Enigma, Maine, Bundle 2

by Iris Abbott

  She put a hand over her eyes to get a good look at the lone passenger. Her mouth opened in a little O of surprise when she recognized Tom Smith. She frowned. Hadn’t Adam told her the authorities hadn’t been notified yet? How did Mr. Smith know where to find his boat?

  “Hi, Mr. Smith,” she called out a greeting. Maybe it was just a coincidence he was there. Though why he’d be out this far in the ocean with such a small boat was beyond her. A foreboding chill snaked down her spine. She decided to play things close to her chest. She wouldn’t mention Mr. Smith’s sunken boat unless he did.

  “Amber,” he nodded. “I was surprised to hear you were back on the ocean so soon after your unfortunate mishap.”

  He was surprised to hear not see? Amber’s heart skipped a beat. Something was terribly wrong, and she was afraid his appearance was definitely not a coincidence. And where was Adam? He’d been underwater for a long time.

  She was beginning to wish she’d stayed home? She glanced at the water in time to see one of the dolphins silently sink below the surface. The five remaining dolphins moved even closer to the side of Adam’s boat. Somehow, their presence offered her a small bit of comfort.

  “What do you mean, Mr. Smith? Who told you I was out here?”

  “Mike Carter of course,” the man answered at once. He raised his hand, and that’s when Amber noticed the handgun. “He’s also the one that told me you made it off my boat alive. I should have known better than to trust those yahoos I hired with such an important job.”

  Oh my God! The man had pretty much confessed to being behind her attempted murder. Where was Adam? Did he know another boat was here or that their lives were in danger? She sank down on the boat’s deck. She needed to keep him talking. She had to buy some time for her and Adam.

  “Why?” She cried out playing the part of a hysterical victim. She thought it would be a good distraction. It also gave her time to reach for the cell phone in her pocket and hit the record button. She slowly laid it next to her on the deck. If she made it out of this alive, she wanted to have proof of what the evil man had done!

  “Why on earth would you want to kill me?” She used her foot to the nudge the phone closer to the edge of the boat.

  “Stupid girl, it was never about you. You were just a means to an end. I needed a quick infusion of cash.” He shrugged. “I was tired of the boat, so I thought I’d get rid of it and claim the insurance money. I needed the theft to be believable for the insurance company. You were expendable.”

  The man’s utter lack of regard for life momentarily rendered Amber speechless.

  Smith tried to maneuver his dinghy closer to the boat. The dolphins slapped their tails on the water and created a ruckus. Instead of getting closer, he was pushed back a couple of feet. He looked at the animals in disbelief. “Where’s your boyfriend?”

  Darn it? Amber hoped Smith forgot about Adam. And where was he? Practice or not there was no way he could stay underwater this long. “Umm…”

  Smith raised the gun. “I don’t have all day. He can’t have gone far. I know he was with you when you left the Marina.”

  Amber’s temper flared. “Mike Carter told you that too, I guess!”

  “Sure did. It didn’t take me long after I hired you to convince the marina owner that I wasn’t sure if you were trustworthy. I played the struggling teacher needs cash record over and over until it took.”

  Amber’s eyes grew so large they felt like they were going to pop right out of her head. She hoped her phone was still recording and that it picked up everything the despicable man said. “So not only did you plan to murder me and make me disappear, but you were going to let people think I was a thief too!” Her voice had been rising in pitch along with her anger.

  The dolphins seemed to sense her anxiety. They wildly thrashed about in the water.

  “What are those stupid dolphins doing?” Smith fired a couple of shots into the ocean. That only served to work the dolphins into an even higher state of agitation.

  Amber dug her heels into the teak deck and tried to maintain her balance. Thank goodness, Adam’s boat was much larger than Smith’s rubber dinghy. The dolphins whipped the ocean into a frenzy of crashing waves. Huge waves formed.

  Smith fired bullets all over the place. The dolphins didn’t stop thrashing. His small inflatable boat was jerked around by the building waves.

