My Weekly Pocket Novel - 09 June 2022

198 Pages·2022·127.9 MB·English

Ly Be J

| e
SEP BIW

GREAT
QUICK
READ

AU $8.95, NZ $9.80 £3.99

771758 165068 | 23 >

NOSWOHL 5d

VIGAW

9

are HEWIELL
ic)
kly 3s: POCKET NOVEL ,

Dear reader,

My We
The Crying
Game

Would Olivia’s obsession ead her to love?

We do hope you enjoy this
latest My Weekly Pocket Novel.
1 Did you know, you can
a - a subscribe to My Weekly Pocket
¥ i Novels and have every issue

2 delivered straight to your door?

With free delivery, you're
guaranteed to never miss an
issue, as two novels are posted
directly to you every month. It’s
cheaper, too! With our current
offer, you'll save over £58 on
the shop price, that’s better

Debbie Chase than half price!

See page 192 for our latest fantastic subscription offer!

*Terms and conditions: For more information, please call our contact centre on freephone 0800 318 846 (UK); [phone] (Overseas, calls charged at
your standard international rate); or email [email protected]. See page 192 for full terms and conditions.
Still
Waters

By Carrie Hewlett

From charming and attentive Carl to
the mysterious Inspector Moondust
— it’s amazing who you can meet
on a luxury cruise, as solo traveller
Adina discovers. And when events
take a shocking, dramatic turn, her
keen eyes and intuition might prove
invaluable in the investigation. But will
the guilty party be caught, jump ship,
or manage to evade capture until the
ship returns to Southampton?
My Weekly Pocket Novels

@ Romantic @ Thrilling @ Dramatic

Pocket Novels are quick, easy reads
Fits in your handbag or pocket
Favourite, much loved authors

On Sale Every Fortnight
About The Author

If not writing at my laptop,
| love astrology, being by the sea,
and anything mystical or musical.
| love the theatre, especially
musicals, and am often caught
singing in the kitchen!
/DC THOMSON

Vic lL

Distributed by Frontline Ltd, Stuart House, St John’s St,
Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 5DD. Tel: [phone]
555161. Website: www.frontlinedistribution.co.uk

EXPORT DISTRIBUTION (excluding AU and NZ) Seymour
Distribution Ltd, 2 East Poultry Avenue,
London EC1A 9PT Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Website: www.seymour.co.uk

EU Representative Office: DC Thomson & Co Ltd, c/o
Findmypast Ireland, Irishtown, Athlone, Co. Westmeath,
N37 XP52

© Carrie Hewlett, 2022
Cover: Shutterstock
Published in Great Britain by DC Thomson & Co. Ltd.,
185 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2HS

We will only use the data provided to contact people in
relation to competitions or letters. You can find our privacy
policy at www.dctmedia.co.uk/privacy-policy/

6
CHAPTER 1

e are pleased to inform you... Adina’s hand

flew to her mouth in shock. She _ swiftly
scanned the rest of the letter before re-reading
it again more slowly, a frisson of excitement
running up her spine, and a big grin spreading
across her face.

In all her forty-two years, she’d hardly ever won
a thing. Now, it looked like she’d won first prize;
a romantic cruise for two, to The Canary Islands
and Madeira.

“You’ve done WHAT?” Cath, her best friend,
screamed down the phone at her.

“Won a holiday.” Adina’s eyes twinkled as she
pictured her friend’s excited face.

“Oh wow. So, who are you going with?”

Adina’s brow wrinkled. She’d been thinking the
same thing.

“| don’t know. | mean, it’s not like I’ve got an
other-half to go anywhere with now. And | know
you're terrified of water, and wouldn’t go near a
boat with a barge pole.”

Cath would have been her perfect companion.
She was bubbly and loved chatting to people.
They got on well, and had been friends forever.
Going away with her was always lots of fun.

“Yeah, sorry about that. I’d have loved a free
holiday too. But you’d have to drag me onto
the ship kicking and screaming! Still, you’ll find
someone. What about one of the kids? I’m sure
they’d jump at the chance.”

Adina pictured her now grown-up daughters.

“I’m not so sure. Zoe’s working hard building
up funds for medical school in September, and

7
STILL WATERS

has already said that there’s no way she could
take time off for a break this year. She was really
despondent about it last time | spoke to her.”

