Ladyfish

by Andrea Bramhall

  “Oz, I have the money I need for the equipment. I take it everything I need I can get here?”

  “Yeah. And I’ll make sure you get a good deal. I have some time before I have to be out on the boats, so I’ll take you through, if you want?” Oz knew she was burying herself deeper every minute she spent with Finn, but she wanted to spend time with her, even if she didn’t want to know why.

  They made their way through the store, picking up the various items Finn would need. Oz walked behind her and held a jacket open for her to put her arms through. She lifted it onto Finn’s shoulders and turned her to begin fastening the straps and buckles, tightening each as she went, trying to ignore the swell of Finn’s breasts under her hands and the subtle scent of Finn’s sun-warmed skin. “How does it feel?”

  “Like wearing a rucksack for a hike.”

  Oz smiled. “Wait till you feel it with a full tank attached. It looks pretty good. There are different colors, so if you wanted a pink one, it could be arranged.”

  “Pink? Do I look like a pink girl to you?”

  “Maybe green, then? It would bring out your eyes.” Heat rushed to Oz’s cheeks as she realized she had actually spoken the words out loud. “I mean—you know. It would look good on you.”

  Finn was smiling at her again. “Thank you.” She unbuckled the BCD and slid it from her shoulders. “You’re cute when you blush. So what’s next?”

  Grateful Finn didn’t continue to tease her, Oz ran with it.

  “Wet suit. There are loads of different makes and models out there. Shorties, two-piece sets that have a jacket you can leave off. Different thicknesses. Men’s, women’s, unisex. Even children’s if we need to.” Oz ruffled through a rack of wet suits. “Do you have a preference?”

  “I leave myself in your expert hands, Oz.”

  So many possible double entendres ran through Oz’s head she felt dizzy, but she managed to stifle them. “Okay, so I like SCUBAPRO suits. They have a really good shape for ladies. Generous in the right places without allowing too much space for extra water. Are you looking for a thick wet suit?”

  “What difference does it make?”

  “Well, the thicker the wet suit, the more buoyant it makes you in the water. It means you have to carry a little more weight to descend.”

  They worked out what would work best for Finn based on her body weight and height, with only a bit of teasing about the small size of the wet suit they decided on. Oz did her best to keep her hands to herself, but couldn’t seem to resist pressing the various options against Finn’s body to feel the soft curves beneath the neoprene. She headed into the dressing room with the best option to make sure it fit.

  Oz continued picking out the required items. Boots, fins, regulator, gloves, and a snorkel. She pulled several masks from the shelves and put them together with the pile for Finn to try on.

  “Any chance you can zip me up?”

  “Sure.” Oz turned to her and felt her breath catch in her throat as Finn stepped out of the changing room in the wet suit, turning as she did so. Jesus. She eased the zipper up while Finn held her hair out of the way.

  “Thanks. So does it fit right?” Finn did a catwalk style turn.

  “Definitely.” Oz’s mouth went dry. Focus, Zuckerman. Jesus, you’re acting like a teenage boy! She turned away and rambled, desperately trying to get her body under control. “I pulled out some other stuff here for you. The fins I recommend are boot fins. That way, if you’re walking into the water or anything, you have the boots to protect your feet and you don’t have to walk in barefoot. I’ve been using the Mares ocean fins for the last couple of years. I like ’em. Plus they have lots of colors. It makes it harder for people to pick yours up by accident, and you can coordinate with your wet suit.” That’s better, Zuckerman. Keep it professional.

  “So what else do I need now?”

  “Mask and computer. I pulled these masks out because I think they may work, but we’ll have to try them on you for fit. What you need to do is fit it to your face and pull your breath in. If you can make the seal, then the mask fits. If it falls off easily, then it will leak.” She handed one to Finn. “Go ahead. Give it a try.”

  Finn placed the tempered glass mask over her eyes and nose and sucked her breath in. She let her hands down from her face and raised her head only to have the mask slip before she was standing straight.

  “The technique was right. It’s the fit that isn’t. Here, try this on.” They went through the process with six masks before Oz walked back to the shelves.

  “I think my face is shaped wrong.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with your face.” Believe me, there is absolutely nothing wrong with your face. It’s perfect. “Give this one a try.” Finn repeated the process only to find that this time the mask stayed attached to her face however much she shook her head around. “Perfect fit. So what’s different about this one?”

  Oz inclined her head toward the shelf where she had retrieved the mask. “It’s from the children’s section.” Her laughter brought a look of outrage to Finn’s face. “I’m sorry, but it’s true. Look.”

  Finn laughed and shrugged. “Oh well, at least I didn’t have to get a children’s wet suit.”

  Oz grinned and turned away. Finn’s body in the tight wet suit was anything but childlike. It was all woman, and Oz wanted to run her hands over every seam of the wet suit. “I think that’s everything,” she said, looking at the mound of gear on the counter. Do you want me to get that zipper for you?”

  Finn quickly turned around and pulled her hair out of the way. “Please. Is there anything else I need?”

  Oz’s mouth went even dryer as she unzipped the wet suit to reveal the long expanse of bare skin beneath. Smooth, pale skin begging to be kissed. “I’ll grab them while you get changed.”

