Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [19]
“And Halley would have told us if someone had come forward and said anything about hearing from Carolyn.”
He nodded. “But if those records were compromising, they might not have come forward. I'm only telling you what my gut feeling is.”
And that was what she was feeling too. “Carolyn wanted to come to the island to see me right away. I knew she was busy and told her to wait until the weekend. Jesus, I wish I'd let her come.”
“So do I. But how could you know this was going to happen?” He reached and touched her hand that lay on her knee. “Hindsight is easy. You can't blame yourself for not being psychic. You were focusing on me as the only threat in the entire scenario. And I don't believe you'd consider me a murder suspect.”
“I was followed from my hotel to the docks in Athens. I just didn't want to think about anything concerning Phil until I could come to terms with it. I thought I was the only one who might be at risk.”
“Do you have any idea—” He shook his head. “Sorry. You don't need any more questions thrown at you right now. Halley is going to be doing enough of that when we get to the station.”
“I never saw him before.” She hadn't moved her hand from beneath his, she realized dully. Strange. She didn't like to be touched, yet she had accepted physical contact from Kelby without question. “And I couldn't be sure that he had anything to do with Phil. I was a woman alone, and there are a lot of sexual predators out there.”
“And I can see you'd be a prime target.”
She stiffened and tried to move her hand.
His grasp tightened. “Not for me, dammit. Not now. It would be like kicking a puppy.”
“A puppy is helpless. I'll never be helpless.”
“Perish the thought. But since we're in this together and I'm no threat at present, there's nothing wrong with letting me stand by you in a bad situation.” His lips tightened. “And I'd say this is one hell of a bad situation.”
“I don't need you.” Bad didn't describe the horror swirling around her. She felt as if she were enveloped in an icy, smothering fog. But Kelby was strong and full of life, and he had promised her he was no threat.
She didn't move her hand.
“Coffee?”
She looked up to see Kelby standing in front of her with a styrofoam cup in his hand. “Thanks.” She accepted the cup and took a sip of the hot liquid. “You're done already?”
“It seemed pretty long to me. Halley is thorough. I had nothing to do with your friend apart from asking Wilson to try to see her. There wasn't much I could tell him.”
“Or maybe he didn't want to offend you. You have big investments over in the Atlantis complex, don't you?”
“Yes, but that wouldn't stop Halley from treating me with the same thoroughness as he did you. Dr. Mulan is evidently very important.” He sat down beside her. “You've been here at the station almost six hours and this waiting room isn't very comfortable. How about letting me take you to a hotel? I'll stay here and get word to you if there's any—” She was shaking her head. “I didn't think so.” He sipped his coffee. “Well, at least the coffee in the machine is decent. I've been in a few jails where it's tasted like mud.”
“You have?”
“You act surprised. That's right, Wilson kept my checkered past out of the media. It's one of the only things he was able to keep from them.”
“Why were you in jail?”
“Nothing too terrible. I was sowing a few wild oats after I got out of the SEALs. I was at loose ends and I wasn't sure what direction I needed to follow. I batted around from country to country trying to decide.”
“And you chose oceanography.”
“It kind of chose me. I loved sailing from the time I was a boy, and it was a natural progression.” He took another swallow of his coffee. “Have you always known what you wanted to do?”
“Yes, since I was twelve years old. I saw the ocean, I saw the dolphins, and I knew I never wanted to leave them. They brought me peace.”
“And that was important to a twelve-year-old?”
“To this twelve-year-old.” She glanced at Halley through