by Sandra Cox
Angel’s stomach rumbles. It reminds me it’s been awhile since that early morning latte. “Didn’t the coffee shop also have sandwiches?”
Molita nods.
“How about some lunch then?”
We troop back to the coffee shop and order sandwiches and another round of lattes. I point at the booth we were in this morning. “It’s empty.” We slide in.
I take a huge bite of egg salad—since Clara has come into our lives, I’m afraid it will upset my daughter if I order turkey or chicken—followed by a gulp of vanilla latte.
The imitation leather sighs as I settle in. I’m beginning to feel at home here. If it wasn’t for this little matter of the dolph-woman I love marrying someone else I could almost be content. But contentment is something that can never be too long in my vocabulary as long as Craven and Stranger are out there and now Jon-Jo. We’re collecting enemies like eels collect shrimp. I glance at Molita’s bracelet and my lips tug upwards. It reminds me of our miraculous find.
Molita takes a delicate sip of her caramel latte and smiles back. “So, you now have a full-fledged business partner. And a restaurant interested in buying all the oysters you can bring them.”
I raise my glass to her. “Thanks to you.”
“You’re a good addition to the islands.”
“I like it here. But we can’t stay in one place too long. I’m surprised our enemies haven’t already tracked us down. The man who’s after us has limitless resources and will stop at nothing.” I think about the doctor who was killed. “I don’t want to endanger you or your aunt.”
“I wish you had more confidence in my abilities.” She reaches over and takes my hand just as the doorbell tinkles. Tyler and Piper stroll in. Piper is laughing about something he said. My heart clutches. She glances over and sees us. Her gaze strays to our clasped hands.
Chapter 22
Piper
My stomach gives a nasty lurch and green spots dance in front of my eyes. My world begins to spin. I’m having an out-of-body experience.
“Piper.”
“Hmm?”
“You want a mocha latte?”
I beat back the jealousy, take a deep breath, and force a smile. “Yes, please.”
Angel motions us over.
Tyler must have also noticed the linked hands, which have drawn apart. “Does it bother you?” There’s a tension about him he tries hard to hide, but even though his voice is light, there’s a slight frown line between his eyes and tic at the side of his mouth.
“Of course not. Why should it?” Liar. Liar.
“Oh, maybe the way your eyes dart away whenever you look at them, the way your jaw locks and your fists clench.” He raises my hands, rubs the knuckles till my hands relax then kisses first one hand then the other. “Are you sure about this, Piper?”
“I am.”
He looks at me a moment longer but all he says is, “Good. I like Joel. He just brings out all my insecurities, which I never knew I had until I met you.”
“You have nothing to be insecure about.”
“Good to know. Shall we order and join them?”
I’d rather walk through broken glass. “Sure.”
We get our drinks and make for their booth. I scoot in with Molita and Tyler pulls up a chair and sets at the end of the table. Sunlight, through the window, winks on the strands of Molita’s bracelet. “How pretty.” I touch the pearl.
“Thank you.” She smiles at Joel and Angel. My stomach starts rolling again. Really? He bought her jewelry? Pressure builds between my eyes. I press two fingers against it and rub. Why can’t I be happy for them?
Joel is watching me closely. No doubt wondering what my thoughts are.
Molita says brightly, “Joel has become an entrepreneur and has a business partner.”
I look at her, bewildered. “Do tell.”
She explains, pride in her voice.
“That’s great. Can I help?” The words slip out before I can stop them. Swimming with Joel is more dangerous than swimming with sharks.
He gives me his warm, intimate smile. The one that makes the universe fall away and there’s only he and I. “Of course.”
Tyler clears his throat. “I know I don’t have the lung capacity of you two, but if I could rent some scuba gear, I’d love to help.”
“The more the merrier,” Joel says.
The words sound forced.
“You should have seen the black pearl, Momma,” Angel enthuses. “It’s the most beautiful pearl I’ve ever seen.”
“Congratulations again, Joel, that was quite a find.”
He shrugs his shoulders. “Luck.”
“I don’t think so.” Our gazes collide. I look away first.
“Should you open an account?” Molita asks.
“Too traceable.”
“If you trust me, you could put it in my name. We could put it under M. Moon and have both signatures on the card. No one would connect you that way.”
Joel rubs his chin, his expression thoughtful. “That might work.”
I want to protest, but what can I say? It’s a good idea. I can’t believe I’m so jealous of this kind, protective young woman.
Tyler adds his two cents. “That’s a great idea. We really appreciate how you’ve taken us under your wing.”
My spirits drop further.
Angel glances at me then turns to Molita. “Thank you. We all appreciate it. Did you know my momma rescues sea life?”
Conversation stops as we all stare at her. Oh great, now my own daughter has to save me from my insecurities. How humiliating. I bury that thought and hope she didn’t read it or hear it or whatever Angel does to pick up on what’s in our psyches.
Molita turns toward me. “Good for you. Tell me about it.”
Discomfort has me squirming. “We all do what we can for any sea creatures in distress. Usually it’s those caught in nets or too close to the shallows.”
Joel turns a warm gaze my way. “Piper’s been rescuing for years. The rest of us are a little new at it.”
