OK? Everyone rushing to help her. No one looking at him as the door was flung open and he made a break for it. Go after him. Don’t let him escape. Stay still, let me get some ice. You’ve cut your face. It’s just a small gash. Where’s my jewellery box? Ma’am, please don’t worry. My diamonds! He’s stolen my diamonds! Flick and Maggie running after him down the corridor. Quick, hurry. Don’t let him get away.

Up on the top deck the party is in full swing. It’s the last night on the cruise ship and all the passengers have gathered for the Dancing Under the Stars extravaganza. The live band is excellent and everyone is dancing, having a good time, making the most of their drinks package to consume as many cocktails as they can before they reach dry land. They’re going to have hangovers tomorrow, but who cares? The night is young! Tonight’s about having fun!

Oh look, people are jumping fully clothed into the pool already! Wow, tonight really got crazy. Wait, what are those two women in evening gowns doing? Running across the deck, they’re shouting something but no one can hear them above the sound of the music. It looks like they’re chasing someone. And is that security? Hang on, is that a man up by the railing? What’s he doing? Oh my God, is he going to jump?

A blink and he’s there, the next he’s gone. A loud scream goes up from the crowd.

‘Man overboard!’

The Morning After

They finally sail into Lisbon, much later than expected. They were delayed as the cruise ship went back to search after Theo jumped, but despite frantic search parties, he’s still missing.

‘I wonder what’s happening.’

‘We haven’t heard anything yet, we just have to wait.’

‘Do you think they’ll find him?’ asks Flick, worried.

‘There’s a chance he could have been picked up,’ replies Maggie. ‘I overheard someone saying it once happened before when a man spent twenty-two hours in the water but survived and was picked up by another cruise ship.’

Maggie and Flick are sitting out on deck on a couple of sun loungers, watching as the cruise ship slowly makes its way into port, where the local police are waiting to interview everyone. It’s been a long night and they’ve barely had any sleep. After the call of man overboard, it had been chaos. Everyone had sprung into action, but it takes a while for a cruise ship that size to stop and turn around to go back to look for someone in the water, so the captain had sent out calls to other vessels in the vicinity. But still, nothing.

Still in shock, they’ve been up early giving statements to the ship’s security team, plus the UK International Crime Bureau. A liaison officer had contacted them after receiving information that a man wanted for questioning in connection with fraud was a passenger on the Galaxy Goddess. That information was thanks to Flick and Maggie, who had spent the day before making calls to Tariq, Flick’s contact at the local constabulary back in Lancashire, and emailing the detective Maggie had spoken to when she’d first reported Theo. They’d also informed the ship’s captain that a man under investigation for an alleged criminal offence was on board, who in turn had informed his security team.

It had taken some organization, but they’d needed to ensure they had everything in place, that they’d ticked every box, prepared for every eventuality, before they confronted him. What neither Maggie nor Flick had factored in was that Theo would do anything to avoid being caught and arrested. Even jump into the ocean.

‘According to these statistics, only 22 per cent get rescued,’ says Flick, reading from her phone.

‘Let’s not jump to conclusions, no pun intended,’ says a voice behind them.

A shadow is cast over them and they both turn to see Birdy, in a huge sunhat and dark glasses, a bandage on her cheek.

‘According to my butler, rumour has it below decks that he was rescued by a trawler and made it back to shore, where he’s now on the run.’

‘Birdy, how are you? How’s your face?’

‘Oh, I’ll live. A small gash and a few bruises. Nothing I haven’t experienced before in the name of beauty. The rather handsome doctor on board said I didn’t need stitches. I said are you sure? I think I could do with a little tightening.’ She breaks off and laughs. ‘Still, I don’t want to scar, so it’s a good excuse to pay a visit to my cosmetic surgeon in New York. I fly home tomorrow.’

‘So do you think he’s been found and is still alive?’ Flick looks at Birdy hopefully. Despite everything that’s happened, no one wants him dead. Not even Maggie, though there were times when she sure as hell did.

‘Put it this way, I don’t think a man like Theo C. Stratin will be swimming with the fishes just yet.’

Flick’s phone starts ringing. ‘I’ve got to take this.’ She waves her phone; Colin’s name is flashing up on the screen. ‘It’s my dad.’

That she called Colin her dad isn’t lost on anyone.

‘Go ahead,’ says Maggie, smiling.

As Flick steps away, Maggie turns to Birdy. ‘I hope she’s going to be OK. You know she only lost her mum six months ago and now this . . .’

‘She’s got you.’