“No, I was just lost in thought.” He joined her on the dock. “Want to get some dinner? I’m starved.”
“Why don’t you come home with me? Dinner will be on the table by the time we get there.”
“Should we call ahead and warn them?”
“Moxie will fix plenty. She’s the most efficient housekeeper on the island. There’s always too much food.” Her flip-flops twacked against the soles of her feet as she followed him toward the truck.
Wynne stopped and he almost barreled into her. “Sorry.”
“My fault. I think I see Jake’s head in the window of the diner. Maybe we should talk to him now.”
“Yeah.” Simon wasn’t eager to bring someone else in on their project, and he realized it wasn’t only because he didn’t want to share the find, or his building the relationship with Wynne. But they had no choice.
Wynne ducked into the café. Sure enough, Jake was seated by the window. Wynne stopped in the doorway and smiled at her brother. “Skye will have your hide if you’re late for dinner. What are you doing here?”
“She’s getting her hair cut, and I’m killing time.”
“She’s not cutting her hair off, is she?” Wynne asked, her voice full of alarm.
“No, it’s just a trim. Though she’s been talking about hacking if off when the baby comes.”
Simon’s gaze wandered to Wynne’s long braid. He’d hate it if she cut her hair. The realization that he had an opinion about it startled him. A woman’s haircut was generally the last thing he noticed.
The waitress approached. Eagle Island was too small not to know pretty much everyone. Christy was the daughter of one of Simon’s employees. She’d hung around the office all last summer before he became engaged to Amanda. She was pretty in a vaporous sort of way.
“Can I bring you some coffee?” Christy asked.
She batted her long lashes at Simon, and he looked away. No sense in encouraging her.
“We have a project that might interest you,” Wynne said. “Scoot over and I’ll tell you about it.”
“Great.” Jake moved over for Wynne to join him in the booth.
Simon sat across from them. Was Wynne avoiding sitting beside him? He’d noticed she’d been withdrawn a little over the last few days.
“What’s up?” Jake folded his hands in front of him. He glanced at his watch. “Make it snappy. I have to meet my lovely wife in fifteen minutes.”
“This.” Wynne opened her palm and showed him the buckle. She’d been eager to see his reaction. Jake used to eat, sleep and dream Vikings when they were teenagers. He knew more about them than most people.
He picked it up reverently. “Where’d you get this?”
“In Lake Superior.”
“You’re kidding!” His voice was avid. “Viking origin, probably fourteenth century.” He stared at her. “Are there any more?”
“Not yet. That’s where you come in. We need some help to excavate the site before autumn storms start.”
Christy was still hanging around the table. “I’ll help, too,” she put in eagerly.
“That would be great. Are you sure you have time?” Wynne’s voice was gentle.
Simon studied Wynne’s face. Her smile to the younger woman seemed genuine. He thought he detected pity in her gaze. Though he hated to bring more people into the project, Christy could be an asset. She was a quick learner and had helped out in his office during her summers all through high school.
“I’m a teacher’s aide at the elementary school so I’m off for the summer. I’ve been bored, and this job is the pits. This will be great.”
“Great. I’ll show you how to sift through the buckets of dirt. You can do that aboard the boat while we’re diving.” Wynne looked at Jake.
“Are you in?”
“Do you even have to ask? This is too exciting a find to pass up.” His eyes gleamed.
“You have to keep this quiet,” Simon warned.
“No problem. I’ll only tell Skye.”
“I won’t say anything,” Christy promised. Her voice vibrated with excitement. “But would someone explain why this is so exciting?”
“It could prove Vikings were really here before Columbus,” Jake said. “There have been other artifacts found, but they’ve all been questionable in some way—either outright hoaxes or items that could be explained in another way. This could change what we know about how far the Viking longboats could travel.”
“When do we start?” Christy chirped brightly.
“Tomorrow at eight,” Simon said. He could hardly wait.
