The Jolly Dodger (The Soul Seekers Book 8) Read online

  A ghost.

  Still, I knew I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t to make sure.

  Another icy gust of wind washed over me, and with a grunt, I started forward, arms crossed, as much of a defensive mechanism as a ward against the cold. My feet pounded on the deck’s boards as I hurried to the side of the ship.

  When I reached it, my hand gripped the edge. I pulled myself closer to the gap where the plank was lodged, keeping one hand on the wooden bulwark. Took a deep breath. I was only a few feet away from the plank, and then I would have to peer over the edge, into the darkness beyond.

  Another step and a frosty gust of wind rushed over the ship’s bough and into me, sweeping my hair back. The strands tickled the back of my neck, but I didn’t dare release my grip.

  Another step. The plank was in view. I took the final step and was adjacent with the board. I was grateful for the metal gate, and noted that it was locked.

  Nobody had been pushed over there tonight. Or at least, nobody living.

  I was careful to keep my feet away from the wooden board that jutted out over the sea, and leaned forward, peering over the edge. Below, the waves broke against the ship but further out, the ocean surface was calm where the moonlight’s reflection sparkled.

  I crept closer, holding my hands on either side, clenching the bulwark so I wouldn’t fall overboard. And just below the plank there was movement.

  It was different than the undulating sea that splashed against the ship’s hull. So inconspicuous I almost missed it.

  I shuffled another step, so my toes were resting on the edge of the board, shins pressed against the metal gate. I peered forward, leaning over the side of the ship. My inner voice screamed as I realised that if I fell, nobody would know. No one knew I was up there except Andy, and he thought I was looking at the anchor.

  My eyes adjusted to the darkness at the base of the ship, and as I peered around the plank, I saw it.

  A head. A pale white face against the dark sea. Hands resting on the ocean’s surface as if treading water.

  My stomach dropped. I was wrong. There was somebody in the water. I didn’t know how he’d gotten down there, but that didn’t matter. A man was in the water, and he was being left behind, soon to be lost. I had to act.

  After spinning from the scene and almost falling, I ran across the deck. Once I reached the stairs, I grabbed the handrail and dashed to the deck below. The lack of wind was a relief, but I didn’t have time to appreciate it. I had to find help.

  The sound of the pub was in full swing. Laughter, chatter, and amongst it all, a chant. Sea shanty singing was in full swing. I could’ve gone in there and found a staff member, but I wouldn’t get sense out of anyone, if they could even hear me. Instead I turned in the opposite direction, to the bridge at the front of the ship.

  I sprinted down the corridor, the sounds of merriment fading. The door at the end came into view, and I knew that was my destination. I reached it and was about to pound on the door, when it opened.

  A young woman stopped, her mouth gaping as she looked me up and down. “Hello, can I help you?” she asked after recovering. She wore red lipstick that sprung against her pale skin.

  “There’s a man overboard. I heard a splash. He’s—”

  “Hold on.” She held up her hands. “There’s someone overboard?”

  “Yes.” I finally breathed, as relief from passing the problem on flooded through me.

  “How long?”

  “A few minutes.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Yes.”

  She hurried back into the room and the door began to close, but I stuck my foot out to jam it. I saw her talking to a man who sat in a bucket-like seat.

  He turned to look at her, eyes wide. Then he reached for the speaker. “All hands on deck. I repeat, all hands on deck. We have a man overboard.”

  I heard the sound of footsteps down the corridor, and as I turned, I saw two pirates racing down the hallway, boots thumping, then they flew up the stairs. I followed suit, eager to see the man rescued.

  When I reached the deck again, it was illuminated from overhead spotlights. I shielded my eyes until they adjusted. The deck was brimming with life, and as much as I didn’t want to get in the way, I had to know.

  I rushed across to the bulwark beside the plank, where a third man was standing. He stared into the water. He had a striped t-shirt on beneath a lifejacket. It was the first time I’d seen anything besides pirate outfits.

  He glanced at me before focusing on the water again. “You report this?”

  I nodded. “Do you see him?”

  “I don’t see anyone.”

  “Did he go under?”

  “There’s no indication that anybody was there.” He shook his head.

  “He could be drowning.” I bunched my hair in my hands. “You have to get down there.”

  “We’re waiting on the divers.”

  As if on cue, two men appeared, wearing wetsuits. As they reached the plank, the man I was standing beside helped them put their tanks on.

  They both walked the plank and jumped into the water. Two splashes and I leaned over the side of the ship as they disappeared beneath the depths. I saw strong lights underwater, and the two men began searching. The lights got dimmed as they dove deeper, and when they resurfaced, both men were shaking their heads.

  After they climbed back on board, dripping wet and panting, they were helped out of their tanks and handed towels. I hadn’t noticed but while they were down there, the crew had doubled on the deck and I was surrounded by men and women dressed as pirates.

  “What did you see?” Andy’s gaze flicked to me.

  “Nothing,” one of the divers snarled. “There’s nobody down there.”

  All eyes were on me. I felt anger and irritation directed at me, and I began to burn inside.

