by Connie Mann
She should have expected the question, but it caught her off guard. “I’ll be here for a little while at least, helping Pop. I, ah, haven’t made any long-term decisions yet.”
“You never make long-term decisions if you can avoid them. You ever going to tell me why?”
Sasha looked away and tried not to squirm. How could he still know her so well after all these years? She looked around the room again and stopped. Wait. She knew those men at the back table. They helped search for Tony.
She slid from the booth with a murmured “I’ll be right back” and headed in their direction. She walked up to their booth and slid in beside the youngest of the three men. “Hi, guys. How’s it going?”
The younger man slid closer, a cocky grin on his face. “Well hello, beautiful. What brings you to our table?”
“Knock it off, Romeo. That’s Sal’s daughter,” the older man across the table said. “Sasha, right?”
“Hello, Captain Harvey. I thought that was you. I haven’t seen you out at the marina. You still taking dive trips out to the wreck?”
He shrugged. “Not as often as I used to, what with the economy and all.”
The heavyset man beside him added, “These days the tourists want snorkeling, not dive trips. It’s cheaper. But on that wreck . . .” He shrugged.
Sasha nodded. “Too deep to see much from the surface.”
“Right. And then they complain about the trip,” the young man they’d called Romeo added.
“I’m sorry to hear that, guys. That’s tough.”
“Thanks, Sasha. How’s your mother?” Harvey asked. “We heard she’s fighting the Big C.”
“She is and holding her own. Thanks for asking.”
Romeo leaned closer. “So what brings you to our table? Especially since the guy at yours does not look happy.”
Sasha looked over her shoulder to see Jesse frowning at them. She turned back to the men and smiled.
“He’ll get over it. I have a question for you, Harvey. You remember when Sal and Rosa’s boy, Tony, disappeared years ago?”
Harvey’s eyes widened and he exchanged a nervous glance with the heavyset man sitting next to him. “Sure. Terrible, terrible thing. Your folks were inconsolable. Why are you asking about that now after all these years?”
“Wait. What happened?” Romeo wanted to know.
“My parents’ biological son disappeared from their house when he was three.” She turned her attention back to Harvey. “The police report says you were one of the divers who tried to help find him. Can you tell me anything about that day?”
Harvey scrubbed a hand over his chin. “It was a long time ago, and there wasn’t much to tell, then or now.” He hitched his thumb at the man beside him. “Frank helped search the water, too.”
Frank shot Harvey a scowl before he turned to Sasha. “I brought my airboat. We were out there at first light for days, checking around docks, marshy areas, little lagoons, checking the tides.” He stopped and shook his head.
Harvey picked up the tale. “There were three divers, and we did the same thing, thinking maybe he got trapped underwater somehow. We never found anything. Not one piece of clothing, a shoe, nothing. We all figured he fell in and got swept out to sea.”
Frank nodded. “They had teams of volunteers from town, too. I think everyone in Safe Harbor joined the search. They never found anything, either. It was a very sad time.”
Harvey studied her under beetle brows. “Why now, Sasha, after all this time?”
Sasha met their eyes and shrugged. “Mama asked me to look into it again, see if we could find answers.”
The two oldest men exchanged another look. “I don’t think there are any answers, but I hope your Mama beats this thing,” Harvey added.
“She’s doing her very best.” Sasha started to leave, then changed her mind. She slipped the photo out of the pocket of her dress and set it on the table. “This was taken not long before Tony disappeared. Can you all help me identify these folks?”
Harvey’s eyes widened, but he picked up the picture. “Well, now. Looks like the usual church crowd. Most of the captains, the preacher, your folks, Chief Monroe, Clarabelle. All locals.” He passed it to Frank.
“You looking for strangers, Sasha? None here.” He tapped the photo and handed it back. “Sorry.”
She waited, but nobody said anything else. She slid out of the booth. “Thanks for telling me what you know.”
“You ever want to go out for a ride—” Romeo started. “Ow. What?”
