The Lady of Tarpon Springs

by Judith Miller

  Lucy pushed a chair close to the bed and pointed downward. “Now sit.” Zanna followed the doctor’s command and lowered herself onto the seat. Lucy touched her shoulder. “Lean forward so he can see you. Say something in Greek. It may help if he hears something familiar.”

  Zanna tipped her head to the right and looked into Theo’s glassy eyes. Her chest tightened with unexpected pain, and she forced back tears. “Theo, it’s me, Zanna. I work with Nico in the warehouse.” He blinked his eyes. She didn’t know if that meant he understood her or if it meant nothing at all. “If you understand me but don’t feel you can talk, blink one time.”

  He blinked once. She turned and glanced at Lucy. “Do you have any questions you want me to ask him?”

  “Ask if he can swallow. I want to give him some pain medicine, but I don’t know if he’s able to drink.”

  Zanna did as Lucy requested, and Theo blinked once. “I think you should try to give it to him.”

  Quickly, Lucy prepared the medication and stepped to Zanna’s side. “Tell him you’re going to lift his head from behind the pillow while I hold the glass to his lips.”

  “What? Now you want me to lift his head? You know how it hurts him to be moved.”

  Lucy sighed. “He’s going to hurt for a little while, but then the medicine will help. If the pain’s too great, he’ll lapse into unconsciousness.”

  Zanna frowned. “That doesn’t make me feel any better.”

  “Zanna! I’m not trying to make you feel better. I’m trying to relieve Theo’s pain. Are you going to help me or not?”

  This was not what she’d planned for today. Truth be told, this was not something she would ever plan for herself. “I don’t have a choice since there’s no one else here.” Turning to Theo, Zanna forced a smile and explained what they were going to do.

  Zanna didn’t miss the fear that shone in Theo’s eyes when she said she was going to raise his head. “I’ll do my best to be gentle. The medicine will help ease your pain.”

  She moved to the head of the bed and carefully slid her hands beneath the pillow. When Lucy nodded, Zanna lifted. Theo screamed in pain.

  “Theo, you need to drink this,” Lucy said, which Zanna swiftly translated. The doctor held the glass to his mouth. The liquid gurgled in his throat and trickled down the sides of his mouth. Lucy wiped his face with a soft towel and told Zanna to lower his head. The movement brought another shout, followed by a string of words that caused her to blush.

  Lucy arched her brows. “What did he say?”

  “Nothing I would repeat.” Zanna returned to the side of the bed, though she didn’t sit down. If the medicine caused Theo to drift off, perhaps Lucy would dismiss her.

  Zanna watched as the injured man quieted. She was about to ask if she might leave when Theo’s eyes popped open, and his legs and arms tightened into an even deeper rigidity. He exhaled a groan and muttered something.

  Without being told, Zanna dropped to the chair and leaned close to him. “What did you say, Theo? Tell me.”

  “S-sunken ship. Must find the treasure. Only a little . . .” He exhaled a long breath, and his eyes closed before he finished the sentence.

  Zanna jumped up from the chair and backed away from the bed. “Is he . . . ?” She waved Lucy forward. “I think he stopped breathing.”

  Lucy moved closer to Theo’s side and checked his pulse. She turned to Zanna and gave a pained sigh. “He’s gone. But I think we can count it a blessing he didn’t continue to suffer in this condition for any longer since there was no helping him.”

  Zanna gasped. One diver dead, with another still recovering from a diving illness. What would this mean for Nico? Would he consider taking over the position? She prayed not.

  “What did he say to you?” Lucy asked.

  Zanna blinked at her friend. “What?”

  “Right before he died—what did Theo say?”

  “He said he had to get to the sunken ship and find the treasure.” Zanna let the words seep into her consciousness. “Lucy! Do you think that’s what happened to Felix and Theo?”

  “What are you talking about?” Lucy’s eyebrows pinched together.

  “Do you think the divers may have located a sunken ship out in the Gulf, and they were staying down too long looking for some sort of treasure?”

