by K D McNiven
CHAPTER 35
Malibu, California
Decker rushed through the door at his Malibu home. “Callie!” he called out, and no sooner had her name slipped out of his lips, she came running from the kitchen, leapt into his arms, and wrapped her legs around his waist. Decker’s kiss lingered.
“I’m so glad you’re home and in one piece,” she said, still clinging to him.
“Me too, Callie. All I wanted was to be back with you.”
Callie slid her feet back to the floor. “Thank you for calling and filling me in. I was on pins. Lito Chronis is such a dangerous man.”
“Was,” he reminded her. “Thankfully, he got his reward.”
“That was one wild ride,” Callie said.
“And more.”
“Had a call from Carson. He said the University of Hawaii was going to put together a team of archaeology students to excavate the area that Garrett discovered,” she informed him. “They believe it was a burial site, though they’ve yet to determine whose. They also confirmed the coins were from the HMS Resolution. Pretty exciting, huh?”
“Sure is,” Decker said.
“Garrett will be given the acknowledgement and a healthy sum of money for the discovery. The things they found in the cave will be donated to the museum for cultural education. I also had a short visit on the phone with Dax. His team will be going back to do a more in-depth study on the sunken galleon. Says we’re welcome to join him whenever we’re able. There will also be a thorough environmental study done at the same time.”
“That’s great! When things calm down, we’ll have to make a trip back,” Decker replied, and looked around. “Where’s Dad?”
“The beach,” she told him. “Go on. He needs you right now.”
Decker walked along the shore until he spotted his father sitting on the sandy shore, gazing off at the distant horizon. Tears gathered in Decker’s eyes. What could he say? What could he do to ease his father’s pain?
Coming alongside him, Decker sat down on the warm sand. He reached his arm out and draped it over his father’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Dad,” he whispered.
“I know.”
“I should have been here for you…” Decker started to explain, but Garrett interrupted.
“You did what you needed to do. I heard the whole story, and your actions saved Dax’s sister. You made the right choice.”
“What can I do for you?”
Garrett smiled. “You’re already doing it, Son.” There was a long pause before he spoke again. “I have an offer to do some topography in Africa.”
Surprise altered Decker’s expression. “Africa? Should you make a big decision like that right now?”
“I need to put some distance from here, Decker,” he explained. “When I walked into the house and saw all the changes Holly and I had made for our life together, it pulled my heart apart. I need to do this.”
“How long?”
“A year or two.” He shrugged. “I need to come into my own again.”
Decker was quiet for a length of time, but he understood how difficult all of this was for Garrett. If leaving for a while was what he needed in order to heal, Decker had to give him that liberty. “Well, I wish you luck. When will you be going?”
“Next week.”
“So soon?”
“They needed me last week. You know how impatient topologists can be. I already have the tickets.” Garrett inhaled deeply, then turned to face his son. “I’m sorry about Shane and the yacht.”
“The yacht can be replaced. I’m sorry about Shane too. Life certainly has its miseries.”
“As well as its joys,” Garrett reminded, receiving an acquiescent nod.
“Are you going to be all right?” Decker asked, his eyes moist. “I mean, really, all right?”
“I had several months of incredible love,” he said, gazing out to sea once more. “Yes, I’ll be okay. But I’ll miss you and Callie more than you know.”
“Life won’t be the same without you, Dad.” Decker put his arms around his dad and held him for a short time.
Decker offered his hand to help Garrett to his feet. Slowly, they walked back toward the house. The only sound that could be heard was the crashing of waves along the shore.
Thank you for reading Shark Eater. I hope it was a fun and exciting read for you. If you missed it, be sure to read THE MONKEY IDOL, book one in the Decker & Callie Adventure Series.
An idol...A crude map...and a race to find the truth.
After the murder of their colleague, Leonard Romero, Decker and Callie Hayden are catapulted into a turbulent adventure through the Honduran jungle, seeking a lost city and justice for Leonard's widow. Relentlessly pursued by Bruno, a madman who will stop at nothing to claim what could be one of the greatest finds of the century.
If fictional romantic adventures are what you like to read, pick up a copy of the soon to be released, Sheba’s Treasure, A Sam Carter Adventure, on Amazon Kindle this June.
Sam Carter begins a journey through the African bush looking to find peace and solace. What he finds is an old acquaintance, Alice Peterson, and a whirlwind of intrigue that could cost them their life.
K.D. McNiven also is working on her third book in the Decker & Callie adventure Series, due to be released by the end of 2018, and is also in the process of writing a new series with one of the characters from Shark Eater. India Dymond in Cypher