The Seventh Port

Karen Stewart flies to Buenos Aires to join Aunt Marguerita Phillips on a South American Christmas cruise at the request of Jordan Dilbeck, newspaper publisher, who is Karens business associate and Margueritas nephew.Karen soon realizes Marguerita has vanished from the ship and attempts to sort facts and suspicions, with the help of Charlie Webber from the U.S. Consulate. Intrigue, jewel smuggling and murder complicate their efforts.What of the innocence or guilt of the Greek officers and crew of the M/S Helena? Does Marguerita really break her leg in a fall on the Santos dock as reported by the three ladies from Coral Deck? Where is the unusual ring Marguerita wrote about and what clues does the little Brazilian waif, Raimundo, hold locked behind the language barrier of his Portuguese tongue?Karen and Charlie have twelve days to solve the mystery of Margueritas disappearance and learn the identity of the mastermind behind the jewel smuggling operation which Marguerita has inadvertently become a part of.During this time, romance is also in the air as Karen transforms under the pressures and influences around her and learns about herself and her desires for her future with the man of her choice.