  Lucy slowly shook her head. “No, of course not, Zanna. All sailors dream of finding sunken treasure, don’t they? He was delusional. That often happens before people die. They say all kinds of irrational things that have no bearing on actual circumstances in their lives. I’m sure that’s the case with Theo, as well.”

  “I’m not so sure you’re right, Lucy. Both of the injured divers were on the Anastasi, and it’s the boat gathering the smallest harvests. What if Theo was looking for a sunken ship and stayed underwater for too long? It’s possible.”

  Lucy’s expression was one of disbelief. She patted Zanna’s shoulder. “I know how that lawyer mind of yours works, Zanna, but this isn’t a puzzle you must solve. What happened was clearly an end-of-life episode. I’ve seen it numerous times. My dying patients have made utterances that made no sense to their family members or to me.” She retrieved a medical book from a nearby shelf and flipped through the pages while she continued to speak. “Doctors have found that these deathbed utterances mean nothing. As the internal organs cease working, the brain doesn’t function properly. And when you combine that with strong doses of pain medication, the result is a delusional patient.”

  “But I . . .”

  Before Zanna could say anything more, Lucy tapped a page in her medical book. “Look, here is a case where a man spoke of murdering twenty-five people in England. He was born in this country and never set foot in any other.” She turned the page, obviously prepared to read every instance recorded in the book.

  “You need go no further, Lucy. I ask you to accept my legal opinions, so I should certainly do the same and accept your medical opinion.”

  Zanna hadn’t expected a lecture, yet she understood Lucy’s need to prove her point. In that respect, the two of them were alike, possibly because their chosen professions were dominated by men. Early on, both of them had learned they must substantiate their opinions if they were to be taken seriously.

  “I must go.” Zanna turned toward the door. “Markos is going to be devastated that he didn’t make it back here before Theo died.”

  Lucy offered an encouraging smile. “I know it isn’t easy being the one to tell him, but I’m sure he’d prefer to hear the news directly from you.”

  She’d been longing to leave Lucy’s office since the moment they arrived, but she hadn’t wanted to depart bearing news of Theo’s death. Then again, perhaps it was better Markos was away when Theo died. Not being there to witness his brother’s final agony might make it easier for Markos to continue diving.

  She hurried toward the docks, certain Markos would take the shortest route from the camp. If she didn’t see Markos along the way, maybe she should tell Nico and let him bring the sad news to Markos. When she neared the dock, her stomach churned. She wanted to turn and go home rather than face either Nico or Markos.

  The smell of river water and fish assailed her like unwelcome friends as she continued along the dock. The familiar odors usually had no effect on her, but today her stomach rose in protest. She scanned the figures still on the pier. No sign of Markos. Where could he be? Surely he wasn’t still at the camp. She stepped into the dimness of the warehouse. Once her eyes adjusted to the low light, she saw Nico and Markos standing near the back of the building.

  Waving in their direction, she hurried toward the two men. Markos took a halting step toward her and then stopped. His eyes reflected an undeniable fear. “Is there some change? I shouldn’t have stopped to speak with Nico.”

  She bowed her head, unable to look at him. “I’m sorry, Markos. Theo didn’t make it. There was nothing the doctor could do for him.” She took a breath. “Dr. Penrose will help you with any arrangement
s you want to make for Theo’s burial. I can go with you to interpret if you like.”

  He shook his head and opened his hand to reveal the knotted silk rope in his hand. “Not yet. I need a little time.”

  Zanna nodded. “I’ll be at the desk near the front of the warehouse.” She glanced at Nico. “Nico could go with you, if you’d rather.”

  He gave a slight nod and walked away.

  Nico reached for her hand. “Thank you for staying with Theo. Markos stopped to tell me Theo’s condition wasn’t good and that he’d returned for the prayer rope.”

  “Seeing Theo in so much pain was horrible.” Tears burned at the back of her eyes. “Promise me you won’t ever consider going back to diving again.”

  He met her gaze. “I can’t make that promise, Zanna.”

  “I know you wouldn’t go unless you believed it necessary, but you need to think about the business. How could we succeed if something happened to you?”

  “You could carry on with the business.” He smiled. “You’re the manager.”

