In the Dark (9 page)

“John Seymore doesn’t intend to hurt me,” she said. Then she couldn’t resist adding, “Unless I want him to.”

He glared at her, eyes hard. “You just won’t take this seriously, will you?”

“How do I know you haven’t suddenly turned into a murderer in your quest for treasure?”

“Quit fighting me, please. I really don’t want to sleep on your porch tonight. It will just make me harder to get along with. And if I’m cranky, I won’t go to see a lawyer with you. And once I find out what’s going on here…well, I could just take off again and leave you in limbo for a very long time.”

“You wouldn’t!” she said.

“I didn’t file the papers in the first place,” he said with a shrug, then rose. “We’re nearly back. I’ve got to go dock her.”

Left alone, Alex felt her temper rising, but she wasn’t as furious with him at that moment as she was with her self. She shouldn’t be making a terrible problem out of things. Let the idiot sleep on the couch. Under the circumstances, she needed to take everything slow. If John Seymore was really interested in her, he would wait around.

Even with her ex-or-almost-ex-husband in the cottage?

They had docked. She rose slowly, all too aware of why she was so upset. Having David on the couch should be no big deal.

Except she would know he was there. And now, with each passing moment, she was more and more aware of
why she had been so attracted to him from the beginning, why she felt a strange flush of excitement when he was around, and why she found herself so annoyed that he ran around shirtless so often.

“We really do need to talk,” David murmured as they went ashore, following Hank Adamson and John Seymore off the
Icarus
.

“I really need to see to my dolphins,” she told him, and purposely walked as quickly as she could along the docks, aiming straight for the dolphin lagoon and praying, for once, that she wouldn’t be followed. By anyone.

“Come to the Tiki Hut with me?” Jay said to David. He’d waited at the end of the deck. He was trying to sound casual, but there was an edgy note in his voice.

Damage control, David thought.

“I really need a shower,” David told him.

“And I don’t think anyone actually wants a drink,” Hank Adamson said.

“What the hell, I’ll go for a few minutes,” John Seymore said.

“We’ll all go,” David determined. He wanted to keep an eye on the guy. He wasn’t sure if he was suspicious because a man like Seymore was in a place like this, or because he was interested in Alex. Interested in her? He’d had his tongue halfway down her throat the other night.

“Apparently the sheriff doesn’t believe that Seth Granger just fell in the water and drowned,” Hank said as they walked.

“What makes you say that?” Jay asked him sharply.

“He questioned everyone pretty closely.”

“He’s the sheriff,” Jay said uneasily. “He has to cover all bases. Why the hell would anyone want to kill Seth Granger.”

The silence that followed his question was telling.

“For being a crass, overbearing windbag, for one,” Hank offered dryly.

They reached the Tiki Hut. The employees rushed for Jay as he appeared, and he calmly explained the situation. No one seemed to be terribly sad, David noted. They were amazed, though, and maybe even a little titillated. The drowning of such a wealthy man was bound to excite gossip.

The four men took a table. David admired Jay’s determination to deal with the situation. He wanted to be visible, to answer any questions. That was damage control, yes, but at least the guy wasn’t shrinking from his responsibility.

Zach’s mother, Ally Conroy—the one person who had seemed to be getting on with Seth the night before—was in the bar without her son, and it appeared she’d had a few herself. She rose, walked to the table and demanded, “Are they really saying he just…got up and drowned?”

“That’s what they think right now, yes,” Jay told her.

“I don’t believe it. I didn’t know him that well, but I don’t believe it,” she said, slurring her words. “Every one was there, right with him. How come no one saw?” Ally demanded. Her voice was strong, but she was shifting from foot to foot as she spoke.

“Probably because none of us was expecting any thing to happen,” David told her, rising. “Mrs. Conroy, you
seem…distraught. Would you like me to walk you to your room?”

“Why? Because I might fall into the water and drown?” she said with hostility.

“Because I wouldn’t want you to hurt yourself in any way,” David said.

Suddenly her eyes fell. She sniffed. “He liked me. Liked Zach and liked me. You don’t know how hard it is to raise a kid by yourself. And he was…not the kind of man who’d get drunk, fall in the water and drown.”

