Chapter 1 Paradise With Secrets
Paradise With SecreBarbara Wells leaned against the rail of the airport ferry dock, shielding her eyes from the blazing Dominican sun as the turquoise water glittered before her like scattered diamonds. Behind her, tourists laughed and dragged expensive luggage across the wooden boards, while somewhere nearby a steel drum band played lazily in the heat.
“This,” Azalea Dunbar declared dramatically as she stepped beside her wearing oversized sunglasses and a bright tropical shirt, “is exactly how rich people should travel.”Barbara smiled despite herself. “We’re not rich people. We’re here to work.”Lea ignored her. “Work? Bab, we’ve been sent to the Caribbean to inspect a luxury super yacht. If that’s work, I’ve clearly chosen the wrong career.”Barbara shook her head affectionately. Lea had the remarkable ability to treat every assignment from Uncle Charles like the beginning of an action film. Sometimes Barbara envied that carefree attitude. Usually, however, it meant trouble was not far behind.A sleek black vehicle pulled up beside them and a sharply dressed driver stepped out.“Miss Wells? Miss Dunbar?” he asked politely. “The captain is expecting you.”As they drove along the coastline toward the marina, Barbara stared out at the endless blue ocean. Palm trees swayed in the warm breeze while luxury hotels lined the shore. Everything looked peaceful, glamorous even. Yet something about the assignment had bothered her from the beginning.Uncle Charles had sounded unusually serious on the phone.“Take a good look at the yacht before I commit to anything,” he had told her. “The owner’s desperate to sell, and I don’t like desperate people.”When they finally reached the marina, the yacht dominated the harbor like a floating palace.Lea let out a low whistle. “Well… that’s not a yacht. That’s practically a country.”The enormous vessel gleamed white under the Caribbean sun, its polished decks sparkling against the water. Crew members moved quickly across the ship, but Barbara immediately noticed the tension in their faces. Nobody smiled. Nobody relaxed.A tall man in a captain’s uniform greeted them at the boarding platform. Deep lines marked his tired face.“Captain Henrique Alvarez,” he introduced himself. “Welcome aboard.”Barbara shook his hand. “Thank you for having us.”The captain forced a smile, though his eyes betrayed exhaustion.“We are honored to host representatives from Maddens Magic Carpet Tours,” he said carefully.Lea leaned closer to Barbara as they followed him aboard.“Why do I feel like everyone here is attending a funeral?”Barbara quietly glanced around the deck. Crew members avoided eye contact. Two men argued in hushed voices near the stairwell before falling silent as the captain passed.Then Barbara noticed something else.Fear.Whatever was happening aboard this yacht had already begun long before they arrived.And somehow, she knew she and Lea had just stepped directly into the middle of it.