  “Yes, but you know the business would fail without you. The men would never listen to me. I may know how to keep ledgers, and I could hire a man to help at the sponge sales, but who would oversee the boats and the crews?” She paused, then sighed. “You know it’s true, Nico. You think going out with the men will change things, but in your heart you know you must remain behind. This business needs you—and so do I.”

  “I promise you that before I would dive again, I will first consider the welfare of the business. But that isn’t a promise I will never dive again, only that I will weigh all the circumstances. And if I do decide to dive, I will take all the precautions I can to be safe.” He gently squeezed her hand. “In my heart, I don’t believe either Felix or Theo was following the rules I set out for the divers. There’s no way to prove or disprove what I’ve been told, but something simply isn’t right. Going out with them and diving may be the only way I will discover the truth.”

  Her heart plummeted. She couldn’t bear to lose him. Not now. Not when she’d just begun to realize how much she cared for him. She parted her lips to speak but then stopped short before recounting Theo’s final words.

  She’d told Lucy she believed her—and Lucy was far more knowledgeable about dying patients and deathbed remarks. Besides, the medical scholars quoted in that book of Lucy’s substantiated her explanation. Repeating Theo’s deathbed words would only create upheaval and give the men further cause to ignore and mistrust her.

  Adelfo Pappas was waiting among a stand of trees near the campsite when the crew of the Anastasi returned late in the afternoon. His conversation with Markos had been brief and worrisome. Grief over his brother’s death had muddled Markos’s thinking, and Adelfo needed to speak to the crew—at least those who were aware of what had been taking place on the Anastasi.

  There was no doubt he would need to be firm with the men. He didn’t plan to tell them that Markos had spoken of giving up their venture and even coming clean with Nico. Although he felt confident he’d dissuaded Markos from doing anything until they talked further, the older man couldn’t afford to wait until the crew did something rash. Adelfo needed this scheme to work if he was going to survive the creditors beating down his door. This plan needed to succeed because, short of marriage, it didn’t appear Bessie Rochester was going to loan him any additional funds, and he’d run out of options.

  He leaned against the thick trunk of a palm tree and pictured himself boarding a train to New York with cases full of the recovered gems and gold coins. He would sell them to wealthy collectors and jewelers who would beg to keep company with him. His name would be known among all of New York society. Of course, he’d take more than his share of the money he gained from each sale, but the crew would never know that. Within reason, they would believe what he told them. Besides, they needed him. They didn’t have the necessary connections or wherewithal to sell any of the treasure they salvaged.

  He startled at the sound of voices and stooped down. Until he was certain Nico wasn’t with the men, he didn’t want to be seen. Words of condolence drifted on the breeze, and one of the men was humming a haunting dirge as they trudged into the camp. Instead of going to their individual shelters, the men gathered around the fire pit. Markos sat on one of the surrounding logs with his arms resting across his knees, his back hunched forward, and his head bowed low.

  “I’ll get some wood.” Demetrius pushed to his feet.

  Several of the men looked surprised by the captain’s offer, but none offered to take his place. For that, Adelfo was pleased. He watched as the captain circled one direction and then another, slowly wending his way near the stand of trees where Adelfo was secreted. As soon as the captain was close enough to hear, Adelfo called to him in a low voice. The captain startled and looked in his direction.

  “Over here.” His words were no more than a hoarse whisper. He immediately placed his index finger to his lips and gestured the man forward.

  The captain glanced about as he approached. “Why are you hiding out here, Mr. Pappas?”

  “I need to talk to all the men who know about the ship.”

  The captain shrugged. “And? What do you want me to do?”

  “Tell them to gather here in the trees with me. Think of some excuse to keep the others away. Tell them Markos wants some privacy to plan his brother’s funeral.”

  The captain reared back. “Have you no decency? You would even use Theo’s death to your own advantage?”

  “Theo’s death is no advantage to any of us, but it is an issue we need to discuss. Tell the men we must talk.”

  The captain spat on the ground near Adelfo’s shoe. “I didn’t like you before, and now I like you even less. You pretend to be a Greek brother, but you are nothing to us.”

