Krewe Of Hunters: Haunted Destiny Part 36

Something had happened, even if Johnny didn't know what it was. That was why Jude wasn't with her.

She wished she could run through the s.h.i.+p looking for him.

But that would be stupid, almost akin to suicidal stupidity. She was a target, and she'd been told to lock herself in her cabin. If she did that, the killer couldn't reach her. "Johnny, you're a sweetheart. Thank you and good night." She stepped into her cabin and leaned against the door, looking around. She knew her tiny s.p.a.ce so well. This same cabin had been her home several times now. Her desk-with the list of medallions still on it. Her bed...

Where she'd learned to live again, love again-with Jude.

She wished the electricity hadn't gone out, that there was more than the pale auxiliary lighting. The thought of brus.h.i.+ng her teeth and getting ready for bed in the semi-dark wasn't one she relished.

She wasn't sure why, but she was suddenly afraid of her bathroom.

And that was ridiculous! There was no way she'd be able to avoid going into her bathroom.

She sighed, prepared to push away and open the bathroom door so she could wash her face, brush her teeth, get ready for bed. Clara would be there soon.

And then she saw a change in the strange yellowish haze pervading the small cabin; it was a form, a shadow, something taking shape.

Her heart seemed to leap into her throat.

Then she realized it was Byron.

"Run, Alexi! Run!" She frowned; she could barely hear him, barely see him...

"Run!" he shouted again.

And she saw that her bathroom door was opening.

Someone was in there!

Someone...

Was waiting for her.

Byron threw himself ineffectually at the door.

Alexi turned and yanked open the door to her cabin, then stepped out into the hallway and pulled it shut. Johnny was there; he was somewhere down at the end, near the elevators.

She couldn't see him! The cabin door opened behind her.

She was being pursued!

She screamed as loudly as she could.

And she ran.

Great.

The s.h.i.+p being plunged into darkness was only causing more problems, even when the auxiliary lights were on.

But they all moved as efficiently as possible.

Radio communication with the bridge a.s.sured Jude that the dining room was being shut down and all personnel were being directed to their rooms.

David Beach called Jude to tell him that Alexi and Clara were fine. He said Johnny was with them. Then he hesitated. "I'm missing another man. The guard who was watching Roger and Lorna Antrim. We can't find him."

Jude swore softly. "If he's found, let us know right away. Let's hope he's all right."

At least Alexi and Clara were safe, which was a relief.

He and Jackson were on their way to the Antrims' suite to escort Roger to the infirmary when they received another call from Beach.

"It's the reverend," Beach told them. "He sounds hysterical. He wants us in the chapel. Now."

Jude knew-long before they'd reached the chapel-what they were going to find.

He was right. Flora Winters was there.

She'd had her head bashed in; that was evident, from the blood dripping down her forehead and matting her hair.

Then her throat had been slit. She was missing a shoe. She'd been left in front of the altar, but she hadn't been posed like the Archangel's other victims had been. She'd just been dumped there. "No medallion," Jackson said, hunkered down by the body.

"No, she isn't one of the victims the Archangel wants," Jude said. "Somehow, she and Lorna got in the way, or else..."

"Or else the killer is Roger Antrim."

"But that doesn't make sense," Jude argued. "He'd have to move pretty d.a.m.n fast. Getting to Flora's cabin, knocking her out, then injecting Lorna with the insulin and leaving her to die. Getting Flora here. And after all that, going back to take a shower and call security to say his wife is missing. It doesn't add up."

"Flora knew," Jackson said. "She knew we'd find out who her husband sold the medallions to."

"Well, we'll get that information once we hit Miami," Jude said, thinking it through. "Unless..."

"Unless?"

"He doesn't care anymore. He wants to finish his task, find his actress and his musician and kill them right now. And then...give himself up," Jude said grimly. "Or kill himself." He turned to Beach and to the Reverend Mike. "How long were you away from the chapel?" he asked.

"I was asked to visit a sick guest," Mike said. "That was just after five. She said she'd been in the Egyptian Room, playing the games until they ended. But then she felt sick and she called me. I went from there straight to dinner. However, I guarantee that I left the chapel locked."