Frank answered him with a look. “You give our best to your mama and Sal, you hear? Let her know we’ll say a prayer for her.”
“Thanks.” Sasha pushed back unwanted images of a little boy tangled underwater in sea grass as she headed back to their table.
“Why, Sasha Petrov, as I live and breathe. Is that you?”
Sasha’s head snapped up just in time to keep her from crashing headlong into Mayor Dunbar. He steadied her and grinned, his dentures as blinding white as his hair.
“Hello, Mayor. Good to see you again.”
“Mary Lee told me you were back in town.” His grin faded as he leaned closer, and the scent of mothballs assaulted her nose. “My daughter also said you’re stirring up the past. Leave it be, Sasha. Let young Tony rest in peace.”
Sasha reared back, eyes narrowed. “We don’t know if he’s dead.”
The mayor’s bushy eyebrows climbed to his hairline. “Nothing else makes sense but that the poor child was snatched from this world far too soon. All this turmoil must be devastating to your poor mother after all this time.”
“She’s the one who asked me to find answers.”
He looked stunned for a moment, then his face hardened. “Let the past go, Sasha. For everyone’s sake.” He let go of her and pasted another smile on his face. “Have a lovely evening.”
Sasha shook her head as she slid back into the booth. Seemed like everyone in town said the same thing. Why were they all determined to sweep it under the rug?
She indicated the other table with a nod of her head. “The two older captains helped search for Tony.”
Jesse watched her, eyes intent. “They give you any more insight into what happened?”
“Not really. Harvey dove and Frank manned the airboat. They both said they never found one single trace, nothing. It was like he vanished.”
The silence lengthened, and finally Sasha asked, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“That maybe someone took him? Yeah, it crossed my mind. But who would do that?”
Sasha shook her head. “If someone here in Safe Harbor took Tony, where would they hide him? Everyone knows everyone’s children. Someone would have recognized him immediately. If it was a stranger, people would remember seeing someone around who didn’t belong.” She showed him the photo. “This was taken just before Tony disappeared. Do you recognize the people in it?”
Jesse turned it so they could both see it and started naming various captains. He came to one face and stopped. “I remember seeing him, but I can’t place him.”
Betty delivered heaping baskets of fried shrimp and french fries and looked over Jesse’s shoulder. “That sure takes me back.” She pointed to a woman in the second row.
“You haven’t changed a bit,” Jesse teased, and she laughed, her raspy voice like an old saw. “You know this guy?” He pointed to a face in the back.
Betty’s smile died. “Poor Captain Alby. After his wife died, his mind went, and he lives in the assisted living place just outside town.”
“He was around when Tony disappeared?”
“Oh, sure. He and Sal were good friends. He helped with the search, just like everyone else. But these days, he just shuffles around and mumbles to himself. It’s very sad.”
“Thanks, Betty.” After they finished eating, Jesse took care of the bill, then nodded to Sasha. “You ready to go?”
Sasha climbed into the truck, thoughts still on kidnapping. She didn’t realize they�
�d arrived back at the marina until Jesse hurried around to open her door and help her down. “Thanks for dinner. I enjoyed every bite. Sorry I was distracted.”
“No problem. I thought LuAn was going to have the kitchen cut you off if you ordered a third shrimp basket.” He grinned and took her hand as they walked down the dock.
Sasha tried to ignore how right her hand felt in his callused one. “All you can eat should mean what it says.”
“I don’t think they were counting on you.”
“I like food. Sue me.”
He pulled her into his arms in a lightning-fast move that made her squeak in surprise. He leaned in and said, “You smell good. Citrusy. With just a hint of fried shrimp.” His hands ran up her arms to her bare shoulders, and a lovely shiver raced over her skin. “You look beautiful tonight. Have I mentioned that?”
He leaned in and nuzzled her neck, and Sasha sank into the moment, feeling his arms pull her closer, his lips on her cheek. She turned her head and met his gaze. She couldn’t see the color of his eyes, but his expression was unmistakable, even in the waning light. He was going to kiss her. It would feel wonderful, she knew. But what about after? She thought of Pete and his assumptions and stepped away before she gave in.