“I think that’s my cue to go into the water.” I scoot off the bench and rise.
“I’ll go with you, Momma.”
“Okay, baby.” She slides out of the booth and grasps my hand.
Tyler rises. “Me too.”
He smiles at me and I can’t help smiling back. Tyler has that effect. “Okay, let’s go to the beach. See you guys.”
Molita nods. Joel lifts his hand from the table. Angel rushes over and kisses him then comes with us. She loves him so much.
“I love you too, Momma.”
“I know, baby.” I give her hand a squeeze and we leave the cafe. The cobblestones radiate heat through my sandals, making my legs tingle while the sun warms my shoulders and face. The ocean beckons. Somehow everything will be all right. As we get closer to the beach, Angel calls out, “Race you.”
We all make a mad scramble for the low foaming waves lapping against the beach. Just before we hit the water, Tyler pulls me to him and kisses me. My senses stir. It’s like bubbly wine flowing through my bloodstream. I remember my feelings and response to him, pre-Joel. Maybe, just maybe, things will be okay after all. I enjoy the moment. When he loosens his grip on me, I jump laughing into the water.
Chapter 23
Piper
A week passes. I spend every second I can in the ocean. It grounds me and helps me deal with the insanity that is my life right now. Except when he dives for pearls or oysters, Joel swims at night. Giving me—or himself—space. I know he swims at night because I steal out and watch him from the back gate that leads to the beach. Silver flashes appear in the moonlight from the dolphins waiting for him. My blood sings in response to the dolphins and water, and of course Joel. They pull at me. It takes all my strength to keep from following him.
Tyler dunks me, breaking my reverie. “Race you,” he yells, shaking water from his face.
“How much of a lead do you want?”
“What, you think I can’t beat you?”
“I know you can’t.”
“In that case, I’ll take a couple of yards.” He laughs and takes off.
Dark thoughts and yearnings are forgotten as I plunge after him. Dolphins circle, jumping in and out of the water enjoying the play. Gleams of color bobbing on the surface catch my eye. I swim closer and grab at one of the blue ball-like shapes floating by.
There’re three of them several feet apart. My pulse quickens as I study the smooth, cool object in my hand. It has a resin casing that fits in the palm of my hand. I turn it over and stare into a camera lens and hear a faint whirring. My blood ices. I drop it and jerk back like my hand’s on fire.
“I win.” A distance away, Tyler is pumping his fist in the air. I turn my attention back to the camera, watching it bob in the waves, drifting farther away. The other two are already out of sight.
Tyler cups his hands around his mouth. “Piper.”
When I don’t respond, he swims back to me.
“What’s wrong?”
I point at the camera.
“What’s that?” He starts to swim after it, but I grab his arm, holding him back.
“Piper, what is it.” His countenance wary, he cuts his eyes toward the ball floating in the water.
“A camera.”
He doesn’t pretend not to understand. The hand he places on my shoulder is cold. “It doesn’t mean it’s them.”
“No it doesn’t.” I’m speaking in a tunnel. My voice comes from a long way off as my fate drifts out to sea.
“Do you think it got a visual of you?”
“Hmm?” The camera bobs farther and farther away.
“Piper.”
“What?” I force my attention to Tyler.
“Do you think it got a picture of you?”
A harsh laugh escapes my stiff throat. “I picked it up and looked at it.” What an idiot.
“You didn’t know. And we could be jumping to conclusions.”
“Could be. We better find Joel.”
Wind lifts the waves and chills me. Goose bumps pucker my skin. Maybe it’s not the weather at all. Maybe I’m just chilled from the inside out. I shake my head in wonder. “Who would’ve thought? How many of those damn things are floating around out there?”
“And what’s their range? If it’s Stranger, the cameras probably measure longitude and latitude.”
My chest is hollow. Even though I was thinking the same thing, I could have done without having it put in words.
“The good thing is, even if it recorded you, you saw it. That gives us an edge.”
I stop swimming and dog paddle, putting my hand on his dear face. “Go home, Tyler. Please. If something were to happen to you on my account, I don’t think I could bear it. You’ve done so much for me already, I’ll never be able to repay you.”
He draws me close and kisses me, a sweet, salty meeting of lips. “I love you, Piper. There’s no place I’d rather be than by your side.” He raises my hand to his mouth then gives a quirky smile. “At least I never have to worry about this relationship getting boring.”
“Tyler…” I try again.
He puts a finger to my lips. “Don’t waste your breath. Now, let’s go find Joel and the others.”
We swim hard for shore. When we reach it, we race to the cottage. “Joel,” I call out, entering the small kitchen. The place feels quiet, bereft of the usual chatter and hum that is found in the normally crowded cottage. Amy rounds the corner, a book in her hand, a finger marking her place.
“Do you know where Joel is?”
The smile of inquiry on her features turns to uncertainty, my tension seeping through to her. “He’s pearl diving. Is something wrong?”
I breath deep, shut down the tension and force myself to calm. “I just need to find him, I’ll explain later. Is Gramps at Mina’s?”
“Of course.” She grins.
