“He was talking about the movie version. Young, dynamic, intelligent, fascinating.” His smile faded. “I’m sorry about your loss. Jed says you’ve been having a bad time. I just want you to know that nothing’s going to happen to you when you’re with me.”
Strange. She believed him. He exuded a solid strength and determination that was reassuring. “Thank you. It’s good to know I have Geronimo on my side.”
“And at your side.” He stepped back and gestured. “Let’s get moving. Jed will be worried, and that always makes him difficult.”
She closed the door and started toward the elevator. “You must know him very well.”
He nodded. “But it took a hell of a long time. His upbringing didn’t encourage him to give either trust or affection freely.”
“Did yours?”
“My grandfather was awesome. Sometimes it only takes one person to make the difference.”
“You didn’t answer me.”
“Oh, you noticed that?” He smiled. “What a perceptive woman you—” He suddenly whirled and moved in front of her as the exit door opened beside them. In the space of seconds his entire demeanor had changed from easygoing casualness to threatening intimidation. The waiter carrying a tray who stepped out of the stairwell stopped in his tracks and then took a step back. Melis didn’t blame him. She would have been taken aback too.
Then Nicholas smiled, nodded at the waiter, and motioned for him to go ahead of them.
The man scurried quickly down the hall.
“What was I saying?” Nicholas asked. “Oh, yes, I was saying what a perceptive woman you are.”
And what an intriguing man he was, she thought. But that was okay. It didn’t surprise her that Kelby’s friend had sharp edges. Like to like. And she didn’t have to solve any puzzles right now. All she had to do was make it through Maria’s funeral and try to give some small comfort to her mother.
Hold tight. Don’t free the grief and fury. Take one step at a time.
“The Nemid woman attended the secretary’s funeral today,” Pennig said as soon as Archer picked up the phone. “There was no chance to get to her. Kelby was with her every minute, and she was surrounded by police and mourners.”
“You kept your distance?”
“Of course I did. She saw me in Athens. The bitch stared right at me. She could recognize me.”
“That’s because you were clumsy. You should have been more careful.”
“I was careful. I don’t know how she knew I was behind her.”
“Instinct. It’s a quality you’re short on, Pennig. But you have other talents I admire. It’s those talents that I’ve tried to nurture. Though I was a little disappointed that you failed with Mulan after all I’ve taught you.”
“I almost had her,” Pennig said quickly. “And she wasn’t easy. Sometimes the women are tougher.”
“But you assured me she was broken or I’d never have let her phone Melis Nemid. That was a serious lack of judgment on your part.”
“It won’t happen again.”
“I know it won’t. Because I won’t permit it.”
Pennig felt a ripple of anxiety that he quickly suppressed. “Do you want me to stay here? I don’t know how close I can get to her.”
“Stay there for a little while. You never know when opportunity will knock. In the meantime I want you to find out everything you can about Kelby and any associates. Including his telephone number and where his boat is docked. Join me in Miami in two days if it’s a no-go there in Nassau. And don’t let anyone see you, dammit. Did your contacts in Miami find the two men I told you to line up?”
“Yes, two Miami locals, Cobb and Dansk. Small-time, but they’ll do for surveillance of the island.”
“I hope they won’t be necessary. I’d be exceedingly pleased if you were able to get to Melis Nemid there in Nassau.”
Pennig was silent a moment. “And what do we do if I can’t?”
“Why, I find a way to stab Melis Nemid where it hurts the most,” Archer said gently. “And I promise you that I won’t be as inefficient as you were with Carolyn Mulan.”
So quick, Melis thought as she watched Carolyn’s ashes drift into the sea. Her final remains disappeared beneath the waves in seconds.
Just in that short span, the last vestige of a life was gone. But she had left so much behind. Melis took the silver whistle Carolyn had given her, kissed it, and threw it into the sea.
“What was that?” Kelby asked.
“Carolyn gave it to me for luck when I brought the dolphins home.” She swallowed. “It was too pretty to use, but I always carried it with me.”
“Don’t you want to keep it?”
She shook her head. “I want her to have it. She’d know what it meant to me.”
“Bastards.”
She turned to see Ben Drake, Carolyn’s ex-husband, standing beside her, staring over the rail of the cruiser into the water. His eyes were bloodshot and moist with unshed tears.
“Sons of bitches. Why the hell would anyone—” He turned away and pushed his way through the crowd to the other side of the cruiser.
“You were right, he’s taking it bad.” Kelby gazed around the deck at the mourners. “She had a lot of friends.”
“If they’d let everyone on board who wanted to come, they’d have sunk the ship.” Melis looked back at the water. “She was very special.”
“It’s pretty clear everyone thought so.” Several minutes passed and the cruiser had turned around and was going back to dock before he spoke again. “What now?” Kelby asked quietly. “You said everything was on hold until the service for your friend was over. You can’t stay here. It’s too dangerous for you. Are you going back to your island?”
“Yes.”
“Will you let me go with you?”
She could tell he was expecting her to refuse. She glanced back over her shoulder at the sea where Carolyn’s ashes had been scattered.
