Mermaid Moon

by Colleen Coble

  Kevin called up a website. “So, the guy’s name was Len Nevin? I don’t think I know him.”

  “He wore a suit and an attitude. Nothing from your private investigator?”

  “I got a text from her. She’s still looking.” He leaned forward. “Found him. He’s a loan shark.”

  She leaned closer to look at the screen. “A loan shark? Could Dad have gotten the money for the boat from him?”

  “It’s possible. I think we should pay him an official visit and ask him.”

  “Is there any way to know if he doesn’t admit it?”

  He shifted a bit on the sofa. “Not with the office fire. We might have found paperwork, but it’s all ashes now. Want to go see him tomorrow?” He shook his head. “Wait, I can’t go tomorrow until after three. I’m stuck in a car all day with my father.”

  “I have to deliver mail until about two anyway so we can go after you get off. You and your father are talking?”

  He closed the laptop and set it aside. “Only reluctantly on my dad’s part. We’ve been assigned to investigate the rash of rabies attacks. Our boss is getting tired of the strain our relationship is creating among the game wardens. He wants us to bury the hatchet.”

  “And your dad isn’t willing.”

  “About as willing as a mama bear to give up her cub. He made it clear we would only talk about work issues.”

  The pathos in his voice hurt her heart. “I’m sorry.”

  He smiled down at her, then reached around her with one arm and gave her a gentle squeeze. “You have the best heart of anyone I know. Dad’s reaction came at a good time, really. After seeing how he and Mom reacted, it made me stop and think about how I was treating DeAnn. I didn’t want to give her a second chance, but I get second chances all the time. From my boss, from friends, from Sadie, and from God.”

  He still had his arm around her, and she didn’t want him to move away. “The more we’re hurt, the harder it is to get past it. And it’s even worse when that person has hurt someone you love.”

  “Yeah, that’s it exactly.” He exhaled. “I don’t know what I’ll do if she hurts Sadie.”

  Mallory winced at the thought too. “Are you at all worried what will happen if she wants to take Sadie overnight on occasion?”

  “I won’t allow that until I’m sure this isn’t some media stunt.”

  “How will you know?”

  “I think I will need to talk to her husband and see what kind of guy he is. I’ve never met him. This is the first time I’ve even spoken to DeAnn since she left.”

  “How did you feel when you saw her again?” When he stiffened, she wished she hadn’t asked, but the words just slipped out. “I mean, you haven’t seen her in eight years, right? That had to be hard.”

  He shrugged. “I was too worried about Sadie to process it. The only thing I felt was panic. I mean, I’m glad she’s happy, but she’s a stranger now. Maybe she always was. It seemed a lifetime ago that we were married.”

  “You must have loved her.” Why was she pressing him like this? She had to know if DeAnn was the great love of his life.

  “I don’t think I really did. It was one of those rebound things after you left.” His voice had gone a little husky. “And I haven’t dated since she left. Sadie and my job have taken all my time.”

  Rebound things. Her shoulders relaxed and Mallory leaned her head back against his arm. When was the last time they’d cozied up on the sofa this way? She shied away from the memory. Still keeping his arm around her, he flipped on the TV and called up the guide.

  “Shrek is on. Want to watch it?”

  “I haven’t seen that in forever. Haylie loved it when she was a kid. She thinks she’s too grown up for it now.”

  “Are you too grown up for it?” He squeezed her shoulders.

  “I’ll never be too grown up for it.”

  His eyes were pools of warm caramel she could drown in. “You know what I love about Shrek?” His breath whispered across her cheek and stirred her hair.

  “What?” She didn’t want to move.

  “Only Fiona sees Shrek for who he is inside. You were always that person for me, Mallory. You believed in me and saw what I really wanted in life when all anyone else wanted to do was tell me what I should be. You loved me for who I was. I realized that when I saw DeAnn today.”