  Amber dunked beneath the side of the boat. She heard a strange ping. A bullet grazed the railing right above her head. Just when she thought the end was near, she heard Tom Smith let out a loud bellow.

  The noise was followed by a gigantic splash. Adam’s boat bobbed, and Amber was flung onto her side. The sounds of gunfire ceased. Amber crawled to the edge of the ship, grabbed the rail, and used it to steady herself. She carefully raised her head and peeked over the side of the vessel.

  She spotted Adam treading water. He looked perfectly fine. All the tension left her body. She pulled herself to her feet. Her muscles weakened, and she collapsed against the barrier.

  Adam held Smith in a chokehold with one arm. He didn’t look like he was letting go anytime soon. The man flailed about and shouted curses. He was no match for Adam’s strength. It was almost scary how at home Adam was in the ocean and with the dolphins.

  Things turned fuzzy. Tears of relief clouded her vision. She quickly wiped them away. She needed to see Adam.

  She couldn’t believe Adam was still alive. He was in the water way too long for the average person to survive. Yet somehow, Amber knew she shouldn’t be surprised, not when it came to Adam. He always seemed to be more than an average man.

  ****

  Adam tried to push down the fear and anger that assailed him when he realized Amber was in immediate danger. Luckily, Smith was preoccupied with the dolphins and his rant to Amber. He was none the wiser when Adam surfaced close behind him.

  He knew the dolphins were agitated by the waves of animosity and anger coming off the stranger. It was hard, but Adam silently waited for the dolphins to make their move. He did while keeping a close eye on Amber.

  When the dolphins capsized the dinghy, Adam struck. He grabbed the man who posed a threat to Amber and held on for dear life. He wasn’t letting the man escape, him or justice. Death by drowning was too easy of an out. Adam figured the justice system would do its job, and the man would pay for his crimes many years to come. As far as Adam was concerned, the man deserved years of suffering after what he’d tried to do to Amber not once, but twice!

  The dolphins must have sensed that Adam had things under control. They intently watched him.

  Adam calmly spoke to them. They circled around Adam and his prisoner and responded with a series of loud clicks of their own.

  “You all right,” he yelled to Amber.

  “Think so,” she called back. “What about you? You were under for a long time.”

  “I’m fine, but I’ll be better when this SOB is locked away from you.” Adam wanted to be aboard the boat with Amber. He needed to hold her in his arms, feel her body against his.

  He also needed to notify the Coast Guard. The sooner the authorities had Tom Smith in custody, the better Adam would feel. He didn’t want the treacherous man anywhere near Amber. He was not hauling him onto the boat. He trusted the dolphins to keep the man in check, but he would have to stay in the water just in case.

  “Amber,” he called out. “I need you to go inside the cabin. Use the radio to notify the Coast Guard. Tell them shots were fired and there are men in the water. That might speed them up a bit.”

  She hesitated. “I’m scared to let you out my sight,” she reluctantly confessed.

  “Amber,” he urged when she didn’t move.

  ****

  She gave him one more look and ran inside the cabin. Amber fumbled with the radio. In a few seconds, she issued a mayday call.

  The Coast Guard responded. She told them about Tom Smith, his insurance fraud, and the double murder attempt on her life. She gave them the name o
f the boat, Ocean’s Embrace. They asked for coordinates. She read them off the GPS system and urged them to hurry.

  Amber broke the connection and raced back on deck. She needed to keep Adam in her sights. That was the only way for her to know he was really okay. She ran to the rail on the edge of the boat and looked down into the water. Adam tread water nearby. The dolphins surrounded Tim Smith. Whenever Smith tried to swim away, the nearest dolphin bumped him and herded him into the center of the circle.

  After what seemed like forever, but was only a few minutes, Amber saw the unique and brightly colored Coast Guard boat speed toward them. Adam and the dolphins saw it too. Adam swam into the circle and once again grabbed Tom Smith. The dolphins silently sank below the surface of the water and disappeared.

