Read Laura Marlin Mysteries 2: Kidnap in the Caribbean for Free Online Page A

and it was a bonus finding the latest Matt Walker book in the gift shop. He could hardly wait for us to leave so he could start it.’
    The highlight of the afternoon was when a pod of dolphins appeared. At the time Laura and Tariq were standing on a viewing point on the prow of the ship watching as the world they knew gave way to a shifting landscape of bold, dark blue. It parted before the white bow of the Ocean Empress , throwing up diamond droplets.
    Laura looked down and felt almost giddy. Below that silken surface were marine worlds as teeming with life as London, New York or Rome. Thousands of leagues beneath the sea, there were creatures as enigmatic as the giant squid. There were sharks with mouths as big as doors. There were forests of pulsing coral and shipwrecks and navy submarines. And yet none of it was visible. The uniform blue of the sea was like a theatre curtain, hiding a performance.
    Occasionally that curtain lifted to reveal a glimpse of the spectacle below. If whales and seals are the actors of the ocean, dolphins are the acrobats. Out of the blue, twelve of them soared to the surface on the crest of a wave and began racing the ship, performing somersaults and gravity-defying leaps at astonishing speed. They ducked and dived like quicksilver. Watching them, it was quite impossible not to feel happy. They were in love with life; glorying in their strength and freedom.
    Afterwards, Laura and Tariq tried ice-skating. It was hard to say which of them was worse than the other and they spent most of the time in a heap on the ice, laughing until their sides hurt. There was something quite surreal about trying to skate on a ship rolling on the Atlantic. It was very entertaining.
    By dinnertime, they’d worked up an enormous appetite, which they’d decided could only be satisfied by an equally enormous seafood platter. First, though, they’d checked on Calvin Redfern. A room service waiter had brought him the cheeseburger Laura had ordered for him, but it lay untouched. He was fast asleep.
    Laura filled up his water glass and smoothed the cover over him, her heart contracting. Under normal circumstances, her uncle exuded strength. It distressed her to see him looking so vulnerable.
    ‘He’ll be as good as new before you know it,’ Tariq said gently. ‘He’s like a sleeping lion. It won’t be long before he roars again.’
    Laura smiled. A sleeping lion was a lovely image. Tariq was right. Calvin Redfern would be stronger than ever in no time.

    It was early when they walked into the Happy Clam but already it was buzzing. There was another seafood restaurant with starched tablecloths, shiny wine glasses and waiters dressed in black and white, but it hadn’t been inviting at all. The Happy Clam looked much more friendly. It had rustic wooden tables, red-checked tablecloths and a buffet groaning with prawns, lobsters, oysters and so many species of fish Laura marvelled that there were any left in the sea.
    She and Tariq loaded their plates with garlic prawns, rice and big chunks of lemon and settled down at an empty table. It was delicious food and they positively beamed as they tucked into it. Unfortunately, their peace was soon shattered. Five minutes after they sat down, the volume in the restaurant rose by several decibels. When they glanced up, Jimmy’s parents were bearing down on them. Their son had proceeded directly to the buffet table, where he was wresting a lobster with claws as big as spades onto his plate.
    ‘You don’t mind if we join you, do you?’ cried his mum, plonking herself down beside Laura. ‘The posh restaurant claimed to be full, which I’m certain was a blatant lie, and now this place is crammed to the gills.’
    Bob thrust out a meaty paw. ‘Bob and Rita Gannet, how do you do?’
    Laura rescued her hand and discreetly wiped it on her napkin under the table. ‘I’m Laura and this is Tariq.’
    Bob flagged down a waiter. ‘Two beers, two tropical juices, and two fish and