“Because ... it could be my last one and you know it’s my favorite.”
His smile evaporated. “I need you to stop saying things like that for a bit,” he ordered once he’d collected himself. “I’m not trying to be bossy or controlling but ... I can’t hear that.”
Rowan immediately felt guilty. “I didn’t mean ... .”
He held up his hand to silence her. “I know. You don’t mean to upset me when you say these things. You do, though.” He stepped closer to her so only she could hear what he would say next. “I will never let anything bad happen to you,” he promised. “I’m going to keep you safe. Don’t be afraid that you’re going to die. Don’t live in fear. We are going to get the forever we both want.”
Rowan felt like an idiot for saying what she did. She knew better than pushing him. He was holding it together remarkably well despite the circumstances. Pushing him past his breaking point was only going to make both of them feel worse. “I’m sorry.” She meant it. “I’ll do better.”
“Thank you.” His grateful smile was small but heartfelt. “Now, I want some steak and potatoes. I’m assuming you’re loading up on seafood.”
“You assume right.”
“I’ll meet you at our usual table in five minutes.” He hesitated, not wanting to ruin the mood, and then barreled forward. “Please don’t wander too far away. That includes to the dessert table. We’ll tackle that together once we’re done with dinner.”
Rowan didn’t have to ask why. He was struggling. His instinct was to lock her in the room they shared and not let her out until he’d wiped out every member of the Phoenix Society. He knew she wouldn’t gracefully accept being held captive so he was forcing himself to compromise so both of them could survive the next few days. It wasn’t exactly easy.
“I can wait for the cheesecake,” she promised, snickering as something occurred to her. “Although ... they have a lot of different syrups. Do you think Sally would give us to-go containers of them so we can take the cheesecake back to the room? I bet we could find something to do with the leftover syrup.”
He slid his arm around her waist and buried his face in her hair. “That is the best idea I’ve ever heard. I guarantee Sally will make it happen. We can take piles of cheesecake back, get naked, and watch old reruns while enjoying dessert and each other. That is exactly what I want to do with my night.”
“Me, too.”
He planted his lips firmly on hers before pulling back. “Grab as much food as you can carry. You’re going to need your strength. I have plans for you tonight.”
“Aye, aye, Captain.”
PLANS FOR A ROMANTIC DINNER WENT out the window when Nick and Paul joined their little group. Quinn took the time to search for Fred and found the man sitting with a table full of women — all of them being rowdy and squealing at the stories he told — and shook his head as he grabbed a scallop from Rowan’s plate. Per usual, his girlfriend had grabbed enough seafood to feed ten people. He was simply glad she’d gotten her appetite back.
“Do you think we should pull Fred away from his group?” Paul asked worriedly. “I think he might be getting distracted.”
Quinn almost laughed, but managed to control the impulse. “Fred clearly has plans for the rest of the evening. They don’t include us.”
“But ... he’s supposed to be watching Rowan. We need his help.”
“Generally, I would agree with that.” Quinn wiped the corners of his mouth with his napkin and then dumped it on his plate. Even though he’d been a barrel of nerves for the better part of the day, his appetite never wavered. He took that as a good sign. “This evening, however, Rowan and I will be returning to her room as soon as we’re finished here. We’re not even eating dessert in the dining room. We’re getting Sally to put together a care package and taking it back with us.”
Nick arched an eyebrow. “That’s how you’re going to handle this? You’re going to hide her away? How is that different from the running Paul wanted to do with her earlier?”
Quinn scowled. “I am most definitely not hiding her away. I have no intention of shutting her away from the world. That being said, I’m a little more leery of wandering around the deck after dark. The cameras don’t always work as well as we would like and there are fewer people out there. She’s more exposed.”
“You think she’s safer in her room,” Nick mused.
