LUKE AND NORA spent a pleasant afternoon. After unpacking in the cabin they went to the sports deck for a drink and snack and then settled in deck chairs with their books.

“This is heaven,” Nora murmured as she stared out, hypnotized by the sight of the open sea. “It’s so nice to read somebody else’s book instead of talking about one of mine.”

She had been keynote speaker at a mystery convention in Spain and had followed that with an intense schedule of newspaper, magazine and television interviews in Italy and France.

Luke nodded, “Well, I’ve had enough of waiting in green rooms for a while.” Then he frowned. “Speaking of green rooms, I wonder if Mrs. Shea is satisfied with the arrangements for Dennis. Maybe I’d better call and find out.”

“Luke, it’s not exactly a matter of life or death.”

Luke chuckled as he enjoyed one of the oldest and, as Regan pointed out, corniest jokes they shared. “I see your point.”

They returned to their books. Luke ordered another round of piña coladas and they remained comfortably ensconced until four-thirty, when the breeze turned sharply cooler. At that point there was a general flurry of activity as the occupants of the pool and scattered deck chairs began to gather their belongings, leaving the sports deck to the shuffleboard and paddle-tennis players.

As they meandered back to their cabin, they passed a group of children being led around the deck by two youth counselors. “It seems crazy to know Regan is on this ship and we have to avoid her,” Nora said wistfully.

“Well, maybe we can get a table for four and you can spend the whole time taking notes for Lady Exner’s totally authorized biography,” Luke suggested.

“God forbid!” Nora exclaimed. “That reminds me. Regan warned me to make sure we’re not sitting too near them in the dining room. Lady Eagle Eye might recognize me from my pictures on the book jackets.”

The seating chart showed them to be in the nonsmoking section, well out of the view of anyone at Lady Exner’s table.

“Regan’s in the smoking section?” Nora said with not a little surprise in her voice. “I wonder if Lady Exner has shared that little jewel with her yet.”

“She’ll be all right,” Luke observed. “Knowing Regan, after dinner she’ll drag Lady Exner out for a walk on the deck to get some fresh air in her lungs.”

“A moonlight stroll with an eighty-year-old woman,” Nora lamented. “That Walker boy she was dating was so nice. If she’d only given him half a chance. I do so want to have a grand——”

“I know, I know,” Luke interrupted. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 12