I quickly opened the door and ran out, not stopping until I reached the third floor. With my heart pounding in my chest, I shut the door behind me.
Earlier on, Christopher’s friend teased him for being gay. I couldn’t believe that I had just witnessed two gay men having sex, and it was a jarring sight.
I couldn’t sleep, so I lay in bed with flushed cheeks. After a long while, Christopher finally returned. He appeared disheveled as though he had gotten into a fight, and there were even bruises on his arm. I quickly went to retrieve the first aid kit and tended to his wounds.
Christopher leaned back on the couch with his eyes half-closed. A moment later, a message popped up on his phone. At a glance, I saw that it was a picture of a man. As I looked at the picture, it dawned on me that the person seemed familiar, so I asked, “Who’s that?”
Christopher replied, “He’s the bad guy. Please be careful in the next couple of days, and try not to go out, Eve. Once the ship docks at Summerbank’s port, you’ll disembark first. I have a few matters to take care of.”
I remembered his other identity and had the recollection of the horrible gaping wound in his chest. I couldn’t help but start to worry as I asked softly, “Is it dangerous?”
“Don’t worry about me. Nothing bad will happen to me.” He played absently with a few strands of my hair as he explained further, “Sean’s cover has been blown, so it’s not easy for him to get into action. Since I happen to be more famous, those people won’t keep their guards up around me. I couldn’t possibly watch my friends get into danger. I hope you can understand that.”
I nodded with a heavy heart. “I understand. I can’t help but worry. You have to be careful, Chris. Whatever you do, please remember that I’ll be waiting for you to come back to me.”
Christopher looked at me, and he suddenly burst into laughter. “What were you thinking, Eve? We’re just dealing with a cunning man, and we’re laying low to avoid raising suspicion. Were you thinking of me as a lonesome hero in some gunfight movie?”
Is that not the case? I blinked in confusion.
“You’re silly, Eve. Do you think anyone can simply buy a gun?” He broke into a peal of laughter, clutching his stomach as it was starting to ache for laughing too hard.
I’m so silly. Otherwise, why would I have the impression of him in body armor, with AK47 in his hand, and grenades attached to his waist belt? I spent way too much time watching TV indeed.
Christopher changed his clothes, and both of us nestled in bed for an afternoon nap. When I woke up, an image flashed across my mind. I became anxious all of a sudden and shook Christopher to rouse him from his sleep. “I know that man. I know him. Wake up!”
“What man?” Christopher sat up in bed. “You went to find another man behind my back?”
“Knock it off. I’m being serious.” I grabbed his phone from the bedside table and opened the text message from this afternoon. I pointed at the man in the picture and said, “I saw him this afternoon. If you’re looking for him, I know where he is.”
Christopher’s eyes glinted with delight and asked urgently, “Where did you see him?”
I flushed in embarrassment and recounted the shameful event that I witnessed this afternoon to him. But I left out the part about Lyle. When I finished, I pointed at the photo and said, “That’s the man. He’s the man on the bottom, and he’s the one who talked in a strange tone. He was in room 2046 on the second floor. I remember him clearly because he glared at me.”
“Are you sure?” Christopher asked gravely.
“Yes, I’m sure.” I nodded.
Christopher picked up his phone and quickly made a call to Sean. He gave him the address and said, “Get the men to keep a close eye on him, Sean. Let’s catch him when we have the chance. Once John is caught, we’ll be able to get him to confess to the serial case.”
He placed the phone down and pulled me into an embrace for a kiss. “You’re my lucky star, Eve. Sean and the others have been searching the ship for two days, but they couldn’t find that man. It’s a good thing that you bumped into him.”
