Chapter 6

"Let's review the clues we have so far," Velma said as she, Daphne and Fred walked along the outer passageway. "One: Before we got here, there have been stories of seeing strange and spooky things. Two: There are a lot fewer passengers now than normal. Three: Someone intentionally caused the galley's new freezer to burn out, since we found wire strippers. Four: A boat tried to ram the ship, but it got away without any sound or collision. Five: What was five again?"

"Switched room numbers on the doors," Fred answered.

"That's right - switched door numbers while we were gone. Six: That ghost that floated through the air to where we found a parachute that would be almost invisible in the dark. And last, number seven: a man that wasn't a passenger that wasn't taken to the infirmary by another man who wasn't a passenger after he didn't get poisoned by toadstools he didn't eat. I think that about covers it so far. What is that music?" she asked, as some type of waltz could be heard coming through a door. She opened it and peeked inside to see Scooby trying to skate on four legs while another dog sailed gracefully around a small ice rink. She shut the door. "Just some dogs ice skating. Where does that leave us?"

"It sounds like someone is trying to keep most of the passengers off the ship. Do you think we should update the captain?"

"Why not? Maybe we can get a tour of the bridge. Let's go." But as the three neared the bridge, they became aware of a discussion that was taking place already.

"I've never seen those before in my life," a voice said. As they looked through a window, they could see the captain had spoken.

The ship's Head of Security was also there. "Then what were they doing in your cabin, sir?"

"I have no idea. And just what made you search my cabin?"

"An anonymous tip."

The captain saw Fred's head through the window and motioned them inside. "I've been having an independent investigation of recent events aboard the ship undertaken by this group. Tell them what you told me."

The security chief hesitated. He worked for the cruise line, but the captain WAS the captain - even if he was under suspicion. He decided there was no harm. "The security office received an anonymous tip that there were stolen diamonds located in the captain's cabin. I investigated and found these." He produced a velvet bag and emptied the contents into his hand. By now Isaac and Gopher had shown up, as news traveled quickly, and they went "Ooooo" at the sight of the gems. "They probably came from one of our ports of call."

"I'm innocent. I've never seen that bag before," the captain professed.

"Where did you find it?" Velma asked.

"It was sitting on top of his desk."

"Do you think that he would leave stolen diamonds sitting on the top of his desk in plain sight?"

"Well..."

"Let me take a look at one of those," Gopher said. He whipped out a jewelers loupe. "I'm an amateur gemologist, and I've locked away plenty of jewels in the ship safe before." The chief handed over one of the stones suspiciously. Gopher found the best position for light and examined the rock, shaking it a few times. "Umm. Hmmm. Yup." He looked up the loupe still in his eye. "It's fake. Like Isaac's love life."

"Hey!" the bartender protested.

"Are you sure?"

"From what I've heard...just kidding, Isaac! Listen - even I could afford a bag full of these. They may look impressive, but they're just cheap glass you could use as...as...party favors. Dollars to donuts the rest are the same. Congratulations, you just busted someone for being in possession of potential costume jewelry." He took the piece of glass and added it to the rest, still in the chief's outstretched hand.

"You see? Absolutely ridiculous," the captain stated. "The very thought..."

"Please sir, it's just my job. I have to be impartial."

Stubing mulled over the circumstances. "Perhaps you're right; every person should be accountable. Very well, carry on. Wait a minute...how did you get into my cabin in the first place?" he asked the chief.

"With this key," he said as he produced a brass key. "It's a master key for all the crew quarters on the ship. It won't work for the guest cabins because they have a different setup."

"How long have you had that key?"

"Since I became head of security. They said there had been some trouble years before, and having a master key helped in case of an emergency."

The captain looked at Gopher and Isaac, who had been on the ship longer than he had. They both shrugged to indicate that it must have happened before them. "I am uneasy with someone having a key to such private areas as crew quarters. This...policy...will be reviewed when we get back home. In the meantime, you are dismissed." He issued a sharp salute and the chief returned it, then left with his bag of glass. Whoever is doing this is stepping up their attacks on the ship, its crew and its passengers. But I have to admit, I'm at wit's end trying to come up with some solution to the problem."

"Is it happening to any of the other ships in the fleet, or in the other cruise lines?" Daphne asked.

"Not that I know of. How about the crew, Mr. Smith?"

The yeoman purser looked embarrassed. "I wouldn't know, sir."

The captain's face softened. "Come on Gopher, I know the crew talks when I'm not around. Are any other ships having this problem?"

"No sir," he admitted.

Stubing looked at Isaac and got a nod of agreement. "It looks like just our ship, then."

Velma cleared her throat. "So, we can assume that either you or the ship are being targeted."

"That's all very well, but what can we do about it?"

"We can use that to our advantage." She motioned the captain to one side away from the other crew members present while the rest of the gang huddled around. With a lowered voice, she explained "We'll use it to lay a trap for our troublemaker."

Captain Stubing stood up straight. "My friends, you have my full attention. May I suggest we relocate to my cabin for a planning session?"