“I know she’s safer in her room,” Quinn countered. “There’s no doubt in my mind that this is what’s best. I had the scanners upgraded outside her part of the employee corridor this afternoon. All the keycards have cameras now. If there’s any question, even a small one, the scanners will deny entry and alert my men. No one is getting near her room if they don’t belong there.”
Paul let loose a choked snicker and then shook his head. “I should’ve known you would cover all the angles. And here I was feeling nervous because I thought Rowan might be in more danger if she retreated to her sanctuary. You won’t let that happen to her. I don’t know why I thought you would.”
“I definitely won’t let that happen to her,” Quinn agreed. “I’ll also be with her. No one is getting near her tonight. After dinner, we’re spending the rest of the night in the room. Then, tomorrow is a new day. We’ll tackle each day as it comes.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Nick offered. “In fact ... .” He trailed off, his eyes sharpening as they landed on a spot over Quinn’s shoulder.
When the security chief turned to see what had caught the man’s attention, his stomach gave a small heave. It was Spencer ... and he was heading in their direction. “Why can’t he just leave us alone?” he groused, his temper flaring. “It’s as if he’s purposely trying to bait me into killing him.”
Rowan quickly shifted her eyes to Quinn, surprise lighting the sea-blue depths. “You wouldn’t do that, would you?”
“Kill him?” Quinn bobbed his head without hesitation. “There’s nothing I won’t do to protect you. Absolutely nothing. We’re not there yet, though.” He flicked his eyes to Paul and Nick quickly. “Be prepared for him to try and schmooze you. He’s trying to ingratiate himself to all of us.”
“We’ve got it,” Nick reassured him. “If you feel the need to flee with Rowan at some point, don’t feel guilty. We’ll handle Mr. Spencer.”
“We definitely will,” Paul agreed.
Spencer was all smiles when he approached the group. “There you all are.” He beamed a friendly smile at all of them in turn, although there was something fake about the greeting. Nothing he did felt sincere. Of course, Quinn rationalized that could easily be because he was already suspicious of him. It was something to think about later.
“Here we are,” Quinn agreed, keeping his expression neutral. There was nothing overtly friendly about his demeanor. There was nothing dismissive about it either. “Not for long, though. Once Rowan is finished with dinner, we’re calling it a night and heading back to our quarters to relax.”
Disappointment caused Spencer’s lips to curve down. “Oh, really? It’s so early. I was hoping we would get to talk as a group.”
“Why would we talk as a group?” Quinn queried. “I didn’t realize you were familiar with Mr. Green.” He wanted to put Spencer on the spot, see what he would say. It was a test.
“I’ve yet to have the honor of meeting Mr. Green,” Spencer offered hurriedly. “I’m a big fan, though. As a diving enthusiast, I followed the find on El Demonio with great interest. My understanding is that you’ve already removed a bit of treasure from the wreck.”
“It’s always hard to know what you have,” Nick countered. “The ship has been at the bottom of the ocean for a very long time. It’s painstaking work to recover what’s down there because most of the woodwork gives way if you touch it. It’s nice to meet another fellow diving enthusiast, though.”
Quinn was impressed. Nick was smooth as butter when it came to conversing with the man who most likely meant harm to Rowan. Nick was smart above all else. H
e knew they couldn’t tip off Spencer, so he was calm and professional from start to finish.
“I would love to be part of the dive team you have going this go-around,” Spencer enthused. “I know that’s probably against the rules, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t at least ask.”
Nick’s expression remained flat. “That’s really not possible. You have to be certified to dive.”
“I’m certified.”
“You have to be a divemaster,” Nick pressed. “The area we’re working in has shifting currents. Our people work in teams and can be under for no more than two hours at a time.”
“I’m a divemaster.”
Quinn’s eyebrows drew together. “You’re a divemaster? The training for that is quite extensive.”
For the first time since they’d met, Spencer showed a hint of annoyance. “Are you saying you don’t think I can pass the training?”
“That’s not what I said,” Quinn countered. “It’s just ... you run a big company. I wouldn’t think you have time for recreational diving.”
