Treasure Island SEAL: Pirate SEAL Rescues his Mermaid (Sunset SEALs Book 3)

by Sharon Hamilton

  She laughed. “I do. Your dad thought that was so funny. He bought that for you for your birthday. It touched him that you wanted to snorkel like he did.”

  “I’ve been recalling some of those times, Mom. Some of them have come back to me. I don’t know why it changed.”

  “He never could stop drinking. I used to call him the King of Good Times. The party animal that he was, he could never find solace without the alcohol. It was a shame to watch it destroy everything he loved. You know, he used to talk about taking me to Florida, but after he got so bad, he didn’t want to go any longer.”

  Ned felt his mother’s heartache. Felt for the life they could have had. “I love you, Mom.”

  “And you were the joy of my life, Ned. The real love of my life. Honest.”

  He watched the gentle waves undulate while he waited for her to continue. He wasn’t sure where he should go with this honest reveal.

  “How about you?” she asked, finally.

  He leaned back against the chair and checked out the sky. That was a big, long question. How could he tell his mom that his whole life had changed, that there was something else bigger out there for him now?

  “I’m on an adventure, for sure. I love this place and everything about it. Old Noonan is a character, and I’ve met some other salty characters.” He felt his voice lower and get husky. “And some lovely girls.”

  “Ah, well, that’s good for you.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Is he anything like your father?”

  “Who? Noonan? No way. I mean in some things, yes. I could see how they liked to do things together, especially drink, you know. But Noonan has a pretty good gig here, out on the water, taking people diving. It’s a nice lifestyle. Pretty colors, white sand beach, and turquoise water that’s crystal clear to swim in. I can see why Dad liked it.”

  “Now I wish I’d gone.”

  “You’ve never been? You might have stayed out here if you’d come.”

  “I made another choice. I had to be the one he came back to. That was important to me. Later, well, maybe I waited too long and should have encouraged it. Maybe it would have been better for us. But back then, it wasn’t right for me to follow him around. He had to want to come home. I never begrudged him his trip. I guess it was his last taste of freedom.”

  “You were pregnant, weren’t you? Don’t answer that if you don’t want to.”

  “I think you knew all along it was that way. But we were married. It all happened so fast.”

  There was another pause. Ned watched a pelican dive into the ocean and come up with a wiggling fish it inhaled as it floated in the glassy blue water.

  “Maybe you should come out here some day and look around. I’m beginning to feel like I was meant to be here, Mom. I really was.”

  “That sounds like you’ve met someone. Does Noonan know?”

  “That’s how I met her.”

  His mother was quiet. Then she sighed. “Old Noonan. Your dad idolized him, wanted to be just like him. Always looking for that one big deal to make him rich.”

  Ned laughed. “He’s still doing that.”

  “He never had any money, your dad said. We bought a house, had a car, and went on trips. Noonan, he said, just lived like a beach bum. He gave up everything. Never had a family. It’s funny how two friends can both envy the life of the other.”

  Ned had never thought about that before. Noonan had remained a rolling stone. His dad got the good jobs, until he became too unreliable to hold down one, and had the wife and child. He got to be the Coach and live through the eyes of his son, be part of a community. Noonan had his freedom. And he had a dream. Pirate Jake had buried his.

  “Well, just give it a thought. I’d be happy to show you around here. Give yourself permission to heal, Mom. You deserve it.”

  “Thank you, Ned. I will. Does this mean you’re not returning?”

  Had he said that? Is that what he meant?

  “No, I’m not there yet. But trust me, you need to see this place. It is paradise. I think it would change your whole life.”

  He signed off with his mom without telling her specifically about Madison, deciding to do that later.

  Otis had finished his food and disappeared around the corner.

  Ned wondered if his mother had ever read that little book of poetry. He guessed that she hadn’t, that she’d given him the space to have his secret. And, if she didn’t know, she wouldn’t have to wonder. At the right time and place, he wanted to let Madison read that beautiful piece someone had written, the one his dad liked. And see the picture of the vagabond group of hippies and beatniks who had found themselves at Treasure Island.

