Christen cleared her throat. “I represent a salvage consortium.

We’ve contracted to do some research and location work in this area.

We saw you out by the straits yesterday, and I was wondering what your interest here is.”

Kerry sorted through that and felt a sense of relief. “Nothing, actually.” She gave the woman a reassuring smile. “We’re just on vacation.”


56 Melissa Good

“And you picked that spot at random?” the man interjected.

“No.” Dar’s low voice broke in. “I picked the spot because it’s got a great view and nice fish.” She lifted a hand and tipped her glasses down, exposing her eyes, which studied their visitors.

“No offense.” Juan Carlos smiled at her. “See anything good?”

“Moray eel as tall as I am,” Dar drawled softly. “And a lot of clowns.”

“Well, that’s great then.” Christen’s attitude suddenly shifted.

“You going to be around long? Maybe we can do dinner. We’re new around here and we don’t know many people.” She leaned against the back railing. “The locals are pretty tough nuts to crack.”

Kerry and Dar exchanged quick glances. “We’ll be around for a few days, yes,” Kerry replied. “I’m sure we can get together.”

“Great.” Christen smiled. “Nice to meet you, Kerry.” Her eyes shifted to Dar questioningly.

“This is my partner, Dar,” Kerry supplied. “Nice to meet you, too.” “We will be seeing you around, I’m sure,” Juan said. “This is a lovely boat you have.”

“Thanks,” Dar replied. “What’s your consortium salvaging? I didn’t think there was anything around here worth going after.”

Juan looked at Christen. “It’s a private commission,” Christen said. “We can’t really discuss it.” She took Juan’s elbow. “We’ll drop by later to set a date for dinner. Let’s go, Juan.” Christen and Juan turned and jumped off the boat, then strolled down the dock together.

Dar and Kerry watched them go, and then looked at each other.

“What the heck was that all about?” Kerry asked.

“I don’t know.” Dar sat up and rested her elbows on her knees, studying Kerry. She gave a half grin. “What was that name change all about?”

Kerry nibbled her lower lip.

“I’m not objecting,” Dar said. “Just a little surprised.”

Kerry crossed one ankle over her knee and rubbed a bit of sand off her skin. “You know,” she finally said, “I’m not really sure why I did that.” Her head tilted to one side, and she peered at Dar with sheepish honesty. “Let me think about it for a while.”

“Sure.” Dar nodded. “As for our visitors... I don’t know what their game is, but now I’m wishing we’d brought the laptops with us.”

“To find out who they are?”

“Yeah.”

Kerry drummed her fingers on arm of the chair. “Well, I guess we’ll just have to ferret that out the old fashioned way,” she said.

“You don’t think they’re going to be a problem, do you?”

“Nah.” Dar shook her head. “Just some gold diggers. We might Terrors of the High Seas 57

not hear from them again, now that they know we’re not after whatever they’re looking for.” Dar put her glasses back on and resumed her comfortable position.

“That’s true.” Kerry tucked her knees up under her chin and wrapped her arms around them, gazing out at the sea thoughtfully.

“They were a little weird, though.”

“Mm.”

“Preppy,” Kerry added. “I don’t know, Dar. They just didn’t seem like sea types. You know what I mean.”

Dar opened one eye. “Maybe they’re the business end,” she suggested. “The money people.”

Kerry pursed her lips. “I just didn’t like them.”

“Well,” Dar captured her hand and squeezed it, “I’ve always trusted your people judgment,” she said. “Why don’t we—”

“Hey, Dar!”

Dar sat up as they heard footsteps approaching rapidly. Rufus was running down the docks toward them. “Hey,” Dar greeted.

He stopped short of the boat. “C’n I come on board?”

Dar waved him over. “Sure.”

The boy grinned and scrambled onto the boat, looking around wide-eyed as he walked across the stern deck. “Wow.”

“Nice, huh?” Dar stood up. “Want to see inside?”

“Sure!” Rufus followed her eagerly as she opened the door, looking up at her in awe as he walked under her arm. “Boy, Dar, you got a lot of muscles!”

Kerry muffled a giggle as she caught the look of bemused consternation on her partner’s face.

“Yeah, I sure do,” Dar replied. “That’s kinda weird for a girl, huh?”

“Yeah.” Rufus nodded solemnly. “But it’s really cool. Can you wrassle a gator?”

Dar chuckled. “C’mon.”

