by Sandra Cox
“We lure him out.”
“How?”
“We have someone offer to pay him big bucks for the baby.”
“Where do we get the money and who?” He pushes his hair back.
“We use counterfeit money. As far as who, they’ve never seen Mr. Dunn.”
Everyone except Amy and I starts talking at once. “I don’t want Gramps involved,” Piper exclaims.
“Where do we get counterfeit money?” Tyler asks.
Mr. Dunn rubs his hands together, eyes gleaming. “Capital idea.”
I wait for the noise level to subside, clear my throat, and speak to Tyler. “I hear you may have connections.”
His head snaps up and his eyes widen. He looks accusingly at Piper. “That’s not something that’s supposed to be common knowledge.”
Her face reddens. “I’m sorry.”
“She wouldn’t have told me if she had any idea I’d ever be out of the lab.”
He hardly seems reassured.
“Your secret’s safe with me. Do you think we could get counterfeit money from him?”
Tyler gets up and strides around the room, rubbing the back of his neck. “If my uncle does a favor, he expects one in return.”
“Even from his nephew?” Piper asks.
He stops and looks at her. “Even from his nephew.”
“You can tell him I’ll return the favor,” I say.
“And if he asks you to break a kneecap or worse?”
The muscles in my neck tighten. “I’ll think of something.”
Tyler snorts.
“I’m open to suggestions.” I’m desperate.
“Maybe we should try breaking in again,” Amy says timidly.
“If I thought it would work, I’d agree in a heartbeat.” My heart rate picks up and my palms grow damp. “Would your uncle take a trade?”
“Like what?” Tyler’s brows draw together.
“Like the Ziccon CEO’s credit card.”
Tyler grins and rubs his chin. “Maybe he would.”
Piper’s eyebrows shoot up. “You have his credit card?”
“Yes, and I have the numbers for another.”
Tyler is grinning. “Let me see what I can do.” A leery look replaces the grin. “Where are you staying?”
“We have a boat in the cove. Amy?”
“Yes?” Her head shoots up. She’s been following the conversation intently.
“Maybe it’s time to change colors.”
“Pink?” She giggles.
“Preferably not.”
Tyler cocks his head and watches me through narrowed eyes. “Where’d you get a boat? I thought you two were little more than slaves. Though, if you have all those credit cards, I guess a boat is no big deal. Maybe you should ask my uncle for the favor.”
Mr. Dunn’s face is impassive, nonjudgmental. Piper’s eyes are wide.
Amy, bless her beautiful little soul, rushes to my rescue. “That’s so not true. They were shooting at him and trying to catch me to harvest my...” The words trail off and drop to a whisper. Color rushes to her face. For a sixteen-year-old girl, talking about her body in an intimate fashion is right up there with taking a bullet.
“Good for you, son,” Mr. Dunn gives a short sharp nod.
I turn back to Tyler. “If there’s a favor owed, it should be me and not you. For one thing, the baby is mine. Not to mention this was my cock-eyed scheme.”
Tyler’s attitude notches down. “If there’s a favor involved, we’ll flip for it.”
“I appreciate that, but it’s my debt, I’ll take it.”
Tyler looks at Piper. “It’s mine as much as yours.”
He’s marking his territory.
Before the truce can deteriorate, Mr. Dunn jumps into the fray. “How do I get hold of this Stranger?”
“We let him come to us.”
Chapter 14
“What do you have in mind, son?” Mr. Dunn asks.
“We take out ads in those scientific journals he reads. Amy, you’ve seen them lying around his office.”
“I sure have.”
“What kind of ad?” Piper moves closer, curious.
I throw my hand up in the air in a vague gesture. “Marine Biologist looking for baby, or small child, to participate in a two-week study. Must exhibit signs of intelligence and have an affinity for the sea. Subject will be paid dependent on aptitude. Minimum payment will be three figures.”
Tyler’s features lighten and he grins. “Not bad, Eisler. That just might work.”
“Sounds like something Stranger won’t be able to resist.” Piper taps her fingers against her cheeks.