  One thing at a time. A few pieces had to drop into place, first.

  The next call Ned got was from Noonan.

  “What’s up?”

  “Trouble.”

  Ned sat up. “What happened?”

  “I need to come over. Can I?”

  “Sure. When?”

  “Now.”

  “Okay. I’ve got Madison still sleeping, but I can fix you breakfast if you’re hungry.”

  “I’ll be right over.” Noonan disconnected before Ned could ask anything more.

  He opened the door to the bedroom quietly and saw her lying on her back, her long hair strewn over his pillow, her arms up over her head and her legs entangled in the sheets they’d completely rearranged last night. Between her breasts she still wore the mermaid pendant. From the waist up, her form was one of a statue like the one they’d found. Her breasts were full and perfectly round, larger than his hand could manage no matter how hard he tried. Her nipples were soft and inviting.

  Her eyes opened slowly.

  “You were awake already?”

  She arched, stretching her long arms, and gave him a crooked smile. “Not telling.”

  He sat on the edge of the bed. She wrapped her arms around his waist and begged him to join her.

  “I can’t. Noonan is coming over. Something’s wrong. You’re going to need to get dressed quickly, okay?”

  She sat up, keeping the sheet across her chest. “That sounds bad.”

  “I hope not,” he said as he pulled the sheet down. “I had all kind of plans for today.”

  “Ice cream?”

  He shook his head. “Sorry, the ice cream is all gone. But trust me, we’ll get more.”

  “You better.”

  She got up and slipped into the bra and panties that lay on the floor where Ned had left them last night. She threw the tank top over her head and pulled up her jeans. She stopped.

  “Ned? You’re standing in your shorts. Aren’t you going to get dressed too?”

  It jolted him back to the reality of what their morning would be like. “Yup, so sorry. I was overcome with your beauty.”

  Madison helped him crack eggs. Ned put spinach and cheese into the mixture, cooked toast, and made more coffee. They heard a knock at the front door.

  Noonan came barging in. The front side of his shirt was covered in blood, and on his knees were two dark red stains. His eyes were wild. Ned looked outside and saw the tarp still in the back of his pickup truck and then closed the door. Madison brought him a towel.

  “Is this you?” she asked as she pulled off his shirt, examining his chest and back.

  “No. My buddy, Gary. I found him at home this morning. His throat had been cut. Like a dumbass, I thought I could help him. But he was already dead several hours.”

  “Did you call the police?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Shit, Noonan, you should have done that right away. Got your phone?”

  Noonan pulled it out of his pocket and held it above his head. “Wait a minute. Hear me out first.”

  Madison pulled on Noonan’s jeans, causing his cell phone to fall to the floor, which Ned grabbed and returned to him. “I’m washing these too.” She started to take them away. “Ned, do you have a washer?”

  “It’s in the garage.”


  Noonan was standing in a navy blue pair of mid-thigh free rangers. He crossed his arms as if giving his tits privacy and looked ridiculous.

  Madison returned from the garage. Noonan handed her the bloody towel. “Better put this in there too.”

  “Come on. Let’s get you cleaned up before I have you sitting down on anything.”

  As he passed by the door to the beach, he spotted the dog. “You got a dog?” he asked.

  “No, the dog got me. Now get in here, Noonan.” He dragged the man into the bathroom and turned on the shower. He shoved lemon shower gel into his belly. “Strip and wash.”

  The pirate took off his undies and tossed them behind Ned.

  “There’s a towel on the toilet seat for you.”

  Madison took the underwear with her nose upturned, holding it by her thumb and forefinger. When she came back, she poured the egg mixture into the frying pan and started to make the scramble. Then she buttered the now-cold toast.

  “Did he say anything?” she asked as Ned made orange juice.

  “Not yet. I’m going to strangle that little shit Travis if he’s involved in this.”