  Loved. That wasn’t even true. The way she felt about him wasn’t in the past tense. Every cell in her body vibrated when she was close to him. When she looked into his eyes, she felt she was looking at the other half of her soul. When his palm cupped her cheek, she closed her eyes and lifted her face. It had been too long since her lips had tasted his, but even as he leaned closer, she remembered that last experience vividly and pulled away.

  “Do you remember the day I miscarried?”

  The emotion in his eyes quickly shuttered. “Like it was yesterday.”

  Memories flooded her mind: the smell of the sea with the storm coming, the wind whipping her hair.

  Gone. Mallory fingered her still-swollen belly. How could their baby be gone, just like that? All their dreams were rubble around them. Her mom and everyone else assured her there would be a baby next time. But she’d wanted this baby.

  Kevin’s boat roared through the waves toward Folly Shoals with its headlamp probing the darkness. He’d been with her through it all. Holding her hand, wiping her tears, whispering his love.

  He reached across the boat and gripped her hand in his. “You okay?”

  Hot tears welled again, and she wanted to wail her pain. “I’ll be fine. Your parents will be happy.” An edge of bitterness laced her words.

  The reflection of the light from the dashboard illuminated his set face. “What are you saying? That you don’t want to get married now?”

  “There’s no real reason to get married right away. You could go to med school if you wanted.”

  Why was she prodding him like this? Hadn’t he already proven his love today as they faced this storm together?

  He released her hand and turned the boat toward the dock at Breakwater Cottage. Her parents had gone ahead by a few minutes, and they’d be waiting inside. She wanted to run to her room and pull the covers over her face. Maybe when she woke up tomorrow, this would all be a bad dream.

  “I could work a little longer, get enough money for a down payment on a house.”

  She turned her head and stared at him. Was he seriously considering delaying their marriage in two weeks? “I could work too.” How did she manage to get it out with a hitch in her voice?

  “We could get married next summer, and I could do right by you. I was worried about being gone from you and the baby so much as I get started with the Park Service. I could be past the worst of it by the time we got married.”

  The dock was fast approaching even as her heart splintered inside her chest. She’d lost the baby, and now she was losing Kevin.

  She blinked, and the past vanished in the pain of the present day. “You were all too ready to put off our wedding.”

  He sat with his arm still along the back of the sofa even though she was a foot away now. “You suggested it, and I just wanted to do what made you happy.”

  “What I wanted was for you to hold me and tell me you’d never leave me. Instead, you were fine with postponing it once the baby was gone.” Her words were tight and low. Until this moment, she hadn’t examined what emotions had sent her running from Folly Shoals.

  “Mallory, I’m not a mind reader. I was reeling, just like you. From a logical standpoint, we could afford to enter marriage more prepared. I’ve regretted that night all too often and have wondered what you would have said if I’d taken you straight to the church and had our pastor marry us.”

  She would have said yes. Clamping her teeth against the admission, she rose from the sofa. “It’s too late now, Kevin. Much, much too late.”

  TWENTY-TWO

  Well, that was a bust.” Carol raised the anchor as Mallory started the boat engin
e. “Not a single person had any idea who might have wanted to hurt your dad.” It had thrilled her to be invited along on Mallory’s run today.

  “Aren’t you hot?” Mallory tugged at the neck of her Windbreaker. “I’m burning up.”

  Carol pulled her hood up. Mallory probably thought she’d dressed for a visit to the North Pole. “Old people like me get cold easily. These sweats have special insulation, and I haven’t felt that stiff breeze even start to penetrate the pants.”

  “You’re not old. You’ll never be old.”

  “Said the thirty-five-year-old hottie. I can’t remember what an appreciative look from a man even feels like. I should lose twenty pounds, and I might see one of those lustful glances.” Carol had to smile at all she’d seen the past few days. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed the longing glances you and Kevin exchange. You seem to be keeping him at arm’s length. You need to get over all that past stuff.”

  Mallory steered the bow out onto a calm sea. A gull swooped down to perch on the railing. “Aw, the lovely day has helped keep me from thinking about Kevin. Why did you have to go and bring him up?”

