Terrors of the High Seas - DK6 (61 page)

With a pensive sigh, she went back to playing with Dar’s hair, her eyes tracing her lover’s face and watching the faint twitches of a dream flicker under the closed eyelids. Dar had gotten a little bruised herself, Kerry noticed, as she smoothed a fingertip over a discolored patch of tan skin across one high cheekbone. She leaned closer. More of a burn, really, than a bruise. Kerry frowned, thinking back over the fight and wondering where it could have come from. She remembered hearing Dar curse as she’d been tossed head over tail to safety, and then the sound of a gun going off and… Kerry’s eyes widened.
Had it
come that close?
Horrified, she stared at the mark, imagining if it had been just a fraction of a hair different in its path.

It had come that close. She had come that close to losing Dar.

Kerry tipped her head back and looked up at the ceiling. Her eyes closed and she whispered a few words of heartfelt thanks to the God that surely, surely had been watching over both of them. She had no doubt now that she was blessed, that Dar was blessed, and that the love between them was as sanctified as any that had ever been. It would have been so easy to punish her, otherwise. Kerry looked back down at Dar’s face. Just a fraction of an inch and like a wisp of smoke, it all would have been gone.

She felt Dar’s breath warm the skin on her bare belly. She’d still been tired, even after their night’s rest, and lying there sleeping she looked as peaceful as a child. Kerry absorbed the sight of her, newly aware of just how fragile, how precious life was.

With a soft murmur, Dar stirred, stretching out her body and curling it up again. Her eyes drifted open and she regarded Kerry with sleepy affection. “Mm… W’time is it?”

Kerry stroked her cheek. “Nearly one,” she said.

Dar sighed, a reluctant expression appearing on her face. “I guess we should go find out what our lunch date’s all about, hm?”

she drawled. “Didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.”

“Literally.” Kerry smiled. “You were tired.”

Dar nodded. “I tossed around a while last night. Too much noise, I think.”

“Too much excitement,” Kerry suggested. Her index finger traced the mark on Dar’s face. “I didn’t notice this until now.”

“Hm?” Dar’s brow contracted in puzzlement. “Didn’t notice what?”

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“The burn on your face.”

“Burn?” Dar lifted a hand and touched the spot, then her expression cleared. “Oh.” She nodded. “Yeah, stupid bastard nearly blew my damn head off.”

Kerry rubbed the spot with a trembling hand. “Yeah, so I see.”

Dar’s expression gentled. “No chance I was going to let him get away with that, though.” She settled back down atop Kerry. “I’m not nearly done living this life with you yet.” Her fingers clasped Kerry’s and she pulled her hand close and kissed it, nibbling the skin with frank sensuality.

Kerry could only smile at that. “Dar, did you ever get the weird feeling that the place we knew each other from before we met during the buy-out wasn’t in this particular lifetime?”

Both of Dar’s dark, finely shaped brows hiked upward. She gazed at Kerry in silence for a few moments, muscles in her face moving slightly as she thought. “I never really considered the question,” she finally answered, with a barely visible shrug.

“Hm.” Kerry felt slightly silly for mentioning it. “Well, never mind. Just something that crossed my mind, I guess.”

“Interesting idea,” Dar mused. “I think I’d accept the notion of reincarnation if I knew it’d be with you.” Her face creased into a pleased grin. “That’d be very cool.”

Kerry grinned back. “Yes, it would, wouldn’t it?” She released her residual morbid thoughts and gave Dar a light scratch on her bare back, rubbing in little circles with her fingertips. Dar responded by purring, and arching her body at the touch. “You’re very playful today.”

Dar rolled over and changed position, sliding her arms and legs over Kerry’s and blowing a gentle puff of air into her ear. “Just glad it’s today and not yesterday.” She rested her chin on Kerry’s shoulder and gazed at her. “C’mon. The sooner we get all this over with, the sooner I can steal you and take you off to my deserted island.”

“Ooh.” Kerry found it very hard to resist the mischievous grin being directed at her. She tilted her head and kissed Dar gently.

Then they both rolled out of bed, still tangled together, giggling as they attempted to prevent themselves from crashing headlong into the bulkhead.

They separated and Kerry handed Dar her clothing, which was draped haphazardly across the dresser. She watched Dar slide into her swimsuit, then reached out and touched the soft, silken fabric.