  Noonan waddled out with the towel around his waist and collapsed into the couch. He looked in shock.

  Ned handed him a glass of orange juice.

  “Better start spilling or I’m calling the cops myself.”

  “Gary, that’s my buddy, and I had a conversation last night. When I told him what I’d found, he told me to hang onto it and not to talk to anyone. He said he had some feelers out to a couple crews, you know, people he could trust. They were interested and wanted to see pictures. So he planned to go down to the survey office this morning and poke around. We were to meet at T.J.’s about five last night so I could show him the statue and the pictures. He never showed. I called him a dozen times.”

  Noonan laced his fingers through his hair and leaned over his towel-clad knees.

  “You should have called me, Noonan.”

  “Well, Gary does get smashed now and then. I just thought he holed up somewhere. But when I couldn’t get him this morning, I started to worry.”

  “Drink some juice, Noonan. You want coffee?”

  “No. No coffee. My nerves are shot already. Look at this.” He held his hand up, and Ned could see how badly he shook.

  “Take the juice. So where was he? How did you find him?”

  “He has a little place over on West Eighth, has a girlfriend there. He’s been staying with her sometimes and now is watching her fish while she’s on a cruise.” Noonan rolled his eyes and drank down his orange juice.

  “I found him just inside the front door, which had been kicked open. They ransacked the house too, pulled everything out of the shelves, drawers in the bedroom, kitchen.”

  “Was he tortured?” Ned asked calmly.

  “What?”

  “Cigarette burns on his chest, cuts? Little finger clipped?”

  Madison reacted, putting her hands over her ears.

  Noonan was thinking, turning his head from side to side, trying to recall.

  “Come on, Noonan. It’s important.”

  “His mouth. He had blood coming from his mouth. Oh, and I remember now, they’d knocked one of his teeth out and it was lying beside his head.”

  “No, they pulled it out, Noonan. That’s what they do.”

  “Shit.”

  Ned knew that all of them were now known to whoever wanted to get Noonan’s buddy. “Did you go back to your place?”

  “No. Last night I went to my sister’s in Sarasota. I got spooked when he didn’t show up.”

  “Did Travis know about this guy?”

  “Sure. We had dinner together a couple of times. Travis loves the stories.”

  “Then don’t go back to your place. Do you think they know where I’m staying?”

  “You don’t think—”

  “Shut up, Noonan. They were looking for information. What did you tell Gary? I need to know everything.”

  Madison brought him a plate of eggs. Ned waived his off. Noonan ate nervously.

  Before Noonan began, Ned had another idea. “Give me your keys.”

  “Oh fuck, I left them in my pants.”

  “Not to worry,” said Madison, who went to the garage and retrieved them.

  “I’m parking your truck in my garage so no one can see it. Hard to mistake that turquoise truck with a pirate painted on the door.”

  “They’d go to the boat. Oh God! You don’t think they’d mess with my boat?”

  As he left the house, he called back. “At this point, we’re trying to protect your life. You can always get another boat.”

  He opened the garage door then pulled Noonan’s truck inside. He poked his head out onto the alleyway, didn’t see anyone watching, and hit the remote. Judging from the angle to Gulf Boulevard, he doubted anyone would have seen it passing by there, either.

  He dropped the keys on the counter.

  “Now, you tell me what information you gave Gary, because whatever he knows, they know too.”

  “I told him we found the lady. I figured it would do no harm. I asked him not to tell the crews about it, because the statue was distinctive. I told him I had pictures I could show whomever. He wanted to see them, so he could verify that he had. They’d ask him this.”

  “Does he know we were diving at the barge?”

  “Yes, of course. I told him that’s how we discovered it.”

  “Then they know where to look.”

  “So no one has checked the survey office, then?” asked Madison.

  “I don’t think Gary ever made it. He’d been dead awhile.”

  “They’d look for Noonan at the Salty Dog,” gasped Madison. “Should I call in?”