“The sheriff will be investigating,” David assured her gently. “In fact, he’ll be here tomorrow. You can talk to him yourself.”

She suddenly seemed to deflate, hanging on David’s arm. She looked up at him, a little bleary-eyed. “Hey, you’re all right, you know?”

“I’ll walk her to her room,” David told the others.

They nodded.

Ally Conroy was definitely stumbling as she clung to David. “We’ve got one of the cottages,” she said. “It was an Internet deal. Cool, huh? I’m paying a lot less than most people. Have to watch my money, you know?”

“Of course. I’m glad you got a good deal.”

By the time they reached her cottage, he was ready to pick her up and throw her over his shoulder, she was stumbling so badly. He damned himself for taking the time to go with her, was even now missing something being said at the Tiki Hut, some piece of the puzzle that had to come together soon.

Because he didn’t believe, not for a minute, that Seth Granger had just fallen into the water and died.

They reached the cottage at last. She couldn’t find
her key, so David knocked on the door, hoping Zach would hear.

“He was onto something. Onto something big,” Ally said suddenly.

“What?”

“He told me about some ship.”

“What ship?”

“Where is that damn key?” Ally Conroy said.

David strove for patience and an even tone. “Mrs. Conroy, what ship? Please, think for me.”

“The…ship. He was going after a ship. Said he had a friend who needed help, and he intended to help her, because it might be the best thing he’d done in his life. Will you look at this purse? It’s an absolute mess.”

“Don’t worry, there’s a key in there somewhere, and if not, Zach will open the door. Mrs. Conroy, you could really help me out here. Did Seth know the name of the ship he wanted to find?”

“The name of the ship…” she repeated.

“The name.”

“Oh…yes! The
Anne Marie,
I think he said.” Her eyes brightened, and she smiled, forgetting her quest for her key for a moment. “He was very excited about it. He said there was more fantasy written about her than fact. That the legend had it all wrong. No, history was wrong, legend was right.” She shook her head and gave her attention back to her purse. “Where is that damned key?”

The door opened. Zach looked at them anxiously.

“I thought I should walk your mom to your cottage,” David said.

Zach looked amazingly world-weary, understanding and tolerant. “Thanks, Mr. Denham.”

“No problem, and call me David.”

The kid nodded, taking his mother’s arm.

“I’m okay,” Ally said, steadying herself. She cupped Zach’s face, then gave him a kiss on the forehead. “I guess we have to take care of each other, huh? I’m sorry, hon.”

“It’s okay, Mom.”

“I’m going to lie down,” Ally said.

“Good idea,” Zach told her.

Ally paused, looking at David. “I…thank you,” she said.

“Not at all.”

“I’ll try to remember anything else I can,” she told him. “After an aspirin and a night’s sleep,” she added dryly.

“Thanks again.”

Ally walked inside. Zach looked at David. “She liked Mr. Granger,” he said with a shrug. “I was sorry, but…I didn’t want her getting all tied up with him. I know she was thinking it would be great for me to have a dad, but he was a loudmouth. And rude. I didn’t want my mom with him. I didn’t make him fall in the water, though.”

“I never thought you did, Zach,” David said.

“Thanks,” Zach said. As David started to walk away, he called him back. “Hey, Mr. Denham? David?”

“Yes?”

“Maybe sometime, if you’re not too busy, you could show me the
Icarus?
”

“I’d be glad to,” David said. “Maybe tomorrow. Ask your Mom. Maybe we can have coffee together, or breakfast, and I’ll take you both out on her.”

In all honesty, he liked the kid. Especially after tonight.

And he damn sure wanted to talk to Ally Conroy when she was sober.

Before anyone else did.

L
en Creighton was off work, and he considered his free time as totally his own. He sat nursing a double stinger at the Tiki Hut. He needed it.

He’d been behind the desk when a news brief had interrupted the television program in the lobby with the stunning information that millionaire tycoon Seth Granger was dead, apparently by drowning. There was little other information at the time, but he’d heard more about it once the boats had returned to Moon Bay. It had been pretty much the only topic of conversation in the Tiki Hut.

