Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [57]
“The ship is fast, has a crew of six and a heavy weapon stock,” Pennig said. “So it might be difficult to hijack once they're on the high seas.”
“Difficult is not impossible. How close are they to having the Trina ready?” Archer asked.
“A day or two. They're waiting for some machine or something.”
“A day or two,” Archer repeated. It wouldn't give him much time to work on Melis. But it might be enough. The last time he'd talked to her she'd shown signs of crumbling. He didn't like the idea of having to call her after she was at sea with Kelby. She might feel freer, safer, isolated on the ship with him.
Should he put pressure by increasing the number of calls?
Maybe.
But he almost hated to disrupt the tempo. He could imagine her waiting, dreading the moment when the phone rang.
“Al Hakim called you last night, didn't he?” Pennig's voice was tentative. “Is he getting impatient?”
“Do you have the audacity to suggest that I'm not handling this right?”
“No, of course not,” Pennig said quickly. “I only wondered.”
Al Hakim was getting impatient. And the last thing Archer wanted was for him to send some of his terrorist partners to scope out the situation and risk them taking over. “Then wonder silently, Pennig. I know what I'm doing.”
Going slowly and patiently with Melis was an exquisite pleasure. But patience might be becoming perilous.
He would have to consider the possibility of raising the stakes.
Chapter Eleven
“How are they doing?” Kelby asked as he strolled down the pier toward her. “Is Pete still mad?”
“Not very.” Melis handed the bucket of fish to Manuel and turned back to Kelby. “He's quieted down since we gave him his toys.”
“Yeah, I saw him playing with one of those toys when I came by here this morning. Interesting.”
“I didn't know you were here.”
“You were at the market picking out fish for Pete and Susie.”
“And Nicholas was right beside me. He didn't appreciate having to carry pounds of smelly fish back to the tank. He said he didn't mind being a bodyguard, but being a beast of burden for Pete and Susie offended his dignity.”
“It's good for him.” He handed her the canvas tote bag he was carrying. “One thirty-eight revolver, as requested. Do you know how to use it?”
She nodded. “Kemal showed me. He said knowing how to protect myself was the best therapy he could offer me.”
“I'm beginning to think better of your Kemal.”
“You should. He's a wonderful man.”
“Well, maybe I'm not that fond of him. I'm beginning to feel a faint prickling of jealousy.”
She gazed at him in disbelief.
“I know. It's surprising me too.” He looked down at Pete in the tank. “I need reassurance. Want to come back to the ship and give it to me?”
Their bodies twined, arching, moving.
She felt a surge of heat move through her at the memory. “You don't need reassurance. The first time I saw you I thought you had more confidence than anyone I'd ever met.”
“You're right.” He grinned. “Just thought I'd play on your sympathy and try to get you in the sack like the unscrupulous guy I am.”
“Then you struck out. I don't feel at all sorry for you, and I need to stay with the dolphins. There are two new students arriving this afternoon and I want to meet them.”
“Okay.” He smiled slightly. “God forbid I compete with Pete and Susie.” He turned and started up the pier. “If you change your mind, I'll be at the Trina.”
She watched him walk away from her. Lord, he was beautiful. As beautiful as the dolphins. And how he'd hate her telling him that. He was all lean, compact muscularity, as firmly rooted to the earth as the dolphins were to the sea. Faded jeans outlined muscular thighs and calves and buttocks that were rock hard. Another surge of heat went through her, stronger, more intense.
Oh, shit.
Screw staying to meet those kids. She'd come back later. She started up the pier after Kelby.
She'd come back afterward.
“Just screw me and then get up and walk out the door.” Kelby watched lazily from the bed as she dressed.