Algeria Here I Come
by: E Walk
(© 2008-2009 by the Author)
 

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 23

What’s Next?

President Michaels turned to Allie, “Son, I’m really not trying to upset you, but Mr. and Mrs. Summers are of the opinion that there is at least one or two more crew members who might have been solicited by the people who want to harm you, on board.  Mr. Summers, would you please explain to Mr. Waller and the Safis what you and Mrs. Summers found.”

Scott Summers looked around the table, “Allie and everyone, there were four new crewmembers who joined the Paradise in Stockholm.  The two gentlemen who have been isolated were two of them.  Those two men were assigned as cabin attendants.  The other two persons were assigned to the food and beverage department.  They are a bartender and bar waitress.  They are supposedly a husband and wife.”

Allie put his hands on the table, “So, are you saying that we shouldn’t drink anything for the rest of the trip?  Just because four crewmembers got on together doesn’t mean that they are all trying to hurt us.”

Scott nodded his head, “Allie, ordinarily I would agree with you except that there are too many coincidences.  First, all four people just happen to be from the same country.  Captain Brower informed us that in all the years that he has been sailing, he has met very few crewmembers from that country on the ships on which he has served.”

President Michaels took over, “Gentlemen, we have very rigid standards that must be met before we hire any of our staff members for ships.  What I am concerned about now as well as the safety of our passengers is the integrity of the personnel in our Human Resources Department.  It appears that perhaps the people behind these unfortunate incidents may have either bribed or blackmailed some of our people so that these people could be placed on the Paradise.  I have contacted the head of the Human Resources Department and he is looking into the matter at our Miami headquarters. ”

Allie slumped back in his chair, “Dad, maybe Brahim and I should just go back to Algeria.  I’m the person whom they are after.  I’m the person who wounded the assailants.  I’m the person who doused the lights at the pier.  I don’t want anyone else to be hurt.”

Amir stood and picked Allie up out of his chair, “Look roommate, if you keep talking nonsense like that, I am going to spank you so hard that you won’t be able to sit down until we dock in Miami.  Now sit and listen as we plan what we need to do.”

Allie looked at Amir, “You sure are bossy for a General.  We need to get Doctor Sorenson involved so he can have the proper equipment ready to test any drinks that are served to us before we drink them.  We should also tell Albert, Daniel, Josef and Carlos what is happening so they can be looking for people doing strange things.  I guess we need to have Andre involved too, since he is the person who usually serves us our drinks at mealtime.”

President Michaels shook his head, “Alexander, you sure do a lot of thinking for a person as young as you are.  Captain Brower and Officer Del Rio, why don’t you meet with the people whom Allie has suggested.  I am of the opinion that the people who are after Mr. Waller and the Safis have been advised to limit the damage they cause, because there are people of a number of different nationalities on board.  The people behind this fiasco can not risk antagonizing too many countries.  They appear to be running scared and that rather concerns me.  We need to move swiftly to neutralize the threat.”

Khalid stood, “Captain Brower and Officer Del Rio, I suggest that you meet with your staff  without General Amir, Mr. and Mrs. Summers, President Michaels or me being here.  I think it is important, however, that Allie, Brahim and Ed be here.  In the meantime, I would like to have permission to interrogate the two people who are in confinement.”

Allie started to interrupt but Khalid stopped him, “Allie, these people that you have identified all relate to the three of you.  It is best that rest of us remain in the background for now.  As far as most of them know, we eat at your table and nothing more.  I have complete confidence that Michael and Daniel will do whatever we want.  We have already checked them out.”

Officer Del Rio picked up the phone, “General Khalid, I’ll arrange for you to go talk to the two persons.”

The Captain motioned for Pietro to come into the room.  Captain Brower asked him to contact the persons whom Allie had identified and have them report to the bridge as soon as possible.  “Tell them they don’t need to be in uniform and to come as they are.”

Allie chimed in, “Especially if they’re naked.”

President Michaels turned to Allie, “I’m glad to see that you still have a sense of humor, even in the face of adversity.”

Those people who were not going to be present departed and the Captain went and got us each a soda that hadn’t been opened and handed them to us, “These should be safe.”

Allie questioned the Captain, “Are you sure?  By the way, Captain, where are the other two people who boarded in Stockholm assigned so we make sure we don’t go to where they’re working?”

Captain Brower frowned, “I don’t honestly know, but we’ll find out before you leave here.”

When everyone was assembled, the Captain explained what was happening.  He looked at Dr. Sorenson, “Ted, do you have the equipment that you would need to test for foreign substances in the drinks that were served to Mr. Waller and the two Mr. Safis?”

“Not really, but there is a toxicology expert on board who might be able to help us.”

The Captain nodded and looked at the other five crewmembers, “Gentlemen, we need you to be especially alert.  There is no telling what these people might do to get to Allie, his brother and Mr. Waller.  If you see or hear of anything strange at all, please contact Officer Del Rio.”

Daniel spoke up, “Captain, I was coming out of Mr. Waller’s cabin yesterday when two room stewards I didn’t know approached me and asked which cabin the Safis and Mr. Waller were in.  I told them I didn’t know.”