  “Okay, thank you, Oz.” She disappeared into the changing room again while Oz grabbed the rest of the small gear: a flashlight, a weight belt and weights, some pouches and lanyards, and a mesh bag. By the time Finn returned and plopped the wet suit on the counter, Oz had packed most of the equipment in the bag and started folding the wet suit to add to the stock of goodies.

  “Wow. I think there’s more in there than I brought with me from England.”

  “Good. That’ll make moving to the house much easier.”

  “I haven’t even met the owner yet. She might not like me.”

  “I’m sure it’s just a formality. When would you want to move? Would you do it right away or wait until Pete goes back to England?”

  “Pete really wants to get back as soon as he can so he can start the job he has in the works before my dad knows and makes things more difficult for him. He said he’d stay until I found somewhere to live, and then stay a couple of weeks while I get settled. So I guess the sooner I move the better it will be for him too. So if she’ll have me, I guess I’ll move as soon as she wants.”

  “Well, that’s good because I’m pretty sure Mrs. Richmond said she’s looking for it to start right away. Sounds like the perfect setup for everyone. Will you miss him?”

  “Pete? Yeah. Like I said, he’s been my best friend for pretty much as long as I can remember. He’s been the most constant and stable part of my life. A part of me wishes I could just marry him and be happy. But neither of us would be, so we have to let things change and be happy for what we had.” Finn handed her credit card to Oz. “I don’t want to think about all that today. I’m sure I bored you with it more than enough last night. Tell me more about how this is all going to work.”

  “The training?” Oz let the change of topic go as she held a pen out for Finn to sign her credit card slip before ringing it through the register. The last thing she wanted to do was make Finn uncomfortable. “Would you like some coffee? I’ll go over it for you while we have a drink, then I can leave you to your studying.”

  “Sure.”

  Oz got them drinks and when they were both seated, she explained the program. “The first few qualific
ations you have to get are fairly straightforward. The open water and advanced open water we should have you through within two weeks. Then we spend the next week getting in a few dives because you have to have twenty logged dives plus your first aid course to take the rescue diver course. The first aid certificate you have is absolutely fine, so it’s just about getting the number of dives in. Have you had a look at the specialty dives list yet?”

  “Briefly.”

  “Anything stand out to you?”

  “Photography. I was going to ask you about underwater cameras and housings.”

  “I’ll get Juanita to come talk to you about that. She’s the photographer that goes down with the tourists and sells them pictures afterward. She’s definitely better to advise you, as long as you aren’t planning on trying for the same gig. Is photography a hobby already?”

  “Yeah, I spent a lot of time walking when I wasn’t at the pool, anything to keep out of my father’s way. Taking pictures gave me a good excuse. Then I found I was actually quite good. Pete would come with me sometimes. I made him go camping one time. He actually asked where to plug in his hairdryer.”

  “You’re joking, right?”

  “Nope.”

  “Oh my God, what a girl!”

  “I know.”

  “So you’re good?”

  Finn shrugged noncommittally.

  “Understood. You’re brilliant. It’ll be good if you take to that. We don’t have a diver on staff who specializes in the underwater photography that isn’t just for the tourists. If you do, and you decide to stay, that could work really well for the dive center.” Oz liked the thought of Finn diving with them all the time, taking pictures, that wet suit hugging her as she swam in front of Oz. She pulled the seam of her shorts away from her suddenly oversensitive crotch. She went on to tell Finn about the certificates they would be working on, watching Finn closely to make sure she understood.

  “All clear?”

  “Yes, boss.”

  “And don’t you forget it. Do you have any questions?”

  “Just one.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Ever had anyone fail this course?”

  “Nope. I have had a couple of people who quit. But not fail. This isn’t for everyone. It sounds idyllic in many ways, and the experiences you can have, well, they can be magical. But this is also a job, and like any job, there are good days and bad days. There will be customers you can’t stand and others you’ll miss when they leave. There will be days when you feel like crap, but you’ve got a boatload of tourists and you have to dive anyway. When the reality of that sets in during the internship, not everyone likes it. And a few people quit.”

  “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For being honest with me. I won’t quit on you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some studying to do.” She picked up her book and headed into the shop.

  *

  It was four thirty when Oz popped into the training room. Finn had her chin on her fist as she scribbled notes and flipped pages. Oz’s stomach flipped again and she ignored it.

  “How’s it going?”

  Finn looked up, startled, and placed her hand dramatically against her chest. “You made me jump.” She took a deep breath before she continued. “It’s going fine actually. It seems fairly simple so far.”

  “Well, you are a brainiac scientist.”

  “Yeah, yeah. What time is it?” She leaned back in her chair and stretched, and her shirt pulled tight against perfect breasts. Oz looked away quickly, but not before her own body reacted.

  “Four thirty. We better get going, if you want to check this place out. I happen to know that the room isn’t furnished yet. It had been a study till a little while ago. Mrs. Richmond said she’ll take care of that but has asked that you go pick out the furniture. If you want to move as soon as possible, then ordering the larger pieces is probably best done today. It’s only Tuesday so it should be possible to get things delivered for Friday.”

