Fatal Tide - Iris Johansen [70]
“They wouldn't be any safer. He'll go after them wherever they are. They're probably at less risk with the whole ocean to hide in. With all those hundreds of dolphins swimming around, how is he going to zero in on Pete and Susie? If we can keep him away from the ship and watch Pete and Susie like a hawk when they're with us, it may be enough.” She shook her head. “God, I hope so.”
He nodded. “And I'll have the crew keep watch on the water whenever they're near.”
“I was just going to ask you to do that.” She looked at the beautifully appointed table. “I don't believe I'll have dinner. I'm not in the mood. Explain to Billy, will you?”
“Explain that son of a bitch is making you bleed inside? That's hard to believe and harder to understand.” He rose to his feet. “Come on. Let's get some air. Unless you'd rather go lick your wounds.”
She shook her head. “I'm not bleeding. I won't give him that satisfaction. At first, listening to him was terrible. Now it's still bad, but I've learned how to handle it.”
On deck now, she moved out to the rail and drew a deep breath. “It's good out here—fresh, clean. Lord, it's so blessedly clean.”
He didn't speak for a moment. “Let's scrap Marinth for the time being. I think we should go after Archer.”
She looked at him in surprise. “That's not what you said on the island. I didn't have collateral, so it was Marinth first. Then Archer.”
“I've changed my mind. I'm entitled.”
She shook her head. “I promised you Marinth. I'll keep my promise.”
“Screw your promise. I'll trust you, dammit.”
She thought about it and then shook her head. “If you'd made the offer before I talked to Archer tonight, I would have taken it in a heartbeat. After what happened in Las Palmas it seemed crazy not to go after him first.”
“But not now?”
“The sooner we find Marinth, the sooner I can concentrate on finding a foolproof way to keep Pete and Susie safe. That's my primary concern. Besides, he may be coming to us if he's after the dolphins.”
“That's true. But what if there isn't a Marinth? What if those tablets are all that's left of the city?”
“Marinth first.” She turned to face him. “Now, shut up about it, Kelby. There's something important I want to ask you.”
“I can hardly wait.”
“Don't be sarcastic.” She moistened her lips. “Will you let me go to bed with you?”
He went still. “Now?”
She nodded jerkily. “If you don't mind.”
“Hell, no, I don't mind. You know better than that by now. I'm just curious. After that call from Archer I wouldn't think it would be high on your agenda.”
“You don't understand. He's so filthy, he makes me feel filthy too. I choke on it.” She tried to smile. “But it's all lies. I'm not filthy. I don't feel dirty with you. You're clean, Kelby. Everything's natural and right. I feel like I do when I'm swimming with the dolphins. I need to feel that right now.”
He stared at her for a moment and then reached out and gently touched her cheek. “Nothing a man likes more than to be compared to a cold dip in the ocean with a couple of aquatic mammals.”
“They're very special mammals,” she said unevenly. “And it won't be cold. I won't be cold.” She took a step closer and laid her head on his chest. “I promise.”
“She's getting close, Pennig.” Archer smiled as he gazed out at the horizon. “I think I may have her soon.”
“Good,” Pennig said sourly. “I want to see her hurting.”
“You will. As a reward for that wound, I may let you visit her in the bordello I sell her to. There's nothing like sexual domination to sweeten the punishment.”
“I don't want to screw her, I want her dead.”
“You have no imagination. Death isn't first, it's last.” He tilted his head, considering. “But she may be feeling a little too safe. I shook her when I threatened the dolphins, but we have to keep the pressure high. She was actually quite insulting. It made me very angry. I think we may have to show her she can't do that.”
“How?”
He picked up his phone. “By making sure she knows that there's no place on earth or sea that she's safe from me. . . .”
Melis was still