Read Set Sail for Murder for Free Online

pancakes are cold and the Bloody Mary is warm. The steward simply abandoned the tray.”
    “Perhaps he joined the suicidal geriatrics. Did he remember the Tylenol?” Polly asked as she stepped out of bed and slipped into her pink silk monogrammed bathrobe. She reached for the drink. Placenta handed her the headache tablets. “I trust you all slept better than I did,” Polly moaned. “The neighbors in the stateroom next door were certainly enjoying their first night out.” She gave her son a lift of her eyebrow.
    Tim started to explain, “Keith and I …”
    “Never mind,” Polly said as she washed her Tylenol down with a large sip of her Bloody Mary. “Keith’s giggles weren’t the only reason I couldn’t sleep. It occurred to me that I’m being taken advantage of by Laura. Again.”
    “Duh!” Placenta cracked.
    “Just because Polly Pepper is supposed to be everybody’s favorite legend, and a good ol’ sport, too, doesn’t mean that I have to play the pushover!” She looked around the room. “This is where being pleasant has gotten me.”
    A knock on the door interrupted Polly’s martyrdom. “Good God, I haven’t finished my molding breakfast and they’re here to take it away already,” she complained.
    Placenta opened the door and was met by two of the ship’s uniformed security officers. “May we come in?”
    Placenta shrugged and stepped aside.
    Polly continued her tirade against Laura. “Laura Crawford has used me for the last time. She was always an albatross around my neck. But it takes two to tango, so I’m fifty percent guilty.”
    “Guilty, Miss Pepper?”
    “Another BM, ASAP, Sweetums. You may take away the tray and bring a double …” Polly’s eyes suddenly landed on two inordinately attractive men in uniform. “You’re welcome to finish off my muffin,” she said seductively.
    The taller and more dimpled of two men announced, “I’m Sergeant Skyler. This is Officer Brown.” They simultaneously held up ship security badges.
    Placenta stepped forward and snatched the identification away from Brown, the more menacing-looking of the two men. “You’re obviously not here for an autograph,” she said. “What’s up?”
    “The captain wants to see the three of you right away,” Sergeant Skyler said.
    Polly’s look of confusion instantly turned to gaiety. “It’sabout time! I knew I could trust him to do the right thing about this horrid situation!”
    “It doesn’t get much worse,” Officer Brown agreed.
    “Darn tootin’!” Polly said. “Laura Crawford finally gets what she deserves!”
    Sergeant Skyler looked at Polly with undisguised outrage. “I know you’re from Hollywood, and you’re used to debauchery of every variety, but nobody deserves this!”
    “It’s either her or me,” Polly said as she finger-combed her hair and reached for her Bloody Mary. “I may be famously pleasant, but I couldn’t let that little slut get away with what she was doing.”
    Sergeant Skyler reached out and took away Polly’s Bloody Mary. “I don’t think you should say another word until you see the captain,” he admonished.
    Placenta instantly stepped in between the two and wrenched Polly’s BM away from Skyler. “If the star wants an innocent breakfast drink, you’re the last person to judge where she gets her protein,” she snapped.
    “Oh, I can’t wait to see the look on Laura’s face!” Polly giggled as she finished off her drink and handed the empty glass back to Skyler. “She’ll simply drop dead when she gets what’s coming to her.”
    The two security men looked at each other, then looked back at Polly.
    “Um, I think we’d better get to the captain’s quarters right away,” said Sergeant Skyler.
    Tim looked at Sergeant Skyler. “This isn’t about Laura Crawford’s stateroom, is it?”
    “Not unless you count the fact that Miss Pepper’s fingerprints are all over the place,” Officer Brown said smugly.
    “A thorough cleaning before I move