  The boat slowed as it approached the two men in the water. The manned gun attached to the front of the USCG boat was pointed right at them. Amber sucked in a large gulp of air and screamed. “Don’t hurt Adam,” she cried even though she doubted they could hear her.

  An officer fished Smith out of the water. At this point, the man was babbling nonsense about being attacked by killer dolphins. Adam followed and explained his version of events. While this was going on, Amber remembered her phone. She looked around and finally spied it several feet away. It slid down the deck during the dolphins’ impressive display of power.

  She hit the play button. She was ecstatic to hear voices. It was a little low, and the speech was muffled, but it was good enough. She had Smith’s confession recorded in his own voice. She would save it for the Enigma Police Department. They could keep her phone if they needed to. She’d get another one. Having to buy a new phone was a small price to pay for peace of mind and justice.

  The Coast Guard allowed Adam to board his boat. He rapidly scaled the ladder. Amber wrapped her entire body around Adam, trying to infuse him with some of her warmth.

  “You’re so cold. I can’t believe you’re still functioning after being in the water for so long.” She slammed her lips down on his and kissed him for all she was worth.

  Adam wrapped his arms around her and held tight and held like he’d never let her go. She hugged him back as well as hard as she could.

  The Coast Guard boat departed, and the two lovers sprang apart. “I love you, Amber, don’t forget it.”

  “I love you too! I was so scared when you didn’t surface. I guess you were hiding behind Smith’s boat, and I just couldn’t see you.”

  “Something like that.” Adam pulled the anchor and took the helm. He readily followed the other boat back to the marina.

  Several police cars with flashing lights waited for them when they arrived at the marina. Adam moored his boat in the assigned berth and helped Amber onto the dock. Adam seemed happy to see the officer in charge. He promised her the man was good at his job and that things would run smoothly for them.

  ****

  Amber stretched out next to Adam. Her head rested on his shoulder, and she was nestled by his side. She absently caressed his chest with her fingers. She listened as Adam told her the story of Atlantis and his ancestors.

  “The night you were thrown overboard, I wasn’t on my boat. That’s why the men who attacked you had no idea there was someone else in the area. I was actually out for my nightly swim. I swim a lot with that same pod of dolphins who helped us today.”

  “That’s incredible! We owe them a huge debt of gratitude. Smith might have gotten away with hurting us if not for those dolphins.” Amber’s voice cracked.

  Adam’s fingers drew invisible fingers on her shoulders and back. “You have no idea. They helped me the night you almost drowned too. They weren’t acting right, and I knew something was wrong. I saw the men on Smith’s boat throw something overboard. I went to investigate and found you.”

  Amber raised her head and peppered kisses on Adam’s jaw, eyes, and chin. “Thank goodness for that!”

  Adam wrapped his arms around her and squeezed tight. “I can definitely second that. You’re right about owing the dolphins. I wouldn’t have been able to get you back to my boat without their help. I placed your tied hands around a dorsal fin. That dolphin towed you to my boat.”

  “I’m almost sorry I missed it. Sounds like the ride of a lifetime.”

  Adam brushed his lips across hers. “We’ll get you a wetsuit, and I’ll take you swimming with that pod of dolphins again.”

  “Good! I want to be able to remember it the second time!”

  “That’s it?” Adam asked in amazement. Amber was the first person he’d told about his ancestry and genetic differences. He didn’t have to explain things to other paranormal beings or the council because they already knew about Atlantis and the inhabitants that survived the city’s destruction. “You’re the first person I’ve told my deepest secret to. Somehow I expected denial or disbelief.”

  “Adam, I have the utmost respect for you and have for years. Besides, I saw you in action today. A regular human would not have been able to do the things you did. That water is cold even in the summer. And you were underwater longer than any human could manage without some kind of equipment.”

  “And my love of the ocean doesn’t scare you?”

  ****

  “No, as long as you’re by my side, I’ll always feel safe.” And she meant it too. She felt buoyed by the strength and depth of the love she felt for Adam.

