“I don’t think so.”
Jack pulled up short. “You’ve never been on a boat?”
“No.”
“Geez. I hope you don’t get motion sickness. That’ll make everything even worse, which is hard to believe since we’re going to be looking for a Megalodon.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine.” I meant it. “How bad could it be?”
Jack made a face. “You might not want to ask that.” He opened the condo door and waited for me to enter first. My attention drifted to the neighboring condo, and I was almost certain I saw the curtains shift before falling still. “Come on,” he prodded, dragging my attention away from the window. “We need some sleep.”
“I’m coming.”
He gave me another kiss, this one quick as I crossed the threshold.
“Sweet dreams,” he whispered, causing me to scowl.
I was certain my dreams would be anything but sweet.
“IT SOUNDS AS IF YOU guys met quite the crowd last night,” Millie said, a doughnut in her hand as she relaxed on the cutter as we headed out to sea the next morning. She didn’t look worried in the least that we would cross paths with a giant shark. “I’m sorry I missed it.”
The only thing I was sorry about was that she snored like an industrial saw and I’d managed only about an hour of sleep the previous night. When you coupled that with the two drinks I’d had at the tiki bar — and Jack’s rather impressive kisses — my stomach refused to settle. When Bernard offered me a doughnut I quickly waved him off. “I’m good. Thank you.”
Jack, who sat next to Chris a few seats down the row, cocked an eyebrow. “Are you sick?”
There was no way I was copping to that. “I’m fine.”
“You heard her, Jack,” Laura drawled from the spot to his right. “She’s fine. She’s a big girl — even bigger than we all thought — and she can take care of herself.”
Jack slid her an annoyed look. “I didn’t say she couldn’t take care of herself.”
“Then why are you so worried?”
It was a pointed question and I couldn’t help thinking back to the curtain I was convinced I saw move as we headed into the condominium the previous evening. I’d managed to convince myself I imagined it, but I wasn’t entirely sure that was true.
“Tell us about the authors,” Millie suggested, lobbing a quelling look in Laura’s direction before focusing on me. “Did anyone dislike Shayne Rivers?”
“Everyone hated her.” I related what Lily had told me, hoping I didn’t leave anything out, and when I was done, Millie was as confused as I was.
“That is ... weird,” she said finally. “I had no idea authors were such dramatic souls.”
“I learned a lot about authors last night.”
“We learned more than I think either of us needed to know,” Jack corrected. “There were things I learned that I can never forget ... like lusty lumberjacks.”
“They’re for people who love wood,” I teased. “Lusty lumberjacks love wood. Get it?”
Millie giggled, as I intended. Jack merely rolled his eyes.
“Yes, we learned all about trademarks ... and predatory newsletter providers ... and Jane Austen fan fiction.” He made a face. “I didn’t even know Jane Austen fan fiction was a thing.”
“I love Jane Austen fan fiction,” Laura enthused, her eyes lighting. “There’s something romantic about the idea of being dirt poor and having all your dreams come true because you stumble across the right man.”
“You mean have all your dreams come true by moving into a mansion, right?” Millie challenged.
“Who doesn’t want to live in a mansion?” Laura snapped.
I raised my hand. “I would rather live in one of those log cabins by the river,” I offered. “I mean ... I don’t want it to be tiny or anything. Nothing too big, though. Vaulted ceilings, a dock on the river so I can sit out there at night and watch the water. A place for bonfires. I think that sounds amazing.”
“And I think that sounds like something losers would do,” Laura fired back.
“I’ve always wanted to live on a river, too,” Jack admitted, catching my eye. “I like the idea of quiet.”
“Cities are better,” Laura persisted. “You either need a big penthouse that takes the top floor of an entire building or a huge mansion. If I ever get the mansion, I want a driver so I don’t have to deal with New York City traffic on my own.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Why would you want to live in New York City?”
“It’s the best place in the world.”