“And we’ll pay for the ads with Ziccon’s credit card,” I say.
“If we are going to give that number to my uncle, we better rethink that. I don’t want to give him a number that’s been closed,” Tyler warns.
“Remember, I have two cards. And it’s the first of the month. Charges won’t show up on the statements for another four weeks.” I hope.
“Yeah, that’s true.” He nods.
“Piper, would you take Amy in town to get some paint for the boat and a burner phone for your grandpa? Can I borrow a computer, and Tyler and Mr. Dunn and I will work up the ads?”
“My laptop’s in the bedroom, I’ll get it. Want to come with me, Amy?”
“Sure.”
While we wait for the girls to return with the laptop, Mr. Dunn asks, “How did you get away?”
“Took a dive over the side of the rig, then helped a man in a boat into the water.” I give a no big deal shrug. Trying to explain jumping on a helicopter is just too complicated.
“You’re a pretty enterprising young man.”
“Got to be.”
“Won’t they be following you?” Tyler asks.
I hold up my wrist and explain again. “It’s a jammer.”
“Let’s see it.” Tyler is an electronics nut. He studies it from one angle then the other. “This is great.”
“Yeah.” If it weren’t for Piper, he and I would be friends. But he has her and I want her. Unfortunately, that doesn’t leave any room for friendship.
Piper and Amy come down the hall with the laptop. Piper grabs the keys and they head for her old truck. Mr. Dunn, Tyler, and I gather around the computer and spend the next hour setting up a bogus email account, placing ads in all the prestigious Science magazines and creating false credentials for Mr. Dunn as a Dr. Jones.
When we are finished, Mr. Dunn asks, “You boys want anything to eat?”
“I better get back and place a call to my uncle.” Tyler stands.
I hold out my hand. “Thank you, Tyler. I appreciate this more than I can say.”
He gives me a level look. “I’m not doing this for you.”
I drop my hand to my side. “Whatever your reasons, I still appreciate it. And I won’t forget it.” This is going to make it damn hard to try to win Piper away.
He heads for the door. “Goodbye, Mr. Dunn.”
“Goodbye, Tyler.”
The door closes quietly behind him.
Mr. Dunn motions me to the sofa. “Tell me about my great granddaughter.”
My enthusiasm spills over and my chest swells. I’m so proud of that baby. “She’s a little thing. She has Piper’s smile. A head full of blond hair. Dolph eyes. Piper’s blowhole and my birthmark. And she is unbelievably smart.”
“How old is she?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. She’s just a baby. But her intelligence level far exceeds whatever her birth age is.”
The door slams and Piper and Amy walk in.
“What color?” I prepare myself for the worst.
“Gray,” Amy replies.
“Good.” My breath whooshes out and my body sags.
“We’re going down to paint it, want to come?” Amy asks.
“Sure.” I’ll take every spare minute with Piper I can get.
“Pip, why don’t you attach the boat trailer to the truck and pull the boat into the cove, where they can do it up right?”
“Good idea, Gramps.”
The three of us drive to the cove. Once the boat is out of the water, we each take a can of paint and begin to spray. Soon the yellow boat is gray.
“Do you mind if we swim?” Amy asks when we’re finished.
“That sounds like a great idea.” Piper smiles warmly at Amy. The girls are wearing their swimsuits under their clothes and I have a T-shirt on over my trunks. We shuck our clothes and run laughing into the ocean.
The sun sets as twilight approaches. The air is warm and the breeze is soft. We’re soon swimming and playing like we did in the tank at the lab. Only this is better, much better.
A dolphin jumps high in the water, splashes down, and swims toward us. It goes directly to Amy and nudges her.
“Look who’s here, Joel,” Amy exclaims.
“It’s the dolphin who helped you when you hurt your arm.”
“He must have followed us all this way.”
“Amy has a special friend,” I tell Piper.
