Sea of Suspicion

  Nancy stared at the picture for a long moment. This seemed to prove that Talia was involved with Leif Dorning, Nancy realized.

  Suddenly she jerked her head around. There was a noise coming from the other side of the door. She opened the cabin door a sliver and peered out. Leif Dorning had just returned!

  Through the cracked door, Nancy could see the tall, blond Dorning making his way through the main galley. He was heading straight for the cabin where Nancy was standing. She had to get out fast!

  Moving swiftly, Nancy reached for a small porthole over Dorning’s bunk. She struggled to open the porthole, but succeeded only in gnashing her teeth in frustration. The window was bolted from the outside.

  Glancing around desperately, Nancy heard the door handle turn behind her. Any second now Dorning would come in and she’d be caught!

  Chapter

  Nine

  THE LAST THING Nancy wanted was a confrontation with Dorning. Her eyes darted quickly about, and she spied the only possible avenue of escape—a narrow door on the far side of the cabin. It looked like a closet of some kind.

  As Dorning entered the cabin, Nancy stole through the smaller door and found herself in a cramped storage room. She froze for a moment, scarcely daring to breathe as Dorning moved about in the room outside.

  After what seemed an eternity, Nancy heard Dorning leave the cabin. Now she had to find a way out. She didn’t dare escape the way she’d come in because Dorning was probably still on board.

  Nancy felt a draft from somewhere overhead and looked up to find a hatch in the ceiling. Nancy hoped it led directly up onto the deck. Taking a deep breath, she carefully slid back the bolt and lifted herself onto the deck.

  “Hey, you!” a man yelled from the dock.

  Without pausing to check him out, Nancy made it to the edge of the deck in three quick strides. With a quick hop she dove smoothly over the side. There was barely a ripple as she knifed cleanly into the water.

  Nancy swam underwater until her lungs were ready to burst. She knew she had to put as much distance as possible between herself and the Sea Scorpion before coming up for air.

  She broke the surface just beyond the last dock. The first thing she saw was Ned’s worried face.

  He helped her out of the water and wrapped his sweater around her while she told him what had happened.

  “Do you think you were recognized?” he asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Nancy said, shivering slightly. “But Dorning knows someone broke into his ship.”

  Ned hugged her to him. “You could have gotten hurt, Drew,” he said in her ear. “How could you take such a risk?”

  “It was worth it, Ned. I found something on board that makes Talia a major suspect.”

  “Let’s get you warm and dry, then you can tell me all about it,” Ned said protectively.

  Nancy and Ned put up the top of the convertible and drove back to the inn, where they found George and Bess sitting on the front porch swing.

  Bess’s blue eyes widened when she caught sight of Nancy. “What happened to you?” she cried. “You’re soaked!”

  “I’m fine, really,” Nancy replied. She kissed Ned good night and quickly told her friends about her close call on the Sea Scorpion as they went up to their room so she could change. “But before Leif Dorning almost caught me, I found a picture of him and Talia. I’m pretty sure they’re dating.”

  “I can’t believe she cares about that guy,” Bess said, wrinkling her nose with distaste.

  “That would give her a big reason to wreck Sean’s treasure hunt,” George said angrily.

  “You’re right, George.” Nancy nodded as she dried her hair with a towel. “I already knew from Talia’s letter that she blames Sean for her brother’s death. Now it turns out she’s dating his number-one rival. I think I should tell Sean about it right away.”

  “Sean just called a little while ago. Karen canceled their meeting earlier today so they’re meeting tonight—probably until quite late,” George said.

  “He and Karen are probably planning his defense,” Nancy said. “I guess my news can keep until morning.” George had a slightly wistful expression on her face, she noticed. “Tell me about your date,” Nancy prodded, pulling her robe tighter around her.

  “We just had a nice, quiet walk on the beach.” George blushed. “I found some beautiful shells.” She took a deep breath and turned her head away. “I’m just starting to realize how much I want everything to be okay for Sean,” she added quietly.

  “So do I, George,” Nancy said. “So do I.”