“I like this.”

“It’s like wearing tissue paper,” Dar remarked dryly. “Or nothing.”

“Mmhm. That’s why I like it,” Kerry agreed with an impish grin. “It only leaves a tiny bit to the imagination.”

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Dar looked down at herself then up at Kerry, as a faint chuckle of surprise escaped her. She reached out and tickled Kerry’s still bare navel. “I think you’re outgrowing your upbringing.”

Kerry chuckled a little herself and donned her underwear. She looked up to find Dar holding her bra, and obligingly put her arms through and turned to allow her partner to fasten it. She felt Dar’s knuckles warm against the skin of her back, then a much more intense warmth sent goosebumps over her as Dar nibbled at her neck. “Mm.”

Dar released her and picked up Kerry’s cotton shirt, holding it for her to don. She adjusted the collar and returned to her nibbling as Kerry attempted to button it, then reached around to help her when the holes seemed to elude her fingers.

“Dar?”

“Mm?”

“If you keep that up, this is a pointless exercise.”

“What’s pointless?”

“Dressing.”

Dar relented and just finished her buttoning, giving Kerry a pat on the behind as she released her again. She put on her shorts and buckled the belt, then pulled a polo shirt over her head and tucked it in.

Kerry regarded her, then plucked at the rich, royal blue polo.

“Black and blue. Are you sending a message, honey?”

Dar ran her fingers through her hair and settled her wraparound sunglasses on her nose. “Do I look mysterious and intimidating?”

“Until I look down at your Dilbert socks, sure,” Kerry snickered. “Nerd.”

Dar stuck out her tongue and went in search of her sneakers.

Kerry finished buttoning her denim shorts and followed, shaking her head.

THEY FOUND THE captain waiting for them at the front entrance to the hotel. As he spotted them, he smiled and inclined his head, then indicated the outside garden area. “Our power is still off, and the inside is quite stuffy.”

“I can imagine.” Kerry glanced up at the sun, out in its full glory. Despite the breeze, she could feel a little sweat gathering under her clothing, and she was unapologetically looking forward to taking them off again. She followed the captain into the garden, and they took a seat at one of the only two open tables, the wooden chairs warm from the sun.

Dar settled next to her, watching the captain warily from behind her sunglasses. “So,” she said, “what can we do for you?”

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The policeman motioned over a harried looking waiter. “Some iced tea, if you please.”

The man gave him an apologetic look. “We have no ice, sir.”

“How about some lukewarm tea?” Kerry suggested. “And a couple of whatever sandwiches you probably have available.”

The waiter glanced at the policeman.

“As the lady says.” The captain smiled. “Since we have little choice, I gather.”

“Yes, sir.” The waiter scribbled, then ducked away.

The captain sat back and clasped his hands around one khaki-covered knee. He regarded them both in silence for a moment, then spoke. “Many things have occurred over the past several days.”

Now, that was a true mouthful.
Kerry propped her chin up on her fist. “Sure have.”

“We were not able to locate the intruder into your rooms,” he stated. “And it appears as if the reputed employer of that person has also left the islands.” His eyes studied them intently. “We found that quite curious, since the marina tells us he had prepaid his engagement for some time”

“Really?” Kerry murmured. “Hm.”

“We heard that he left the marina last night and was going to meet someone. Would you know anything about that?” The policeman’s sharp eyes watched them intently. “He seemed so very interested in you.”

“Ah.”

“And then, I also hear that his boat was having some trouble in our storm last night,” the captain went on. “Not so surprising, yes?

It was a terrible storm.”

Dar studied him, aware of Kerry’s now tense form next to her.

“It was pretty bad,” she agreed. “We got caught out in it too.”

“So I understand,” the policeman said. “Do you, perhaps, have any information on any…mishap that may have befallen this gentleman? Out on the sea?”

Dar evaluated her options. She pulled down her glasses and met his eyes squarely. “If we knew why he wasn’t here, would you want us to tell you?” She heard Kerry’s indrawn breath, and considered the possibility that she’d just gone too far. “Captain?”

The captain’s face twitched a bit and his head cocked to one side. “I have heard some interesting things about this man, and about yourself, Ms. Roberts,” he commented. “If I investigate your statement, perhaps I will learn more interesting things.”

“You might,” Dar agreed.

