Karen Kirst - Danger In The Deep

“There are plenty of certified divers here, but no one who’d willingly damage scuba equipment.”

“Not even for a joke?” Brady said.

“That’s not my idea of a joke.”

Erin sat beside her. “You were called away for an urgent phone call, remember?”

Olivia had forgotten about the summons. She’d been told that an American Zoo Association representative was requesting information about the upcoming fund-raiser, but when she’d gotten to the phone, the line was dead. She dismissed any thoughts of foul play. This was her second home. Her coworkers were her substitute family. The aquarium had kept her in the Jacksonville area after Derek’s death. If she didn’t adore her job, she would’ve returned to Cherokee in the western part of the state or even sought employment at a different aquarium.

“True,” she said, “but you were here.”

Worry lines dug into Erin’s forehead. “Actually, I dashed to the restroom.”

Brady bent and retrieved his jacket. The long-sleeved gray shirt he wore, wet from his foray into the tank, adhered to his muscular shoulders and biceps like glue. He straightened and regarded them with his arctic blue-gray gaze. His customary air of authority—gleaned from flight school and his subsequent climb through the ranks—was in place. He was accustomed to being respected and admired, not befriended or loved. She believed he preferred it that way. Why else would he work so hard at keeping others at arm’s length?

A shame, because he had a lot to offer. She’d witnessed his tireless commitment to community service. Each Christmas season, he was instrumental in local gift collection for Toys for Tots. He gave his time and energy each week to kids who lacked positive role models. She’d seen evidence of his compassion and selflessness, his patriotism and work ethic. She’d even seen him let go and have fun. He and Derek had played together on a church basketball team. On the court, he’d forgotten his childhood wounds, forgotten the drive to prove his worth and simply enjoyed himself.

Olivia wanted to get to know that Brady, but she doubted she’d ever have the chance.

“So there was a window of opportunity?” he said, scattering her thoughts.

Standing to her feet, she unzipped the wet suit. “It was a fluke. A one-off.”

James, who’d been looking over the equipment, joined them. “I’m inclined to agree. We’ll have these serviced before using them again.”

Brady pushed his damp hair off his forehead. “You aren’t going to do an in-house investigation?”

“I’ll discuss it with the director. For now, it’s enough to know that Olivia is unharmed,” James said. He gestured to the guard, who left his spot at the railing.

“It’s time for you to go, Captain Johnson.”

Olivia glanced between the men, realizing they intended to evict him from the aquarium. That meant he wouldn’t be able to stay for the program. She considered seizing the chance to avoid spending time with Brady but quickly dismissed it. He’d entered the shark tank to try to help her.

“Let him stay.”

Everyone stared at her.

“Please, James. He won’t be jumping into any more tanks, I promise.”

Relenting, James lectured Brady about safety protocols and sent the guard on his way.

“The kids get here in an hour. Olivia, may I speak to you alone before they arrive?”

She masked her reluctance with a nod. “I’ll meet you in Stingray Bay.”

When he’d left with Leon, Erin shot her a confess-all look. “Who is that?”

How to define their non-relationship? Someone she’d hoped could be a friend?

Regret pinched her heart. “He was important to my husband.”

Brady didn’t have to wait long. Olivia met him in the humid glass enclosure that housed an interactive stingray exhibit, lemurs and a butterfly garden. She’d changed into the standard uniform of khaki pants and a soft blue polo. Her fine black hair was woven into an intricate braid that accentuated her striking features. If Olivia was aware of her appeal, she didn’t show it.

Shoving the unwanted appreciation aside, he thought of the secret Derek had entrusted him with months before his death. He still couldn’t quite believe that the man he’d known for years had been using a fake identity. Sometimes, when Brady wondered if he’d dreamed the conversation, he dug out the newspaper clippings about the missing mafia heir and reread them.

He considered what Olivia’s reaction to the news might be. Would she feel betrayed? Angry? Disillusioned? After all, her perfect pilot hadn’t been what he’d presented himself to be.

Brady wouldn’t tell her, of course. He couldn’t bring himself to deliberately wound her.

He continued to observe the stingrays in their shallow touch tank. “Feeling any lingering effects from your ordeal?”

“A mild headache and hefty dose of embarrassment. Scaring the guests is not in my job description.”

He could’ve told her that it wasn’t her fault, but the words stuck in his throat. His conscience pinched him. Derek was gone. It no longer mattered what her ulterior motives for marrying him had been.

“What about you?” she said. “Sorry you took a swim in the shark tank?”

“No.” He turned toward her. “I am glad I had an extra change of clothes in the car, however.”

Sunlight rendered her hair an even glossier shade of jet and lent her complexion a satiny sheen. He wasn’t supposed to notice these things. He locked his hands behind his back and put extra inches between them.

“What were you doing down there alone?”

“A colleague and I are working on an innovative project. I was down there to collect fish eggs.”

“Is there anyone who’d benefit from its failure?”

“The aim of this project is to minimize our impact on the oceans’ fish population. Successfully raising larval saltwater fish here will preclude the need to harvest them from the wild. I can’t think of anyone who would stand in the way of that.”

“Is there an employee who’d like to have your position? Someone who’d try and frighten you into quitting?”

“You’re thinking like a marine, not a civilian.”

“Military or no, evil exists in the world. You shouldn’t dismiss the possibility the damage was intentional.”

“Not in this case, Brady.” She paused as an announcement came over the speakers. The aquarium was closing in half an hour. A family of four exited the area, leaving them alone. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

He had to force the next words from his mouth. “The anniversary of Derek’s death is in a few weeks. Will you meet the deadline?”

Sadness stole over her, only to be shuttered seconds later. “I’ve already put a deposit on a new place. I’ll be out in time.”

As the widow of an active-duty marine, she’d been given a year to move out of base housing. She’d taken advantage of the grace period, using the months since Derek’s death to take stock of her options. Brady drove past the air station housing area every morning on his way to squadron headquarters and every evening on his way home.

“Where?”

“A warehouse apartment near downtown. It’s more compact, but it has a fantastic view of the river.”

“I’ll help you move.” Derek would want him to help her, to see her settled in her new life.

“I’m considering hiring a moving company.”

“That won’t be cheap.”

“I’ll figure it out.”

“Why don’t you let me and some of the guys do it?” The entire squadron mourned Derek’s loss, and any one of them would leap at the chance to help her. “You don’t have family here.”