Chapter 25

Revenge is Best Served Cold

To answer a question in a review I got, yes, in my story, Officer Moody lived. I thought Edward Fletcher was cute in the movie and decided to keep Moody around. I might bring him back in later chapters, but I'm not sure. Depends on where my keyboard takes me. And again, this is fiction…no flames. Thank you.

I really liked how the writers of the movie made Cal out to be the bad guy. I figured in this chapter, I'd play with that for a little bit.

Victoria's POV

I could tell something was bothering Harry as we ate. He was barely into the conversation we were all having. He picked at his food and barely ate. Jack and Rose excused themselves to go hide out in Jack's empty room and that left Harry and me alone at the table.

I took one of his hands in mine. "What's wrong? You barely spoke during the meal?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Just worried about what happened last night. Cal made mention that he could have me fired for helping you and with him having as much money and influence as he does, I'm scared that what he said will come true."

I scooted in closer to Harry so only he and I would be able to hear what was being said. "Don't worry about that pompous ass. His bark is way worse than his bite. Just leave it alone. Once we dock later on today, our lives will be free of Caledon Hockley and the toxic trail he leaves behind. He'll move on to Philadelphia like he had planned with Rose before the accident and we'll never see him again."

"Something tells me we haven't seen the last of him. Cockroaches like him always have a way of coming back just when you think they are gone. And that is what has me worried."

I looked at Harry again. He looked far away and confused. "Look, I told you. Don't worry about Cal. Do you trust me?"

Harry gave me a weird look but shook his head. "Of course I do. What are you going to do?"

I just shook my head. "All will reveal in due course. You just don't worry. In a few hours, we're going to be in New York and everything will be all right." I kissed him on the cheek and I felt his arm tighten around my shoulder.

I looked up and there stood the King Rat himself, Cal. "What do you want, Cal?"

He just smirked.

Harry's POV

I was doing my best to keep Cal out of my thoughts, but just when I got him out of my mind, there he was. The smirk on his face was so evil; it needed to be knocked off. I started to stand up, but I felt Torie's hand on my thigh so I stayed where I was. Instead, I kept my cool as I spoke. "What do you want? Can't you see you're not wanted here?"

Cal took a piece of toast off Rose's plate that was still on the table. He examined it, but put it back down. "Of course I'm wanted here. I'm wanted everywhere."

He proceeded to sit down. I felt Torie scoot her chair closer to me. I leaned back in my chair, hoping to get away from him. "Look, just leave. Now."

Cal shook his head. "I understand that you were questioned by another officer on board about our altercation last night." He smirked again. "I told you that it's just a pity that you're an officer on board with no power. And here I am and have all the power in the world and am able to have you fired once we dock.

I watched as Victoria got up. I got up with her. She looked at me, looked at Cal and picked up Moody's water glass. She poured it in Cal's lap. He leapt up, wiping the water off of his pants.

She was the one smirking now. "Didn't my fiancé tell you to leave us be? And you just remember this," I watched as she squatted down and I heard her whisper in his ear, "Even cockroaches can be squished." She took my hand and together we walked off towards the door.

"You're going to pay for that! Do you have any idea how much this suit cost?" I turned around to see Cal, red with anger, still trying to dry off his pants.

Torie didn't miss a beat. "Not like you paid for it. Have a wonderful day." She laughed at Cal one more time before she opened the door and we walked out into the sunshine.

"I can't believe you did that. He could have hurt you again. What were you THINKING?" I hissed the last part of my sentence.

She shrugged her shoulders. "He wouldn't hit me in front of everyone else. You know that as much as I do. He only hits women when there are no witnesses." She touched the side of her face. "Rose knows that too. Cal's all bark when he's out in public and I do not wish to find myself alone with the bastard again."

"Still. I don't want you putting yourself in harm's way like that. There's no telling what he's liable to do. He might try to shove you overboard when no one is watching. I'm not losing you." I tightened my grip around her middle as we walked back to her room. "Do you hear me? Be careful around that man. At least for the rest of the day."

Torie looked up at me, "If you insist." She smiled at me and then continued, "Officer Harry."

I rolled my eyes, "Oh no. Not you too. One of you calling me that is enough."