“However, I might also learn some things that would require me to work very, very hard.” The captain gave her a charming smile. “And it is too beautiful a day to be working so hard. So, Ms.

Roberts, I will regretfully decline your so generous offer of
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information.”

Dar gave him a mental point and removed a moral one. “Good choice,” she said. “Because, frankly, Captain, nice as your island is, we’re looking forward to seeing it behind us.”

“That is excellent to hear, Ms. Roberts.” The man turned as the waiter put down a plate of sandwiches and a flask of tea. “May I assume, then, that you have no interest in pursuing your complaint concerning the break-in here in the hotel?” he asked. “Or the disagreeable encounter you had at sea?”

Dar leaned forward. “I’ve settled with DeSalliers, and no, your friends the pirates are safe.” She enunciated the words carefully, but lowered her voice. “I’ve had enough trouble the last few days to last me the entire next year, thanks.”

“My friends?” the policeman replied. “Ah, but you have such friends as well, do you not?”

Dar inclined her head in affirmation. She picked up a half sandwich and inspected it, then grinned. “Oh, I bet this is popular with the rest of the tourists.” She showed Kerry the contents.

“Peanut butter.”

“It does not spoil so quickly.” The policeman graciously accepted the change of subject and selected his own square of white bread. “Other than these unfortunate incidents, you have enjoyed our hospitality, I hope?”

Kerry paused in the act of pouring some tea. “The islands are beautiful,” she said. “I can guarantee we won’t forget our visit any time soon.”

The captain took a bite of his peanut butter sandwich, set the remainder back on the table, and smiled. “Excellent.” He got up, giving them a sketchy salute with his free hand. “Do have a good day, won’t you?”

They watched him leave, his slim, uniformed figure gliding through the crowd with ease. Kerry waited until he disappeared, then she sighed and leaned back. “Wow.”

“Mm.” Dar took a sip of her lukewarm tea. “So, that’s that, I guess.”

Kerry nudged her sandwich with one finger. “Does that mean…he’s just going to ignore the fact that a whole boat and its crew has disappeared?”

Dar bit the edge of the glass as she looked at Kerry through it.

“I guess he figures it’s just one more boat gone missing in a long list of them,” she said. “I don’t know.”

“Wow. So much for the law.” Kerry frowned.

Dar folded her hands around one knee. “Yeah,” she said. “Well, maybe it’s for the best.”

“What?” Kerry said. “After what happened to Bud? And the map? And DeSalliers’ goons and his gun and—”

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Dar looked at her. “And me choking him as we went overboard?” she interrupted in a low tone. “And what happened with that guy spotting the raft with the searchlight, and Dad shooting holes in the boat?” She leaned over nearer to Kerry.

“They were trying to kill us!” Kerry hissed, in a mere whisper.

“What were we supposed to do, let them? Call the police?” she added with a touch of sarcasm. “Call CNN?”

Dar touched her fingertips to Kerry’s lips. “All I’m saying is, it’s over.”

Kerry stared at her for a long moment, then she let out a breath.

“What about the pirates?” She took another tack. “We can’t just leave that alone. Even if Bud and Charlie are involved, damn it, Dar.”

“No,” Dar conceded. “But we’re not going to get any help from the cops here.” She glanced around, but the tables near them were quite empty. “On the other hand, nothing’s stopping us from contacting those insurance companies when we get back to Miami.

Kerry relaxed a little. “That’s true,” she agreed. “If we take away their gains, maybe it’ll stop.”

“Exactly.”

“Think they’ll believe us?” the blonde woman asked wryly. “It all sounds so melodramatic.” She rubbed her temples. “How do we get ourselves into this stuff, anyway?”

“Natural talent.” Dar stood and offered Kerry a hand up. “Let’s go. I think we’ve overstayed our welcome.”

Kerry joined her, and they started off back toward the
Dixie
.

“This place’s overstayed my need to be here,” she muttered, dodging a flock of pigeons. “Next time, we hike Yosemite.”

“We’ll end up being chased by a bear.”

“That’s Yellowstone.”

“Whatever.”

“ARE YOU SURE this is a good idea?” Kerry whispered, as they relieved the grateful grocers of some of their perishables. “I don’t think those guys get along, Dar.”

Dar reviewed the choices in the rapidly melting ice. “They’ll be fine.” She pointed at a fish. “Get that one. Dad likes them.”