Neptune's Ring (25 page)

“I love you, Vanessa, have a great day baby,”
Levi said.

“Love you too, have fun exploring,” Vanessa
said and then she was gone.

Levi hung up the phone and turned to place
her empty mug in the sink. The conch shell she had found was
nowhere to be seen on the counter where she had left it. Levi could
not remember moving the shell and walked through the house in
search of it. She stopped in her tracks when she entered the office
to find the shell sitting on the desk next to the laptop. She
walked over to the desk and picked the shell up and examined it
closely. It was still in perfect condition, the pink inside the
shell glowing in the morning sun pouring through the window. Levi
shrugged having no memory of moving the shell but relieved that the
shell was in good shape. She took the camera off the desk and
snapped off several photographs of it glowing in the sunlight.

Levi took the camera and grabbed a bottle of
water from the kitchen and walked out of the house. She walked
around the back of the house and located the path she had taken the
previous evening and followed it down to the small grove. Levi took
several pictures of the beautiful garden and sat down to admire
their beauty.

She looked up as a flock of pelicans flew
overhead, their large wings gliding through the breeze as they
disappeared beyond the small grove. Levi stood and walked to the
far side of the grove and found a small path that led deeper into
the center of the island. The path was overgrown in spots and Levi
climbed over fallen trees and pushed back wiry branches to follow
the path. The brush was thicker here and the light breeze from the
grove could not penetrate the dense foliage to cool her body. Levi
felt a trickle of sweat as it ran down the center of her back as
she bent back a branch and stepped into a small clearing. There was
a small spring bubbling up from the earth in the center of the
clearing and Levi walked over to it and filled her empty bottle.
She raised it to her lips and was surprised by how cold and
refreshing the water was. She sat on a small boulder next to the
spring and looked about the clearing.

Levi heard a rustling in the brush just ahead
of her and strained to see what animal was making the noise, but
she saw no signs of a creature and the clearing had fallen deathly
silent. She took another sip of the water and listened for
additional movement, but it appeared she was all alone in the
clearing. Levi felt a chill creep into her body and decided it was
time to move on in her exploration. She pushed her way further down
the path and felt the warm sunlight on her skin again. Just ahead,
Levi found a small pile of rocks and climbed to the top. From the
top, Levi had a beautiful view of the island and a view that looked
down upon the unfinished resort. She raised her camera and took
shots in each direction before scrambling back down to earth.

She followed the path as it wound across the
island and led to the garden in back of the resort. Along the way
there were several smaller paths branching off the main one, but
they would have to be explored some other day. Levi sat on a bench
in the garden and lifted the bottle of water to her lips as her
cell phone began to ring. She dug it out of her pocket and
answered.

“Hey, Levi, this is Liz,” she heard on the
other end.

“Hi, Liz, how are you?” Levi asked.

“I am doing great thanks and you? What are
you up to this morning?”

“I am exploring more of the island this
morning,” Levi said. “I found a path that leads from the back of
the house to the garden at the resort, so far.”

“Great. Did you rest well last night?” Liz
asked.

“I slept like a rock for nearly twelve hours.
I woke up stiff from lying down so long,” Levi said with a
chuckle.

“Well, yesterday was a busy day for you,” Liz
said. “I am sure the extra sleep didn’t hurt you any either,” she
added.

“No, I don’t suppose it did,” Levi said. “I
was thinking of taking the boat across to the mainland to check out
the town this afternoon.”

“That is a great idea,” Liz said. “Start
mingling with the locals.”

“Nat and I are making plans to fly over when
Vanessa returns to see how things are coming along, but we won’t be
able to stay overnight,” she said.

“I hope by then we will have lots of progress
to show you,” Levi said.

“Are you excited about tomorrow?” Liz
asked.

“I can’t wait to see the construction get
started and see the progress made each day,” Levi admitted.

“Be sure to take some pictures and send them
so we can watch too,” Liz said. “Is there anything you need?”

“No, not yet Liz, I think I am pretty well
set, but thanks.”