"Oh come on, you don't think it's cute?" She playfully poked me in the ribs as I opened the door for her.

"Only when you say it, it is. Now get inside before I have to carry you inside." Being defiant in a joking manner, Torie stood still in the middle of the doorway. I gave her a playful shove inside. "Don't make me carry you."

She laughed and walked slowly to her door. I poked her again in her back and she sped up slightly. She turned around to walk backwards and barely missed another passenger who was busy talking with someone. She apologized and laughed as we got to her room. Rose was in there with Jack, Shannon and Torie's father.

"Have a nice breakfast?" Mr. Metcalfe asked as he stood up to shake my hand.

Torie leaned in to kiss her father, "Yes, sir. We did. Though it appears I have a stalker on my hands."

Mr. Metcalfe didn't hesitate in his answer, "Mr. Hockley I presume?" Torie nodded and her father nodded his head. "I figured it would come to this. Has he done anything to you to warrant my concerns?"

Torie shook her head, "No sir. It just seems wherever we go, there he is. He barely missed seeing Rose earlier, but we're doing our best to keep her hidden. He does know Jack is alive though."

Mr. Metcalfe was silent a moment, "When did he find that out?"

I spoke up, "He told us he knew about Jack being alive the night Victoria fell up on deck. He asked if we knew that Rose was dead and we said we did. He said he saw Jack walking back below deck, bringing someone dinner. He said that Jack probably already romanced a wealthy woman on board and was going to take her for everything."

Jack's face began to turn a shade of crimson, "That man. He's…he's…oh he's…" He looked down at Shannon, and didn't finish his sentence.

"Dear, don't worry. In a few hours, we're going to be off this ship and in New York and Cal will be the farthest thing on our minds." Rose tried to reassure Jack, but we could all see the doubt in his eyes.

"All four of you need to stay as hidden as possible until the ship docks. No telling what Cal has up his sleeve. Just stay hidden, please? I don't need anyone getting hurt, especially not my daughters."

I looked at Torie, "Listen to your father, please?"

She sighed and nodded, saying she'd stay hidden as much as possible.

Torie was about to say something, but we were interrupted by a knock at the door. Shannon went to answer it and a porter handed her an envelope. She read the name on it and handed it to me. "Officer Lowe, I believe this is yours."

I shrugged, wondering who would know I was here. I read it. 'Lowe, meeting upstairs, officers' quarters ASAP. Lightoller.' I looked at Torie and sighed. I waved the note around, "Duty calls. I'll be back to see you before we dock." I gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead and turned to exit the door to see what Lightoller wanted.

Back to Victoria's POV

I watched as Harry headed out. Rose and Jack got to talking and Father excused himself to go take a short nap before we docked. Shannon asked to be excused to play with her friend in the next suite and Father said she could go, but she had to stay in the suite. She happily agreed and away she went.

"I'm going to run to the library to get a book so I can read for a little bit." I picked up my shawl and headed out the door. The library on the Carpathia was a little smaller than on board Titanic, but it was still an impressive collection. I selected a book off the shelf and sat down to read a few pages to see if I'd like it or not.

Before I knew it, I was a few chapters into the book. I checked the clock on the mantle and stood up in a hurry, realizing I was gone a lot longer than I intended on.

I picked up the book and placed it back on the shelf. I started to turn to exit the library and before I could get to the door, I heard a faint click as the exit was closed. I gasped as I saw Cal standing in front of the door, blocking my only exit. I got a thicker book off the shelf and stood backed up into a corner. I was prepared to hit him with the book if need be.

"I guess by your little show downstairs in the dining salon, I am supposed to be afraid of you?" He started to walk to me. I quickly surveyed the room, trying to find an escape route, but chairs and tables blocked my exit. I started to move away from the corner of the bookcase, but Cal stopped me. "Rose was feisty just like you. I was in the process of taming her when she was killed. That might be all you need. Someone to tame you. Do you think you can be tamed?" Cal lunged forward and grabbed me by the throat.

I was choking, trying to breathe. I dropped the book out of instinct as my hands went to grab Cal's which were clamped around my throat. "Cal, LET ME GO!" I tried to yell and it was barely audible. He released his grip on me and I put my arm in front of my throat, trying to stop any advances. "Let me out. Now."

