The Night Is Alive. Heather Graham

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      This time, as she reflected, she nearly jumped sky-high again when the office phone on the desk began to ring.

      Once again, papers flew.

      “Abby!” It was Dirk Johansen. She knew why he had to be calling....

      “Hi, Dirk.”

      “Oh, my God! My actress—my pirate wench—Helen. She’s missing,” he said.

      “I know, Dirk. I’m so sorry.”

      “You know?”

      “A detective was just here. Apparently, she was last seen having lunch at the tavern.”

      His voice was thick. “Yeah, that’s the last time I saw her, too. I told the cops that,” he added.

      “Did you see her leave?”

      “Yep. She was teasing about the pirate days with Aldous, Bootsie and me...and Sullivan. Then she looked at her watch and said she had an appointment. She didn’t say who with. She just went running out.”

      “Did she have a boyfriend?”

      “No, she was actually doing some online dating. She said she’d met at least six guys and found one, maybe, worth a relationship.”

      “I’m sure that’ll help the police.”

      “Do you think she might’ve taken off on some romantic spree?” Dirk asked hopefully.

      “Sure, maybe,” Abby lied. “Dirk, what’s going to be important is that you think of any bit of information that might give the authorities some leads to follow.”

      “Right, right...her roommate must have her computer. That should help.”

      “Yes, I bet it will.”

      An awkward silence followed. Then Abby said, “Dirk, I’m going to get some sleep. In the morning—” She hesitated, thinking about Gordon. The hell with him. He’d have to play it her way. “In the morning, I’ll be your personal agent. We’ll find her. How about that?” The local police might not be impressed with her, but Dirk might want her help.

      “Yeah, um, well, actually, that was what I was going to ask you,” Dirk said.

      “To help you?”

      “I need you to be my wench.”

      “What?”

      “I don’t have a wench for tomorrow. Helen shared the job with Chrissy Sutton, and Chrissy is in Atlanta, visiting her mom. She won’t be back until late tomorrow night.”

      Great. She thought she might be wanted for her investigative skills.

      Dirk wanted a wench.

      “Oh, my God. She’s missing. I’m terrified for her. But...I still have to keep it going, keep others working.”

      But maybe it wasn’t a bad idea. She could talk with shipmates who knew Helen; she could hang out at the dock.

      “Sure, Dirk. I’ll be your wench.”

      “I hate to ask you after...after Gus and all, but...”

      “I’ll be there, Dirk. What time?”

      “Ship leaves for the first run at ten. We’re back at one. Second run at three. Last one leaves right at sunset. I’ll need you to show up at about nine for costuming and a few instructions.”

      “Okay, Dirk.”

      “Bless you, Abby.”

      She started to reply but he’d already hung up.

      Abby let her head fall on the table. Gus... She’d been sick about Gus.

      But two young women and a man had also died. Now Helen was gone....

      She really needed help. And what she’d gotten was Malachi Gordon. Maybe he did have a few talents with the dead. But whoever had taken Helen had to be alive.

      Very much alive—and very busy in the beautiful city of Savannah.

      * * *

      Dirk’s Black Swan was a beautiful ship. She was a schooner with one large square-rigged mainmast; her figurehead was that of a mermaid crowned with pearls. Topside was the great helm on the forecastle and behind it was a stage of about twenty by thirty feet, surrounded by seating at the inner hull. There were barrels around, advertising rum or gunpowder, and Dirk’s parrot, Achilles, sat on a little perch in the center of the stage. Toward the aft, down a few steps, was a snack shop that also offered gifts and souvenirs, and passengers could step atop the sterncastle, above the captain’s quarters, to catch a great view of the riverfront.

      Malachi Gordon had called Abby bright and early—at 7:00 a.m.—to make sure she’d be ready for their planned excursion of the city and the river. She began to tell him about Helen’s disappearance but he already knew. When she explained that not only was she helping out an old friend but she’d get a chance to be on the pirate ship and the docks, he wasn’t angry. Nor was he disappointed. He just said he’d catch up with her.

      Dressed in pirate gear, custom-made by a costumer to resemble the real thing rather than a contemporary Halloween fashion, Abby stood with Dirk’s two main performers, Jack Winston and Blake Stewart. “Don’t worry about anything, Abby,” Jack said. “Dirk really runs the show. Our characters serve grog—to the adults—and soda to the kids. It’s fun, honestly. Blake and I get into a fight over you, we split up some treasure and we have a few songs. All you do is respond and react.”

      “I’ll do my best,” Abby said.

      He grinned. “Well, you’re a child of the Dragonslayer. You’ve been a pirate before, I’m sure.”