Ladyfish

by Andrea Bramhall

  Finn nodded as she turned to look in the direction Mac had gone. She began straightening the items in some of the boxes so that they would sit better atop each other without damaging any of the delicate and expensive equipment in them. By the time Mac returned, she had all the boxes ready to stack and began lifting them onto the wheeled cart.

  “Finn, make sure you leave enough room for all the tanks to go on there too.”

  “Will do.” Finn liked the burning in her shoulders as she stacked the equipment neatly onto the cart. Her muscles would ache the next day, but she didn’t care. Right now, the sun was shining, the birds singing, and the air was heavy with the salt of the ocean. It felt good to be active.

  “So, Oz, you going to introduce us to the magic worker bee over there, or shall we just call her your mystery friend?” Mac whispered under his breath loud enough for everyone to hear, his shaved head glistening in the sunlight, his wet suit unzipped and rolled down to his waist leaving his broad chest and abs clearly visible.

  “No mystery, guys. That is Daniela Finsbury-Sterling, our new zero to hero candidate.”

  “That’s the chick you had to pick up at the airport last night?”

  “Yup.” She grabbed some more gear and tossed it onto the dock.

  “And then you drove her to her hotel?”

  “Yup.”

  “And then you worked the old Oz magic?”

  “Knock it off, Clem. We aren’t all animals like you.”

  “Very true, Oz, my friend, very true, but there are even fewer like you.”

  Finn felt her cheeks flush as she tried to ignore the conversation. She kept stacking boxes, moving things around, and keeping busy. She tried not to think about Oz playing the field, though she couldn’t figure out why the thought disappointed her. She glanced at Oz, surprised to see her looking uncomfortable.

  “I wasn’t talking about myself.” She didn’t hang around for him to answer but jumped onto the dock and jogged over to Finn. “You ready to roll this thing home?”

  “Yep.” Finn headed around to the back of the cart and got ready to push, trying to put as much distance between her and Oz as possible.

  “If this thing starts rolling backward, we’re gonna be scooping you up off the dock. Always head for the side and use the rail there.” Oz pointed to the far side of the cart. “Don’t want to squish anyone who helps unload a boat when they don’t have to.”

  “Thanks. I’ll bear that in mind.” She grabbed hold of the rail and started to haul when Oz counted to three.

  “So why did you really head here so early?”

  “I was bored. Pete was chatting up some bartender at the cocktail bar, and I felt like I was about to become a third wheel, so I thought I’d give my new car a run out and look around. I can’t stay in the hotel for the rest of the time I’m going to be here, so I thought I should get to know the area.” She smiled over at Oz as she tried to catch her breath. “That was the plan anyway. The next thing I knew, I was sitting on the wall watching the ocean and I thought I might as well give you a hand.”

  “Sorry, back up a bit. Did you say you bought a car?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Why?”

  “Well, I’ll need it to get around. I don’t imagine I’ll be able to get a place close enough to the dive center to be able to walk here every day with any gear I might have to haul with me, and while I don’t mind working hard, doing so just for the sake of it seems stupid.”

  “So what kind of car did you get? A junker to run around in?”

  “Erm, no, not really.” For a moment, Finn felt silly for buying such a nice car when she’d be spending most of her time in the water. But just as quickly, she let the feeling go. She wanted something nice, something she could enjoy without anyone to condemn her.

  Oz steered the cart to the back of the shop and they pulled it to a stop.

  “We need to get all the equipment rinsed off so the salt water doesn’t do too much damage. The easiest way is to dunk it all in these tubs.” Oz pointed to the two giant vats filled with water. “We use the one on the left for the first clean then the second one as a final rinse. Just throw all the wet suits and BCDs in first. The salt takes a little while to leach out of the fabric.” She grabbed an armful of wet neoprene before hauling it over the edge of the tub and watching as Finn followed her example. “So?”

  “So?”

  “The car?”

  “Why? Do you have a thing for cars?”