He laughed to himself as if he had a secret only he knew. "In time, Miss Metcalfe. In time. Right now, you and I need to have a chat." Cal sat down in a chair right in front of my exit path. He leaned forward and propped his arms on his legs. "Your attitude leaves something to be desired. Here I was to think that since you attended the finest finishing school in England that you'd be a proper and refined young lady. But you have the spirit of an unbroken horse." He looked me up and down. "My. It seems that fiancé of yours hurt you pretty badly. Too bad your father doesn't know the truth about our good Officer."

I was seeing red. I couldn't believe what was going on. "My father does know the truth. He knows what YOU did to me. He knows Harold could never lay a hand on me. I heard about what you are capable of." I lunged for the door but Cal caught me easily.

"Not so fast, young lady. I'm not done with you." He leaned in, trying to kiss me but I managed to slap him hard across the face. He stood still, stunned a minute before he looked at me again. "Damn you. What makes you think you can get away with that?" Cal raised his hand again as if he was going to hit me when the door flew open.

"Sir, please put your hand down and back away from the lady or I'll alert the master at arms!"

I spun around and saw Officer Lightoller and Officer Moody standing in the doorway.

"Miss, are you okay?" Moody looked at me as I came to him. "Did he do this? What happened?" Moody put his hand on the side of my face to gently guide my face towards the light so he could see the bruises.

"Yes, sir, I am okay, and yes, he did this to me." I brought my hands to my throat. "He was choking me, then he tried to assault me and then the two of you came in." Moody moved around to where I was behind both him and Lightoller.

Lightoller and Moody told Cal that if he or any of the other officers saw him within 10 feet of me, he'd be arrested on the spot and detained until we docked.

"Moody, escort Mr. Hockley back to his floor and see that he stays there."

Moody said that he would and he escorted Cal out of the room. "Get your hands off me. Do you know who I am?"

Moody was unimpressed by Cal's ranting. He yawned and just stared blankly at him. "No."

Cal was more upset by not being recognized than by being escorted off. I had a small amount of satisfaction at Moody's reaction to Cal as he was escorted out of the room.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Lightoller bent over to get a better look at my eye.

"Yes, I'm fine. May I ask of you a favor, please sir?"

Lightoller nodded, "Sure. Anything." He held out his arm and together we walked out of that room as I began to speak to him.

"Please don't tell Harold about this. He'll only become even more enraged than he already is. He's already upset about last night. Please make sure Officer Moody doesn't say anything, either. The last thing I need is Harry upset even more than he already is. "

"Sure thing. What did happen last night if you don't mind me asking? I got a report of Lowe striking you after you two had an argument. Is that true?"

I stopped walking. "Good gracious no." I took Lightoller's arm again. "Oh no sir. Nothing like that. On the contrary, it was he who saved me. Cal was the one who blackened my face and injured my arm. He was the one who stopped him. I injured my shoulder when I fell when Cal shoved me to get to him."

Lightoller nodded. "I just wanted to hear it from you. I know Lowe has quite a temper, but I've known him for some time now and I've never known him to get angered with a lady, especially not one as good looking as you are. I won't tell Lowe about this and I'll speak to Moody on your behalf to request his silence as well. I give you my word."

I sighed and thanked Lightoller as he walked me to my door. "You know Harry speaks highly of you. He looks up to you."

"He better. I do outrank him. If he looks down to me, you know that's grounds for dismissal." Lightoller started to smile, but continued, "I know he does. We've been sailing together before and I enjoy it with him. He keeps it exciting for me."

"Has he ever done anything with another female passenger on board? Am I the first one, or what?"

Lightoller looked at me. "No. Lowe's a gentleman when he's on board. Never tried to make a move on another lady or anything. I don't know what it is about you that made him do what he did, but it's done. But no, he's not known for doing this sort of thing."

I sighed in relief, now knowing that I wasn't just a passing phase. Lightoller escorted me to my room and said that Harry was still speaking with another officer after the meeting but would find me later.

I let myself into my room, happy to be in a safe place. I walked to the bed and went to lie down, hoping to sleep off the events that had just happened.