SEVENTEEN
Dinner was over, and night had settled in. “We should go out on the lake tonight and look for the northern lights,” Wynne said. “They’re supposed to be really great this week. Clear skies and great visibility.”
“I want to go,” Molly said, taking her father’s hand.
Max looked worried. “I’d planned to write for a while tonight.”
Becca sighed. “You’re always writing.”
“I know. My deadline is in three days though. I’ll make it up to you,” Max promised.
“There’s no reason the two of you can’t go,” Becca said. Her eyes gleamed.
Wynne knew what her sister was thinking. She started to refuse but Simon was nodding his head. “We might as well. You game, Wynne?”
“Sure.” The word popped out of her mouth before she could stop it.
“Can I go?” Molly asked hopefully.
“If your mom says it’s okay.” Wynne tried to signal with her eyes to let her sister know it would be good to have Molly along.
“It would be awfully late for you,” Becca said. “I doubt you could stay awake that long.”
“Please, Mom.” Molly grabbed Becca’s hand and gave her a soulful look.
She’d called Becca “Mom” since the wedding. Her own mother had died when she was small, and she’d loved Becca from the first day she arrived at the manor. It did Wynne’s heart good to see her sister so happily ensconced in the island life.
“She can take her sleeping bag. If she gets tired, she can crawl in there,” Simon said.
Wynne wondered if he was as uncomfortable as she at the thought of being alone under the stars. They spent a lot of time underwater alone, but it was hardly the same thing.
They’d been moving closer, then pulling apart for days now. It was getting to be uncomfortable, and Wynne didn’t know what to expect, or even what she wanted.
“You’re sure?” Max asked.
“We’d love to have her along,” Wynne assured him. She could only hope Simon didn’t sense how much. At least with Molly along, she could keep her growing feelings from showing. The child would be a great distraction.
“Yay!” Molly danced around the living room.
“Go get a jacket and your sleeping bag,” Becca told her. “And brush your teeth before you go.”
Molly raced out of the room and up the staircase. “I’d better get a jacket, too,” Wynne said. She hurried to her room and went to the bathroom off her suite. Looking in the mirror she nearly groaned. Gram had tried to tame the wild locks, but tiny wisps of hair had escaped and stuck up all over her head. New freckles mocked her from their position on her nose, and it was peeling from the sun as well.
Good thing it would be dark. She glanced at her watch. If she was fast, she could take a shower. She turned on the hot water and raced through lathering her hair and body. She threw on clean jeans and a red top, then put on a touch of makeup and braided her wet hair. Twenty minutes later, she grabbed a jacket and flew down the steps.
Her gaze met Becca’s, and Wynne saw the smirk on her sister’s face. She narrowed her eyes at Becca in warning. Her sister clamped her mouth shut and looked away. Wynne hurried to ward off her sister’s giggles.
“All ready,” she said. “I still had dirt in my hair so I took a quick shower.” She prayed Simon wouldn’t realize she wanted to look nice for him. She was as bad as the other w
omen who mooned over him. Self-disgust made her smile stiff as she took Molly’s hand and followed Simon outside.
She didn’t want to go. Simon could tell by the fake smile on her face. His earlier anticipation faded. Oh well, they could just go out for a little while and he could plead fatigue and bring them back before Wynne made it any more clear she wasn’t interested in spending time with him if it didn’t pertain to her research.
Molly chattered all the way to the dock, but neither of the adults said much beyond answering her in monosyllables. As they neared the waterfront, he saw flashing lights and people swarming the pier.
“What is it—what’s wrong?” Wynne leaned forward in her seat.
Simon saw a glow of red. “Fire!” He gunned the engine and drove down the hill to the dock. There was a sour taste in his mouth. Even before he got close enough to tell for sure, he knew his yacht was on fire.
He was right.
Adrenaline surged as the engine exploded on the boat and shot flames high into the air. He heard a fireman shout, “Get back!” The crowd surged toward the truck, and Simon had to slam on his brakes to avoid hitting a pedestrian. He pulled off the road and slammed the gear into Park.