“Ok, my time is up, Nat is chomping at the
bit to talk to you next, so I will turn the phone over to her now.
Call if you need anything.”

“Thanks, Liz, will talk with you soon,” Levi
said.

Nat came on the phone and Levi could hear her
tell Liz she wouldn’t be long. “Hey, Levi, how are you?” she
asked.

“I am great Nat,” Levi said with a chuckle.
“How are you?”

“I am doing well thanks. Liz and I spent all
morning placing orders so hopefully in a few weeks you will begin
receiving shipments of furniture,” she said.

“That sounds like it will be fun. Will there
be some assembly required?” Levi asked.

“I am afraid so on some of it. After it
arrives I am trying desperately to convince Liz into letting me fly
over to help with assembly so we won’t have to pull any of the
construction workers off task,” Nat said.

“Hopefully there won’t be more than the two
of us can handle,” Levi said. “I am sure we can talk Cat and Cass
into helping us out as well,” she added. “I am going over to the
mainland this afternoon to take a look around the town this
afternoon and then I think I will make a light dinner and turn in
early tonight to be ready for the big day,” Levi said.

“Alright then, give us a call tomorrow,” Nat
said.

“Will do, Nat, and thanks for calling to
check on me,” Levi said.

“Anytime,” Nat said and ended the call.

Levi closed the phone and slipped it back
into her pocket. She strolled around the resort and walked back up
to the house. She picked up the boat keys and her wallet then
started out for the boat house. She watched the pelicans diving
into the water as they stunned the fish they were hunting and she
marveled at the precision of the large birds.

Levi guided the boat across the water and
found an empty slip to moor the boat. She climbed onto the pier and
walked into town just a little after one. She found a small diner
and walked inside and ordered a chef salad and diet coke.

“Are you new in town?” the older waitress
asked when she came over to take Levi’s order.

“Yes, my company has just purchased Neptune’s
Ring,” Levi said proudly.

The woman made the sign of the cross and
said, “God bless you child,” then tottered back to the kitchen to
place her order.

The waitress brought out Levi’s drink and sat
it down before her. “Have you seen the ghost yet?”

“No, I haven’t seen any ghost,” Levi said,
with a warm smile.

“It was such a pity. Celeste was the most
beautiful girl this town had seen in many years and to come up
missing like that,” the woman’s speech trailed off as she shook her
head. “Stories tell that she will haunt the island, forever,” she
said.

“What do you think really happened to her?”
Levi asked.

“I think that vile oil baron became obsessed
with her beauty and when she scorned his advances, he killed her
and disposed of her body on the island or in the sea,” the woman
said.

Levi heard a small bell ring in the kitchen
and the woman turned to fetch her food. She sat the salad down in
front of Levi and walked away.

When Levi finished her meal, the woman
returned. “Is there anything else I can get you?” she asked as she
laid the bill on the table.

“No thank you,” Levi said. “That was a
fabulous meal,” she said. “She took a bill from her wallet and
handed it to the woman. Keep the change,” she said with a warm
smile.

“Take good care young lady,” the waitress
said and turned away from Levi.

Levi left the diner and walked down the
street gazing into shop windows as she walked through town. Very
few of the businesses were open on a Sunday afternoon and the sight
of movement ahead caught her attention.

A dark haired woman was busy carrying scuba
equipment inside a small shop from a boat. Levi looked up to read
the sign. Emerald Isle Scuba, she read as she continued to walk
toward the shop.

“Good day mate,” the woman said when she saw
Levi’s approach. “I would assume you are from Neptune’s Ring,” the
woman said.

“How clever you are,” Levi said with a smile.
“Levi Johnson,” she said as she offered her hand.

“Codi Clarkson at your service ma’am,” the
woman said as she shook Levi’s hand. “Pleased to meet you,” she
said. “I saw activity on the island yesterday and since there is no
one new in town, it was easy to assume,” Codi said with a grin.

“Is this your business?” Levi asked.

“Owner, chief cook and bottle washer,” Codi
said with a pleasant smile. “Would you care to go for a dive?” Codi
asked with a grin.

