Page 31 of Millie's Cruise Ship Mysteries
“Big time.”
A mischievous smile spread across Cat’s face. “Where did you say you were going next?”
“To track down Sharky and try to find clothes for them to wear. Why?”
Cat held up a finger. “Don’t leave.” She hurried off and had a word with the other store employee. After finishing, she ran to the back, returning moments later, carrying a small red bottle.
“What’s that?” Millie asked.
“Payback potion. You might not be able to give Jeremy Manning what he so richly deserves. We can, however, in a roundabout way, make his life a smidgen uncomfortable.”
Chapter 12
Cat struggled to keep up with Millie’s hurried pace. “Where are we meeting Sharky?”
“At the confiscated storage room. He claims he has a boatload of clothes he was getting ready to donate to the charity thrift store near the port. We’ll have plenty to choose from. Do you have the stuff?”
Cat patted her pocket. “Ready to activate...err…scratch-tivate.”
The friends rounded the corner and found Sharky seated on the Flamethrower, his hotrod scooter. Fin, his gray and white rescue cat, lounged in the basket hooked to the front.
“Hey, Fin.” Millie rubbed his ears. “You’re looking a little plump, buddy.”
“He’s getting kinda fluffy. I keep telling myself I gotta cut back on his treats, but I’ve been putting it off,” Sharky said. “Just look at that face? How can I tell him no when he stares at me with those hungry little eyes?”
“You should take him off the ship more; let him stretch his legs,” Cat suggested.
“That’s the plan. We’re getting off in Grand Turk, aren’t we, Fin?” Sharky patted his head. “The only problem is he’s not a fan of sand. It gets in his fur and drives him nuts.”
“Maybe you can head out in the Flamethrower and find some less sandy spots.” Millie lifted the bags she was holding. “Thanks for meeting us on such short notice.”
“No problem. Another week and it would have been slim pickings.” Sharky tapped in the keypad code and swung the door open. “If my count is correct, we have seven extra on board now.”
“Three crew members and four yacht passengers. Three of them are women.”
“The clothes are over here.” Sharky pointed to an entire section filled with boxes and bins. “I try to keep it organized but you’ll still have to do some digging.”
“I’m good at digging.” Millie set the toiletry bags aside and reached for a bin. “Hopefully, this won’t take long.”
While Cat and Millie dug through the bins, Sharky rearranged a shelf containing a variety of electrical devices. “Let me know if you need help.”
“Will do. I’m already finding a few things.” Millie stuffed a pineapple and palm tree shirt into an empty shopping bag Cat had given her from the ship’s shop. A pair of stretch pants and a sleeveless button-down blouse followed. “I hope we’re close to guessing their sizes.”
“If not, they can swap with one another.” Cat added men’s cargo shorts and a collared quarter-sleeve shirt to a bag. “Remember, we’re keeping Mr. Manning’s items separate.”
“I haven’t forgotten.”
Moving at an efficient pace, Millie and Cat found several articles of clothing for each person, including the three crew members.
Millie reached the bottom of the last bin. “I think this is enough for now.”
“Bring back whatever won’t work or what they don’t want,” Sharky said. “I hope they appreciate all you’re doing for them.”
“I have my doubts, especially about Mr. Manning.”
“The guy who was whining and crying about not hooking the Zodiac up and trying to tow the yacht?”
“Same. For the record, it was Daddy’s yacht.”
