Kit and Cora gathered various clothing items, shoes, scarves and accessories, all in the service of turning the off the rack dress into something that best suited a “night at the gambling parlor” version of Aster. Though Cora, of course, did not like the gambling parlor part a bit, and at various points asserted her insistence that Kit go along with Aster for her protection. Aster wondered if she had already forgotten there was crimeing afoot. Kit was noncommittal but didn’t say no.

  Even the insulted salesgirl returned and got in on the action. Soon enough, after many rejections and additions and the usual small amount of friendly in fighting, they had put together a gown.

  The body was the gold metallic number which should be shortened, of course, and taken in at the waist to allow more of an hourglass figure (or cheat at one anyway). The sleeves would be a gauzy cerulean blue material stolen from an unfortunately maimed blouse, with the gold metallic layered underneath and allowed to strategically peek through, all the better to conceal the bandaged arm. Visibly serious looking injury being not sexy was something they could at least all agree on.

  The bodice was enhanced by a gold and rhinestones seashell, which Kit had insisted wasn’t necessary but Aster thought gave a good distraction from the nothingness of her chest. She refused to wear fakeys, finding them too uncomfortable, so liked to use ribbons and bows and other details on the front of her dress to give it interest and confuse the eye.

  “It’s giving me . . . a mermaid like impression but I don’t hate it.” Kit declared.

  “Blue shoes are what’s needed.” Cora said, she was making a face that said she thought the whole ensemble rather tacky but wanted to go along with the fun instead of saying it.

  Bless her heart. Aster smiled at her benefactor. “You’re right, and thank you for everything.” You’re even right about it being tacky, Aster thought, but she wasn’t going to be the one to say it either. Tacky is just the right thing sometimes.

  “Next to the salon for hair and makeup!” Kit declared, his hands wiggled a little, constraining a gleeful clap.

  “I can do my own.” Aster said. “I’m used to it.” Then, she saw his little face deflate, and she remembered it had been hard lately with only one fully working arm to tame her mane. It had a mind of its own anyway. “I mean, you know what, sure! Let’s do it.”

  Kit’s grin returned quickly. “You know he’s going to love it. This might even work too good and you will end up having to hit him with a pool cue to get him away from you,” he teased.

  “That’s why you’re going with her to protect her honor!” Cora declared. “Little bitty thing like this.”

  Aster and Kit laughed. Aster felt in that moment that someone should protect that cheating man from her, not the other way around.

  Cora excused herself after they paid, begging off for tiredness but instructed Kit to put anything else they needed on her account, no problem.

  Kit and Aster walked as close as old friends to the ship’s salon. “What is with that Elwin? What’s his deal?” Kit eventually said, as though it had been bothering him. “And the other one . . .?”

  “Prin? Oh they’re pretty devoted to each other.” Aster informed. They arrived at the salon and waited to be led back to a chair. “I know Elwin is cute as hell, and so is Prin, just depending on what you’re into, but don’t bother barking at that tree you won’t get anything out of it.”

  Kit frowned slightly. “Did they ever – did you – did they ever ask -?”

  Before he could get out his question, Aster was called back to the working area of the salon and left to wonder what he had been getting at.

  Kit came along too and quickly forgot whatever it was as he helped design a mermaid seductress evening out (his words) hair style for Aster with the bemused ship’s hairdresser.

  Aster’s red – gold tresses were tamed into a long braid decorated with pearls and a gold ribbon. The makeup job was similarly glitzy and on theme, with red lips and shimmery blue eye shadow.

  “You’ll have to be careful when getting dressed not to muss this all up.” Kit fretted. “Maybe I should come over and help? They said they would bring the dress by eight o clock.”

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Aster thanked the makeup and hair ladies as they went back to the waiting area. “It’s alright, honey, I know to get dressed feet first. I’ve got it covered.”

  “Just a moment.” Kit went to the desk and talked to the lady behind the counter until she wrote something down in her book.

  “I do feel so grateful for Cora putting all this on her account.” Aster said. “Is that what you were telling them?”

  Kit took her uninjured arm in his. “Sure, that and making myself an appointment for later.” Kit winked. “You don’t get to be pretty all by yourself. Really though, this is the most fun my aunt has had since she got on this gods forsaken cruise ship, don’t you worry about it. You couldn’t put a dent in her money if you tried.”

  “You really don’t have to go with me you know.” Aster said. She hadn’t planned for having someone accompany her and hoped it wouldn’t somehow scare the object of her seductions off to see her with a man. Well, a boy, but still.