He was still hearing the buzz about it from other tables when Hank Adamson sat down in front of him.

“Long day, huh?” Adamson said, indicating Len’s drink.

“Longer for you, I imagine, Mr. Adamson.”

“You can call me Hank, please. Yeah, we were there
a long time. The sheriff asked everyone if anyone had seen Seth go out or fall in the water. No one had.”

“No one saw him? How sad,” Len said.

Hank lifted a hand to order a drink. After giving his order, he told Len, “Sad thing is, I don’t think anyone cared.”

“I care,” Len said in protest. He shrugged sheepishly. “He always tipped well.”

“He was rude as hell to the waitress today. You don’t think she pushed him into the drink, do you?”

Len smiled, but knew he had to be careful with Hank Adamson. “I’m sure he was just tipsy and fell in himself.”

“That old sheriff…he’s something, though. Ever had a homicide in this area?”

“Not since I’ve been here.”

“Well, there you go. A local-yokel sheriff just trying to make a name for himself.”

“Nigel’s a good guy,” Len defended.

“So you think he really thinks there was foul play?” Hank asked, smiling at the waitress and accepting a beer from her.

“He’s no yokel,” Len said.

Adamson leaned toward him. “Why would someone murder Granger? They aren’t going to be blaming it on any ex-wife. If he was killed, it had to be someone who was with us at that bar. Someone on the staff at Moon Bay?”

“No way!” Len protested.

“Your boss admits he wants in on a lot of action,” Hank said. “He’d love to get into the salvage operations business.”

Len stood up. Writer or no, Hank Adamson had crossed the line.

“Jay is as honest as the day is long,” Len said firmly.

“Hey, an honest man can be driven to murder,” Hank said, smiling as he took another sip of beer straight from the bottle. “Sit down. I like your boss. In my opinion, the jerk just fell off the pier. Finish your drink, and I’ll buy you another.”

Len hesitated. Then, looking across the dance floor, he noticed Jay, who saw him, and motioned that he’d be over momentarily.

Len smiled. “Jay will be joining us in just a minute,” he told Hank. He sipped his drink, then was embarrassed to experience a huge yawn before he could suppress it. “Sorry. It’s been a long day.”

“Way too long. I don’t guess many of us will be hanging around here too late tonight,” Hank said.

A few minutes later, when Jay came over, Len rose, stifling another yawn, and bade the two good-night.

There was no sign of Laurie Smith at the lagoons, but she wasn’t required to be there—it was her day off, for one thing. Still, Alex was surprised. Laurie really loved the dolphins and tried to spend time with them every day.

She hesitated, then pulled out her cell phone and tried Laurie’s room. There was no answer. She dialed Laurie’s cell-phone number next, but got voice mail. Strange.

Mandy and Gil were both there, though. They’d already heard what had happened but she gave them the full story of how she’d found him.

“Man, imagine that. A guy can have everything in
the world, and still…” Gil said, shaking his head. “Just last night, he was flirting and drinking half the beer in the place. He had one hell of a capacity for liquor.”

“I guess so. That seems to be what everyone says,” Alex said.

“Tragic when anyone dies like that,” Mandy said, shaking his dark head. “He was coming on to that Ally woman last night, and she was eating it up. He was boasting about something really big he was into. I thought the guy was a jerk, myself.”

“Hank Adamson was there when it happened, right?” Gil said, rolling his eyes.

“He was there. One of the last to see him alive,” Alex said.

“Bet he’ll love telling that story,” Gil said. “Anyway, I know you want to hear about these guys,” he told her, indicating the dolphins.

Mandy showed her the log book for the day. “We were bringing them their good-night snack,” Gil said. “Didn’t know when you’d be back. But you can take over.”

“That’s all right,” she said.

Mandy laughed. “No, it’s not. We know you like to tuck them in.”

She smiled. “You two do fine without me,” Alex said.

“Hell, the swim was a piece of cake next to your day,” Mandy said. “Seth Granger dead. Go figure.” He made a face. “And you found him floating. I’m glad it wasn’t me.”