  • • •

  Nancy was up before the sun the next morning. She wanted to call Sean before he left for the Lady Jane.

  “Hi, Nancy.” Sean sounded dispirited. “Last night I found out that Karen managed to postpone my arraignment for a month. Unfortunately, I also found out that the police didn’t turn up any fingerprints other than mine on the fishing spear that killed Rusty. And the autopsy showed that the spear definitely was the murder weapon. So it looks like I’m still the only suspect.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that, Sean,” Nancy replied. “But we may be closing in on the real murderer. Last night I searched Leif Dorning’s boat. I found a picture that proves he and Talia are going out.”

  There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. “I’ll bet anything Talia has told Dorning about the anchor we just found,” he fumed.

  “As a member of your crew, Talia had plenty of opportunities for sabotage,” Nancy pointed out. “She and Dorning could be behind the whole thing—including Rusty’s death. We know that Rusty used to work for Dorning. Maybe Rusty was in league with them and was killed during a quarrel over the gold ingot.”

  “I hate to think that Talia is really involved in all this,” Sean said sadly.

  “We’ll have to confront her as soon as she arrives on board this morning,” Nancy said.

  “That sounds like a good idea,” Sean replied. “Let’s all meet at the Lady Jane in half an hour.” Then he hung up.

  Nancy pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of jeans, then waited for Bess and George to get ready. They picked up Ned and headed for the marina, skipping breakfast. As they stepped onto the Lady Jane’s deck, Nancy saw that Sean was already on board with Zach. The two men were inside the pilothouse huddled over some charts.

  “Where’s Talia?” Nancy asked.

  “She left a message on my machine saying she’d be a little late,” Zach said.

  Nancy decided not to refer to her conversation with Sean in front of Zach. She still hadn’t ruled him out as a suspect.

  Sean disappeared down into the galley and soon reappeared on deck bearing a platter of doughnuts and two thermoses, one of tea and one of coffee.

  “Mmm, look at those doughnuts,” Bess said. “Who do we have to thank for these?”

  “Me.” Sean grinned. “I always start off the day on a full stomach.”

  “My sentiments exactly,” Bess said. She picked up a powdered doughnut and took a bite.

  Nancy was just reaching for a doughnut as a shadow fell across the group. She turned around and saw Leif Dorning standing on the dock.

  Dorning stopped short when he saw Nancy. “You!” he yelled at her. “You broke into my ship last night, didn’t you!”

  So he did get a good look at me last night, Nancy realized uncomfortably. Before she had a chance to reply, Sean stepped forward. “Give it a rest, Dorning,” he began, but Nancy interrupted him.

  “I was on board the Sea Scorpion last night,” she said, “investigating Rusty’s murder.” She took a step forward. “I have reason to suspect you may be involved in it as well as in the sabotage of the Lady Jane.”

  Dorning’s jaw dropped. “I never did that old geezer any harm,” he said defensively. “And speaking of sabotage, if we hadn’t interrupted you last night, I’ll bet you would have done something to the Sea Scorpion. And not for the first time, either!” he sputtered.

  “Wait a minute,” N
ancy said, confused by the counterattack. Dorning had accused Sean of sabotaging him a couple of days earlier, too. “You’re saying that the Sea Scorpion has been sabotaged, too?”

  “You bet it has!” Dorning blustered. “Just last week someone poked a hole in our fuel line. I suspect you were behind it, Sean.”

  “I don’t believe a word of this, Dorning,” he snapped. “You’re just blowing smoke to cover your own tracks.”

  Bess, Ned, and George had been listening off to the side. George shook her head. “What do you make of all this, Nan?” she asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Nancy said slowly. “It sounds as if someone may have it in for both Sean and Dorning.”

  “Leif! What are you doing here?”

  Nancy whirled around and saw Talia approaching.

  “I was just leaving,” Dorning said, his eyes softening as he took in Talia.

  Just then Nancy blurted out, “Tell me something, Dorning, have you ever had a tall, brown-haired man work on your boat—a man with a full beard and mustache?”

