Last Tender , livre ebook

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters and events in this book are the products of the author s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.
The views and opinions expressed in this book are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views or opinions of Gatekeeper Press. Gatekeeper Press is not to be held responsible for and expressly disclaims responsibility of the content herein.
The Last Tender: A Mysterious Disappearance in Sorrento, Italy
Published by Gatekeeper Press 2167 Stringtown Rd, Suite 109 Columbus, OH 43123-2989 www.GatekeeperPress.com
Copyright 2020 by Bette Price All rights reserved. Neither this book, nor any parts within it may be sold or reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
The front cover design and editorial work for this book are entirely the product of the author. Gatekeeper Press did not participate in and is not responsible for any aspect of these elements.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2020946364
ISBN (hardcover): 9781662904943 ISBN (paperback): 9781662904950 eISBN: 9781662904967
Contents

Acknowledgements
Preface
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Epilogue
About the Author
Acknowledgements

A s strange at it may sound, I have to first thank the COVID 19 virus. For far too many years I ve dreamed about writing a fictional mystery yet my busy life of writing factual articles and business books never allowed the necessary time to actually do it. I did start attending meetings of a mystery writer s group and admittedly began taking a small stab at writing something but I wasn t really committed to it. Then the virus hit and isolation became a new way of life. To avoid the boredom of this isolation I realized that it provided me not only with a great escape from all the craziness, but gave me a reason to get up every day. Thus, in three short months I was able to fulfill my dream and write my first mystery.
I ve been blessed with many supporters, the first of them being my patient and loving husband John. Not only did he urge me to pursue this dream but when the book was all finished it was his picky, eagle eye that went through it page-by-page to edit and question anything that I might have not made clear. Given his broadcast journalism background and his penchant for devouring books, I couldn t have asked for a keener eagle eye to provide last minute editing.
My longtime friend and business colleague Mark Holmes was kind enough to review chapters and give me honest feedback and my own children, Blake and Lani, had me read chapters to them throughout the process and provided their honest feedback as well. Friends Redonna Higgins, Kelly Hewitt and Jane Christenson were avid supporters throughout and always there for an encouraging word when my creative thinking occasionally got stuck. And I d be totally remiss if I didn t give a little credit to my sweet and beautiful black cat, Lucky, who day after day, sat patiently on the desk with me, keeping me company and occasionally brushing up against me as if to say-keep going, mom, you re doing fine.
I hope you ll enjoy the story as much as I ve enjoyed writing it and maybe it will even encourage you to visit the wonderful town of Sorrento. If you do, I know you ll understand why Sorrento has always stuck in my mind as the perfect setting for a mystery like this.
Preface

Cruise ships visiting destinations with limited docking area are required to anchor off shore, requiring their passengers to be tendered to shore on small boats called tenders. The time periods in which these tenders operate is limited and abided by strictly. Sorrento, Italy was such a destination.
V ictoria Morgan should have been back to the ship by now. It was nearly seven o clock in the evening and she had special dinner plans for eight o clock. She had been excited about her and her family having dinner with Gordon Whitlock, a prestigious businessman from Georgia whom she had met days earlier during the Captains reception for those he deemed special guests. Victoria had also missed her 4:30 appointment for a massage and facial in the ship s spa; something she would never intentionally miss before preparing for a special evening. Surely she hadn t become so enthralled with her shopping in Sorrento that she had lost count of the time.
Sorrento, Italy was always Victoria s favorite stop on this Mediterranean cruise. She had been here many times before, having always made sure that regardless of the cruise she booked, that it had a stop in Sorrento. Perhaps it was the romantic history of this charming town that continued to draw Victoria to always wanting to return. Without doubt, Sorrento was one of Italy s most charming towns.
Overlooking the Bay of Naples, Sorrento had long been a favorite of writers and celebrities. Its charm had inspired the likes of Lord Byron, John Keats and Charles Dickens to name just a few of history s great writers and its sea cliffs and luxury hotels had also attracted celebrities such as Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti as well. Add to this the allure of its narrow, winding streets filled with outdoor cafes and luxurious shops of leather, jewels, pottery and the latest trends in fashion, Sorrento was, without a doubt, a shoppers delight.
The only thing different about this trip was that it was Victoria s first cruise without her husband Robert. After a valiant battle with Cancer, Robert had succumbed to the dreadful disease several months earlier in the spring. Therefore, Victoria had suggested that her son Robbie, Jr., his wife Madelyn and their two teenagers, Adam and Bethany, take this September trip with her. It was a trip that had been planned prior to Robert s death and even though she was still grieving his loss, she thought perhaps it could be a healing trip for all of them having been through such difficult months.
Madelyn thought it was a great idea but Robbie was at first a bit reluctant, concerned that returning so soon to the very places that his mother had visited with Robert might be too emotionally draining for her. But Victoria had convinced him of just the opposite. Her trips with Robert had always been joyful she told him and she actually felt a need to take the cruise as part of her healing. So Robbie acquiesced and agreed. Once September arrived they all flew to Rome where they boarded their Oceanair ship for their healing cruise.
On this day as the ship anchored in the bay of Sorrento, Robbie, Madelyn, Adam and Bethany would have spent the day with Victoria in Sorrento if it hadn t been for Bethany who so wanted to see the island of Capri. This small island in the Tyrrhenian Sea off the Sorrento Peninsula has been a popular tourist spot and resort since the time of the Roman Republic. Bethany read all about it and had looked forward to visiting the charming city and touring its historic ruins and panoramic cliffs. But a choice had to be made because the ship would only be in port this one day, from dawn to eight that night and the trip to Capri required the entire day to be able to capture the full charm of the island. Only one city could be visited-either spend the day in Sorrento or sail to Capri.
Madelyn had tried to talk Bethany out of her quest during breakfast on the deck that morning. But, like a typical teenager, Bethany insisted that this was the one thing out of the entire trip to which she had been looking forward. To deprive her of this opportunity would ruin her whole trip.
Victoria could see the dilemma facing Madelyn. Oh, Madelyn, you all go with Bethany to Capri, she said. It s okay. I ve been to Sorrento many times. I know every shop on every narrow street. I ll be just fine alone. As a matter of fact there s a little jewelry store that I d planned to visit and this way I won t feel guilty if I take too long. So Madelyn gave in to Bethany and agreed to go to Capri with her. Robbie and Adam, of course, wanted nothing to do with shopping, so they decided to go to Capri as well.
After breakfast everyone returned to their cabins and eventually went their respective ways, agreeing to meet in the lounge for cocktails at a quarter to eight before going to the private dinner.
Late that afternoon, after returning from Capri, Robbie called his mother s suite around six o clock. He wasn t alarmed when he got no answer, realizing that Victoria could well be in the shower, getting ready for dinner. But when it became seven o clock and his continued calls still got no answer, he expressed real concern to Madelyn. He then tried Victoria on her cell phone. She almost always answered her cell phone. But not this time, it went straight to voice mail.
Maybe she s gone to the lounge a little early, Madelyn suggested. Not so sure that his mother would do that without at least informing them that she was back on board, Robbie took little solace in Madelyn s suggestion. He continued dialing Victoria s room and continued to try to reach her on her cell phone but she never answered either.
The last tender was scheduled to leave shore at seven-thirty and Robbie had already checked. The last tender had arrived shortly after seven-th