  Carol leaned back on her seat. “I want you to be happy. Kevin makes you happy.”

  “It’s not that easy. There is more at stake than guilt over Mom’s death. You saw how his mom acted yesterday, and now his ex-wife is back in the picture.”

  “Not as competition! You’re just making excuses.”

  “Maybe I am.”

  Mallory kept her gaze on the gentle swells so Carol couldn’t see her face. Some people could be so obstinate. Carol had lost so much in her life that she knew every moment was precious, something not to be wasted. How did she get that across to Mallory?

  “I’ve had enough pain lately. I don’t think I could handle any more.”

  “You’re assuming loving Kevin would bring you pain. It’s so clear that the two of you belong together. That kind of love doesn’t come along very often. If you let it pass you by again, I’ll shake you.”

  Mallory waved at a passing ferry, and the pilot tooted his horn in response. “The thought of facing his mom and dad in town makes my knees quake.” She slanted a grin toward Carol.

  “Nothing makes your knees quake. You’re the strongest, bravest person I know. When Brian died, you were like a rock for Haylie. You figured out what you had to do, and then you did it without complaint. I think you could do anything you set your mind to.”

  “Spoken like a true friend.”

  Carol noticed another boat that was moving a little too fast and a little too close. “Look at that guy. He doesn’t even act like he sees us.”

  “I’ll slow down.” Mallory did something with the controls and the boat slowed, then started to veer starboard, but the other craft veered even closer. “What is that guy doing?”

  Carol twisted around to take in the fast-moving boat. “It’s probably kids out enjoying the day. Give them a blast on your horn. They might not see you.”

  “I don’t see how they could miss me.” Mallory leaned over and gave a couple of toots on the horn, but the boat didn’t slow.

  Carol could make out two figures on the craft, but they both wore hooded sweatshirts and she couldn’t make out much about their features except that they were both Caucasian. When she heard the first buzz past her ear, she dazedly thought it was a bee clear out here on the water. Then something pinged on the side of the boat, and she saw the bullet hole.

  “He’s shooting at us! Get down!” Carol flung herself to the boat deck, then grabbed Mallory’s arm and yanked.

  Mallory crouched down under the dash, then reached up to steer the boat. The boat sped up, and Carol risked a glance over the side, then ducked as another bullet dug into the plastic by her head. The guy was shooting to kill.

  Mallory raised up, then popped back down again. “See if you can get a signal on your cell phone. I’m not sure how to use this new radio.”

  Carol pulled her cell phone out of her jacket pocket. “I only have one bar. Let me see if a call to 911 will go through.” She punched in the number and held the phone to her ear. Nothing. She shook her head. “It’s not going through.”

  She dared a glance over the side of the boat. The attackers were closing fast. They must have a really big engine. “Try to get the radio to work.”

  Mallory nodded and sidled along the boat deck, then grabbed the mic and keyed it. “Mayday, mayday, this is Mallory Davis. We’re being fired upon by two men in a SuperSport. I couldn’t see the boat ID.”

  A man’s voice crackled across the radio. “What’s your location, Ms. Davis?”

  She gave him their GPS coordinates. “We’re a few miles out from Summer Harbor, but the other boat will intercept us before we get there.”

  “We have a Coast Guard unit nearby. Dispatching now.”

  Carol risked another peek over the side. The SuperSport had veered around to come at them from the other direction. It appeared they intended to ram their boat. Mallory changed direction to avoid them, but Carol sensed it was useless. The other boat was much faster. If only she had a weapon, but that wouldn’t do much good. She had no idea how to shoot one, but Mallory did.

  Mallory grabbed her purse. “Check and see if there are any guns in that cabinet. I can use my small gun, but it doesn’t have the range I’d like. Keep your head down.”

  Carol nodded and crawled to the closest cabinet. After searching it, she shook her head. “Nothing.”