  “Another drunk, that’s all.” The second diver turned his back on me as he wrapped the towel over his shoulders.

  “I’m not drunk. I haven’t touched a drop, I swear.”

  “That’s what they all say,” he grunted.

  “There was a man down there.” I pointed. “I saw him treading water.”

  “Definitely one too many drinks,” a woman muttered, tittering behind her hand as she turned to her friend.

  I bit back a snarl as I stared at the semicircle of would-be pirates. They were angry and bemused. If I had spoken in that moment, a string of curses would’ve exploded from my lips.

  “Peyton here is teetotal.” Andy moved to stand beside me and patted my shoulder.

  “So she tells you.” The woman smirked.

  “Her word is good enough for me.” Andy rounded on her. “If she saw something, then I believe her.”

  “I don’t know what she saw, but it wasn’t a man,” the second diver said. “There was nothing down there.”

  “Maybe a shark got him.” My voice was shaking, and I was clutching at straws.

  The thing I’d seen through the porthole earlier that evening was a figment, not of my imagination, but of a spirit.

  Chuckles went up around the crew.

  “There are no sharks,” the woman said.

  She was getting on my last nerve.

  “Something else then. There was a man. I saw him.” I peered over the edge again.

  The sea was tranquil. No face staring up at me. No arms waving in the water as he treaded. Nobody.

  “Listen, honey, even if you are teetotal, I think there’s something wrong up there.” She tapped her temple. “Maybe you need to go and get some rest.”

  “Maybe you need to shut your mouth.” I stepped forward.

  “Woah!” Andy yelled.

  He held his arm out to stop me from advancing, but I at least got the satisfaction of seeing her shrink away from me.

  “Come on, maybe it’s time to get you back to your room,” he said.

  “Fine,” I growled, allowing him to turn me around.

  The crew star
ed at me, and I knew I was labelled the crazy chick who was seeing things.

  I stomped back down the stairs, vowing that I wouldn’t go back up there until I had to leave the ship.

  Andy was right behind me. “Are you all right?”

  I paused at the bottom of the stairs. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

  “Yeah. I just . . . I swear I saw him.”

  “Being at sea at night can do funny things to the—”

  “Please don’t suggest that I’m going crazy.”

  “I wasn’t going to.” He smiled. “I was going to say eyes. I’ve seen things before, things that could never have been real.”

  “You have?”

  He nodded. “Even if there was nobody down there, you did the right thing.”

  “I feel like I’m going to be heralded as the crazy chick for the rest of the trip.” I crossed my arms.

  “Don’t worry about it.” He shook his head. “Janice up there, well, she has a lot of issues herself, so she has no room to talk. Don’t take it personally.”

  “Thanks for sticking up for me.”

  “Don’t mention it.” He waved his hand away. “Want me to walk you to your room?”

  “No. I think I’m going to go grab a coffee. I need something to settle my nerves.”

  It was the first time I’d really dealt with a full-bodied apparition, apart from the shadow at the Starlight cinema. I’d heard so many voices, listened to stories and desires, and found the objects tying spirits to the mortal world, but I hadn’t seen anything like I’d just witnessed. That would’ve been a perfect time to partake in a drink, but I would have to settle for a dose of caffeine.

  “You know where it is?”

  “Yeah, thanks.”

  “See you around, Peyton.”

  I waved and strolled along the corridor as he drifted back up to the deck. I sighed at the sound of music hit me and I realised I still had plenty of time to kill. The singing was underway. I hadn’t joined the others but I suspected they were too far gone to realise. I wasn’t going to head there now, not after what just happened. I’d get a coffee and then go back to my room and read. At least then I couldn’t get myself into any trouble.

  The coffee shop was open but vacant. The woman smiled wearily as I moved to the counter. At least she didn’t know about my laughing-stock status yet.

  “Can’t get enough of my coffee, huh?” She was already setting up a cup.

  I grinned. “I much prefer it to the stronger stuff. Bet you wish you weren’t alone here?”

  “Please.” She shook her head. “After doing this week in, week out, you get sick of the same stuff. I asked to be moved to the cafe for a change of pace. And it’s got much better perks. I can drink the stuff out of the machine here, whereas I couldn’t take from the tap.”

  She handed the cup over to me.

  “Thanks. Is it okay to take it to my room?”

  “Sure. Just don’t spill it, because I’ll get shot.”

  “No need to fear that. I’ll be needing every last drop. See you later.”

  I meandered back to the room, stepped inside, flicked on the light, and kicked the door shut. A small heater set on top of the wardrobe was sputtering, and I smiled as I nestled onto the bed, crossed my legs, and leaned against the wall. I should’ve done this in the first place.

  I reached towards the mirror, opened the novel at the marked page, then began to read. The remaining anger dissipated, and as I melted into the heat of the room and lost myself in the words, everything else disappeared.

  “Peyton!”

  A loud whisper woke me, and a hand was on my shoulder, gently shaking me.

  I had fallen asleep clutching my book, index finger marking the page.

  Smacking my lips, I pushed myself up onto my elbow, rubbed my face, and looked up at Jake. He looked down at me with a goofy grin and the stink of beer riding on his breath.

