Fatal Tide (5 page)

She switched off the light and sank down in the easy chair by the window. She didn’t want light. She wanted to crawl into a cave and be alone in the darkness.

Maybe the bad memories wouldn’t follow her there.

“Jesus, you’re a hard man to find, Jed.”

Kelby whirled around to see a giant of a man coming toward him down the hall.

He relaxed as he recognized Nicholas Lyons. “Tell that to Wilson, Nicholas. He had to scour St. Petersburg for you.”

“I was having a few difficulties.” He added dryly, “But I didn’t leave a trail of bodies behind me. Wilson tells me you’ve got yourself into a bit of first-class nastiness here.” He glanced at the door. “Is that her room?”

Kelby nodded. “Melis Nemid.” He moved a few feet down the hall and unlocked his door. “Come in and I’ll order you a drink and fill you in.”

“I can hardly wait.” Nicholas grimaced as he followed him. “It might be safer for me to go back to Russia.”

“But less profitable.” He turned on the light. “If you’re going to risk getting yourself killed, it might as well be for something worthwhile.”

“Marinth?”

“Wilson told you?”

Lyons nodded. “It’s the bait that drew me here. I decided that you need the services of a first-rate shaman like me if you’re going to try to mess around with Marinth.”

“Shaman? You’re a half-breed Apache who grew up in the Detroit slums.”

“Don’t bother me with truth when I’m concocting such a great lie. Besides, I spent summers on the reservation. You’d be surprised what I learned about magic when I applied myself.”

No, Kelby wouldn’t be surprised. He’d realized Lyons was multifaceted from the moment he’d met him at SEAL training in San Diego. On the surface he was all friendly, casual charisma, but Kelby had never run into anyone more coolly efficient and savage when called into action. “What kind of magic?”

“White magic, naturally. We Indians have to be politically correct these days.” He smiled. “Want me to read your mind?”

“Hell, no.”

“What a spoilsport. You’ve never really let me show you my talents. I’ll tell you anyway.” He closed his eyes and put his hand to his forehead. “You’re thinking about Marinth.”

Kelby snorted. “That’s an easy enough guess.”

“Nothing about Marinth is easy.” He opened his eyes and his smile faded. “Because it’s your dream, Jed. Dreams are never simple. There are too many interpretations.”

“It’s your dream, too, or you wouldn’t be here.”

“I dream about the money it could bring. Hell, I don’t know enough about Marinth for anything else. I didn’t want to know. But now it appears you’re going to have to fill me in.”

“Okay, you’ve got to know that word first broke on Marinth in the late 1940s.”

“Yeah, I saw that old copy of
National Geographic
you’ve had on the
Trina
. They did a spread on the discovery of the tomb of some scribe buried in the Valley of the Kings.”

“Hepsut, scribe of the royal court. It was a great find since he’d covered the walls of his future burial place with the history of his time. Yet an entire wall was dedicated to the tale of Marinth, an island city destroyed in a great flood. It was an ancient tale even in the scribe’s lifetime. Marinth was wealthy beyond belief. It had everything. Rich farmlands, a navy, a prosperous fishing industry. And it was reputed to be a technological and cultural mecca for the whole world. Then one night, the gods took back what they had created. They sent a great wave and drew the city back into the sea where it was born.”

“Sounds suspiciously like Atlantis.”

“That was the general consensus. Marinth was just another name for a tale about Atlantis.” He paused. “Maybe it was. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is that this scribe devoted an entire wall of his final resting place to Marinth. Everything else in the tomb pertained to the history of Old Egypt. Why would he change horses in midstream and tell a fairy tale?”

“So you think it’s not a legend?”

“Perhaps part of it is legend. But if even a tenth of it is true, the possibilities are damn exciting.”

“Like I said, your dream.” His gaze went to the adjoining door. “But it’s not her dream, is it? After all that’s happened, it has to be more like a nightmare.”

“I’ll see that she reaps a profit.”

“
Profit
can have a number of interpretations too.”

“God, I can’t stand you when you’re philosophical.”

“I was more enigmatic than philosophical.”

Kelby crossed to the phone. “I’ll order you a bourbon. Maybe it will blur your—”

“Don’t bother. You know we Indians can’t take firewater.”