Michael started, “I was returning some clothes to the Waller cabin yesterday as two room stewards were walking by.  They asked who was living in my cabins.  I was beginning to get suspicious and asked what they were doing in my area anyway.”

“One of them had the audacity to answer.  ‘We’re just new on board and are trying to figure out where everything is.  What do these big suites look like anyway?  Could we look at one?’”

I looked at them, “I’ll be glad to show you what they look like when they are vacated.  We could all be fired if I were to take you inside one, especially if the occupants are in there.  Now if you will excuse me.”

I waited until they had gone before I entered Mr. Waller’s suite.

I had to ask, “Michael and Daniel, would you be able to recognize the two persons if you were to see them?”

Michael nodded, “I had time to get a good look at them.  I’m sure I could recognize them if I saw them again.“

The Captain  looked at Josef and Carlos, “Josef and Carlos, we don’t think that they would try to do anything to the food because they wouldn’t know what the three people would be eating.”

Allie interrupted, “I guess we should probably eat our meals in the Lido Restaurant especially breakfast and lunch.  Almost everything is already made and they would have no idea who was going to take what.”

The Captain nodded, “That’s not a bad idea for the time being, but I think between Josef and Carlos they can make sure that your food would be safe to eat.  I still think that you need to be extremely careful as to what you drink?  Andres, that’s were you come in.  We have a new bartender and bar waitress on board that we are suspicious of.  You need to be extremely careful about what beverages you served to the Waller table.”

Andres had a funny look on his face, “Sir, this is getting rather scary.  I was informed today that I was going to be training a new bar waitress to be a sommelier.  I thought it was odd that I would be told to train someone since I only became a sommelier about three months ago, myself.”

The Captain scowled, “That is odd.  Who told you that you were going to train this new person.”

“Officer Duncan, the head of the beverage department, came to me and told me at lunch time, while I was working on the Lido deck since the dining room was closed.  I tried to tell him that I was still learning myself, but he wouldn’t listen.”

The Captain took a deep breath, “Officer Del Rio, please take Albert and Daniel to see if the two people who are being detained were the same two persons who were snooping around Mr. Waller’s suite yesterday.”

Captain Brower turned to the three persons from the dining room, “Gentlemen, please be extremely alert when you are serving Mr. Waller’s table from now on.  Thank you for your help.”

After everyone had left, Captain Brower shuttered, “Guys, this is getting rather bizarre.  President Michaels, did you hear what the people had to say.”

The President came in from a side door which we were to find out was the Captain’s office.  “Steve, I wasn’t very pleased with what I heard, especially what Andres said.  I think you should have Officer Duncan and the head of the food and beverage department, I believe his name is Officer Lazlo, up here immediately.”

The Captain nodded his head in agreement.  He picked up the phone and dialed a number, “Officer Lazlo, this is Captain Brower.  I would like to see you and Officer Duncan on the bridge immediately.”

While we were waiting, President Michaels was frowning, “This is getting out of hand.  I am becoming more and more positive that there is some connection with the home office in Miami.”

There was a knock on the door and the Captain motioned for the two officers to enter  The Captain made the introductions, “I'm sure that you recognize the company's president, Mr. Greg Michaels.  The gentlemen next to him is Mister Edward Waller and his friends Mr. Brahim Safi, and the handsome young man next to me is Mr. Allie Safi.  Gentlemen, these are Officer Arturo Lazlo and Officer Rodney Duncan.”

We stood and shook their hands and Allie surprised everyone, “President Michaels and Captain Brower, I think we should talk to them one at a time first, and then explain to them later why they are here.”

President Michaels snickered, “Allie, your in charge. Please proceed.”

Allie was undaunted, “Mr. Lazlo, would you please wait outside while we talk to Mr. Duncan?”

Officer Lazlo bristled but left.  Officer Del Rio knocked and the Captain motioned for him to come in.  Officer Del Rio didn’t say anything but nodded his head and we instinctively knew that the two detained person were the people who had been snooping around our cabin

Allie started, “Mr. Duncan, would you please tell us why you assigned Andres to train the new bar waitress.”

Officer Duncan was confused, “I was told by Officer Lazlo to have her assigned to Mr. Waller’s table.”

Allie continued, “I understand that the young lady’s husband was recently assigned to the Paradise as a bartender.  Where will he be working?”

“He will be working in the dining room over lunch and dinner and the rest of the time he will be roving to provide relief to the other bartenders throughout the ship.  That is where  Officer Lazlo told me to assign him.”

Allie gulped, “Do the lady and gentlemen have names?”

“Yes, they are Carmen and Giovanni Santiago.”

Allie sighed, “Thank you, Mr. Duncan.  Would you please ask Mr. Lazlo to step in?  Don’t leave the area because I’m almost positive that President Michaels and Captain Brower will wish to speak to you again.”

Officer Lazlo came in; he was acting a little too haughty as far as I was concerned.  Allie started, “Mr. Lazlo, why did you have Carmen Santiago assigned to work with Andres at Mr. Waller’s table.  Isn’t the signing of the bar staff Mr. Duncan’s responsibility?”