“Not today, but thanks,” Levi said.

“Come on in then and sit a spell,” Codi said
as she carried the last of the tanks inside.

Levi sat on a barstool at the counter as she
watched Codi set the tanks into a rack for refilling.

“So, what are you doing on the island?” she
asked.

“My friends and I have purchased the property
and have plans to open a lesbian resort,” Levi boldly said.

“Careful using that word here, you might
scare the natives,” Codi chuckled. “You might want to just call it
an exclusively female resort,” she said with a wink.

Levi grinned. “I will definitely keep that in
mind.”

“You have the perfect spot for diving some
fantastic reefs.”

“We hope to offer the reef diving and
snorkeling as amenities for the resort,” Levi said.

“Well do keep me in mind if I can be of
service,” Codi said. “I could work up some special rates for your
guests and you wouldn’t have to invest in boats and equipment. I
could use the extra business,” she added with a grin.

“I will bring that suggestion up to my
partners if you will develop a business proposal,” Levi said.

“I have the capacity to take a group as large
as eight and can provide lessons to certify if needed,” Codi said.
“I will work up a proposal and bring it over later this week if
that is fine with you,” she said.

“I will be looking forward to your visit
then,” Levi said as she stood to leave.

“Are the stories true?” Codi asked, stopping
Levi in her tracks.

“What stories?” Levi asked coyly.

“The ones about the island being haunted,”
Codi said.

“You will just have to come find out for
yourself,” Levi said with a grin.

“I will at that,” Codi said. “It was nice to
meet you Ms. Johnson.”

“Likewise, Codi,” Levi said and walked back
outside.

She strolled down the sidewalk and passed
Cat’s office and smiled when she thought of Cat and Cass together.
The thought made her long for Vanessa and she turned back to the
harbor to take the boat back across to the island. She secured the
boat for the evening and then walked back up the hill to the house.
The sun was beginning to set and was partially hidden by the house
as she sat on the front steps and pulled out her cell phone. She
dialed Vanessa’s number and waited for her to answer.

There was no answer and sadly Levi ended the
call and stood to enter the house.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Levi fixed a small meal and then settled down
in the office to write some emails. She downloaded her most recent
photographs and sent them to Liz and to Vanessa. She wrote a brief
email to Vanessa and said she would give her a call later.

Levi felt like writing and she returned to
her bedroom for the journal Vanessa had given her. She walked into
the kitchen and took a beer from the refrigerator and stepped out
on the porch. The sunlight was fading fast so Levi reached back
inside to turn on the porch lighting.

She opened the journal and took the lid off
her pen and began by writing the date at the top of the page.

My Dearest Vanessa,

My second day on the island is quickly coming
to a close and I realized I hadn’t written one word in the
beautiful journal you bought for me, so tonight I shall begin.

Yesterday was quite hectic, saying a brief
goodbye at the resort and flying to the island. Liz and Nat took
Cass and me to the airport and sent us off in separate directions
with promises to see us both soon. Liz and Nat have both called
several times to check on me and Cat has been a joy. She took me
grocery shopping and put away the food while I unpacked and got
settled in. She has invited me over for dinner Wednesday night to
get me off the island and I look forward to going out with her.

After Cat left, I had several hours of
daylight remaining and did some exploring. The pictures I sent you
tonight were from yesterday and today’s adventures on the island.
This afternoon I went across to the mainland and had lunch at a
cozy little diner. The woman who waited on me was curious about the
island and whether I had seen any ghosts yet. I assured her that I
was quite safe, but I could tell she held my safety in grave
concern. We had a pleasant chat and afterward I walked through
town, which by the way is pretty dead on a Sunday afternoon.

I did have occasion to meet one Codi
Clarkson, a quite outgoing young sea faring woman that I know you
will like immediately. She owns her own dive shop and has offered
to provide all diving and snorkeling trips for the resort in lieu
of us buying the equipment and staffing the service. I asked her to
develop a proposal and drop it by this week. Depending on her
costs, it may be a good idea for us to consider.