Infinite Loop - Chapter 11

Carnegie Hall

Warren listened to Amber’s footsteps as she headed to the stern of the ship. With a grunt, he hobbled after her. When Warren noticed her shadowed figure crouch behind a raised crane platform, he hurried around to the other side. She stared out into the darkness as he snuck behind her.

“Damn it, you play that game again, and I’ll dump you over the side.” He grabbed her arm with an ominous growl. “Whether or not you like it, we’re stuck in this together.”

“Don’t threaten me,” she told him, her anger rising. “All I have to do is give a scream, and the crew will have their killer, won’t they?”

Warren took Amber by the arm, making her grunt as he lifted her from the deck.

“Quit it, you’re hurting me.” Her voice got louder as he led her with them back to the cabin deck.

Behind them, they could hear the trapped sailor striking something on the steel hatch. Luckily, the sound remained distant, barely heard over the noise of the ship passing through the water.

“Keep your voice down,” Warren told her as he pushed them into the shadows behind the crane.

“You want to raise the alarm, then fine with me, lady. If you yell, I’m going to put this on you,” he said emphatically. “I’ll say you were in on the whole thing. Do you think they won’t ask why you were down there in the middle of the night? I told you; I’m not frying again. So, start thinking about that.”

Warren noticed his words were having an effect. Her expression changed to worry, but his temper made him keep going.

“Damn it, do you really want to push me on this? Hell, I can lie pretty damn well if I need to,” he continued. “Think about it. Do you want both of us in the damn hot seat? It’ll make plenty of noise in the newspapers.”

She remained silent for a long moment. Warren carefully led them into the light of the deck, and he noticed her resistance loosened.

“Where are we going?” Amber asked suspiciously.

“Hell, I don’t know,” he sighed, then dragged her with him.

“Let’s get out of here.”

Warren realized the captain would turn him over to the police when they arrived. From there, he could bet the writers would have him stuck in a jail cell for the rest of the movie, probably have him killed while trying to escape.

When they reached the ladder to the passenger deck, he pulled her into a shadowed area beneath the overhang.

“I don’t really know what to do next, but I—no—we need to think this through. Let’s go to my cabin,” he suggested. “It’s the only place where we can talk. We must plan this out when they ask questions, and we only have a few hours.”

“I told you I’m not going anywhere with you. I still don’t believe you,” Amber told him. “Everyone saw your argument with that guy Krupin this afternoon. If you don’t go to the Captain, I will.”

“Keep your voice down!”

His fingers pinched into her arm.

“Ouch!” the woman hissed out her complaint.

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