“Stay here,” he barked as he jumped out of the truck. He pushed through the throng of people and got as near his boat as he dared. He spotted Alan a few feet away. The man had a satisfied expression on his face.
Simon rushed toward him and grabbed him by the arm. “You did this!” He wanted to smash his fist into the man’s face.
Alan wrenched his arm free and held his hands out in front of him. “I had nothing to do with it. But it’s justice, don’t you think?”
Simon clenched his hands. “Someone set this. My yacht didn’t just burst into flames for no reason.” He felt a touch on his arm and whirled to see Wynne and Molly.
Wynne’s face was white. “I’m sorry, Simon,” she whispered.
All the fight left him, and his shoulders sagged. “Everything is gone. All my notes, my equipment.”
“I know.” She reached up and drew him to her shoulder as if he were a child.
Though she was tiny, barely reaching his chest, he managed to fold himself down into her embrace. He could smell the clean scent of her shampoo and the fragrance of her perfume. He wrapped his arms around her and reveled in her comfort. They fit together like they were made for each other.
The stray thought made him pull back. He’d never believed in the idea of the fates of two people being intertwined by God in that way, but Wynne was changing his mind. He dropped his arms and turned back to talk to Alan, but the man had disappeared.
Sheriff Rooney appeared from the middle of a group of firemen. His face grim, he saw Simon and came toward him.
Rooney nodded at Wynne, then his gaze settled on Simon. “Everyone okay, Lassiter?”
“Yeah, we’re okay.”
Rooney nodded. “I’ve been interrogating witnesses. No one saw anything.” He rubbed his chin. “I’m beginning to wonder if you should hire a bodyguard.”
Simon grimaced. “At least you’re not accusing me of arson. I’ll be okay. Just figure out who’s doing this.”
Rooney nodded. “I’m doing my best.” He wheeled around and went back to join his deputies.
Simon watched him go. “I think he’s disappointed he won’t have my company in jail.”
Wynne grinned. “You always look on the bright side.” Her smile faded. “What are we going to do?”
He shrugged. “I’ve got my pick of boats at the boatyard. What equipment do we need for the excavation?”
“Just shovels and five-gallon pails. Some old screens will work to sift the dirt.” She slapped her head. “Our GPS is gone. Can we find the site again?”
Simon nodded. “I’ve got the coordinates down in my notebook.” He patted his pocket. “Here it is.”
“Whew, good thinking.”
“I wasn’t taking any chances.” He glanced around. “I guess there will be no watching the Northern Lights tonight.”
“I’m tired anyway,” Wynne said. She glanced down at Molly. “And I think this young lady has had enough excitement for the night.”
“That was cool,” Molly said. “I’m sorry about your boat though, Simon.”
He ruffled her hair. “Me, too, muffin.” He sighed. “This might slow us down a few days.”
“Nope. You get the boat, and I’ll get the rest of the equipment. I’ll meet you at the dock at, say, ten?”
Simon’s hope surged back at the energy and confidence in Wynne’s voice. “We’re not letting whoever this is beat us.” He saw a familiar face and lifted his hand. “Brian, over here.”
His cousin rushed up to him. His face worked with emotion. “What happened, Simon?”
Simon shrugged. “Someone torched my boat. I’ll have to get another one.”
“You’re going on with it?” Brian looked panicked. “I lost my brother, and I don’t want to lose you, too, Simon. Let it go. The sheriff will figure out who did this. That’s his job.”
“I think we’re going to have to figure this out. We’re missing something,” Simon said. “I’ve found the Viking trail, and I’m not letting it get away. A storm could wash it all away. We have to strike now.”
Brian’s mouth gaped then he closed it and gulped. “You found Viking remains?” He shook his head. “I thought you were nuts. Can I help?”
“We can use all the help we can get.” He quickly explained about finding the Viking belt buckle.