  “Yes. Now tell me.”

  Finn jerked her head over her shoulder. “It’s the moss green one under the tree.”

  “The dark green one with the top down?” Oz grinned. “The dark green one with the top down that is probably one of the sexiest cars ever made?”

  “You really do like cars, don’t you?”

  Oz wasn’t listening anymore. She practically skipped across the asphalt to the car.

  “A nineteen sixty-seven moss green Ford Mustang. Leather bench seats. Twenty-one spoke wheels.” She ran her hand from the headlights down to the windshield. “This isn’t a car.”

  “No?”

  “No.”

  “Then I should take it back. I specifically needed a car.”

  Oz looked at her like she’d gone mad. “This is so much better than a car.”

  “Really? And why is that?”

  “This is an orgasm on wheels!” Oz was grinning from ear to ear. “I would love a car like this.” Oz’s enthusiasm was infectious and Finn laughed as Oz ran her hands across the leather seat, the hood, and delicately across the chrome along the top of the windshield. She loved the jubilant reaction and felt like she was watching a child open her favorite Christmas present. Finn reached into her pocket and pulled out a set of keys. She tossed them to Oz, who caught them easily.

  “Go on, then.”

  “Huh?”

  “Take her for a ride. I’ll finish unloading the cart and I’ll see you back here when you’re done.” She was already heading back to the cart when Oz caught hold of her arm and stopped her.

  “You’d let me just take off in your new car?”

  “Sure,” Finn said, still smiling. The smile faded quickly as she saw the pleasure in Oz’s eyes replaced by anger. She felt the fingers gripping her arm tighten and grabbed Oz’s hand to pry it off.

  “You don’t even know me. I could just take off and never come back. Why would you do that? Do you really have so much money that it doesn’t matter if someone just disappears with your car?”

  “I thought you’d enjoy taking the car for a ride. I thought I could help you out with the work that needs to be done. It’s not like I don’t know where to find you. That is why I offered it to you. I’m sorry I offended you.” She finally yanked her arm out of Oz’s grip. “I’ll try to make sure I don’t do it again.” She stalked back to the tubs and heaped the rest of the equipment into the clean water.

  “Finn?”

  Finn continued pushing the equipment in and out of the dirty water, trying not to let Oz see the tears threatening to spill. She had wanted to do something nice, and Oz had thrown it in her face. She wouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

  “Finn, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. That car is probably my dream car. I guess it upset me that you could part with it so easily.”

  “I can take care of myself, Oz. I’m not a child.” She pulled another mask out of the tank and shook off the excess water. “I’m here to get away from someone who was smothering me. I don’t need a replacement, and I don’t need someone telling me what to do with my life.”

  “Sure. I’m sorry. Please, can we start over? You’ve been fantastic, helping with the work, offering me a ride in your fabulous car. I’ve been a jackass.”

  Finn snorted her agreement at the frank assessment and felt the tension leaving her shoulders.

  “Please let me make it up to you?”

  “And how do you plan to do that? Point out the water so I don’t get wet?” Finn glanc
ed up from the water and grinned to take the sting out of her words.

  Oz pushed her hand through her hair and the salt coating it made it stick out at odd angles. “Yep, I totally deserve that, but I have something else in mind. Let me take you out to dinner. Show you some of the sights. Maybe a drink after? You are over twenty-one, right?”

  Finn splashed some of the water at her. “Of course I am. You were doing well till then. Don’t blow it.”

  “Hey, it’s a compliment.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “Seriously. Most women would have loved that comment.”

  Finn sighed and punched at the material in the water. “I’m sure. The only problem is that I know I look about twelve. Even with ID, sometimes I can’t get served. So yes, in twenty years I’ll be very grateful for my youthful looks. Right now, I’d love to be taken for a grown-up.”

  Finn watched as Oz stood back and looked at her, taking in the forest green T-shirt, at least three sizes too large and the baggy black cargo shorts. Finn found herself hoping Oz liked what she saw, but she doubted it. A messy ponytail kept her hair off her face, and her sunglasses hid her eyes, which she considered her best feature.