  The blood rushed in Adelfo’s ears. He wanted to strike the man, yet he dared not lose his temper. “It doesn’t matter what you think of me. We all made an agreement, and I plan to hold every one of you to it or you’ll all be without jobs. Now get them over here and do it without alerting the others that there’s anything going on.”

  A short time later, the group of men drifted toward the stand of trees while the other men wandered to the shore to catch fish for supper.

  Anger flashed in Markos’s eyes. “We already talked. My brother is dead. What do you want?”

  “I want you men back out on that boat the next time the other boats set sail, and I want you to bring back more from the sunken ship than I’ve seen so far.” He glared at Markos. “I have a feeling you’re holding out on me. I’m guessing Theo must have found something worthwhile or he wouldn’t have stayed down so long.”

  The line tender shook his head. “There was nothing in his basket. I’m the one who brought it up—only sponges. I don’t think we were close enough for him to locate the ship.”

  Adelfo directed a dismissive wave toward the line tender. “And you think just because you tell me there was nothing in the basket, I’m going to believe you?”

  Markos shoved forward. “What do you want us to do, Adelfo? Use some sort of magic and make a basket of jewels appear for you?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Well, we can’t do that. Besides, this is the first time we’ve been able to sail anywhere close to where we found that ship. Nico gave orders for the Anastasi to stay in sight of the other boats. We can’t disobey his orders, and we’ve decided we don’t want to keep on with this. Theo’s death is too much. There isn’t any treasure worth a man’s life.”

  Beads of perspiration popped up across Adelfo’s forehead, and he struggled to hold his temper in check. He clenched his jaw until he thought it might crack. “You men listen to me and you listen well. If you don’t do as I say, I’ll tell Nico what you’ve been doing out there without his knowledge. What do you think he’s going to say when he finds out half the crew of the Anastasi has been lying to him and caused injury to one of his divers and death to another? None of you will ever work on a boat again. And i
f he doesn’t see to it, I will.” He poked his index finger in Markos’s chest. “You do what you’re told.” He glanced around at the other men. “That goes for all of you. Now get out of here before the others come looking for you.”

  Every muscle in his body tensed. He didn’t know if he’d convinced the men or not. Adelfo hurried out of the trees and headed back toward town. Maybe he should pay a visit to Bessie Rochester.

  CHAPTER

  24

  His heart heavy, Nico stood on the dock watching the St. Nicolas and Crete return to Tarpon Springs on schedule. The two boats carried full loads of sponge, and he could imagine the excited crews were prepared to celebrate.

  One of the line tenders on the Crete shouted as they tied off at the dock, “What time is the party, Nico?”

  Nico waved in response. He didn’t want to shout back the news of Theo’s death.

  The men would learn soon enough that instead of dancing and singing at a celebratory party, they would be paying their respects to Markos and mourning the loss of a friend. Although Markos had suggested the celebration go on as planned, Nico wouldn’t hear of the idea. A few of the men had come to him and requested that he reconsider, yet Nico remained adamant in his decision. To honor the life of Theo was more important than celebrating a harvest of sponges.

  After the funeral, Theo was buried in a small cemetery plot, the land donated by Lucy and designated as a cemetery for the Greek community. She’d told Nico she hoped it wouldn’t need to be used again until all the men reached an old age. He’d agreed, but if the men continued to take risks, they might need the cemetery far too often.

  Later that same day, Nico gathered the men and once again emphasized the need for safety. He didn’t want to lose another man. A few of the men, especially Markos, might have considered his comments harsh, but he had to make them understand that they’d end up alongside Theo if they didn’t heed the instructions that had been laid out for them.

  The food that had been planned for the celebration was served after the funeral, and though the men ate well, later that night the mood remained somber around the campfire. Nico hadn’t been surprised to see Mr. Pappas at the funeral, though the man’s appearance at the campsite later in the evening was unexpected. Nico watched and wondered as the older man took a position alongside Markos and other crew members of the Anastasi. Was he simply there to offer condolences, or was there something deeper going on between some of the men and the Greek sponge buyer? If so, what could it be? Mr. Pappas possessed a great deal of knowledge about buying and selling sponges, yet he knew little about harvesting them.