“What about the steamer? Maybe we should move it to see what’s underneath.”
“It would help to get it out of the way,” Wynne put in. “We’ll be careful.”
“Count on me,” Brian declared. “We’re going to find who did this and bring them to justice.”
Simon hoped his cousin was right. It was hard to imagine how a murderer lurked behind familiar faces. And he still had to find a boat to use.
EIGHTEEN
The tugboat bounced along the waves. Wynne couldn’t remember when she’d seen a sorrier piece of floating junk.
Simon noticed her glance around the helm and gave her a shamefaced grin. “It was the best I could do on short notice. We had one yacht done, but it didn’t have enough deck space to work. I begged this from a friend in town.”
“Beggars can’t be choosers.” She propped her bare feet on the dash. The red glint of her toenails in the sunshine pleased her. She rarely took the time to paint her nails, but she’d been restless last night after the destruction of the boat.
“You’ve got the smallest feet I’ve ever seen,” Simon said. “Did your parents bind them when you were a kid?” He grinned and turned the boat to head out to open water.
At least he said it in an admiring tone. Wynne decided to forgive him for remarking on her size. “I used to think I must be adopted since I was so much smaller than Becca and Jake. Then my mom had me look in the mirror with her, and I could see I was a miniature version of her. I have no idea why I’m the shrimp of the family.”
“Maybe you didn’t drink your milk.”
She smiled, then her gaze traveled to Christy, Jake and Brian standing at the railing. Joe and Bjorn were at the helm. “At least we have more help today. I’m eager to get down there. You, me and Jake can do the diving and let the others sift through the mud and debris.”
“I wish we had time to do it all. They may make some of the better discoveries.” He glanced at the sieve with an envious expression.
“Sharing the glory is never fun, is it?” She put her feet back down and jiggled her knees.
“Are you nervous?”
“A little. I was just thinking about the destruction of the boat. Can we talk about Jerry and Amanda a bit? Who might have had a stake in needing to shut them up about something?”
“I’ve wracked my brain, and I’m not closer to figuring it out than I was three weeks ago.”
“Putting our heads together might help though. Tell me about Amanda
. You said she embezzled money from you. How long had you known her? Did she grow up on the island?”
“Yeah, she grew up here. She’d worked for me for about a month before we started dating. She made it clear she was interested, and I took the bait. I knew she loved nice things, but I was tired of being alone and easily swallowed the lie that she cared for me and not my bank account.”
There was such cynicism in his voice that she nearly winced. “You sound pessimistic about romance.”
He glanced at her. “Aren’t you the same? Failure tends to do that to a person.”
She decided not to answer that. Her own failures were better left unexamined. “When did you begin to suspect she wasn’t all she seemed?”
“Not until the other accountant rubbed my face in what she’d done. She was good at deception. Even when I confronted her, I thought she would have a good explanation and would beg for forgiveness.”
“She didn’t?”
He shook his head. “She basically said she never loved me.”
“Did she say why she took the money?” Wynne couldn’t figure out why Amanda would have been so stupid. A month later and everything Simon had would have been half hers.
The expression of pain that flashed over Simon’s face was quickly squelched. His knuckles turned white on the wheel. “I’d rather not talk about it,” he said.
Wynne’s cheeks stung as though she’d been slapped. “I see.”
He sighed. “That didn’t come out right.” He glanced back at the other three crew members. “I’d rather talk when there’s no chance of being overheard,” he said softly. “How about dinner tonight?”
She studied his face for several long moments. “Is this a date?” She sucked in her breath as she waited for the answer. Her own temerity surprised her.
His eyes narrowed as he studied her face, then a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “Yeah. You okay with that?”
“Maybe. It depends on if you’re willing to let go of the past.”
He turned his head and stared at her. “Are you?”
“I accepted, didn’t I?”
He grinned. “It’s like the blind leading the blind. We’re both no geniuses at relationships. But maybe we can learn together.”
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