  “Not yet.” Ned hated to do it, but he had to be honest with Noonan. “I think we have to face the fact that we’re outmatched. We have proof of the find. We might be able to confirm we were out there. But the biggest problem is someone’s trying to get information, and maybe they have it now if they checked the tax office. They’d see you got a permit, right?”

  “Yes, they would.”

  “We have to involve the police. For your safety.”

  “But, Ned, that means we have to give up the find.”

  “I hope not. But, Noonan, they’re going to kill you if they don’t get what they want. I’m sure they know about you from Travis. That means they know about me and Madison. I can’t fight all that by myself.”

  “Should I call Travis?” asked Madison.

  Ned didn’t want to tell them, but it was best. “I don’t think Travis cares any longer. I’m pretty sure no one will find him now.”

  Chapter 20

  Madison wondered about her mother and whether or not she was safe. Ned was going to take Noonan down to the Treasure Island Police Department, now that his clothes were clean and dry. They moved the wrapped statue to Ned’s garage until they could sort everything out.

  She’d met several of the local police and fire regulars at the Salty Dog over the years, and they were a decent bunch of guys. She told Ned. But one thing still bothered her.

  “Ned, I need to check in with Monty. He’s called like three times this morning. I think he expects me to come in.”

  “I’d prefer you didn’t.”

  Noonan piped up. “Ned, I think she’d be a helluva lot safer there than at her place alone. Just until we get finished.”

  “I could come with you, but what would be the point? At the Dog, at least I’m doing something. There would be lots of eyes on me.”

  She could tell he was reluctant, but in the end, he agreed.

  “You have an extra tee shirt I could borrow?” she asked.

  “Of course I do.”

  She pulled off her tank top and donned his SEAL Team 3 grey shirt with the navy blue and gold Team logo. He touched the mermaid pendant.

  “You wear that thing inside. Don’t show it to anyone, understood?”

  “I got it.”
r />   “Hey, Ned, did you take the rocks, the ones you said pinged for possible silver?”

  “They’re in my dive pack.”

  “Let’s bring them. We can show those, I just don’t want to say anything about the lady of the ocean.”

  “I should call Mom and give her a heads-up.”

  “She’d kick your butt if she found out later you didn’t,” barked Noonan. “Your funeral.”

  Ned laughed. “Now I know where you get all that fire, Madison.”

  “Got that right,” said Noonan.

  He smiled again, his hands placed at her shoulders. “Get straight to work, honey. We’ll follow you down as far as the police station, but you go straight to work. You can call her there, okay?”

  “Okay. Let me know how it goes.”

  “Will do.”

  She followed Noonan’s truck down Gulf Boulevard. Occasionally she let another car slip in between them, but no one appeared especially interested in the two men in the turquoise vehicle.

  When they pulled into the parking lot of the City complex, she remained heading North and in less than ten minutes was at the Salty Dog.

  Stepping through the doorway, she felt like she was coming back home after a long vacation, instead of only three days away. But so much had changed. Behind the bar, she found the beer had been left unstocked. Dirty dishes were piled in the sink so she set them aside and hand-washed nearly two dozen glasses, leaving them to air dry on a towel on the counter. She had never seen it left in such a disorganized and dirty condition before.

  Iris arrived an hour late, frosty as ever. “Well, look at what the cat dragged in. Old Garrison was heart-sick, missing you. He’ll be glad you’re back.”

  “It’s nice to be missed,” she said with a cool stare to Iris’ back.

  Without offering explanation or helping to clean up, Iris greeted the next couple who came in and took her first order.

  Cook Jones exited his kingdom, presenting Madison with his specialty—jambalaya, which he knew to be her favorite. “Don’t go kissing anybody for a few hours, or their lips will swell up and look like mine!” He grinned, proud of his concoction.

  “Oh, bless your soul, Washington Jones. Just what I needed!”

  The warm soup was just the right kind of spicy, and after a few sips Madison went back to her cleaning. She wiped down the counters and all the tables, which had also been ignored.