  “Can I make a small suggestion?” Oz asked, her head tilted slightly as she continued to look Finn up and down.

  “And what would that be?”

  “Maybe, if you do want people to see you as a grown-up, and I’m not saying that you should, but you know, if you do, and don’t be offended or anything, but maybe you should…”

  “Not dress in clothes that are too big and look like I’m wearing my mother’s, father’s, and older brother’s all at the same time?”

  Oz blew out a relieved breath. “Yeah. That’s it.”

  “I’m in disguise.”

  Oz laughed. “Disguise?”

  “Yup.”

  “Like Superman and Clark Kent type disguise?”

  “I think more like Supergirl and whoever the chick was without the blue tights.”

  “Really? And what are you disguised as?”

  Finn shook her head. “It’s not what I’m disguised as, but what I’m trying not to be.”

  “And what is it that you’re trying not to be?”

  “My father’s daughter.”

  “And looking like a little girl playing dress-up helps?”

  “At the moment. My new disguise is going to be as a diving instructor. Working woman of the world, able to make a living for myself, and not dependent on anyone.” Finn looked away, trying to figure out how to move the conversation away from her family issues.

  “What other changes does this disguise include?”

  “Well, let me see. New place to live, new car, new career. Everything, really.”

  “What about Pete?”

  “What about him?” Finn frowned as she began rinsing the snorkels.

  “Does he have a place as your boyfriend in this new disguise you’re making?”

  “My boyfriend?”

  Oz nodded.

  “Pete?”

  “Yeah, Pete. The guy from the airport last night.”

  Finn burst out laughing, enjoying the look of confusion on Oz’s face.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Pete isn’t…” She was laughing again before she could finish her sentence. “Oh God, that’s funny. Pete isn’t my boyfriend. Never has been, never will be.” She stretched tight back muscles, noting the way Oz’s eyes strayed briefly to the tight material pulled across her breasts. “Trust me, I’m soooo not his type, even if he were mine. Did you miss the part earlier where I told you that he was chatting up the bartender at the hotel? Male bartender.”

  “I guess I did.” Oz was smiling again. “Sorry.”

  “No need to be sorry. I haven’t laughed like that in ages. Pete and I have been friends for as long as I can remember.” She turned back to the water vats. “My father has decided that he’d like us to get married. We both object to this. Strenuously. Pete will most likely lose the job he has at my dad’s company when he gets back to the UK for helping me get away.”

  “That doesn’t sound like a good thing. What about you?”

  “What about me?”

  “Well, if your dad will do that to your friend for helping you, what will he do to you?”

  “Well, if I’m lucky, he’ll disown me.”

  “And if you’re not?”

  “He’ll try to get me back home and make life very difficult if I don’t, for me and anyone else around me.”

  “Sounds like a nice guy.”

  “He’s great.” Finn smiled sadly at Oz. “But let’s not talk about him anymore.”

  Oz grinned and grabbed an armful of equipment. “So, tonight. Dinner?”

  Once again, Finn felt the tension start to recede. It seemed Oz knew how to defuse a situation. Which made sense, since she couldn’t have tense, panicked people diving with her. Suddenly, dinner with her sounded like the best thing in the world. “Sounds good. I’ll go back to the hotel to change and let Pete know I’m heading out for the evening. Where should I meet you?”

  “Well, I can pick you up from the hotel?”

  “You could, but then you’d have your car and you wouldn’t get to drive the, and I quote ‘orgasm on wheels,’ would you?”

  Oz’s eyes lit up. “This is very true. What do you have in mind, Linda?”

  “Who’s Linda?”

  Oz smiled at Finn’s confusion. “Supergirl, without the tights. Linda Lee. Superman’s much more gorgeous cousin.”

  “Right, got it. How about if I pick you up?”

  “Really?”