I could think of better places, but I was a country girl at heart. “If you say so.” I was determined to steer the conversation in a more productive direction. “As for the authors, they’re simply too different to get a handle on. I mean ... the obvious suspects would be the two prepper guys because they have access to weapons and talked about being willing to kill to ensure their survival in a post-apocalyptic world, but that seems kind of prejudicial so I’m trying to refrain from rushing to judgment.”
Jack’s lips curved as he briefly shut his eyes and collected himself. “I was interested in the guy who has his own van, the one with his books advertised on a very colorful wrap. He showed us photos, so I know it’s true.”
“Yeah, I kind of want to see that van in person,” I admitted. “Whenever I think of vans I think of pedophiles.”
“That is a lovely thought,” Jack intoned, shaking his head. “I was merely thinking about the van because it would be big enough to transport a body. Most of these authors flew into town, which means they had shuttle services transport them to the hotel. That guy has his own van, which is convenient.”
I thought back to the guy in question. “He was full of himself,” I said after a bit. “He wore a hat that said, ‘I’m kind of a big deal,’ and his wife sat in the dark knitting for hours.”
Hannah, who had been looking at maps of the Gulf, finally joined the conversation. “She was knitting at a bar?”
“It wasn’t a normal bar,” Jack explained. “It was a tiki bar on the beach.”
Hannah’s smooth forehead wrinkled. “I don’t think that makes it better. Why would she be knitting? Even I’m not uncomfortable enough in crowds to knit.”
Hmm. That was an interesting statement. “You think she was knitting because she doesn’t like crowds?”
Hannah shrugged. “I don’t know. Was she a writer?”
“She wasn’t wearing a lanyard.”
“That means she was simply there with her husband,” she pointed out. “She doesn’t have anything in common with the people her husband is hanging around with. He sounds like a jerk of epic proportions. Maybe the knitting is a way for her to put up a fence in social situations.”
I hadn’t considered that. “I don’t think her husband is evil or anything,” I said after a beat. “It seemed more like insecurity to me, like he wanted to be a big deal because he was trying to impress some of the other authors who were legitimately big deals. I don’t know ... does that make sense?”
“No,” Laura answered automatically.
“Yes.” Jack bobbed his head. “I felt that way, too. I didn’t get an evil vibe off him or anything. He could simply be a good actor. We met so many people in such a short amount of time that it was hard to get a read on any of them.”
“I got a read on the guy who had his tongue down the prostitute’s throat,” I argued.
“I really want to meet this guy,” Millie enthused. “I love a man who isn’t afraid to bring a professional to an amateur festival.”
I cast her a sidelong look. “He was rubbing her ... you know ... a few feet from where people were sitting around a fire. It was extremely disturbing. Her pants were so tight you could see everything.”
“She means everything,” Jack stressed, causing me to frown.
“How hard were you staring at her?”
Suddenly innocent, he shrugged. “I was listening to your conversation with Lily but didn’
t want her to think I was butting in so I spent all my time watching the other authors. It was purely professional curiosity.”
That was the biggest load of crap I’d ever heard. “Right. Anyway, as for the authors, we really don’t know anything about any of them. They could all have joined together to murder Shayne Rivers for all we know.”
“So we need information,” Millie mused. “I’m kind of looking forward to finding out the truth about these people. I think it might be entertaining.”
She wasn’t the only one.
THE BOAT RIDE WAS NOWHERE near as much fun as I’d expected. After the initial rush, the thrill died. Once you’ve seen one expanse of water, you’ve basically seen them all.
We did see several pods of dolphins, some playfully matching the cutter’s pace, and I couldn’t help but smile as I watched them cavort. I’d never spent much time on the ocean, and even though the wind was wreaking havoc with my hair I found I was having a great time.