“You look all done in. We’ll take off and leave you to your babies,” Gil said. “I’m sure you don’t want to replay the afternoon anymore.”

“It’s okay, but you’re right. Truthfully, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Not now, anyway,” she agreed.

“Good night, then,” Gil said.

“Hey, wait!” she called. They stopped, looking at her expectantly. “Has either of you seen Laurie today?” she asked.

“I haven’t,” Gil said, looking at Mandy.

“I haven’t either. But it is her day off,” Mandy said.

“I haven’t seen her since last night. She left the Tiki Hut kind of late. She’d been talking to Hank Adamson. She was holding her own against him, too, and the guy can be a real pain,” Gil said.

“Yeah, he can. Did he grill either of you?” Alex asked.

“Nope,” Gil said. “I was at the Tiki Hut after she left, but…I don’t remember seeing Adamson after that, either, actually. But hey, I’m a bald guy with a gold earring, and Laurie is a cute girl. I’d grill her, too, if I were Adamson.” He frowned suddenly. “Are you worried about her?”

“No. Not really. It’s her day off. She’s free to come and go as she pleases,” Alex said.

“Actually, come to think of it, Len was looking for her earlier, too,” Mandy said. “Why?”

“I think he had mail for her. Or maybe he just knew that she’d been talking to Hank Adamson, and wanted to make sure she hadn’t said anything she shouldn’t.” He shrugged.

Gil let out a snort. “Adamson is going to write what he wants, no matter what any of us say. Only thing is, now he’s going to have an awful lot more to write about, having been there when Seth Granger bit the big one.”

“Gil…” Alex said with a groan.

“I’ll take a walk by Laurie’s room and knock,” Gil said. “But maybe she just doesn’t want to be disturbed.”

“Yeah. She could have a hot date,” Mandy agreed.

“You think?” Alex said. She shook her head. “She would have told me. She hated that Date Tournament thing she went on.”

“Yeah, but…she sure was impressed by your ex-husband,” Mandy said.

“And the blond guy chasing you around the last few days,” Gil commented.

“Well, they were both there today when Seth—as you so gently put it—bit the big one,” Alex said.

“I’m sure she’s fine,” Gil said. “I’m sure she’ll turn up by morning. Maybe she’s somewhere right now, hearing all about Seth Granger. Jay must be having fits. That kind of publicity, connected to his precious Moon Bay.”

“Haven’t you heard? There’s no such thing as bad publicity. We’ll probably get more people hanging around. In another year, Warren will be advertising that he has a ghost,” Mandy said.

“Hey, the guy is barely cold!” Alex protested.

“Sorry,” Mandy told her.

“Let’s get out of here and let the boss have her private time,” Gil said to him. “Night, Alex.”

The two walked off. Alex suddenly felt very alone.

For a moment she felt a chill, but then realized that the Tiki Hut was blazing with light and music, and she was just across the lagoon from it. She didn’t need to feel alone or afraid, she assured herself. And she wouldn’t.

The time was now. And there wouldn’t be much of it.

Using the pass key he’d obtained, he slipped it into the front door of the cottage, quickly closing it behind him, then locking it again.

If someone should arrive, there was always the back door.

Where to look…?

The bedroom. He’d been there before.

He went straight for the dresser, staring at the things on top of it. He picked up the dolphin again, studying it, shaking it. Perfume sprayed out at him. Choking, he put it down.

There was a beautiful painting of a dolphin on the wall. He walked over to it, lifted it from its hook, returned it.

Anger filled him. He didn’t have enough information, and despite all he’d done, he couldn’t get it. Hell, everywhere he looked, there were dolphins around this woman. Live ones, stuffed ones, ceramic ones.

He heard footsteps coming toward the cottage and hurried for the back door. As long as he wasn’t caught, he could come back and take all the time he wanted to study every dolphin in the place.

And he wasn’t going to be caught. He would make sure of that this time.

Outside the cottage, he swore. He could have had more time right then. It was just one of the damn maids, walking down the trail.

He smiled at her, waved and kept going.

Back toward the lights and the few people still milling around at the Tiki Hut.