“I don’t know any such thing. You’ve drunk me under the table any number of times.”

“Well, I have to keep a clear head when you’re trying to get it blown off. Besides, I don’t think you’re in any mood to amuse me tonight. My shaman powers sense a definite emotional downswing.” He turned and headed for the door. “I still have to check into this hotel. I’ll call you when I have a room number.”

“You haven’t asked what I want you to do.”

“You want to make me rich. You want me to make your dream come true.” He paused to glance again at Melis’s adjoining door. “And you want me to help keep her alive while we’re doing it. Does that cover it?”

“That covers it.”

“And you said I wasn’t a true shaman.” The door closed behind him.

Nicholas was right, Kelby thought wearily. He was tired and frustrated and his mood was definitely somber. It was good to have Nicholas here, but he didn’t want to deal with him right now. He couldn’t shake the memory of Melis Nemid’s face as she had looked down at the horror that had once been her friend. He had wanted to curse and rage and then scoop her up and carry her out of there.

An unusual reaction from him. But then, his every response had been unusual since he’d met Melis. He could generally transform any softening in his feelings toward her by concentrating on some other element, such as her sexuality, as he had in the hospital in Athens. But he hadn’t been able to do that since he’d met her at the airport in Tobago. Yes, he’d been sexually aware of her, but there had been so damn much more. She seemed to trigger emotions that he wasn’t even aware he had anymore.

And she hadn’t opened the adjoining door as he’d told her to do.

Kelby crossed the room and opened it a narrow crack. There was no light in her room, but he could sense she was awake—and in pain. It was as if he were connected to her in some way. Crazy.

He’d be glad when she was less vulnerable and he could get more perspective on the situation.

Don’t think about her. He’d call Wilson and see if he’d managed to trace that cruiser. Then he’d contact Halley and give him his room number in case he had any new info.

Don’t think about Melis Nemid sitting in that room. Don’t think of her pain. Don’t think of her courage. Just keep busy and work toward the goal. The dream. Marinth.

Kelby knocked on the adjoining-room door and then opened it all the way when she didn’t answer. “Are you okay?”

“No.”

“Well, I’m coming in anyway. I decided to let you alone to grieve for a while, but you’ve been sitting here in the dark for the past twenty-four hours. You need to eat.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“Not much.” He flipped on the light as he entered the room. “Just enough to combat the shock. I’ve ordered some tomato soup and a sandwich.” He grimaced. “I know you don’t want me here, but you’ll have to tell me if there’s someone else you need me to call.”

She shook her head. “Have they finished with the autopsy?”

“You don’t want to talk about this.”

“Yes, I do. Tell me.”

He nodded. “They rushed it and the DNA test. They wanted a final confirmation for a number of reasons.”

“The people whose records were stolen.”

“I admit Halley’s taking some heat. It’s—” He broke off at a knock on the door. “There’s your meal.” He crossed the room and she heard him talking to the waiter. Then he was shutting the door and wheeling in a cart. “Sit down and eat something. I’ll answer any questions you want after you finish.”

“I’m not—” She met his gaze. He wasn’t going to budge and she needed information. It was a small price to pay. She sat down and began to eat. She finished the sandwich, left the soup, and pushed the cart aside. “When will they release Carolyn’s body?”

He poured her a cup of coffee from the carafe. “Do you want me to ask Halley?”

She nodded. “She wanted to be cremated and her ashes thrown into the sea. I want to be here when that’s done. I need to say good-bye.”

“Her ex-husband, Ben Drake, is already taking care of the arrangements. All that’s left is the release.”

“Ben must be heartbroken. He still loved her, you know. They couldn’t live together, but that didn’t mean anything. Everyone loved Carolyn.”

“You most of all.” He studied her. “You’re more composed than I thought you’d be. You’re pale as a ghost, but I was expecting a complete breakdown when I brought you here. You were on the brink.”

She was still on the brink. She felt as if she were walking on the edge of a cliff, putting one foot in front of the other, and never sure if the ledge would collapse beneath her. “I wouldn’t do that to Carolyn.” She kept her voice steady with an effort. “She would have been disappointed in me if I let myself go to pieces. She would have felt as if she’d failed me.”