Officer Lazlo looked at the Captain, “Captain, do I have to answer this kid’s questions?”

President Michaels answered, “Mr. Lazlo, I strongly suggest that you do so, or you will be disembarking the ship in Gdansk and will be looking for new employment.”

Boy was the wind taken out of Officer Lazlo’s sails, “I did tell Mr. Duncan to have Ms Santiago assigned to Mr. Waller’s table, and yes Officer Duncan normally would make the assignments.  However, in this case, I received a message from the Human Resources office in Miami, telling me where the Santiagos should be working during this voyage.”

Talk about a reaction.  Both President Michaels and Captain Brower jumped up.  Captain Brower started, “So you're playing the captain are you?  Why wouldn’t you bring such a message to me?  I am in charge of this ship and the passengers’ safety while we are at sea,  not you, or the people in Miami and certainly not the Human Resources department.  In case you hadn’t heard, I report directly to the President, or Vice President, in his absence.”

President Michaels started on Lazlo, “Did the person who sent the message per chance happen to sign it?”

Officer Lazlo nodded, “It was signed by the a Mr. Dominick Pierce, Asst Director of the Human Resources Department.”

President Michaels exploded, “Mr. Pierce is nothing more than a receptionist in the department.  Allie, please ask Officer Duncan to join us.”

When Officer Duncan joined us, President Michaels left no doubt who was in charge, “Captain Brower, tell these people what you want to happen.”

The Captain took several of minutes to collect his thoughts. “Officer Del Rio, please have Mr. and Mrs. Santiago confined, and do not let them have any contact with the two other persons who are being detained.  They are to have no contact with any passengers or other crew members.  Search the cabins of the four people who are being detained, and see what you can find that might indicate who is behind this plot.  Get the people who were here earlier to assist you.”

Officer Del Rio departed and Captain Brower turned to the two remaining officers.  You two people should be aware by now that someone wants Mr. Waller and the two Mr. Safis out of the way.  Why would you not take precautions to assure their safety?”

Officer Lazlo spoke, “Sir, this is not the first time that I have been advised by Mr. Pierce where people should be assigned.  For the past two years, we have been receiving messages about what to do with certain crew members.  I’m sure other department heads have been receiving the same type of messages.  This is the first time I’ve sailed with Captain Brower.  The same thing has happened on the other ships that I’ve been on.”

Mr. Michaels, looked at the two gentlemen, “If anything happens to Allie or the other two gentlemen, you will be out of a job so fast that you won’t be able to see your head spinning.  Allie, do you have anything else to say or add?”

“No Mr. President, but I do have a question for the two gentlemen.”

“Allie, be my guest.”

Allie had that devilish look in his eye, “You two gentlemen are more than officers in the same department aren’t you?”

The two men started to turn red.  Officer Lazlo asked, “Why would you ask a question like that?”

Allie pointed to their left hands, “You’re wearing identical wedding bands that’s why.  Captain, did you know they were a couple?”

“Yes, Allie I did.  The first day I boarded they came to me to tell me.  I have no problem with them being a couple, as long as they keep their activities in their cabin.  They aren’t usually seen together so only someone like you would pick up on it.  I suggest that we go get ready for dinner.  I, for one, am starting to get hungry.”

Allie hugged the Captain, “Good thinking, Captain, I be hungry too.”

To be continured...

Editor's Notes: Well, I must say that things are starting to get very complicated, and it would seem that at least some of the people who are out to get our friends, are now being detained.  Let's hope they find any and all other people of the criminal persuasion, and safely lock them up.

I have to wonder if Allie is going to try to become a pirate, "I be hungry," sounds like something that Long John Silver might say.

Let's hope we don't encounter any pirates on the ship, or anywhere else, for that matter. "Yo Ho Ho and a bottle of Rum, or something like that.

I am on pins and needles waiting to find out what happens next.

What was happening with Darryl and Tom? We didn't hear from them this time, at least I don't remember hearing from them.

I have never been on board a cruise ship.  I would some day like to go on a cruise, somewhere.  I have no idea where. I find it fascinating to notice that the Darryl in the story is very interested in geography.  That was a subject that I never quite mastered.  Hell, I never even reached the rank of grunt when it comes to Geography. I wouldn't know Kankakee from a canker sore, or Baltimore from a bald eagle.  If I go to Maine, will I be able to find Bangers and Mash?

I used to watch Mash, every week. I think that show lasted a lot longer than the Korean conflict did.

Speaking of food; I noticed that a lot of food products have been packaged differently lately. We often get what is lovingly called TV Dinners, for when we don't feel like cooking anything elaborate. 

Lately they have reduced the amount of food in the packages but left the price the same. The interesting thing is that they are deliberately trying to fool people into thinking they are still getting the same thing they got the last time they bought any packages.

Does anyone remember when a three LB can of coffee actually contained three Lbs of coffee?   Well, I think I have said enough to get you thinking and maybe we can get someone to step up to the plate and address the fact that companies are pretending to keep things the same, all the while, they systematically reduce the number and weight of objects in the packages. 

Oh yeah, I almost forgot! I want more chapters!!!!!!

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 04/17/09