Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark

a reassuring hand under Ivy’s elbow as they started down the corridor to the Chapel of Repose. She’s trembling, Nora realized. She’s really scared.
    â€œI just wanted to take a peek at the chapel because I’m sending an e-mail to my mother . . . I don’t care how good it is for you, I hate salad. Besides, they didn’t serve the salad on time. I thought I’d take a few minutes to check out the chapel while everyone was chomping on their rabbit food. Maybe even say a prayer for my mother. She’s eighty-five, but still going strong. Sharp as a tack. She took up yoga. It’s been wonderful for her. She goes to church every day. That’s why I knew she’d be interested in what the chapel here was like. . . .”
    â€œThe chapel is very special to the Commodore,” Dudley said quickly. “He was hoping someone would decide to get married on this cruise. The chapel is perfect for any special occasion. . . .”
    Jack pulled open the ornate chapel door. The sanctuary was in darkness except for the faint glow of the outside lights filtering through the stained-glass windows. “Ivy, was the light on when you got here?”
    â€œNo. I pulled open the door and saw the switch right away. It has a glow. I flicked it on and . . . ohhhhhhhhh. But I did not turn it off when I left!” she added positively.
    â€œWe plan to encourage our guests to turn out lights whenever possible. It’s so wasteful to leave on your cabin lights when you go to dinner. The Commodore is very concerned about global warming,” Dudley explained, then realized that no one was paying attention to him.
    Jack reached over and flicked the switch. The overhead and side lights went on, illuminating the chapel. Ivy pointed to the side of the altar. “That’s where he was jumping and stretching. Left Hook Louie! I know it sounds crazy, but he was here. Or at least his ghost was here.”
    â€œIvy, did he say anything to you?” Alvirah asked. “I’m sure he wouldn’t have wanted to scare you like this. After all, you’re honoring him on this trip.”
    â€œNo. He just stared at me. The boxes with a special classic edition of his first book, Planter’s Punch, never made it on board. Maybe that upset him.”
    â€œPlanter’s Punch?” Regan asked.
    â€œYes. Left Hook Louie’s boxer-turned-detective was named Pug Planter. That first book was a huge bestseller. But as I said, the classic edition we were supposed to sell on board never made it to the ship on time.”
    Nora rolled her eyes. “I know all about books not arriving where I have an appearance scheduled.”
    â€œThe books didn’t arrive, but Left Hook Louie certainly made an appearance!” Ivy insisted. “I know it has to have been a ghost. But I always thought you could see through a ghost. And he was making a lot of noise when he was jumping up and down.”
    â€œYou say he was next to the altar?” Jack asked as he walked up the aisle.
    â€œYes. He was right there.” Ivy pointed, following Jack.
    Regan noticed that the heavy damask cloth covering the altar was askew. She picked up one corner and looked underneath it. There was nothing there.
    Alvirah glanced under it, too, and, always the cleaning woman, smoothed and straightened the altar cloth.
    â€œI know what you’re all thinking,” Ivy said. “That I imagined this whole thing. But I’m tellingyou I saw a man in boxer shorts. If it wasn’t Left Hook Louie, it was his twin.”
    â€œIvy, did anyone in your Readers and Writers group know you were coming up here?” Regan asked.
    â€œNo. I didn’t know I was coming myself.”
    â€œIt doesn’t look as though Louie left anything behind,” Jack observed.
    Ivy cast a quick suspicious glance at Jack to see if he was being sarcastic.
    â€œSomeone might have been planning