  “Hi.” My voice groggy and thick with sleep. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Hi. You okay?”

  “Yeah.” He grinned.

  “What time is it?”

  “Late. We . . . I guess we got a little carried away.”

  I glanced at my phone. It wasn’t so much late as early.

  “How was the sea shanty singing?”

  “It was good. I think.” He nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t come get you. I think we just lost track of time.”

  “Oh well. There’s always tomorrow night.”

  “Yup.” He smiled, sinking down onto the side of the bed. “I don’t know if you can shed some light on something.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I heard a story about this cute chick crying about somebody falling overboard.”

  I groaned as I sat up and leaned against the wall, feeling the cold rushing through me. “I didn’t think news travelled that fast.”

  “It was you, then.”

  “I think I was the only one not in the pub, so yeah it was me. I went on deck for a look around and heard a splash. When I looked overboard I saw a man in the water. I went for help and the search team had floodlights on and divers in the water. They found nothing.”

  “Weird.”

  “Damn right it was weird. I swear I saw him, Jake.”

  “I’m just glad they didn’t find anyone.”

  I frowned. “What does it mean, though?”

  He shrugged. “Maybe it was just a trick of the light.”

  “Not you, too.”

  “I believe you, Peyton. But if someone was down there, he would’ve been found.”

  “And so my boyfriend thinks I’m crazy.” I crossed my arms.

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You didn’t have to.”

  “Peyton, what’s up?”

  I sighed. “Nothing. I guess I’m just tired. And I spent my entire night alone.”

  “I’m sorry.” He dropped his head. “I meant to come back, I really did. I just got carried away. I think half the boat was in the bar. The drinks were flowing and . . . and I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay.” I shook my head. “This is your holiday, too.”

  “I promise I’ll make it up to you tomorrow.”

  “Oh, yeah?” I raised my brow.

  “Yeah. As soon as I get rid of my hangover.”

  “You do know that hangovers on a ship is ten times worse than normal.”

  “They are?”

  “The churning of the water does something to your stomach.”

  He balked and shook his head.

  Outside, I heard muffled laughter and footsteps. Someone banged on our door, and Olivia hissed, “Good night, Peyton.” Then she and Rob struggled with the key for a minute before the door slammed.

  “Sounds like they had fun.” I grinned, feeling my frustration dissolve.

  “It was good. I wish you could’ve been there.” He tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

  “Being an alcoholic makes that a little difficult.”

  “I know. And I would never put you in that position.” He leaned down and kissed me.

  “I’m glad you understand. That’s what makes it easier to do this.”

  “Do what?”

  “You have to sleep in that bed.” I pointed to the bunk closest to Olivia and Rob’s room, where I could hear the telltale signs of a drunk Olivia getting ready for bed.

  I knew it wouldn’t be long until Rob’s snores were permeating the wall.

  “What? Why?” Jake looked hurt, eyes wide, mouth hanging open.

  “You stink of drink.” I stuck out my tongue. “I love you. Now get over there.”

  “I can’t believe my woman is making me sleep alone.” He stood up and tottered on his feet before stripping off his t-shirt and dropping it on the floor.

  “Perhaps you should consider your behaviour next time.”

  He snarled at me as he tried to balance on one leg to pull his jeans off. “Are you sure I can’t just climb in there with you?”

 
; “Nope.” I shook my head. I got undressed, too, throwing my clothes in a heap on the floor next to his, and then scooted under the covers. “You’ll be fine.”

  “I’ll miss you.”

  “I’ll hold your hand.”

  He grinned and climbed beneath the sheets, then stuck his hand out across the gap between the beds. I took it and smiled as the warmth from his palm travelled through me.

  “I love you, Peyton.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Soon, his eyes were closed and his soft snores filled the room.

  I woke early but wasn’t sure if it was because of the way the ship rolled over the sea or the fact that Jake was stirring. Our hands had disconnected during the night, his lolling outside the duvet, and the room was still dark. When I looked at the porthole, I saw the dark water as it lapped against the glass. Until then, I hadn’t realised just how isolating it felt to be below the deck.

  I shuddered as I recalled the face of the man who had fallen overboard last night, then shook the image away. There hadn’t been a man. Surely, the divers would’ve found him. He couldn’t have drifted far away in such a short span of time, could he?

  And what did that mean for me? I wasn’t apt to think I was losing it, but at the same time, there didn’t seem to be any other explanation for what I thought I’d seen.

  Except a spirit.

  Even though it wasn’t logical, it was normal for me and it would explain why nobody else had seen the man.

  I swung my feet out of bed to meet the cold air just as Jake moaned.

  He peered through the slits of his eyes, into the early morning. “Oh, my god, I feel like hell.” He rubbed his face and pulled the covers higher.

  “Hence, the reason I quit drinking.” I smiled.

  “That’s only one part of the reason,” he reminded me.

  “Yeah, you’re right. But I don’t miss the hangovers.” I shook my head.

  The hangovers became as much a part of my normal routine as the drinking. So much so, that I rarely felt them towards the end.