They disappeared inside, leaving Kerry to resume her quiet pondering. She leaned back in her chair and exhaled. “What the hell is going on with you, Kerrison?” She rested her head against her fist and looked inside herself for an answer.

Finally, she lifted her eyes and exhaled, nodding a few times.

Had her family had so enraged and disgusted her, Kerry mused, that a part of her wanted to just leave them behind? Maybe that same part thought that using Dar’s last name instead of her own would rid her of the nightmares.

Is that good or bad? Kerry wasn’t sure. It hadn’t seemed to bother Dar, though. In fact, Kerry suspected Dar kinda liked the theft of her surname. With a thoughtful frown, she picked up the strong golden chain on her neck and regarded the ring through which it was threaded. She and Dar both wore their commitment 58 Melissa Good rings the same way, and now she studied the inscription on hers carefully.

Forever.

Kerry smiled and pushed herself to her feet, shaking her head as she walked toward the cabin. A motion caught her eye and she turned to watch a much smaller boat, just a motored skiff, pull up to the dock and tie on.

The motor died, and a tall, grizzle-haired man with a husky build got out. He was dressed in faded, patched fatigues and a black tank top, and he adjusted a blue cap as he paused on the dock.

His eyes fell on their boat, and he turned and examined it carefully from bow to stern. Then he pivoted on his heel and headed up toward the buildings, walking with a determined, powerful stride.

“You know,” Kerry leaned on the edge of the cabin door, “if I were the gambling type, I’d bet that guy’s name is Bud.” She watched as the man passed Christen and Juan coming back the other way, brushing by them without a word. The two continued back to their boat, but not without a look in Kerry’s direction. “This is starting to look squicky.”

“Did you say something, Ker?” Dar appeared at her elbow.

“I’m just going to kick the engines on and give Rufus the ride I promised him.”

“Sounds like a great idea.” Kerry patted her on the side. “I’ll untie us.” She jumped onto the dock and set them free, aware of being watched from across the way.

Something is definitely going on. Kerry suspected that sooner or later they’d be finding out what it was.


Chapter

Seven

IT WAS SUNSET when they pulled back into the dock, having enjoyed their late afternoon ride. Perched on the bow of the Bertram as Dar navigated in, the first thing Kerry noticed was that the small tender was gone.

Rufus was a cute kid. Kerry found his enthusiasm over anything nautical adorable, and watching Dar explain the working of the large diesels was a precious moment she wished she had on camera. Rufus obviously adored her partner, and even now he was glued to Dar’s side as she edged the big boat into dock.

Kerry made a mental note to get Dar to let her bring the craft in sometime, though this tiny dock probably wasn’t the best one to start with. Dar had to shift the diesels into reverse twice and then into idle, before they drifted into place. As they gently hit the bumpers, Kerry stepped off and secured the lines. The setting sun was turning the white beach sand a deep gold and painting the wooden buildings into a tropical watercolor scene. She leaned against a pylon and stuck her hands into her pockets, simply enjoying the view.

“Hey, Ker.” Dar jumped off the boat and onto the dock. “See that?”

Kerry obligingly peered down Dar’s arm. Her eyes widened.

“Whoa…what is that?”

A young woman was racing around the waves on what looked like a surfboard, but this surfboard had a handle and, apparently, an engine. As Kerry watched, the girl zoomed around in a big figure eight, effortlessly racing over the surface of the water. Kerry clutched Dar’s shoulder. “Ooo,” she crooned. “I want.” She craned her neck to see better. “That rocks!”

Dar smirked. “I thought you’d say that.” She turned and watched Rufus jump off the boat. “Okay, Rufus, tell your friend he’s got a customer.”

“Cool!” Rufus grinned at both of them. “I’m gonna go tell ’im.

Go see papa Bud, too.” He pattered off down the dock, only to turn and race back, throw his arms around Dar and give her a hug.


60 Melissa Good

“Thanks for th’ ride!”

“No problem.” Dar seemed a little embarrassed, but she returned the hug before she sent him on his way again. “Nice kid.”

“Mmhm,” Kerry agreed. “He’s got great taste in heroes to worship.”

Dar rolled her eyes. “Don’t you start that, Kerrison.”

Kerry snickered. “But it’s so cute,” she teased, reaching up to tweak Dar’s cheek. “C’mon. How about a shower before we go to dinner?”

They had turned to go back onto the boat when heavy footsteps made them look around. Charlie was limping down the dock toward them, giving them a friendly wave. “Ho, Dar!”