“You want this,” Jesse said.
Sasha couldn’t lie. “I do, but it’s not a good idea. You said it yourself. I don’t do long term.”
He laughed at her. “Who said anything about long term? It’s a kiss, not a lifetime commitment.”
“You’re an idiot, Money-boy.” She turned and was halfway up the dock when he took her arm and spun her right back into his arms. This kiss wasn’t tentative or questioning. This was a full-on assault on her senses. He gripped the back of her neck to hold her steady and kissed her like he would never get enough.
Sasha put her hands on his shoulders, thinking she’d push him away, but then she stopped fighting and gave as good as she got. Oh, the man could kiss. But it wasn’t just technique; it was Jesse. He poured his whole heart into what his mouth was doing. Every nerve ending in her body came to life and begged for more. She growled low in her throat and he pulled her closer, his hands roaming over her back and down over her hips. He trailed kisses along her throat, kissed her mariner’s cross. His callused fingers skimmed the straps of her sundress, and he planted featherlight kisses as he went.
“Ah, Sasha,” he murmured. The tender, urgent way he said her name smacked her like a rogue wave and brought her back to reality. She couldn’t get involved. Not with Jesse. Never Jesse. He deserved so much more than she could ever give him—or any man.
She deliberately stepped away before her selfishness trapped them both. They faced each other in the fading light, both breathing hard. “I’m sorry. I have to check on Mama.”
Jesse reached out and brushed his thumb over her mouth. “Sweet dreams, hummingbird.”
The longing in his eyes almost made her leap back into his arms, but she turned and walked back to the house without a backward glance. She felt his eyes on her with every step.
The house was quiet, but night-lights glowed from outlets here and there. She tiptoed down the hall, but the door to Mama and Pop’s room was closed. She hoped they were sleeping. No light glowed under the door to Blaze’s small room, but she could hear music, muffled, probably headphones. She went back to the living room, and Bella stood and licked her hand before heading for the door. Sasha let her out and leaned against the porch railing while she waited. She could see the light on in Jesse’s shed and wondered if that kiss had shaken him as much as it had her.
She never bothered much with if onlys. Therein lay madness. But she had learned not to make the same mistakes twice. Reckless, restless, selfish people like her should not get involved. Inevitably, she let people down. The other person wanted you to stay, build a life, settle down. That she couldn’t do. She wasn’t wired for picket fences and PTA meetings and sharing her life. She was wired for the sea, and adventure, and the view from the next horizon. No responsibilities. No obligations.
Hadn’t what happened to her biological parents proven she should be alone? If only she had done what she was supposed to that day—
From somewhere in the darkness, Bella barked and it jolted Sasha back to the present. She stepped off the porch and followed the sound.
“Bella,” she hissed. “Come here, girl. Time to go in.”
She waited, listening, but she couldn’t hear her. “Bella. Come, girl.”
After a few minutes, Bella appeared beside her, soaking wet. Sasha laughed and leaped away just before the dog shook.
“You crazy mutt.” She went to the laundry room and grabbed a rag to wipe her down before they went inside. When they got to the door, Bella looked over her shoulder and barked again. Sasha scanned the area, but didn’t see anything. She opened the door. “Go on in, girl.”
Bella ignored the command, something she almost never did. Instead, she lay down in front of Mama’s rocking chair, head on her paws, watching the darkness beyond the porch.
“Bella?” Sasha crouched down and scratched behind her ears. “What’s wrong, girl? This isn’t like you.” She stood, went to the inside door, and called her again, but Bella simply lifted her head and whined before she settled back down. “OK. Have it your way.” Sasha locked the door and headed upstairs, unsettled. From her bedroom under the eaves, she studied the marina. Light spilled out from under the doorway of Jesse’s workshop, but that wouldn’t upset her dog.
She checked her phone and found several texts from Eve. She responded, Too tired to call tonight. Will update in a.m. What’s up with Cat? Do you know?