Irritation, faint as a whisper, cascaded over Spencer’s face. It built like a waterfall into a severe storm. “Everybody needs a hobby. Diving is mine. I make an excursion once a week in the waters surrounding Florida. Four times a year, I travel to other locations for difficult dives. Last year I was part of the group that found that former slave ship in Australia.”
Nick didn’t bother to hide his interest. “Really? That’s an important find.” He shifted on his chair. “I would need proof that you’re a divemaster before I could even consider letting you come with us. I apologize but ... my insurance provider was very clear.”
Spencer brightened considerably. “No. I get it. You can’t control that.” He dug in his pocket and came back with his wallet. “Here.”
Quinn watched as he flipped through until he found the item he was looking for. He raised the wallet and flashed it in Nick’s direction so the older man could easily see the card. “It’s good for another two years before I have to re-certify.”
“It certainly looks good,” Nick offered. “I think we can at least talk about including you. I can’t make any promises until I double check with the home office, though. I have to check every angle.”
Spencer waved off the statement and returned his wallet to his pocket. “I know about bureaucracy. It’s stupid. I’m sure you’ll figure it out, though.” He gestured toward the empty chair on the other side of Quinn. “Do you care if I join you?”
Nick remained polite, never hesitating. “Of course not. I would have it no other way.”
13
Thirteen
“There was another name on his divemaster certification,” Quinn announced when he and Rowan escaped the dining room.
She was taken aback. “What do you mean?”
“I mean the name listed on his certification was Alexander Fletcher, not Leon Spencer.”
Rowan had learned a lot about his investigative process since they hooked up. She wasn’t sure what this development meant, though. “So ... what do we do?”
Quinn handed her the box containing their cheesecake goodness when they reached the corridor that led to the employee quarters and retrieved his keycard. “It means he’s lying about his name.”
“But ... you researched him. You found a backstory for Leon Spencer.”
“I did. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t fabricated.”
“Oh.” Realization dawned. “You think he did the same thing as Nick and Dad. They managed to pay for new identities that withstand scrutiny. If it was a lazy job, you would’ve already figured that out.”
He bobbed his head. “Exactly. You’re a smart girl.” He playfully tapped the end of her nose. “We just need to figure out how he did it, why he did it, and who Alexander Fletcher is.”
“Any ideas on how to do that?”
“A few.”
“Does one of them included dragging Fred away from his harem?”
Quinn choked on a laugh. “Actually, I don’t think anything could drag him away this evening. He needs a break anyway. I’m going to start a search. Hopefully, by morning, we’ll have some answers.”
Rowan couldn’t contain her disappointment. “Do you really think it will take that long? I was hoping we could get something to move on tonight.”
Quinn understood the need for instant gratification. “Alexander Fletcher has to be a common name,” he reminded her. “I need to build a list of things to weed out as many of them as we can. That means the computer is going to need to work while we ... do other things.”
Rowan knew exactly what he was referring to when he mentioned “other things” and smiled. “Cheesecake and The Golden Girls?”
He chuckled, delighted. “No horror movies tonight?”
“No. Not tonight.”
He understood. “The Golden Girls it is. I’ll set up the search and then we’ll dig in.”
To Rowan, that sounded heavenly.
IT TOOK HIM A FULL HOUR TO SET up the search to his liking.
“So, what exactly did you ask it to search for?” Rowan queried.
“Men between their fifties and seventies for starters.”
Rowan frowned. “That’s a big age group. Wouldn’t it make more sense to narrow it down to fifties? That’s how old Michael is, right? They pledged a fraternity together.”
“I just want to be sure. The ones within two years of Michael — and don’t ever tell him you pegged his age in his fifties because he’ll be crushed — will receive a higher priority rating in the results.”
It all sounded very complicated to Rowan. “What else?”
“Florida ties. He went to school with Michael. It’s doubtful he picked that specific school if he wasn’t from the state.”
