Colt Severs slammed down the phone and sighed.

His cousin and stuntman in training, Howie Munson, glanced up from the tennis match on TV and frowned. "What's up, Colt? You look like I ate the last of your cookies."

"Well, kid," Colt sank down on the couch. "We just got ourselves a job."

"Did one of Big Jack's clients just bail again?"

"Not this time. But the client did confess to something. Apparently he hid ten million dollars worth of diamonds aboard the Caribbean Cruise liner and Big Jack wants us to find them before, well, before ten million dollars get discovered by the wrong people."

Howie let his jaw drop, the tennis game long forgotten. "Colt! It'll be like a vacation, a search for treasure in the Caribbean! This is great!"

Colt Severs frowned. "There's always a catch, kid, and this time, it's name is Kay Faulkner."

Howie wrinkled his nose. "What's she got to do with anything?"

"She's already been assigned to investigate the case. Most likely, we'll meet up with her aboard the ship and Big Jack already ordered us to work together."

Howie grimaced but then shrugged. "It's still the Caribbean, Colt." He hopped up from the couch. "I'm gonna go call Jody. Boy, this'll be fun!"

Colt watched his cousin leave the room eagerly, but all he felt was dread. When had Big Jack's assignments ever been as enjoyable as she promised?

•••

"Colt Severs," Jody declared as she lugged her suitcase up the stairs that led to their cabins. "This is, without a doubt, the best case you've invited me on in a long time." She adjusted the sunglasses that were perched on top of her long blonde hair and grinned at the two men following her. "A week here? We'll probably find the diamonds or jewels or whatever they are, tonight, and then have days of sun and-"

Colt tuned out his stunt woman trainee and peered down the hall they had just walked into. Howie was agreeing with Jody, blind to anything else, but Colt was sure that their task would be easier said than done. Especially if his eyes were telling the truth and that the man at the end of the hall was who Colt thought he was.

"Quick, in here," muttered Colt as he motioned for Howie and Jody to follow him into a random cabin along the hallway.

"But, Colt, we're number 127, not 112, you must be-"

"Quiet, kid." Colt hissed back, nearly pushing his cousin into the room. "I'll explain later."

Fortunately, Jody and Howie nodded and quietly followed Colt. Once the door was safely locked, Colt sank onto the bed and suppressed a groan.

"Well, it looks like our job just got a bit more complicated. Did either of you see the man at the end of the hall?"

When Howie and Jody both shook their heads, Colt preceded to explain.

"Billy Hernandez was a fellow bounty hunter for years, until, that is, I arrested him for his criminal acts. He did jail time for a couple years, then got off and moved somewhere down south. If you ask me, though, his criminal side was still at large even when he was released."

"And he's here, now?" Jody frowned. "Do you think he'll recognize you?"

"I have no doubt he will. He has a bit of a vendetta against me." Colt took off his hat and rubbed his head. "Also, I bet he's here for the same thing we are."

"Oh boy," said Howie. "How are we going to beat him?"

"Well, let's start by not letting him see us. The last thing anyone needs while searching for treasure is to constantly be guarding oneself."

Someone rapped on the cabin door and all three nearly jumped.

"Hello? Is someone in there?" An elderly lady hollered through the walls and Colt guilty remembered that they were in the wrong room.

He unlocked the door and hastily apologized as the lady chewed her bottom lip in confusion. A nurse stood nearby, ready to help the older woman. She stared at Colt and his companions suspiciously as they hurried down the hall to their own room. There was no sign of Billy Hernandez.

"Well, that was embarrassing." Jody remarked as she set her bags down. "The poor old lady must have thought we were robbing her room."

"Or that we were just really dumb," added Howie.

"Hopefully she'll think that," said Jody with a laugh. "What a weird thing to wish. Anyway, -don't you dare put your bags there, Howie! I call the bed."

"Hey, Colt," Howie complained. "Why couldn't you have gotten two rooms?"

"Because Big Jack's cheap." Colt muttered back, deep in thought.

Another knock at the door put the group on alert, though when the door swung open a second later, everyone was surprised to see Kay Faulkner.

"You ought to lock your door, Colt Severs. Someday someone's gonna do you serious damage."

"Someone? Referring to yourself?"

"Funny. How's your investigation coming so far?"

"Our investigation?" Howie spoke up. "We just got on board a few minutes ago!"

"So?"

"Alright, listen up, Kay," said Colt. "I've got a bit of a situation." He told Kay about his old enemy.

"So he doesn't like you. What a surprise."

Colt ignored her jab and explained that it was probably better if Hernandez didn't recognize them. "I think I have a plan, but it'll involve a disguise." Colt turned to Kay. "Would you rather be a nurse or an invalid?"

"What? Colt Severs, you better-"

"Fine, I'll let you be the nurse. Jody, pretend I'm your father. Oh, and that you're married to Howie."

Jody and Howie both blinked at Colt as if he'd developed an extra set of eyes.

Colt, however, was enjoying himself. "We'll be a happy family going on vacation, but my crazy old man act will keep me from being suspicious, even as I investigate the other passengers. Kay will do her own investigation among the staff. Howie and Jody can be in charge of making friends with Hernandez and searching the ship." Colt grinned. "All we need is for Kay to find a nurse uniform and get me a wheelchair. And for Jody to put her make-up skills to use and give me a few more wrinkles."

"Colt, don't you think this is rather...I don't know...crazy?" Howie looked dubious.

"Kid, have you seen what we do for a living? Pretend you're in a movie."

"Here, honey," Jody said in a mock sweet voice as she pulled a handful of jewelry out of her bag and passed a plastic ring to Howie. "It only fits on my thumb, so maybe you can wear it."

Howie frowned and slid it on his left hand. "I think it's stuck. It's cutting off my circulation. "

"Tough." Jody retorted as she put a fancy plastic ring on her own hand. "Now, father, why don't you sit down. You look tired."

Colt grinned at Jody, thankful she approved of his plan. Kay would probably need more convincing, but that was nothing new. To his surprise though, she just threw up her hands and whined, then promised to be back in an hour with a uniform and a wheelchair.

Colt smiled at his cousin wryly as Jody pulled out her make-up bag. This would certainly be an interesting cruise.