She put the phone on the nightstand and started down the steps to go talk to Jesse. Halfway down she stopped, closed her eyes, and sighed. Don’t be an idiot.
She turned and went back upstairs. The house didn’t have internet, so she picked up her fancy new phone and finally figured out how to do an online search. She read all the articles she could find about how Jesse ended up in jail, but none of them really answered her questions. According to the articles, he and his friend Ethan started fixing boat motors after high school. Following a short stint in Afghanistan, they started their own boat repair shop and built it into a high-end boat dealership in Tampa. By all accounts they were doing quite well.
But then, drugs were found on one of their boats, and they were both arrested. Jesse claimed the drugs were his. Before the trial, Ethan committed suicide in jail and left a note saying Jesse had no knowledge of the drug operation. Jesse was ultimately released for lack of evidence, but the government never returned any of his assets. He really had nothing but what his great-aunt Clarabelle left him.
Had he known about the drugs? Was he involved? The Jesse she knew years ago would never have gotten near them, but . . . somehow there was a piece missing. Why had he said the drugs were his?
She finally climbed into bed, but sleep was a long time coming.
Chapter 8
Jesse tightened the last bolt and straightened, putting both hands on his lower back. He felt the grease on his hands and grimaced, glad he’d taken off his only decent shirt before he started working. He reached for a clean shop rag and grinned as he put his tools away.
Just a few more tweaks and the motor would be ready. He planned to test it again tomorrow. Once he was sure the engine ran like a top, he could get serious about practicing for the upcoming race.
He had just stepped out of the shed, ready to lock it behind him, when his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID. Adelaide’s mother wouldn’t call at 1:00 a.m. unless it was important. “Hey, Tracy, what’s wrong?”
“Oh, Jesse. I’m sorry to call so late, but I needed someone to talk to.” She stopped and blew her nose. “Adelaide is back in the hospital. Her blood oxygen levels were horrible and her heart keeps getting weaker. I just can’t-can’t watch my baby fight anymore. I’m afraid she won’t-won’t . . . that she won’t live long enough to have the surgery.”
Jes
se tried to block the images of little nine-month-old Adelaide stuck full of tubes, the way she’d been last week. “She’s a fighter, Tracy, just like her mama. Her daddy was one tough son of a gun, too. I was glad to know he had my back over there with bombs exploding in the desert. Adelaide is going to get through this. She will have that surgery and be running around like a little terror before you know it.”
“Do you really believe that, Jesse?”
“I do. You have to keep the faith, and keep being strong. For Adelaide’s sake.”
“I don’t know how I’m going to keep paying the bills.” Her voice trailed off and Jesse heard her sobs. With any other woman, he might have been suspicious of the tears, but Ethan had told him how much some of these treatments cost, even with insurance.
“You know I’ll do what I can, and I’ll keep doing it. I just need a little time to get some funds together. But I will. Trust me.”
“I do trust you, Jesse. I know Ethan did, too. Thanks for listening.”
As he talked, he walked to the gravel lot and climbed into his truck. “You can call me anytime, day or night. Get some sleep. Your girl will need you to be strong and smiling tomorrow.”
She let out a laugh, a bit shaky, but still a laugh. “Thanks, Jesse. You’re the best. Night.”
Jesse disconnected and heaved out a sigh, then slammed a fist against the steering wheel. He’d promised Ethan he’d take care of his girls, and he’d meant it.
He had to win that race.
Sasha gave up trying to sleep and padded downstairs, avoiding the creaky steps. Bella silently fell in behind her. The screen door squeaked and Sasha grimaced, hoping she didn’t wake anyone. Head down, she wandered toward the marina office, mind jumping from worry to worry, but she always came back to Jesse. How did everything she’d learned about him affect her opinion of him? Or did it? Should it? She had no idea what to do with all the crazy feelings he churned up inside her, especially the ones that made her want to stay right here in Safe Harbor with him. Maybe forever. She snorted as she opened the door to the office and flipped on the light. She held the door for Bella, surprised she wasn’t right behind her.