Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [101]
“It depends on how long and how much money it takes to convince them that Archer's ship accidentally blew up because of the arms he was carrying. The wages of sin.” He moved toward the tender. “I'll let you know if I run into any snags.”
“You don't have to report in to me.” She looked out at the water. “I promised you I wouldn't tie you down.”
“It's courtesy, dammit.” He frowned. “I want to call you.”
“Then do it.”
“Melis, I can't—” He shook his head. “Screw it. I don't think I could get through to you now.” He jumped in the tender. “I'll see you later.”
She watched him speed away from the Trina. Then her gaze shifted back to the ocean and she waited for Pete and Susie to come back.
They surfaced near the ship two hours later.
Pete looked fine, she thought with relief. Better than fine. He and Susie were cavorting and clicking as usual.
“Hi, guys,” she said softly. “You could have waited until I was here before you decided to take a little trip.” She stripped off her T-shirt. “I'm coming in. It'll be like old times. I need it to be good today.”
She dove into the water. It was cold and clean and familiar. When she surfaced, it was to see Nicholas at the rail. She waved.
“You don't have your air tank,” he called. “And you shouldn't be in the water alone.”
“I'm not diving. I'm just going for a little swim with the dolphins. It always clears my mind.”
“Jed won't like it. He nearly went bananas when he saw you taken aboard Archer's boat. He's still mad as hell at me.”
“I'm sorry, Nicholas.” But she struck out in a breaststroke with Pete and Susie on either side of her. That formation lasted for only a moment before they grew impatient and, as usual, swam ahead, coming back to her periodically.
It was different swimming with them today. Since they had arrived here in the Canaries, there had always been a purpose when they were in the water together. Now it was almost like swimming with them at the island.
No, that wasn't true. They had another life now. Before they had been hers. Now they gave her time and affection, but they had joined with their own kind. They had the choice. She shouldn't be sad. It was right and natural.
So was life at this moment. Right and natural and everything coming into focus.
And becoming more crystal clear with every passing minute.
Kelby cut the engine as he neared the Trina.
The other tender was gone.
Don't panic. Nicholas could have gone to Lanzarote to get supplies or—or what, dammit?
Nicholas hadn't taken the tender. He was walking down the deck toward Kelby.
“Where's the other tender?” Kelby asked as he came on board. “And where's Melis?”
“The tender is sitting at a dock in Lanzarote. And Melis is probably boarding a plane at Las Palmas.”
“What?”
“Pete came back. She went for a swim with the dolphins, and when she came back she packed and took off.”
“She didn't call me. You didn't call me either.”
“She asked me not to.”
“What the hell is this? A conspiracy between the two of you?”
“Well, I figured I couldn't be any deeper in your bad books.”
“You were wrong.”
Nicholas shrugged. “She said she needed to go back to the island. She's been through a hell of a lot. I can see how she'd need some downtime.”
“Then why didn't she talk to me about it?”
“You'll have to ask her.” He reached in his pocket. “She left you a note.”
The note had two lines.
I've gone back to the island. Please take care of Pete and Susie.
Melis
“Son of a bitch!”
LONTANA'S ISLAND
The sunset was beautiful, but she missed having Pete and Susie come to say good night.
And that wasn't all she missed.
Melis squared her shoulders, turned, and left the lanai. She had work to do and there was no use putting it off. She had done what she had to do. What would be, would be.
She went to the bedroom and pulled out her suitcase. There should be some boxes around here. They might smell of—
“What the hell are you doing?”
She went still. She was afraid to turn around. “Kelby?”
“Who else could get past those barriers