“Of course,” I echo. How will it affect him if we leave? Is this just a senior flirtation or more serious? My heart tells me it’s more serious.
“And is Angel with her dad?”
She smiles and nods.
Angel’s like a barnacle where her father’s concerned. No matter how much my daughter loves me, her father was the first parent she saw, the one she imprinted on, the one who got her away from the labs. He’d die to protect her, to protect any of us.
I push out the door and head back to the beach, Tyler at my heels. I stop at the edge of the shore and scan it, sand squishing between my toes, water lapping at my ankles. Where do I begin to look? They could be anywhere. Then I head slap myself, I don’t need to. They can come to me. Angel, I need your father.
“What’s that about?” Tyler looks at me curiously. “Don’t we need to be searching for Joel?”
“Angel’s with him. They’ll come to us.” The words are barely out of my mouth when I hear her.
“Momma.” The call comes from the water. I look at the ocean and the little bobbing head, with Joel swimming like a seal beside her, relieved to have something different to focus on.
Joel quickly reaches the shallows, stands and comes walking toward us. “What’s up?”
“I found a camera, or it found me, while I was out swimming.”
“A camera? What kind of camera?”
“It’s like nothing I’ve seen before.” I describe it. “I’m guessing it videos everything in its path. Of course, I could be mistaken. It could have been someone’s discarded camera that was just thrown away.” I’m grasping at straws and know it.
“Could have been.”
“I could hear it clicking, Joel.”
“Like a bomb?”
“No, it was more like a whirring noise. I’m sure it was recording.”
“Did you see any more?” Joel pushes his wet hair back from his forehead then swipes at the rivulets running down his chest.
“Yes. Two others farther out.”
“Did you bring it with you?”
“No. I got as far away from it as possible.”
“Did it get a picture of you?”
“The lens was facing me.”
My dismay must show on my face because he rubs my arms. “Okay, it’s okay. It’s possible it’s not Stranger. Maybe it’s for government research, but whatever, we’ve got to think worst-case scenario.”
“Agreed. Let’s go talk to the others and decide what we want to do.” Want may not be the word of choice, but it’s close enough.
“Shall I get Molita and Mina?” Angel’s hand is in mine, her head tilted toward me, as we walk back toward the cottage.
“Thanks, baby, but I’ll get them,” Joel responds before I can. He doesn’t want her alone any more than I do.
“Gramps is with them.”
“I’ll bring them all.” He lopes off.
The gate creaks as we walk through it. The scent of roses and lush flowers softens the tang of the sea as we get closer to the cottage. My heart twinges. I’d hate to leave this place. In such a short time, it’s come to feel like home. Or maybe it’s just the people we’ve met that make it so special.
The screen door bangs as we enter. Amy joins us in the kitchen, reaches out, and hugs Angel. “I assume you found Joel.”
I nod.
“Can you tell me what’s wrong?”
“Joel went to get the others. It’s probably better to tell everyone at one time.”
“Okay.”
She fills glasses with a pineapple and orange fruit drink she made this morning, offers them to us and pours some more. Her hands are trembling.
The door bangs again and the rest of the party gathers in.
“Thanks, hon.” Gramps grabs a glass and settles at the table. The others follow suit. “Now why don’t you tell us what’s going on?”
Joel is leaning against the counter. He straightens. “Piper found
a floating camera in the water. Three of them, to be exact. She thinks they were probably recording everything in their range.”
Mr. Dunn carefully sets his glass down as if afraid it might break. “Do you think it caught you on camera?”
I have to force out the words stuck in my throat. “Yes, Gramps. I do.”
“Who do you think the cameras belong too?” Molita asks.
“People who are after us,” Joel responds. “So the question is, do we stay or go?” He shoots a quick rueful look at Molita and Mina. “It would probably be in your best interest if we were to leave.”
Molita rises. “No matter who is after you, the little one bears the spirit of my manman. This is her home. You are her family. That makes you welcome here.”
“You need to know what you’re up against before you make that decision.” Joel looks at me, a question in his eyes.
I nod.
He takes a deep breath and straightens his shoulders. “We’re dolphs, lab rats. We have human and dolphin DNA. Each of us has unique abilities. And Angel”—he reaches over and tweaks a curl—“is the most powerful of us all. Besides having an IQ that’s off the charts, she’s a telepath, and can communicate with any creature.” He hastens to add, “She was created in the labs, but she is Piper’s and my biological daughter.”
“I realized they were exceptional when I saw them chuff.” Molita smiles.
“Yes, well there are two men after us. The man who created us is a mad scientist, the emphasis here being on the word mad. He has picked up a cohort, a man who hates mutants. Stranger—the scientist—is powerful and has plenty of money at his disposal. He creates mutants and sells them. We’re big ticket items. Piper and I are obsolete in his mind now that Angel’s been created. He’ll stop at nothing to get her back. The doctor who removed my tracker”—I lift up my arm where a thin pink scar is the only reminder of the thing—“was murdered. We believe Stranger and Craven were behind it. So you see, you really need to give some thought to this before you continue to open your home to us.”
Mina responds. “We’ve known you were unique since the beginning.” She smiles. “This changes nothing.”