“That makes sense. What else?”
“Money. He has his own business. That wasn’t cheap to set up. The vehicles I found listed for Leon Spencer were of the expensive variety. He had to at least start making money when he was still Alexander Fletcher. Besides, that specific diving certification card is only good for five years. If he got it under the name Alexander Fletcher, that makes me believe he was living under that name at least three years ago. He said he had two years until re-certification.”
“Oh, smart,” Rowan enthused. “Is there anything you can track with the diving itself?”
He beamed at her. “See, you’re thinking like an investigator already. Good girl.” He swooped in and gave her a kiss before gesturing for the cheesecake box. “I’m ready for dessert.”
She jutted out her lower lip. “And here I thought I was going to be your dessert.”
“Oh, trust me, you’re the main event. I still want the chocolate syrup.”
Even though she was convinced she would never have an appetite again given the amount of food she’d put away over dinner, Rowan found she wholeheartedly agreed. “Good idea. Tell me how the diving plays in.”
“That dive in Australia was too specific. He made a mistake letting that slip. I can easily track it and Nick has the contacts to talk to the dive leader. I would be surprised if he didn’t place that call tonight. You saw the look on his face, right? He was excited about the things Spencer let drop.”
“Do you think he noticed the name on the card?”
“I don’t know. I texted him just in case. I think the diving is going to be Spencer’s undoing.”
Rowan could read the excitement on Quinn’s face. He was almost bubbling over. That led her to ask the obvious question. “If it’s so easy to track him through the diving activities, why would he tell us about them? Why slip up like that? Maybe it’s a trap of some sort.”
“I’m not ruling that out,” Quinn conceded. “He was ridiculously chatty. I still think it was simply a mistake on his part. He’s enthusiastic about the diving. He couldn’t stop himself from bragging. It’s the same way you get when someone mentions crab legs.”
Rowa
n snorted. “I like to think I’m a bit more restrained than that.”
“You’re cute. You’re not restrained, though. You forget where you are, get a dreamy look on your face, and completely forget your manners. Luckily, I find it cute when you’re stuffing your face. Others might not be as enamored as me.
“Spencer obviously forgot his audience,” he continued. “He’s here for a specific purpose. News of the El Demonio team being on the ship is too much for him to ignore, though. He thinks he’s smarter than us. He thinks he can maintain control over us. He has no idea how wrong he is.”
Rowan grinned at the gleam in Quinn’s eyes. “You’re feeling better. I’m glad. I don’t want you dwelling on this too much.”
His smile slipped. “I’m not going to let it happen.”
“I kind of can’t stop myself from dwelling on it.” She was sheepish. “I mean ... it’s almost as if I can hear a clock ticking in the back of my head. I’m afraid.” Her voice quavered at the admission.
“I know you are.” He took the cheesecake box from her and rested it on top of the comforter before slipping his arm around her waist and pulling her tight. “I’m afraid, too.”
“You are? You don’t seem afraid.”
“You don’t think I’m afraid that I won’t be fast enough, or smart enough, to head off whatever this is? Well, you’re wrong. Do you know what I keep reminding myself, though?”
“What?” She was genuinely curious. “Maybe, if you tell me, it will help.”
That’s exactly what he hoped would happen. “I keep thinking about all the other danger you’ve been in. How many times do you think an omen would’ve shown up on your photos in those situations?”
Rowan worked her jaw. She’d never really thought about it. “A few.”
“A few?” He cocked a dubious eyebrow. “You’ve found trouble so many times I’ve lost count. We’re talking big trouble, too. We’re talking knives ... and guns ... and megalomaniacs ... and psychopaths ... and sociopaths. You’ve overcome all those things.”
“And we did it without the warning,” Rowan mused, understanding dawning. “We made it out of all those situations and we didn’t know to be careful. This time we know to be careful.”
Raging Seas (A Rowan Gray Mystery Book 9) Page 12