David’s phone rang as he headed back along the path. When he saw Dane Whitelaw’s name flash on the ID screen, he paused, taking the call.

“What did you find out?”

“I’m fine, thanks,” Dane said dryly. “How are you?”

David paused. “Sorry, how are you? The cat, the dog? Wife, kids…the tropical fish?”

Dane laughed on the other end. “I researched your navy boy. Seems he’s telling you the truth. He left the military a year ago May. Was married to a Serena Anne Franklin, no kids. They split up right about the time he left the service. He’s in business for himself, incorporated as Seymore Consultants—there are no other consultants listed, however. There is one interesting thing. He was in Miami for a month before coming down here.”

“So…it’s possible he met up with Alicia Farr there?”

“It’s possible, but there are millions of people in the area.”

“Great. The guy may be legit—and may not be.”

“I’ll tell you one thing, he has degrees up the kazoo. Engineering, psychology, geography, with a minor in oceanography.”

“Don’t you just hate an underachiever?” David muttered.

“Bet the guy made a lot of contacts over the years. Men in high places. Foreign interests, too, I imagine.”

“So just what are you saying? Does that clear him, or make him more suspicious?” David asked.

“In a case like this, I can tell you what I’d go by. Gut instinct.”

“What does your gut instinct say?” David asked.

“Nothing. You have to go by your own gut instinct. You know him. I don’t. Hey, by the way. I see it’s getting even more tangled down there. I saw it on the news.”

“Seth Granger?”

“You bet. Millionaire drowns and it’s on every channel in the state. What happened? What aren’t they saying?”

“I don’t know.”

“You were there.”

“I was talking to you when he walked out and went swimming.”

“Curious, isn’t it? A guy who could—and would—have financed the whole thing goes down.”

“Yeah, curious,” David agreed, then added slowly, “Unless someone knows more than we do.”

“Like what?”

“Like the ship being somewhere easy to reach. Where someone in a little boat could take a dive down and get a piece of the treasure before the heavy equipment—and the government—moved in. For someone who isn’t a millionaire, grabbing a few pretty pieces worth hundreds of thousands before the real discovery was made could be an enticing gamble.”

“You might be on to something,” Dane agreed. “I’ll keep digging on your navy man. Keep me posted. And be careful. There’s a storm out there, you know.”

“Small one, heading the other way, right?”

“Who knows? Small, yes, but still tropical-storm sta
tus. And they think it might turn and hit the Keys after all. Anyway, give a ring if you need anything else.”

“Thanks.”

David closed the phone, sliding it back into his pocket. The tangles were definitely intensifying. And there was only one person he could really clear in Alicia’s disappearance and probable death.

Seth Granger.

Who was now among the departed himself.

Hearing a rustling in the trees, he turned, a sharp frown creasing his forehead. Long strides took him straight into the brush.

There was no one there.

But had there been? Someone who had been walking along, heard his phone ring…

And paused to listen in on the conversation?

Alex sat at the edge of the first platform with her bucket of fish and called out, though she knew the dolphins were already aware she was there. “Katy, Sabra, Jamie Boy!”

They popped up almost instantly, right at her dangling feet. They knew the time of day and knew when they got treats. She stroked them one by one, talking to them, giving them their fish. Then she moved on to the next lagoon and the platform that extended into it. “Shania, get up here,” she said. “You, too, Sam, Vicky.”

She gave them all the same attention, her fingers lingering just a shade longer on Shania’s sleek body. The dolphin watched her with eyes that were almost eerily wise. “You’re my children, you know that, guys? Maybe
I shouldn’t be quite so attached, but, hey…when I had a guy, he was at sea all the time anyway.”

“Was he?” The sound of David’s voice was so startling, she nearly threw her bucket into the lagoon.

She leaped up and spun around. “Must you sneak up on people?”

“I didn’t sneak up, I walked,” he told her.

“You scared me to death.”

“Didn’t mean to. Still, I couldn’t help hearing what you said. So…was that it? I was away too much?”

“David, there wasn’t one ‘it.’ My decision to ask for a divorce was complicated. Based on a number of things.”

“Was one of them Alicia?”