  Finn looked at her quizzically. “Yeah, really. Never had a girl pick you up before?”

  Oz thought for a moment. “As a matter of fact, I haven’t.”

  Finn burst out laughing again. “Sorry. I don’t believe you.”

  “It’s true. Honest.” She leaned forward conspiratorially. “To tell you the truth, it’s always been the other way around.”

  Finn’s laughter stopped and a slow smile slid across her face. “Now that I can believe.”

  “So don’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to protect.”

  “Your secret is safe with me.”

  Chapter Five

  John Pritchard pushed his hands through the little hair he had left and puffed out his cheeks before addressing the team before him.

  “Listen up, people. Mike Shepherd was found floating in the canal at Camden Locks with a bullet through the head. The location is less than two hundred yards from Sterling’s daughter’s home. We know his cover was blown on Friday night when his wire went out. We know he was with Jack Kant at the time, and we know he was watching Sterling’s daughter. Now we know he’s dead. Without him, we have diddley fucking squat.” The MI6 chief waved the pages he held in his hand at them. “These pages”—he tossed them across the desk—“are all we have to show for six months’ worth of digging on this bastard.” He looked at each face in turn. “William Sterling is laughing at us.”

  “Sir—”

  “I don’t want to hear it. Peter Green has agreed to come on board. He’s in Florida with Sterling’s daughter at the moment, but he’s not due back for nearly three weeks. I want to know as soon as he lands. Do you hear me?” He looked pointedly at the men and women crowding the conference table.

  “Sir, do we know if Green is involved in the money laundering?”

  Pritchard pointed at the scattered pages. “Does it look like it? His network has proven nearly impossible for our people to crack, and we have yet to gather direct information.”

  “So he could be playing both sides of the fence here?”

  “It’s possible, but having spoken to him, I don’t think so. He seems to be up front. We asked him to come in and work with us to get information on Sterling. If he’s as good with computers as he’s supposed to be, we might actually get some evidence on this bastard before his bank balance is bigger than the national debt.”

  Th
ere were murmurs of agreement around the table.

  “I want eyes on Green once he lands. He’s the key to cracking this wide open and I want him in here. Safe. Are we all clear?” A murmur spread around the room. “See to it.”

  “Sir, do we have anything more regarding the rumors about the bio labs?” another agent asked.

  “No. We’ve got rumors that he’s got scientists building biological weapons and more rumors that he’s selling them. Hell, I’ve even heard rumors that his daughter is the one building them, which makes no sense since we know Sterling is having his lackeys tail her. But there’s nothing concrete. Green may be able to shed more light on this side of Sterling’s operation too. We’ll have to wait and see.”

  “Sir, I may have a lead.”

  “What is it, Bates?”

  “It’s not definite, but I have a contact who’s been working as protection for Masood Mehalik. He’s under the impression that there’s a big deal in the works. He doesn’t know details yet. But he’s prepared to give them to me when he does.”

  “Finally, some good news. This guy got a name?”

  “Hakim Qadri.”

  “Is he sure this deal is tied to Sterling?”

  “He said he overheard a phone conversation between the two of them, discussing a quantity of product. The only things Mehalik deals in are drugs and weapons.”

  “Well, we’ve got nothing to suggest Sterling’s branching into drugs. Will he wear a wire?”

  “I’ll ask.”

  “Then get me everything you can find on this Mehalik guy.”

  Chapter Six

  “Pete, you here?” Finn closed the door behind her as she slipped quietly into their suite. Getting no reply, she began flicking through the hangers to locate an outfit for dinner. She pulled out the only clothes she had that weren’t too large and draped them on the outside of the wardrobe door to let the creases drop out of them. She headed for the shower and emerged twenty minutes later, pink from the hot water and humming gently to herself.

  “What ya up to, sweetie pie?”

  “Shit, Pete! You scared the living crap out of me.” Finn grabbed the doorframe and tried to steady herself. Her father had taught her that bad things happened when you allowed someone to sneak up on you.