  Dorning shook his head. “I don’t know any guys with full beards,” he said. He looked from Nancy to Sean. “I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but I’m keeping my eye on you two,” he said. “And stay off the Sea Scorpion. Next time I’ll have you arrested!”

  As Talia boarded, she looked anxiously at Sean. “Why did Leif come here?” she asked. “Is something wrong?”

  “Something is definitely wrong,” Sean snapped. “When did you and Dorning start seeing each other?”

  Talia flushed a bright red. “Leif was very kind to me after my brother died,” she explained, setting down her boat bag. “He—he sent me a very sweet sympathy note. After that we started talking once in a while.” She twisted a friendship ring on her finger.

  “Why didn’t you tell Sean about your relationship with Dorning?” Nancy asked her.

  “I didn’t think Sean would understand—I know he and Leif can’t stand each other,” she said with a sigh. “Leif’s really a good person underneath all that bluster,” she explained to Nancy. “He’s become quite conscious of protecting the environment when he treasure hunts now.”

  “I’m just curious to know about your dinner meeting with Dorning the other night on his boat,” Nancy said. “What was it he gave you in the big white envelope?”

  Talia seemed to be puzzled for a moment. Then she smiled. “Oh, just some articles I lent him about the environment.”

  Nancy nodded but felt doubtful. She wanted to believe that Dorning and Talia were telling the truth, but she couldn’t ignore the possibility that they were both lying.

  Nancy looked at Sean. “I want to talk to Hank Morley again,” she said. “He’s the one who told me about seeing the bearded man on board the Sea Scorpion. Maybe he was mistaken.” She glanced at her watch—it was still only seven-thirty. “Do you think Hank’s open this early?” she asked.

  “Sure,” Zach spoke up. “I’ll go with you. I need to get our air tanks filled up, anyway.”

  “George, maybe you and Bess can give me a hand getting the galley ready this morning,” Sean said. “With Rusty gone, things are kind of a mess.”

  “Sure thing,” George said, nodding.

  “Kitchen work—my least favorite,” Bess groaned quietly into Nancy’s ear as she and George followed Sean down to the galley.

  • • •

  Nancy, Ned, and Zach carried the air tanks to Hank’s shop. Nancy found Hank working behind the cash register.

  “Hi, Hank,” Nancy said, greeting him. “Remember when you said you thought you saw that guy we chased through your shop on board the Sea Scorpion. Leif Dorning says he doesn’t know anyone who fits that description. Do you think it could have been another boat you were thinking about?”

  Morley scratched his head. “Could be,” he said slowly. “But I was sure it was Dorning’s.” He shrugged. “Maybe my memory’s not what it used to be.”

  Zach came out from the back of the shop with Ned. “Hey, Hank,” he said. “Your air tank pump is busted. I’ll have to go all the way to Diver Dan’s to fill these tanks.” He checked his watch and grimaced. “I really need to get back to the boat to help Sean map out a course for our trip today.”

  “Nancy and I could get the tanks filled,” Ned volunteered.

  Zach smiled. “That’d be great,” he said. Zach helped them load the tanks into Nancy’s car after giving them directions. Then he gave a quick wave and headed back to the boat.

  They soon arrived at the other store, and Ned climbed out and went around to open the trunk. He was reaching for the first tank when Nancy saw his face contort with pain. He cried out, jerking his hand away.

  “What is it, Ned?”

  “I think I just got bitten by something,” Ned said. He held up his hand, which had an ugly red mark on it.

  Nancy peered into the trunk and saw a large insect crawling on one of the tanks. She leaned down to get a closer look—and her heart beat double time. Ned had just been bitten by a scorpion!

  Chapter

  Ten

  WE HAVE to get you to the hospital right away, Ned,” Nancy said in a worried voice. She knew that some scorpion bites were extremely dangerous.

  “I’m okay, Nancy—really,” Ned said, and climbed into the car next to her. “It just stings a little where the actual bite is.”

  Ned’s hand was already swelling, Nancy could see. She drove as quickly as safety allowed, following a series of blue signs that pointed the way to Key West Hospital.

