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Back The Cruise Save as PDF
Chapters (97)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Michael has never …
  4. Prologue
  5. PART ONE
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. PART TWO
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. PART THREE
  23. 16
  24. 17
  25. 18
  26. 19
  27. 20
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. PART FOUR
  32. 24
  33. 25
  34. 26
  35. 27
  36. 28
  37. 29
  38. 30
  39. 31
  40. 32
  41. 33
  42. 34
  43. PART FIVE
  44. 35
  45. 36
  46. 37
  47. 38
  48. 39
  49. 40
  50. 41
  51. 42
  52. 43
  53. 44
  54. 45
  55. 46
  56. 47
  57. PART SIX
  58. 48
  59. 49
  60. 50
  61. 51
  62. 52
  63. PART SEVEN
  64. 53
  65. 54
  66. 55
  67. PART EIGHT
  68. 56
  69. 57
  70. 58
  71. 59
  72. PART NINE
  73. 60
  74. 61
  75. 62
  76. 63
  77. 64
  78. 65
  79. 66
  80. 67
  81. 68
  82. 69
  83. 70
  84. 71
  85. 72
  86. 73
  87. 74
  88. 75
  89. PART TEN
  90. 76
  91. Epilogue
  92. Acknowledgements
  93. Keep Reading …
  94. 1
  95. About the Author
  96. By Catherine Cooper
  97. About the Publisher

At this point Lola stops messing around and we move in perfect sync, gliding towards, around and away from each other, swooping, turning, looping, meeting each other’s eyes and then turning away again. In perfect time with the music, telling its story. In perfect sync with each other.

We have performed this routine so many times it is almost meditative. Hypnotic and mesmerizing for the audience.

The final chords sound, we strike our finishing pose and are then slowly lowered to the ground, where Jamie unclips us.

Lola takes an over-exaggerated bow, collects invisible flowers which are apparently being thrown by an imaginary audience, mouthing ‘thank you, thank you’ and then asks: ‘Happy, Jamie? Are we safe enough for you now?’

Jamie prods at the iPad. ‘Yep. All done. That wasn’t so bad, Lola, was it?’

‘It was brilliant,’ she mocks, ‘I have literally never, ever had more fun in my life.’

Jamie ignores her sarcasm. ‘Good to hear. See you both later. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do in the meantime – the big boss is here for the evening show and I need you both in top form.’

Once Jamie is out of earshot, Lola says: ‘God, that guy is tedious.’

‘He’s just doing his job, Lola – doing his best to keep us safe and healthy. You should be pleased.’

She pouts. ‘It’s so boring though. And speaking of healthy, I’m desperate for a smoke – I’m going to get rid of this costume and go outside.’ She picks up her bag. ‘What are you doing now?’

‘I thought I might go to the gym.’

She laughs. ‘Rather you than me.’

‘What about you? Back to bed like you said to Jamie?’

‘Maybe later. I’m meeting Alice for coffee. Stuff we’ve got to talk about.’

‘Stuff? Like what?’ I ask. Lola’s always saying things like that to wind me up – she knows I hate it when she has secrets from me.

She taps the side of her nose. ‘Wouldn’t you like to know? Nothing for you to worry about – just girl stuff. See you later, gym boy. Enjoy your workout.’

2

Alice

New Year’s Eve 2021, 22:00

The Caribbean

I’ve been summoned to the captain’s table this evening. It’ll be my first time since being on board. Apparently, CEO Nico has come for a visit, and he wants to meet me. I’m told he’s been desperate to get a three-Michelin-starred chef on Immanis for ages, and I have now made that wish come true.

Cute.