“If she was as kind as you say, I don’t think she’d mind if you let go and—”

“I’d mind.” She stood up and moved toward the window that overlooked the sea. “Have they found anything more about Carolyn’s death?”

“The official verdict is loss of blood.”

She braced herself. “She was tortured, wasn’t she? Her poor face . . .”

“Yes.”

“What . . . did they do to her?”

He was silent.

“Tell me. I have to know.”

“So that you can hurt more?” he asked roughly.

“If they tortured her, it was because they wanted her to get me here. They almost succeeded, so they must have hurt her terribly.” She folded her arms across her chest. Hold tight. Draw into a shell and the words won’t hurt so much. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll ask Halley.”

“They used a knife on her face and breasts. They pulled two molars out by the roots from the back of her mouth. Are you satisfied now?”

Pain. Hold tight. Hold tight. Hold tight.

“No, I’m not satisfied, but I know the tally now.” She swallowed. “Halley has no clues? No witnesses?”

“No.”

“What about the name she said? Cox.”

“Immigration has one Cox who’s recently arrived here. But he’s a solid citizen in his seventies, a philanthropist. Besides, I don’t think the scumball listening to Dr. Mulan’s conversation would have permitted her to tell you his name. Maybe she was confused.”

“No names in her appointment book?”

“No appointment book. Gone with the file records.”

“When are they having Maria’s funeral?”

“Tomorrow at ten. Her mother’s coming in from Puerto Rico tonight. You’re going?”

“Of course.”

“There’s no ‘of course’ about it. There have been two murders in the last forty-eight hours, both of them linked to you. Someone wants to get hold of you very badly. Yet you’re going to go to that funeral as if nothing has happened.”

“Why not?” She smiled crookedly. “You’ll keep me safe. You don’t want anyone else to know anything about Marinth. Isn’t that why you’ve been parked on my doorstep?”

He stiffened. “Sure. Otherwise I’d just let the people who carved up your friend have their go at you. What the hell do I care?”

He was angry. Maybe even hurt? She didn’t know and she was in no shape to analyze what Kelby was feeling. She hardly knew the man.

No, that wasn’t true. After what they had gone through together, she realized Kelby was not the spoiled, ambitious man she’d imagined him to be. He was hard, but he wasn’t totally ruthless. “I spoke without thinking. I guess I have a suspicious nature.”

“Yes, you do. But you’re right. You just caught me off guard.” He moved toward the door. “I’ll be here tomorrow morning to pick you up and take you to the funeral. I’m going to go down to the station and try to harass Halley into giving me more information. I have a friend in the hall keeping an eye on you. His name is Nicholas Lyons. He’s big, ugly, has long black hair, and looks like Geronimo. Keep your door locked.” The door slammed behind him.

She was glad he was gone. He was too strong, too vibrant. She didn’t need her concentration divided, as it always was when Kelby was near. She had to devote all her attention and effort to just getting through the next hours, the next days.

And decide how to even out the tally.

Chapter Five

Melis’s phone rang at nine-thirty the next morning. “I’m Nicholas Lyons, Ms. Nemid. Jed’s down at the police station and running a little late. He asked me to take you to the funeral. He’ll join us there.”

“I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

“No, I’ll come and get you. There are too many exits, and elevators are never safe. Jed wouldn’t like it if I let you get snatched out from under us. Look through the peephole when I knock. I’m sure Jed described me. Tall, handsome, and chock-full of dignity and charm. Right?”

“Not exactly.”

“Then you’ll have a pleasant surprise.” He hung up.

She glanced at the mirror in the foyer. Thank God she didn’t look as bad as she felt. She was pale but not haggard. Not that Maria’s mother would notice. She would be too devastated to be aware—

A knock.

She glanced through the peephole.

“Nicholas Lyons. See? Jed lied to you.” He smiled. “He’s always been jealous of me.”

Kelby hadn’t lied. Lyons was at least six foot five, powerfully built, and his shiny black hair was tied back in a queue. His features were so rough-hewn, they could have been called ugly if they hadn’t been interesting. “Well, he wasn’t right when he said you looked like Geronimo.” She unlocked the door. “The only pictures I’ve ever seen of Geronimo were taken when he was an old man.”

“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 issue 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.”