  “I know you’ll be fine, Ned,” Nancy said reassuringly. She didn’t want him to know how worried she really was. Glancing at him, Nancy could see that the swelling had already doubled in the short time they’d been driving.

  “Hang on, Ned,” she said, deftly maneuvering around some bicycles. “We’re almost there.”

  It seemed an eternity before they spotted the red and white sign of the hospital’s emergency room. Nancy pulled into a parking space next to an ambulance. She got out and hurried around to open the passenger door for Ned.

  “Do you think you can walk, or should I get a wheelchair?” Nancy asked Ned. He looked as if he was beginning to get dizzy.

  “I can walk—just don’t ask me to do the high jump,” Ned joked weakly as he climbed out of the car.

  Inside the hospital they were quickly admitted to see an emergency room doctor. The doctor, who had short dark hair and a no-nonsense manner, was briskly reassuring as she examined the bite on Ned’s hand.

  “Don’t worry, Ms. Drew,” the doctor said to Nancy as she gave Ned a shot, “you’ll have your boyfriend around for many years to come.”

  “Then the bite’s not serious?” Nancy asked, holding her breath.

  “A scorpion bite can be serious, but only to people who are severely allergic to insect venom, such as bee stings,” the doctor explained. “In general, scorpions and other bugs like tarantulas are fairly harmless. They’ve just gotten a bad rap from all those horror movies. We’ll keep you here a little while for observation, then send you home,” she said to Ned.

  Nancy felt a warm rush wash through her body. “I’m so relieved,” she whispered, squeezing Ned’s good hand.

  “You’re relieved?” Ned grinned. “I feel like a death sentence has just been lifted!”

  About an hour later Nancy and Ned walked out of the emergency room.

  “I’ll call Sean again and tell him to go on without us—I want to take care of you back at the inn,” Nancy said.

  “No way!” Ned protested. “You heard the doctor say I’m fine. I’ll just want to sleep anyway.”

  “If you’re really sure . . .” Nancy said.

  “Positive.” Ned leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

  As they made their way back to the inn, Ned glanced at Nancy. “You’ve got that look, Nan, like you’re figuring something out,” he said after a while. “What wheels are turning behind those beautiful blue eyes?”

  “I’m just wondering
how that scorpion got into the trunk,” Nancy replied. “It doesn’t seem a likely place for an insect to hang out.”

  “Maybe it hitched a ride on something,” Ned said. “Like one of the scuba tanks.”

  “Or was given a ride,” Nancy said thoughtfully. “Could this have been Leif Dorning’s way of sending a message from the Sea Scorpion?”

  “Possibly. Only how did he know we’d be going into the trunk?” Ned asked her.

  Nancy’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “You’re right, Ned. Only Zach knew that we’d be opening the trunk. In fact, he even helped us load those air tanks.” She sighed. “If I know Zach, he’ll swear that you’re another victim of the curse of the Ninfa Marina.”

  “Oh, yeah, the curse,” Ned said, raising one dubious eyebrow.

  “Either he really believes in it—or he wants us to,” Nancy said. “I have to find out which.”

  Nancy pulled up in front of the Sunset Cove Inn to drop Ned off. “Get lots of sleep today,” she told him. “I’ll come back to check on you as soon as I get off the boat this afternoon.” She gave him a quick hug.

  “I want more than a hug,” Ned whispered huskily. He tilted her chin toward him with his finger. Then he kissed her long and hard, until she felt a tingling warmth reach all the way down to her toes. “To be continued tonight,” he said, opening the car door.

  “Wow,” Nancy said, still feeling the lingering effect of Ned’s kiss. She couldn’t wait until later!

  • • •

  Nancy stopped to have the tanks filled at Diver Dan’s and then returned to the Lady Jane. Bess, George, and the others greeted her with anxious questions. All they knew was what Sean had told them after Nancy called from the emergency room a couple hours earlier.

  “Sorry to hear about your friend,” Zach muttered.

  After Nancy reassured everyone that Ned would recover, they prepared to cast off.