Zoe, an independent twenty-year-old, had
decided long ago that she wanted to become a
doctor. She’d moved in with her boyfriend, Mick,
and Adina knew money was tight for them.

“Well, you could still ask. It's a= great
opportunity.”

“There’s still spending money to find,” Adina
said doubtfully. “And if l’m honest, I’m not entirely
sure that we’d get on, sharing a cabin. | love her
to bits, but you know what she’s like.”

Zoe had always been full of beans.

“Hmm. All right. And I’m guessing Suranne
won’t go at the moment because of the baby?”

Adina pursed her lips.

“No. Having miscarried once, | don’t think she’d
want to risk travelling. Anyway, she wouldn’t want
to leave Ross.”

Suranne had fallen desperately in love at the
tender age of nineteen, getting married within the
year. A home-loving Cancerian with a Leo moon,
she’d unfortunately lost her first baby, and was
ultra-protective about her second. Ross, her
husband, was equally anxious.

Being an astrology lover Adina had not only
worked out her chart, but also those of her kids.

“OK, so who are you going to take? This is too
good an opportunity to miss. And you might meet
some tall, dark handsome stranger to sweep you
off your feet,” Cath said with a teasing tone.

Adina burst out laughing.

“| think that’s only the case in fairy tales!”

“Hey, it’s a thought.”

“Yeah, right. | need to put my thinking cap on.”
Adina ended the call and gazed into the distance.
8
STILL WATERS

Everyone she knew had partners. That was the
trouble being half of a couple — then not. Recently
divorced, most of her friends were either still
married, or dating. And she was neither.

Not that she was sad about the fact. And she’d
not given up on the dating scene; she just didn’t
feel ready yet, feeling too emotionally vulnerable
to put herself out there.

Her mind drifted towards visions of gently
undulating blue seas, and herself lying on a sun
lounger against a backdrop of cloudless skies,
knowing she didn’t have to lift a finger. Perhaps
followed by pleasant walks around the decks of
the ship, staring up at the velvet sky studded with
twinkling diamonds. It sounded heavenly — just
what she needed. It would do her the world of good
to let her worries slip away, like the shoreline.

Flicking on the kettle for a cuppa, she grinned.
Why not? She’d go on her own.

She’d always wanted to see Madeira, having
heard that the flora in Funchal, the island’s
flowering capital, was breathtakingly beautiful.
Plus, she fancied trying the wickerwork toboggans
in which you could enjoy a wind-whistling trip down
the hill if you were brave enough.

She read the itinerary that had been sent.
Setting sail from Southampton, they had two
days at sea until they reached Tenerife. Then the
ship called at Gran Canaria, Madeira and finally
Lisbon before heading home again.

Lots of single people went on cruises. It was
no big deal. Everyone was very friendly so she’d
never feel she was on her own. There was plenty
to do, as the ship had spacious decks for lazing
in the sun, with Jacuzzis to relax in, pools, sports,
music and entertainment. It even had a range of
shops and a beauty salon.

9
STILL WATERS

At the time, she’d been so enamoured with
the ship’s plush décor and countless onboard
activities, not to mention its ports of call, a devil
may care attitude had stolen over her, as she’d
thought why not, and scribbled down her name.

She re-read the letter for a third time and
her eyes gleamed as she rang the company to
finalise arrangements. She was going to enjoy an
adventure of a lifetime.

CHAPTER 2

rriving in Southampton a few months later,
dina stared up at her home for the next ten
days. The Ocean Princess was huge. Leaning her
head back as far as it would go, she gazed in
awe at its clean, white lines, with porthole above
porthole spiralling upwards, one after the other
like a row of holes in Polo mints.

The bubble of excitement she’d felt driving
down increased like a balloon being filled with air,
and she couldn’t wait to get on board.

The journey itself had been enjoyable, with
not too much traffic, and she’d easily found the
embarkation terminal, where, having had a helpful
porter take her suitcases, she’d been directed to
a parking space.

Her lips thinned remembering the slight
contretemps with a rather annoying man who'd
nearly pinched her space. They’d narrowly avoided
hitting each other and she'd had to lean heavily
on her horn. He’d glared at her angrily with stormy
grey eyes and she’d glared back. Thankfully a
porter had intervened, pointing the man into a
space further down. But, Adina thought crossly,
he’d not acknowledged his mistake in any way
10