Good-bye, my friend. Thank you for all you gave me. I won’t forget you.
Her lips tightened as she turned back to face him. “Yes, by all means, come with me, Kelby.”
“Quite a setup.” Kelby watched her lower the net. “And your dolphin friends never try to get out?”
“No, Pete and Susie are happy here. Once I attached a radio tag and tried to release them, but they kept coming back to the net and calling me to let them in.”
“They didn’t like the big world?”
“They know it can be dangerous. And they’ve had all the adventures they wanted.” She fastened the net after they floated over it. “Not everyone loves dolphins.”
“It’s hard to believe. Pete and Susie are certainly appealing.” He grinned as he watched the dolphins swim giddily around the boat. “And they appear to love you.”
“Yes.” She smiled. “They love me. I’m family.” She started the motor. “And family is important to dolphins.”
“Did they adopt your friend Carolyn?”
She shook her head. “They liked her. Maybe they would have gotten closer if she’d been able to spend more time with them. She was always busy with her practice.” She waved. “There’s Cal on the pier. He’ll be relieved I’m back. Pete and Susie make him uneasy. They sense he gets nervous and play tricks on him.” She guided the boat to the pier and cut the engine. “Hello, Cal. Everything okay?”
“Fine.” He helped her from the boat. “The dolphins have actually been good while you’ve been gone.”
“I told you they liked you.” She gestured to Kelby. “Jed Kelby, this is Cal Dugan, your new employee. You’ve talked to each other on the phone. Cal can show you your room. I’ll go and shower and leave you to get to know each other. I’ll see you at supper.” She moved down the pier toward the house.
“I seem to have been dumped,” Kelby murmured, his gaze on Melis. “I guess you have to be a dolphin to get her attention here.”
“Pretty near,” Cal said. “But at least she let you come. She doesn’t iss
ue many invitations.”
“Unless she has a hidden agenda.”
“There’s nothing much hidden about Melis. She’s up-front and out in the open.” He grimaced. “She always tells you exactly what she thinks.”
“Then she’s not ready to tell me why I’m her guest.” He stared after her speculatively. “At least not yet.”
The sun was setting when Kelby came out on the lanai. Melis was sitting with her feet dangling in the water, talking softly to Pete and Susie.
He stopped for a moment, watching her. Her expression was soft, radiant. She looked completely different from the woman he had known since Athens.
That didn’t mean she wasn’t one tough cookie. He had to remember that and ignore this woman who looked like a child talking to her dolphins. Women were always the most dangerous when they seemed no threat at all. He was here for one reason, and nothing must get in the way.
Yeah, sure, a hell of a lot had already gotten in the way. But they had made it through that mess in Nassau. Now he could zero in and move toward the objective.
He strolled across the lanai toward her.
“They act as if they understand you.”
Melis stiffened and looked up at Kelby. “I didn’t know you were there.”
“You were totally absorbed. Do they always come up and visit you after supper?” Kelby sat down on the edge of the lanai and watched Pete and Susie speed away and start playing in the sea.
“Most of the time. They usually come right at sunset. They like to say good night.”
“How do you identify them in the water? Or should I say how would I identify them? You seem to have a second sense.”
“Pete is larger and has darker gray markings on his snout. Susie’s dorsal fin has a V in the center. Where’s Cal?”
“I sent him to Tobago to get supplies and meet Nicholas’s plane. They’ll be back tomorrow.”
“Nicholas Lyons is coming here?”
“Not unless you give the word. It’s your island. He can stay in Tobago. I just wanted him nearby.”
“He can come. I don’t care.”
“That’s not what Cal said. According to him this is a very private island.”
“That’s the way I like it. But sometimes we have to ignore what we like or don’t like. You may need him.”
“Really?”
“Good night, guys,” she called to the dolphins. “See you in the morning.”
They gave a final chattering series of clicks and then disappeared beneath the water.
“They won’t come back unless I call them.”
“Why do you call them guys when Susie is a female?”
“When I first got to know them, they wouldn’t let me get close enough to find out their sex. They’re built for speed, and their genitals are tucked neatly out of sight until they have use for them. I just got in the habit of calling them that.” She got to her feet. “I’ve made some coffee. I’ll go get the cups and carafe.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“No, stay here.” She didn’t want him with her. She needed a few minutes alone. Jesus, she didn’t want to do this. Well, it didn’t matter what she wanted. She’d made a decision and she had to stick to it.
He was standing looking out at the sunset when she came back with the tray. “God, it’s beautiful. No wonder you never want to leave this place.”
“There are lots of beautiful places in the world.” She set the tray on the table. “And you’ve probably seen most of them.”
“I’ve tried.” He poured coffee and took his cup to the edge of the lanai. “But sometimes beautiful turns ugly. It depends on what happens there. I hope this place never does.”
“That’s why I had Phil install safeguards to protect the island.”
“Cal told me that you could rev that electricity up on the net from low voltage to lethal.” He paused. “And you did it before any of this particular ugliness was in the works. You evidently don’t place much faith in law enforcement.”
