Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [100]
“Bitch,” he whispered. “Bitch.”
“Are you hurting, Archer?” She bent down and whispered, “Do you think it's as bad as the pain Carolyn felt? Do you think it's as horrible as what those little girls felt when you raped them? I hope so.”
“Whore. You'll always be a whore.” His voice dripped malice. “And I've made you realize it. Everything your Carolyn did for you, I destroyed. I could see it in your face tonight.”
“You're wrong. You provided the final cure. If I could go through that nightmare, I'm strong enough for anything.”
Doubt flickered over his face. “You're lying.”
She shook her head. “Carolyn always said that the way to get rid of a nightmare was to deal with it.” She looked down at his bleeding groin. “I dealt with it.”
She turned and walked away.
Kelby and Nicholas caught up with her before she was halfway down the deck.
“You're sure you don't want us to put him down?” Nicholas asked. “It would be a pleasure.”
“I want him to die slowly. It's not enough, but it will have to do.” She looked back at the fire that had broken from belowdeck and was now eating at the timbers of the main deck. “I hope the ship doesn't sink too soon.”
“I think we'll get off it just in case.” Kelby moved toward the tender. “Let's go.”
“One more thing.” She stripped off the organdy dress, leaving her in bra and panties. Then she took the pink ribbon from her hair. She tossed both of them on the deck where the fire was creeping toward them. “I'm ready now.” She jumped into the tender.
“Jed, drop me off at the island and I'll stick around until the ship sinks,” Nicholas said. “We don't want any last-minute slipups.” He tossed Melis an emergency blanket. “Wrap up. You might get cold.”
“I won't get cold.” She felt strong, complete, and . . . free.
Archer was screaming in pain.
Kelby started the engine, and the tender moved slowly away from the ship.
Archer was still screaming.
The first tendrils of fire had reached the white organdy dress. The delicate fabric was curling and blackening. Then it was completely aflame.
In a few short minutes the dress and ribbon were gone.
Ashes.
Two hours later, from the deck of the Trina, Melis and Kelby saw a flash of light in the east.
“That's it,” Kelby said. “The fire reached the arms. It took longer than I thought.”
“I wish it had taken even longer.”
“Bloodthirsty wench.”
“Yes, I am.”
“Will you go down and hit the shower now? You've been glued to this rail since we came back.”
“Not yet. I'll wait for Nicholas. I have to be sure. You can go.”
He shook his head and leaned on the rail, his gaze on the east.
Nicholas arrived thirty minutes later.
“The big boom,” he said as he climbed on board. “He was carrying some mega firepower.” He turned to Melis. “No last-minute rescues. The bastard's dead, Melis. Blown to hell.”
She gazed out to the east.
He's dead, Carolyn. He won't hurt anyone anymore.
“Melis.” Kelby's hand was gentle on her arm. “Time to let it go.”
She nodded and turned away. It was over. Done.
Time to let it go.
Pete and Susie were gone when she came on deck the next morning.
“Is it okay?” Kelby had come to stand beside her. “You said Pete would know when he was well enough.”
“I think it's okay.” Melis shrugged. “There's so much about dolphins that is a mystery to me. Sometimes I feel I don't know Pete and Susie at all.”
“And other times you know damn well you're learning every day. They'll be back, Melis.”
She nodded as she sat down on the deck. “And I'll be here. Are you going to dive today?”
He shook his head. “I'm going to pay a visit to the coast guard. You can't sink a ship without repercussions, even if it's one used for criminal activities. But if they were willing to take a bribe from Archer, then they'll take one from me.”
“Money is the answer to everything.”
“No, but it's very useful. Call me if there's a problem with Pete.”
“I can handle it.”
He hesitated as he looked at her. “You're a million miles away today.”
“I feel . . . subdued. Maybe a little empty.” She smiled faintly. “For weeks I've had only one purpose, and it's