Whodunnit? Murder In Mystery Cruise

2 The Invitation

The Arizona airport was bustling with activity. Flight attendants walked by strolling suitcases and pilots raced by, keeping one hand on their hats as they walked. Giles kept a hand on his suit case as he descended the steps of the main lobby. Brooklyn had said to come at around four o clock. The former butler took a seat at one of the gates, put an AirPod in his ear and waited.

Time slipped by slowly, with no sign of the Hispanic girl and her long silky hair. He looked up when Rowena came back from getting food. "All those options and this is what I'm stuck with." She pulled a sandwich out of a bag.  "And they said-." Rowena paused, noticing Giles was being quiet. "Darling, what is it?"

He looked up into her eyes. "I can't do this again. Rowena if you had seen the things that I witnessed-." He stopped looking down at the ground again. She pulled him into a hug. "Don't worry dear. Everything will be okay." Rowena was good at saying things that made Giles forget. It was why he fell in love with her in the first place.

Giles looked down at this watch and realized an hour had gone by, with no sign of Brooklyn. "She's not coming. Something must have happened." He stood up as Rowena gathered their bags. That was when he saw the figure walking towards them. It was a woman. "Dare I say that you are Giles?" She came into view. She was short with curt red hair to her shoulders.

He nodded. "That would be me, you are?" The woman ignored the question, approached them, and stopped. The pair watched as she reached into a bag on her shoulder, pulling out an envelope. "A message from Monsieur." The woman handed Giles the card and without another word, vanished into the bustling crowds of the terminal.

"What was that?" Rowena dropped her bags, leaning over Giles shoulder. "What does the card say dear?"
The man could not speak. Words could not describe the way Giles was feeling in that moment. It was just a simple card, but the first words on it read: "Your Curse Continues". A wave of grief, anger, and shock slammed into the butler and Rowena caught him as he began to faint once again. "Oh dear god." He was saying to himself.

Rowena reached for the envelope and pulled out the card. "I'll read it, here, sit down." She grabbed his arm and led him to sit on one of the armchairs. "Well, I think it's bloody time I read this card." The card itself was a dark maroon and had silver engraved lettering. Rowena could just make out the words.

"Dearest Giles and Mistress Rowena, you have been selected to board the Emerald of the Seas cruise ship. This is of course, not a choice. Brooklyn and Sage send their regards. Well, they would send their regards if they were conscious. It won't be until the time stops for them. The only way to set them free is to board this ship at dinner tonight. If you wish to live, you will do exactly as I say. One last thing dearest lovers: If I see one weapon on your person or with your belongings, one of these two girls will be pushed into the raging seas. Do not make me lose my temper." ~Monsieur

Giles gritted his teeth. "Bastard!" In a fit of rage, he smashed his suitcase to the floor. A nearby man put a hand over his baby's eyes, looking at Giles with disgust and embarrassment. Rowena tried to soothe him, but felt herself growing angered by the minute. "We have to do as he says or the girls will be killed."
She said, helping her true love put the baggage upright again. Giles knew she was right and yet the sheer weight of it all was crushing him. He didn't know how long it would be before it all came crashing down on him.