  She snuggled closer. “Besides, Smith confessed to everything, even sabotaging my car.” Her voice hitched just a tiny bit. “He also gave up the names of the men he hired to sink the boat. They’ve been rounded up and are keeping each other company behind bars. I’m no longer in danger.”

  Adam rolled her onto her back and covered her body with his. “Thank the heavens for that! And I plan to be by your side as often as possible.” He brushed his lips across hers. “I think I already knew the depth of my feelings for you, but today when I saw Smith holding that gun on you, I realized that I love you with everything I’ve got. I didn’t want to lose you then, and I’m not ready to let you go now. I want you to always be a part of my life.”

  Amber’s heart surely couldn’t swell anymore. The organ was full of love for the man next to her. “I love you too, Adam. And I can’t wait to show you exactly how much!”

  They sealed their declarations with a kiss hot enough to cause even the north Atlantic to boil!

  EPILOGUE

  Adam didn’t need the snorkeling gear. He wore it to appear normal to any other tourists who might be in the area. He adjusted the mask and waited for her to do the same. Amber gave him a thumbs-up sign. They both sank below the surface and slowly swam toward the large reefs below.

  Amber looked about her in wonder. The underwater world was breathtaking enough to take her breath away. She was lucky to be able to share it with Adam. Her heart swelled at the thought of the man who swam next to her. Their love for each other was so palpable she could feel it. Masks, snorkels, and a layer of water separated them, but she could still feel it.

  She knew about Adam’s ancestry. Looking around, she could understand why he loved the ocean so much. Plus it was in his blood. She was thankful he chose to share his life with her. He waited to share the wonders of the ocean with her for several months, and now she was ready.

  Amber was terrified of large bodies of water after the near drowning. The ocean was a part of his life so she would never ask him to give it up. That meant it was a part of her existence too.

  She worked hard the past six months to face her fear. Countless swims in Adam’s pool and several snorkeling lessons later and she’d done it. Now on their honeymoon trip to the Caribbean, she was able to see the beauty and wonder that called to Adam.

  Shafts of light filtered down through the blue and green water. The rays illuminated the jewels of the tropical paradise. Limber seagrass swayed in time with the motion of the ocean. Colorful sea glass, spiky sea urchins, and delicate shells lay half buried on the sandy floor.

  Different kinds of coral waved
in the current. Gorgeous brightly colored fish darted to and fro. They danced among the reefs and grass. The small fish were mostly blue and yellow. They reminded Amber of underwater goldfinches and indigo buntings.

  Adam tapped her on the shoulder. Her eyes followed his moving hand. A blacktip reef shark emerged from the shadows. It lazily swam up to Adam. Her breath caught in her throat, and she dug a hand into his shoulder. The fish glided up to Adam’s mask. The two stared each other down for several seconds before the shark shot off with a powerful flick of its tail.

  Amber could hear her pulse beat in her ear. She took a deep breath and let go of Adam. He grinned and winked at her. A green sea turtle chose that moment to swim up to them. It checked them out, tapped Adam with a flipper, and slowly swam away into the open ocean.

  A whole new world opened up for her, warm and inviting. Exactly the same as Adam made her feel. They could face anything that waited for them as long as they were together. Warm ocean water slid over her skin. Amber relaxed and welcomed the ocean’s loving embrace.

  A GUARDIAN’S LOVING CARESS

  Enigma, Maine Series

  Book 7

  Iris Abbott

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.

  A GUARDIAN’S LOVING CARESS

  Copyright © 2012 by Iris Abbott

  First E-book publication: October 2012

  Cover design by Iris Abbott

  Photos obtained from bigstockphoto.com

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters in this book are fictitious and exist only in the imagination of the author. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  ONE

  Jessica eyed the barely there, black silk costume and raised a brow. The owner and operator of the charming and unique store seemed confident in her choice. Jessica, however, had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. “You think I’m going to wear that?”