"Someone has the keys," Beach said. "Someone's accessed all the Destiny's keys."

Someone had accessed all the Destiny's keys? How the h.e.l.l?

Beach cursed angrily. "There's a master key...hangs on a hook just inside the captain's cabin. Wonder if we'll find out it's gone?"

"Call the captain," Jude said.

Beach did so, then nodded grimly. "Gone."

Jude had expected as much. "Get the doctor up here. Help him move the body into the infirmary. We can't wait for the proper medical authorities because of the time it'll take to reach port. I know I don't need to tell you this, but please-"

"Watch for any possible trace evidence on the body," Beach said.

"Yeah," Jude agreed. He closed his eyes for a moment. He'd really liked Flora Winters.

But he couldn't mourn her now. "Beach, close the infirmary and put two guards up here. I'm convinced this killer is going to try to finish up tonight. Jackson-"

"Yes," Jackson said. "Alexi and Clara. They're in serious danger."

Jude was on his way out, running for the stairs while Jackson was still speaking.

Alexi couldn't see Johnny. She couldn't see anyone at all.

Suddenly, a door in the employee hallway burst open.

"Alexi!"

She blinked. It was Jensen Hardy. "Alexi, come on! Into my cabin."

He grabbed for her, and in raw panic, she jerked back, away from him.

She half turned. And saw, in the strange light, that someone was still chasing her. Someone who'd been in her room.

Alexi started to run again. She hoped Jensen had locked himself back in his cabin.

Johnny had to be there, had to be at the elevators.

She heard a scream-a scream of surprise, horror and pain.

She paused, turning back. There was a body on the floor, writhing and crying out.

And, in the weird, murky yellow light, she saw that someone was stepping over the body. Someone holding something.

A knife.

And now it dripped blood.

16.

The door to Alexi's cabin gaped open. Jude knew she wasn't going to be there.

Still, he looked as Jackson rushed ahead to knock on Clara's door, identifying himself.

Jude hadn't made it all the way in when he heard moaning. He ran out to the hallway. Doors were opening all along the hall; entertainers were coming out, speaking in panicked voices.

"There was a scream, a terrible scream," Ralph said, clinging to Larry's arm.

"I tried to go out," Larry said. "To see what was wrong."

"I stopped him!" Ralph shrieked. "There was a killer out there."

Jude ignored them all, racing down the hall. He dropped to his knees beside the moaning body.

He recognized one of the security guards. There was blood all around him, but he was struggling to sit up, tears in his eyes. "Alexi...killer..."

"Don't try to speak," Jude said.

He turned to see Jackson coming down the hallway with Clara. Jude felt something like a waft of air against his cheek.

Barbara Leon had come to this injured person, too.

"It's not a mortal wound," she said. "The killer was in too big a hurry to catch Alexi. Wrap his throat. At least the b.a.s.t.a.r.d didn't hit an artery or a vein."

Simon had come out of his cabin and stood nearby; he pulled off his nights.h.i.+rt and handed it to Jude, who swiftly tore it into strips. He made a bandage, stopping the flow of blood from the area just above the guard's collarbone.

Jackson had placed Clara into the safekeeping of another security officer, who'd just arrived on the scene.

Jude leaped to his feet and dashed down the hallway to the elevators and the exit to the stairs, Jackson close behind.

Johnny? Where the h.e.l.l was Johnny? He would've stayed with Alexi unless...

Jude found him, on the floor, trying to get up.

"Johnny!" he said, crouching beside him.

"Arm broken...concussion... I'm okay, go!" Johnny said.

"Where?"

Johnny shook his head. "She...ran to me...for help. I went over to her and he was on me... She stopped to come back, to help me. He only left me alive to chase her. Go!"

Jude stood. "Where, Johnny? Which way did she run?"

"To the stairs! Up... She ran up the stairs. Go, Jude, go, for the love of G.o.d..."

Jude didn't need his directive.

He was already taking the stairs, two at a time.