“The coast guard usually shows up after a crime. If you’re going to maintain your independence, I’ve learned you can’t really count on anyone but yourself.” She looked him in the eye. “Haven’t you?”
“Yes.” He lifted his cup to his lips. “I wasn’t criticizing your methods of taking care of yourself. I was only commenting.” He turned to face her. “Okay, we’ve discussed scenic beauty, security, and independence. Now are you going to tell me why I’m here?”
“Why, I’m going to give you what you want. What you all want.” She paused. “Marinth.”
He stiffened. “What?”
“You heard me. The ancient city, the fortress, the treasure trove. The grand prize.” Her lips twisted bitterly. “The trophy that was worth Carolyn and Phil giving their lives.”
“You know where Marinth is?”
“I know the approximate area. It’s in the Canary Islands. There are obstacles. It’s not going to be easy. But I can find it.”
“How?”
“I’m not going to tell you. It’s important that you continue to need me.”
“Because you don’t trust me.”
“I don’t trust anyone where Marinth is concerned. I lived with Phil for years, and every one of those years he dreamed about finding Marinth. He’d read me the legends and tell me about the expeditions that went in search of the lost city. He even named his ship Last Home because that’s how Hepsut referred to Marinth on the wall of his tomb. Phil wasn’t nearly as excited about Atlantis. He was sure Marinth was the technological and cultural end of the rainbow. He spent half his life on wild-goose chases to find the city.” She paused. “And then six years ago he thought he’d discovered the location. He wanted to keep it a big secret so other oceanographers wouldn’t show up. He left the crew in Athens and took only me along to the site.”
“And he found it?”
“He found a way to find it. And proof that it existed. He was over the moon with joy.”
“Then why didn’t he go after it?”
“There was a problem. He needed my help and I refused to give it.”
“Why?”
“If he wanted to find it, then he could do it himself. Maybe some places need to stay buried in the ocean.”
“But you’re willing to help now.”
“Because it’s a price I have to pay. You want Marinth, just like Phil did.”
“And what do you want?”
“I want the men who killed Carolyn and Phil. I want them punished.”
“Dead?”
Carolyn lying on that cold metal slab.
“Oh, yes.”
“And you don’t believe the law will catch them?”
“I can’t take the chance. And there’s a chance I’d spin my wheels for a long time if I tried to find them myself. I don’t have influence or money. This island is the only asset I have in the world. No, you’re my best bet. You have as much money as Midas. Your background in the SEALs has taught you how to kill. Now you have motivation. I just gave it to you.”
“But I have to give you what you want before I get my reward.”
“I’m not a fool, Kelby.”
“Neither am I. You didn’t help Lontana find Marinth, and you cared about him. Why should I believe you’ll meekly lead me to it?”
“You won’t believe me. But you’re obsessed like Phil, so you’ll take a chance that I’ll keep my part of the bargain.”
“You’re sure of that?”
“Sure enough.”
“Give me proof you know where Marinth is located.”
“I don’t have proof here I can show you. You’ll have to trust me.”
“If it’s not here, where is it?”
“It’s near Las Palmas.”
“That’s vague enough. Why don’t we fly out there and you can show me?”
“If I showed you the proof, you might decide you didn’t need me.”
“Then you’d have to trust me, wouldn’t you?” He shook his h
ead. “We’re at a stalemate. Outfitting a ship for this kind of expedition can be very expensive. I’m supposed to spend all that cash on the chance you’re telling me the truth? Wilson wouldn’t approve of me going on a wild-goose chase.”
“Why are you arguing?” She frowned. “This is what you’ve wanted from me since you met me. Now I’m giving it to you.”
“You’re telling me you’re giving it to me. Do you know how many times in my life I’ve trusted people and had them bite me in the ass? A long time ago I swore it would never happen to me again. You show me why I should think you’re any different. I don’t see any sign of either proof or bond.” He was silent a moment. “I’ll think about it.”
She felt a ripple of panic. She hadn’t expected his hesitation. Phil wouldn’t have hesitated. Anything and everything for the dream. “What else do you want?”
“I said I’d think about it.”
“No, I need you to do this. Carolyn was . . . I can’t let them go free after what—” She drew a deep breath. “What do you want from me? I’ll do anything. Do you want me to go to bed with you? I’ll do it. That’s a sort of promissory note, isn’t it? Whatever it takes to make sure—”
“For God’s sake, shut up. I don’t want to screw you.”
“You’ve never thought of it?” Her lips twisted. “Of course you have. Men . . . like me. They always have. It’s something about the way I look. Carolyn used to say it aroused the conqueror instinct, that I had to accept it and deal with it. Well, I’m dealing with it, Kelby. You want a little something extra added to Marinth? You can have it. Just give me your promise.”
“Son of a bitch.”
“Just your promise.”
“I’m not giving you anything.” He took a step toward her, his eyes glittering in his taut face. “Hell, yes, I want to fuck you. I’ve wanted to do it from the first time I saw you in Athens. But you don’t try to jump a woman who’s already walking wounded. Dammit, I’m not an animal. I won’t treat you like a whore even though you’re offering to be one. If I decide to go after Marinth, it won’t be because I want to get in you.”