  Finn scooped the books and papers together and stuffed them into her backpack. “What should I do about all that gear?”

  “I can lock it in the office if you don’t mind leaving it here overnight.”

  “That’s fine. Will I get to play with it all soon?”

  “The day after tomorrow. We’ll be doing some pool skills and taking your first breath underwater the day after tomorrow. That’s an experience you never forget.”

  Finn fished around the pockets of her shorts and tossed the car keys to Oz. “I like to look at the scenery. I can’t do that while I’m driving somewhere new. Do you mind?”

  “Do I mind?” Oz looked at her like she was crazy. “Do I mind driving that amazing car of yours so you can stare out the window? Nope, I don’t mind at all.”

  They traveled in silence for a while before Finn started to recognize the streets they were traveling.

  “Aren’t we near your house?”

  “Not too far.”

  Oz pulled into the driveway a few minutes later. An elderly woman was sitting on the porch swing and waved as they both climbed out of the car. “Hi, Mrs. Richmond.”

  “Hello there, Olivia.”

  Finn stifled her laughter as Oz rolled her eyes at the use of her first name. “Can I call you Olivia too?”

  “No, you can’t. Mrs. Richmond, this is Finn.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Finn. Olivia tells me you’re looking for somewhere to live while you’re learning to be a dive instructor. Is that right?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Excellent. Well, why don’t I show you around and we can get to know each other a little bit. See if you think you can put up with an old woman like me.” Mrs. Richmond didn’t wait for an answer as she pulled open the door and ushered them both inside. “I haven’t had your response about my birthday party, Olivia. Shall I expect you to grace us with your presence?”

  “I’m planning on it. Uncle Charlie said they’d all be coming too.”

  “Wonderful. I’ll be seventy next week, dear.” She clasped her arm around Finn’s elbow as she showed them each room.

  “Really?”

  “Absolutely. You’ll come to my party too, won’t you, dear?”

  “I’d love to.”

  Oz followed close behind her and whispered in her ear. “Does it smell like lavender and pee?”

  Finn laughed softly and followed Mrs. Richmond about the house until they were sipping lemonade on the front porch, Mrs. Richmond happily ensconced in her swing.

  “So what do you think, dear?”

  “I think it’s perfect, Mrs. Richmond.”

  “Call me Emmy. If you’re going to live here, I can’t be doing with hearing Mrs. Richmond over the breakfast table. So when do you want to move in?”

  “Oz said we should order furniture today to get it here for the end of the week. If that’s okay with you Mrs—Sorry. Emmy. If that’s okay with you, Emmy?”

  “That works perfectly for me. Olivia, you go and show this young lady where the best deals are. And then I’ll settle up with you later.”

  “Sure, Mrs. R. Finn, are you ready?”

  “Absolutely. Thanks, Emmy.”

  “Okay, let’s go shopping. You’ll need a bed and a chest of drawers, the desk and chair in the study are a bit dated—” Oz started to pull her toward the door and realized she was still holding Finn’s hand. She dropped it like she’d been burned.

  “Do you always ramble?” Finn teased her.

  “No, mostly, I’m accused of being the silent and broody type.”

  “I find that hard to believe. You never seem to shut up around me.”

  “Maybe it’s just you. Have you thought of that?”

  “Yes, I have actually.”

  “And?”

  “It is definitely you rambling, not me.”

  “Ha ha, very funny. Let’s go shopping before I change my mind.”

  Oz ushered Finn back to the car and wondered just how m
uch her life was going to change with someone like Finn being a part of it.

  Chapter Eleven

  John Pritchard smoothed his shirt over his stomach and waited. He watched the small monitor as Bates led the Arabic man into the small cell-like interview room, two other officers flanking him. He was tall, well built, and confident. Even in this situation, he looked calm, cool, controlled. Pritchard only hoped that it boded well for them all.

  He took a final sip of his tea before walking to the interview room.

  “Mr. Qadri, I’m John Pritchard.” He dropped a file onto the table between them and sat down. “Mr. Bates tells me that you have some information that may be of interest to us.”

  “I want protection for my family.” He slid a scrap of paper onto the table. “When I know they are safe, I will tell you everything I know about Balor.”

  “I can’t possibly take your family into protective custody without knowing what you have to offer.”

  Qadri stood. “Then we are done, Mr. Pritchard.” He took two steps toward the door.

  “Wait. Tell me what it’s regarding and I’ll see what I can do.”

  “I am not here to play games, Mr. Pritchard. By speaking to you, I know that I am signing my own death warrant. I have no problem with that. The reason I am doing this is to make sure that my family is safe. Not just now, but in the future.”

  “Mr. Qadri, I need specifics.”

  “And I will give them to you. When my family is in your custody.”

  “What is your connection with Mehalik?”

  “I am his personal bodyguard.”

  Pritchard picked up the scrap of paper, looked at it, and handed it to Bates. “If I do this, I’ll want you to wear a wire.”

  Qadri shrugged. “Like I said, my death is already assured. I do not care. This madness must be stopped.”

  “Bates, get Mr. Qadri’s family to one of our safe houses.”