  Kit looked at her aghast. “Are you kidding? I promised my aunt! She would never let me live it down. I’m kidding, just kidding. It’s really because I want to. I haven’t had much fun lately myself.”

  The two of them walked together out into the halls.

  “If you’re sure.” Aster was sure she could find a way to shoo him along if it came down to it, and he was awfully nice company.

  “Hey, I know it’s early, but would you like to have a drink and talk some more. I would really like to find out more about your friends . . .” Kit said. A troubled look passed over his face. “How well do you know them?”

  “Pretty well I’d say.” Aster said. “And not that you aren’t an absolute doll, but I just wouldn’t waste my time trying to get between those two. It’s never gonna work and you’ll just get heartsick for nothing.” Aster put her hand on his cheek. “I’d better go back to my room and . . . . attend to some things.” Like the crimeing, Aster added silently, and the planning thereof. “We’ll have a drink together tonight when we meet up! Say, nine or so?”

  Kit smiled. “Sure, I’ll see you then! Maybe I have my o-ooown things to attend.” He playfully stuck out his tongue.

  Aster hadn’t expected anything like that from him and it startled a laugh out of her. “You silly thing!”

  Kit waved good bye as they separated.

  Aster had a strange thought come unbidden to her troubled mind. Would she ever see him again?

  *

  When Aster got back to her room, it was still early afternoon after all that and she was trying to figure out how to keep her hair and makeup more or less intact until tonight.

  These were the thoughts going through her head when she came in to see the room in shambles.

  “What are you doing?” Aster had half expected to see Dru still asleep, not here . . . taking shit apart?

  The small safe, provided in all the rooms by the cruise ship, had been removed from where it was attached to the wall discreetly in an alcove next to the bathroom.

  It took Aster a moment to even realize this, since Dru’s bed was covered with metal scraps, utensils from the buffet, and various other junk. Dru was sitting on the floor looking through a magnifying glass, and her own glasses at the back of the safe, while prodding it with a small hammer and what looked like part of a metal hanger.

  “What are you doing?” Aster lowered her eyelids cooly and crossed her arms.

  “What does it look like?” Dru asked, without looking up from her task. Her black hair was sticking out all over the place in sweaty cow licked swirls, and her glasses were smudged. But she had a look of glee.

  Making huge messes and taking things apart she clearly had no idea how to get back together apparently counted as in her element. Go figure.

  “It looks like you’re trying to steal from me again.” Aster said. “Well, haha, there’s nothing in there.” Aster went to her bedside table and opened the little drawer, extracting a small silver key on a fish shaped keyring. “Also, here’s the key. Dummy.”

  “O-ooh, that might have been useful. No way they’re all the same though, right? That would be crazy!” Dru stood up and cracked her back before walking over like some two legged clumsy horse and plucking the key from Aster’s hand. “So, where ya been anyway? You look like you joined the musical number. Looking for some extra scratch?” Dru nodded. “I get it, but we have stuff to do today.”

  Aster stamped her little boot on the ground (suddenly aware of the fact that she herself was behaving like a horse, she almost laughed even in her annoyance). “You never even answered me!”

  “Oh, I thought you were kidding.” Dru said. “I’m working out how to open these things. Of course. I used to have the niftiest little lock pick kit.” She sighed. “Alas. . . Anyway, got to make do with what you have. I mean I figured I best give it a whirl before tonight, who knows how long you can distract him for anyway, right? I better be ready to get in and get out.”

  “I can distract him plenty long.” Aster said firmly. “As long as you say. You just have to give me a timeline to go on.”

  “The thing is, these buggers are a lot trickier than they look!” Dru said. She scratched her head and went back to turning the safe over and over in her hands.

  “I don’t even know how you’re gonna get into the room to begin with, I would worry about that first.” Aster suggested.

  “Oh, easy, easy.” Dru said dismissively. “The staff all have master keys to the rooms, I already lifted one. No problem.”

  Aster blinked in astonishment. “Wow, okay.” She stepped around some discarded clothes and the other half of the mangled hanger. “Can I see that?” She reached for the safe.

  “It’s heavier than it looks.” Dru cautioned.

  Aster took the safe and held it up. It was a little heavy at that, and her injured arm quivered in protest, then throbbed. Well, fuck it. She held the safe above her head and dropped it on the floor with a resounding crash.

  “You broke it!” Dru gasped.

  The corner of the safe had caved in, and the seam cracked open, then the door popped in its socket.

  “It’s open isn’t it?” Aster pointed out.

  “You really do have a magic touch.” Dru teased. She smiled at Aster wickedly, “I think you and I will make a great team.”