“I see that.” As she dog paddles, her hands go back and forth making ripples in the water. She dives under and comes up several yards away. I follow, go under, and tug her down by her ankles. Her body slides against mine, hair fanning out around me. I kiss her.
It’s as natural as breathing. We float down, lips locked, bodies pressed together. Her skin feels like silk. The kiss goes on and on. A hard, skeletal substance brushes my leg. Coral. I open my eyes. We’re in a world of color. A school of blue fish flash by, followed by two larger yellow ones. Seaweed and orange coral sway.
Piper opens her eyes. Her lips against mine turn up. The moment is perfect, as I knew it would be. We do a slow circular water dance as we rise to the surface, our arms around each other’s waist under the water.
Piper, who’s facing towards shore, stiffens and drops her arms. I turn and see a solitary figure on the beach.
Chapter 15
It’s Tyler, of course.
“I’m so sorry, Joel. It was a mistake.” She takes off for shore, swimming with long, strong strokes.
“No mistake, Piper.”
Amy is still cavorting with the dolphin. I swim to her. “Are you ready?”
“Yes.” She looks happy and radiant. My heart expands. It’s so rare to see her carefree. Damn Craven and Stranger. Stranger’s warped logic I understand. He has a god complex and we’re his creations. Craven I’m still trying to ravel out. He hates mutants, but he’s willing to make more? Apparently, his greed has overcome his bias.
We swim toward shore as Piper is rising out of the water. Tyler puts his arm around her and they head for the trail that leads to the cottage. He throws a look over his shoulder that is anything but friendly. I can’t blame him.
“What’s wrong with Tyler?”
“Who knows?”
Piper stops, puts her hands together, and calls back to us. “Dinner is ready.”
“Tyler must have come to tell us. I wonder why he didn’t wait for us.” Amy shakes out her short locks. Droplets spray my face and shoulders. I rub my hands through my hair and shake my head, showering Amy. She skitters away, laughing and shrieking, as we climb the trail and reach the cottage a few minutes after Tyler and Piper. The door is open. The smell of spaghetti hits me in the face and makes my mouth water. My stomach growls in response. Lunch has been a while ago and I’m hungry.
Piper is already setting the table. She doesn’t look at me. Tyler gives me one long stare. I hold his gaze. My heart tightens and I could swear it cracks. I have to let Piper go. Tyler is putting his life on the line for my daughter. I can’t repay him by stealing the woman he loves. But I’ll never regret that kiss.
“Can I help?” Amy asks.
“Sure, get the garlic bread out of the oven.”
Tyler pulls the soda out of the refrigerator. As he passes me, he says, “Stay away from her.”
I don’t reply.
“I mean it.”
“I know you do.”
Mr. Dunn clears his throat. “I understand. I was young once myself, but do you think you two can put this on the back burner while you’re here?”
“Sorry.” The last thing in the world I want to do is upset Mr. Dunn. With trying to rescue his great granddaughter and a weak heart, he’s got enough on his plate.
“Of course.” Tyler gives him a forced smile.
“Let’s eat then,” Mr. Dunn says in a hearty voice.
Once we’re at the table, Mr. Dunn asks, “So, Tyler, did you get a chance to talk to your uncle?”
“He was out, but he’s going to call me back.”
“Good enough.” Mr. Dunn breaks a slice of garlic bread in two and sops up spaghetti sauce. “You two still planning to sleep in that boat?”
I nod.
“You can stay here. Amy can have the spare bedroom and, Joel, you can sleep on the couch.
“I appreciate that. If Amy can use the spare room that will be great, but I’ll bunk on the boat. It’s not a problem.”
“You’re more than welcome to stay here, Joel.” Piper throws a warning glance at Tyler.
“I appreciate it, but I’ll be just fine on the boat.” There’s no point in adding to the tension that’s already running high in the room.
“But—” Before Piper can finish, Tyler’s phone rings.
He pulls it out and looks at the caller ID. “It’s my uncle.” He pushes back his chair and walks out of the house.