The feeling didn’t last long. Once the water turned choppy and the cutter started bouncing, my stomach transitioned to mush and all enjoyment abandoned ship. I spent the entire afternoon hanging close to the railing, waving off anybody who tried to join me because I didn’t want witnesses if I suddenly had to vomit.
Concern etched Jack’s face when he braved my presence shortly before noon. I could practically read the “I told you so” slant of his shoulders.
“Don’t give me crap,” I muttered, resting my cheek against the railing as I sat at an awkward angle. “I’m not seasick. I’m hungover.”
“You only had two drinks last night,” he reminded me, carefully pushing my hair away from my face to study my eyes. He looked so concerned it tugged on my heartstrings even as I fought the urge to punch him. “You drank them over three hours. You’re not hungover, Charlie.”
“Well, I’m not seasick. I refuse to be the loser who gets seasick while we’re looking for a Megalodon. I must have contracted the flu or something.”
Jack’s lips curved. “Only you would prefer having an illness that threatens to put you in bed for a week over a weakness that will pass once you’re off this boat.”
“I don’t get seasick,” I repeated. “I’m fine. I’m ready to take on the Megalodon.”
“There is no Megalodon.”
“There could be a Megalodon.”
He smiled at my resentful expression. “You’re going to be okay. After we finish lunch, there’s a specific area Chris wants to hit. After that, I’m insisting we return to shore.”
“You’d better not use me as an excuse. I’m fine.”
“I will find a different way to get him to shore to save your prized reputation. Don’t worry about that.”
“Well, it’s up to you.” I briefly pressed my eyes shut. I couldn’t see him but knew he was still there. “You don’t have to hover. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“We’re about to have lunch.”
“I’m not hungry. I’m watching my figure.”
“Your figure is fine, but I know you’re not eating … and I know why. I’m going to suggest cutting the ship’s engines while we eat. That will give you a little break ... not that you’re seasick or anything.”
“That sounds delightful.”
He looked as if he wanted to kiss me, but ultimately he dropped my hair and got to his feet. “This will be nothing but a memory in a few hours. I promise.”
“Not if it’s the flu and I die.”
“Oh, I miss happy-go-lucky Charlie. I’d much rather have you babbling about a Megalodon than acting like this.”
“I’ll try to do that later.”
“Okay.”
Jack left me to wallow with my nausea. I pointed my eyes to the sea, closed them and willed myself to feel better. It wasn’t exactly going well when another visitor came by, although this one was altogether unwelcome.
“Maybe you should jump and swim back to shore,” Laura suggested, her smile bright. “That would help the seasickness.”
“I’m not seasick.”
“You could’ve fooled me.”
“Yes, well ... why are you even over here? Jack says they’re serving lunch below deck. You should head that way. I bet there are a lot of crewmen for you to hit on and none of them will care that you probably have an STD.”
“That was a lame insult,” Laura offered. “I expect better from you.”
“I’ll save my strength and try again later.”
“Yes, well, maybe you would have more strength if you weren’t out so late with Jack,” she said. “You probably wouldn’t have gotten sick if you’d had a good night’s sleep.”
Suspicion joined unease in my gut. I knew I’d seen a curtain move. That meant she was probably watching us from the window. “Or you could just mind your own business,” I snapped back.
“Perhaps I think I am minding my own business. Have you ever considered that?”
“Why would I consider that?”
“Because we need to have another talk. It seems you didn’t listen to me last time and I need to clear things up again.”
I was in no mood for this. I got to shaky legs, leaning my hip against the railing, and shook my head. “I’m not dealing with this right now.”
“And I’m not letting you walk away.” Laura grabbed my arm. “I’m not done talking to you.”
“Well, you’re going to have to wait. I don’t have the energy to talk to you.”
“You’d better get the energy.” She gave my arm a good shake. “I’m not joking. We’re going to talk..”
“I don’t want to talk.”
“Well, we’re going to.” She shook me again, causing my stomach to lurch.
