Message in a Bottle - Nicholas Sparks [27]
“That was a dead end,” Theresa said quietly.
Deanna put her hand over the receiver and whispered, “Maybe, maybe not. Don’t give up so easily.”
After thanking Zack Norton for his time and hanging up, Deanna looked over the list of clues again. She thought for a moment, then decided to call information for the phone numbers of scuba-diving shops in the Wilmington area. Theresa watched as Deanna wrote down the names and numbers of the eleven shops that were listed. “Is there anything else I can do for you, ma’am?” the operator asked.
“No, you’ve been more than helpful. Thank you.”
She hung up the phone, and Theresa looked at her curiously. “What are you going to ask them when you call?”
“I’m going to ask for Garrett.”
Theresa’s heart skipped a beat. “Just like that?”
“Just like that,” Deanna said, smiling as she dialed. She motioned for Theresa to pick up the other extension, “just in case it’s him,” and they both waited quietly for someone to answer at Atlantic Adventures, the first name they were given.
When the phone finally picked up, Deanna took a deep breath and asked pleasantly if Garrett was available to teach any classes. “I’m sorry, I think you have the wrong number,” the voice said quickly. Deanna apologized and hung up.
They received the same answer on the next five calls. Unswayed, Deanna went down the list to the next name and dialed again. Expecting the same answer, she was surprised when the person on the line hesitated for a moment.
“Are you talking about Garrett Blake?”
Garrett.
Theresa nearly fell from the chair at the sound of his name. Deanna said yes, and the man who answered went on.
“He’s with Island Diving. Are you sure we can’t help you? We’ve got some classes starting soon.”
Deanna quickly excused herself. “No, I’m sorry. I really need to work with Garrett. I promised him I would.” When she put the phone back in the cradle, she was smiling broadly.
“So, we’re getting close now.”
“I can’t believe it was that easy….”
“It wasn’t that easy, if you think about it, Theresa. Unless a person found more than one letter, it wouldn’t have been possible.”
“Do you think it’s the same Garrett?”
She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you?”
“I don’t know yet. Maybe.”
Deanna shrugged off the reply. “Well, we’ll find out soon enough. This is getting fun.”
Deanna then called information again and got the number for the ship registry of Wilmington. After dialing, she told the voice on the line who she was and asked for someone who could help her verify some information. “My husband and I were vacationing down there,” she told the woman who answered the phone, “when our boat broke down. This nice gentleman found us and helped us get back to shore. His name was Garrett Blake, and I think the name of his boat was Happenstance, but I want to be sure when I write the story.”
Deanna went on, refusing to let the woman get a word in edgewise. She told her how scared she had been and how much it had meant when Garrett had come to their rescue. Then, after flattering the woman about how nice people were in the South and Wilmington in particular and how she wanted to do a story on southern hospitality and the kindness of strangers, the woman was more than willing to help. “Since you’re just verifying the information and not asking for anything you don’t know, I’m sure it won’t be a problem. Hold on for a second.”
Deanna drummed her fingers on the desk while the sounds of Barry Manilow wafted through the receiver. The woman picked up again.
“Okay. Let’s see now…” Deanna heard tapping on a keyboard, then a strange beep. After a moment, the woman said the words that both Deanna and Theresa hoped she would.
“Yes, here it is. Garrett Blake. Um… you got the name right, at least according to the information we have. It says here that the boat is named Happenstance.”
Deanna thanked her profusely and asked for the lady’s name, “so she could write about another person who epitomized hospitality.” After spelling it back to the woman, she hung