Pressure thrums up my neck and settles at the base of my skull. Are the credit card numbers enough to make a trade? Will he go for it? If he doesn’t, how will I get my child away from Stranger? I look around the table and see the same anxiety I feel on the faces of the people I care about most. Mr. Dunn looks serene as if he hasn’t a care in the world. The only giveaways are the tic in his jaw and the tight grasp on his fork. Amy and Piper both look ready to throw up.
The minutes crawl by. A clock ticks monotonously in the background. Finally, Tyler comes back in. “I need that credit card number.”
I shift in my seat and pull the paper with the number written on it out of my wallet. Tyler studies it. He points to a number on the crease that’s nearly illegible. “What’s that?”
“Two.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” And hope to hell it’s not a three.
Tyler disappears again.
Piper looks at me, her eyebrows raised.
“Looks like a good sign to me.” I smile and nod.
“Sure does, Pip,” her grandfather adds.
Amy says nothing, just pushes the spaghetti around and around on her plate. Finally, Joel walks back in. He sits down and begins to shovel spaghetti in his mouth.
“Well?” Piper asks.
Tyler swallows “Sorry. I’m starved.” He looks at me. “He’s going to take the credit card numbers for a trial run. If they go through without any problems, he’ll deal.”
“When will we know?” The waiting is making me crazy.
“When he chooses to tell us.”
Nerves get the better of me. I throw down my napkin and stand. “I’m going to the boat. Thanks for dinner.” I remember my manners. “Do you need any help with dishes?”
“I’ll do the dishes,” Amy pipes up.
“Thanks, Seaweed.”
“You’re welcome, Bottom Feeder.” Amy grins. I chuck her on the chin on the way out the door.
“Joel,” Tyler calls after me.
“Yes?”
“I’ll let you know as soon as I hear.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it.”
Trotting down the trail, I scatter pebbles and loose dirt in my wake. I throw my shirt on the deck then head for the ocean. I run till the water is at my waist then begin to swim. The tangy salt air and the gentle caress of the water soothes me
. After a while, I feel more confident and less anxious about getting my daughter back. I don’t know how everything is going to work out, I just know it will.
I glance up at the cliff and my breath lodges in my throat. Piper is poised on the edge of the cliff. She goes over in one smooth, fluid motion and cuts through the water with barely a ripple. She comes up through the water like a mermaid, pushing the streaming hair from her face.
It’s the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen. I want to go to her so badly my gut aches, but I don’t dare act on it. Lust and love is a toss-up with integrity. Before this is over, I’ll owe Tyler big time. I can’t pay him back by putting the moves on Piper. Bad enough that it happened this afternoon. No, it’s not bad. I’ll always have the memory of her lips pressed against mine. I can’t—I won’t regret that.
She sees me and waves. Somehow I manage to turn away and swim in the opposite direction, hard fast strokes designed to take my mind off my aching need.
“Joel, wait.”
I groan in frustration, stop, and dog paddle in the water.
Piper catches up with me. “Didn’t you see me?” She dog paddles too, her hands swishing the water.
“That was a beautifully executed dive.”
“Why did you ignore me when I waved to you?”
My muscles are stiff and my jaw wants to lock. “I think it’s probably best if I keep my distance.
“Because of what happened this afternoon?”
“Yes.”
“Do you think I’d let that happen again?” Her eyes flash and her chin lifts.
Yes. Because your need is as great as mine. Before I left the labs, I had several encounters with the female attendants. I know desire when I taste it. “Would you?” I drawl.
“No!”
It’s a dare. One I refuse to take. “Was there something in particular you wanted?”
“I’m about to do my evening patrol. I thought you might like to go with me, but if you’re too busy, it’s no big deal.”
I read the hurt that’s quickly masked and give an internal sigh. I’ll just have to be strong. “Sure, I’d love to make rounds with you.”
She perks up and begins to swim. Amy’s dolphin joins us. We swim about a mile out. She points at several fishing boats and we go under. The first net brims with small fish and shrimp. I pull out my knife but she shakes her head. We swim to the next. Among the fish and shrimp is a…