  Mallory peeked up and took a shot at the approaching boat. One of the men ducked.

  The engine from the SuperSport grew louder. Carol popped up for another look and saw the big boat bearing down on them. “It’s going to hit us!” She made out two guys, one with broad shoulders and gray hair. The other one was a little younger and wore a baseball cap so she couldn’t see the color of his hair.

  The words were barely out of her mouth when the boats collided. The impact sent her flying through the air, and she hit her head on the side of the boat.

  Her vision dimmed, and she shook her head to clear it. She had to find a weapon before the men boarded their craft and hurt Mallory.

  Kevin’s boat rode the waves that had escalated with the afternoon wind. A storm was coming. He risked a glance at his dad as he steered toward Folly Shoals. The next interview was with the hotel manager, but Kevin wasn’t sure he’d be able to hold out much longer with this uncomfortable silence. His father had only answered in monosyllables and only about the work at hand. The deep freeze had only served to strengthen Kevin’s determination not to let his parents rule his life.

  The radio crackled to life, and he listened to the report of gunshots fired from one boat to another. He turned up the radio to listen. “We’re near there, Dad. We should go help.”

  His father shook his head but didn’t look at him. “We have our own duties to attend to. The Coast Guard will handle it.”

  Kevin started to nod, then he thought he heard Mallory’s name. “Wait a minute.” He grabbed the radio’s mic. “This is Game Warden O’Connor. Say again.”

  The dispatcher repeated the announcement, and a chill swept over Kevin. “Mallory’s boat is being fired upon.” He turned the boat back out to sea. “I have to get to her.” The wind nearly blew his hat off his head.

  His father rose. “Get out of the way and let me steer this thing. You have no head for duty.”

  “We’re only a couple of minutes from her location. I’m going there, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

  His father harrumphed but sat back down. Kevin could feel his displeased stare, but it rolled off his back. All that mattered was getting to Mallory. Had she been shot? Who would have fired on her?

  He grabbed a pair of binoculars and brought them to his eyes. He could see the boat from here, but he couldn’t see any movement. No sign of the SuperSport.

  His gut clenched and visions of Mallory lying in the boat with a bullet through her head flashed through his mind. He pushed the engine as fa
st as he dared, and in moments he was at her boat. Maneuvering close, he cut the engine, then reached over to tie the boats together.

  Even from here, he could see the bullet holes. “Mallory, are you okay?”

  Her head popped up, then he saw Carol rise as well. He’d never seen a more beautiful sight than Mallory’s dark hair and big brown eyes. He nearly slipped in his haste to clamber over the side. “Are either of you hurt?”

  Mallory shook her head. “We stayed down.”

  The boat dipped as he stepped down onto the deck. Try as he might, he couldn’t stop himself from grabbing her and pulling her to his chest. She didn’t resist but nestled against him with her arms around his waist. Her soft hair touched his chin as he held her close and thanked God that she was safe.

  When she began to stir, he let her go. “Can you identify the guy who shot at you?”

  The wind blew her hair around her face. “I tried to stay down so he didn’t have a good target. Their boat rammed us and I thought they would board us, but they moved off. I think they must have seen your boat approaching. The Coast Guard is on its way too.”

  He became aware of another engine and nodded. “Here they come now. They’ll have a ton of questions.”

  “And I won’t have many answers. I couldn’t see the boat’s ID, and I don’t have much of a description of the two men.”

  He nodded and lifted his hand to wave at the Coast Guard cutter arriving. Luke Rocco boarded them first.

  “Hi, Kevin.” Luke touched Mallory’s shoulder. “Everyone okay here?”

  “Just shaken up.” Mallory pulled Carol over to stand beside her. “We stayed down.”

  “You’re both lucky.” Luke bent over to examine the bullet holes. “These are from a high-powered gun. Those guys meant business. Did they try to board after they rammed you?”

  Mallory moved closer to Kevin again, and he put his arm around her waist. “She said they left the scene. I think they saw my boat coming.”