The reason I picked this part of the ship was because the railing was lower and I could sit and throw up (without getting to my feet) if it became necessary. Now, when I swiveled to lose the little I had in my stomach — which was practically nothing because I hadn’t eaten since the previous evening — I had to bend over to make sure the vomit wouldn’t blow back and hit me in the face.
“Leave me alone,” I complained when she jostled me again, my eyes focusing on the silver backs of the dolphins playing in the ocean as the cutter slowed. “We’ll fight later if you want. I can’t deal with it now.”
“Well, I want to deal with it now.” Laura refused to back down. “I know what you’ve been doing, what you’ve been trying to do. You’re not going to get Jack.”
“Oh, geez. I ... .” I quickly lost interest in the conversation with Laura when I focused harder on the dolphins and realized they didn’t look quite right. In fact, they looked completely wrong. “Those aren’t dolphins.”
Laura, uninterested in wildlife, kept her focus on me. “Stay away from him. I mean it.” She gave me a hard enough shake that I fell forward. I was already leaning that way to get a better look at the creatures in the water beneath us and the forward momentum was enough to cause me to lose my footing.
I was already halfway over the railing before I realized I was too far gone to pull myself back. “Laura!” I desperately tried to grab her hand, hoping she could save me. She realized too late what was happening. To her credit, she did try to grab my arm.
It was far too late. I cleared the railing, my face pointed directly at the water as I dropped.
“Son of a ... !”
Nine
“Charlie!”
I heard my name the second before I plunged beneath the water. I hit hard enough that I lost my bearings, diving deep. I kept my wits enough that I didn’t immediately kick — I didn’t want to drive myself deeper, after all — and let my natural buoyancy come into play. When I was certain I was heading up, I kicked hard ... and surfaced in the middle of a hell storm.
I recognized right away that the creature circling me was not a dolphin. The telltale fin slicing through the water told me it was a shark. I wasn’t an expert, but it seemed pretty big to me … like a good forty or fifty feet long. Of course
, that could’ve been my imagination kicking into overdrive.
My heart pounded as I treaded water and immediately looked back to the cutter for an escape. Unfortunately, even though the engines had been cut, the ship drifted quite a distance in the few seconds it took me to recover.
“Charlie!”
I jerked my eyes to the railing where I’d been standing moments before and found a panicked Jack standing next to Laura. Her lips were moving, her hands waving back and forth, but I couldn’t hear what she was saying. Jack clearly wasn’t interested.
“Shut up, Laura!” he bellowed, his eyes finding mine over the distance. “Hold on, Charlie! We’ll get you out!”
He was trying to be reassuring, but when I felt something brush against my leg underwater I couldn’t stop myself from screaming. “Omigod!”
“What is it?” Jack looked as if he was ready to vault over the side of the ship.
“Sharks.” I pressed my eyes shut. “It’s sharks.”
“Is it a Megalodon?” Millie asked, joining the others at the railing. She had a sandwich in her hand and didn’t look particularly worried. That only served to ratchet my temper up a notch.
“It’s sharks,” I hissed, glaring as another beast — perhaps it was the same shark, I couldn’t say because it wasn’t as if they were wearing nametags — circled in front of me. “Oh, geez. I’m going to be eaten by sharks. This is not the way I thought I would go.”
“You’re not going to be eaten by sharks,” Jack barked. “I need you to swim in this direction. I’ll get a rope ladder and throw it over the side. We’ll have you out of the water in a few minutes.”
That sounded great. There was only one problem. “If I swim, the sharks will eat me!”
“Then you should definitely do that,” Laura suggested.
I could feel Jack’s fury from one-hundred feet away when he glared at her. “Go away, Laura!” He sucked in a calming breath when she shrank back and focused on me. “You have to swim. It will take us too long to launch a lifeboat. You have to do it. I’m sorry.”
I still wasn’t keen on the idea. “But ... I don’t think I can.”
The Megalodon Mix-Up Page 8