Farewell Seas

by Lily Harper Hart

  “That sounds like an awesome job. I bet you get to travel to a lot of cool places.”

  “I do. It’s nice.”

  “What’s the coolest place you’ve ever been?” The man showed no signs of wanting to end the conversation. Rowan had a feeling she knew why — seriously, he wouldn’t stop staring at her legs — and she felt the need to nip that particular instinct in the bud. She didn’t have time for flirty men when there was so much else going on.

  “There’s an island called El Demonio. A few months ago I got to go down in a submersible and see a shipwreck there. I thought that was pretty cool.”

  “That sounds amazing. We’re going back again this trip, right?”

  “We are.”

  “Awesome. I love shipwrecks.”

  “Then I’m sure you’ll love El Demonio.” She shifted from one foot to the other, uncomfortable. “I should probably get back to work, though. They don’t pay me to stand around and do nothing.”

  The man ignored her. “I love this ship. It’s very cool. I had the best dinner last night.”

  “The food is very good,” Rowan agreed.

  “Do you get to eat dinner in the main dining room?”

  “Sometimes. I ... .”

  He kept talking as if she hadn’t opened her mouth. “Maybe we could have dinner together tonight,” he suggested. “I mean, we both like good food and conversation. I think we would have a lot to talk about.”

  Rowan made up her mind on the spot. If she wasn’t firm with this guy, he would never stop talking and allow her to return to work. “Sure,” she replied without hesitation. “Do you mind if I invite my boyfriend? He loves talking about El Demonio. He’s head of security on the ship and he’s busy at the moment, but if you give me your information, I’m sure we can set up a dinner for the three of us.”

  The man’s smile never wavered. “That sounds great.”

  Rowan was flummoxed. “It does?”

  “Absolutely.” He bobbed his head. “There’s nothing better than a good shipwreck conversation with friends.”

  Now Rowan was really caught. She’d expected him to sheepishly apologize and disappear. Instead, he was sticking. It was more annoying than endearing. “Well ... we already have a dinner scheduled for this evening. Just give me your information and we’ll try to set something up in the next few days.”

  “That sounds awesome.”

  ROWAN FINALLY MANAGED TO EXTRICATE herself from the man after another ten minutes. His name was Bill Hill — she had so many jokes she wanted to make about that — and he’d finally taken the hint and allowed her to return to work. She was still frazzled with his insistent nature when she pointed her camera back toward the deck and clicked.

  When she pulled back to study the photograph, she realized Darcy was in the middle of the frame. The young woman was standing in the middle of a pack of people and staring directly at her. When Rowan raised her head to double check, she found the woman was walking in her direction ... and she had a bright smile on her face.

  Rowan recognized the smile was fake. She wasn’t an idiot and knew better than to trust the woman. Still, there was something infectious about Darcy’s attitude. She was charming and seemed to understand how to put strangers at ease. That made Rowan all the more suspicious.

  “Hey.” Rowan hoped she didn’t come across as unnaturally shrill. The presence of the Phoenix Society representatives had her on edge. “I didn’t see you there.”

  “I saw you.” Darcy was the enthusiastic sort and she seemed fluent in girl talk, something Rowan had never really mastered until she bonded with Sally. “You were talking to a hot guy. Were you flirting?”

  Rowan thought back to Bill’s ridiculous beard. “Um ... not exactly. He’s just a random guest. We almost ran into each other.”

  “Oh.” Darcy bobbed her head in a knowing manner. “You’re probably not allowed to date the guests, right?”

  “There’s no hard and fast rule about fraternization. I would never date a guest for logistical reasons because the people on the ship are obviously here for a vacation and it seems like a wasted effort. Even so, I don’t think that particular gentleman was my cup of tea.”

  She snorted. “I thought he was hot.”

  “Yes, well ... I already have a boyfriend.” The words were out of Rowan’s mouth before she thought better of them. She realized after the fact that Quinn wouldn’t be happy about her sharing information with the Phoenix Society people. Sure, they probably already knew, but she wasn’t acting smart. It was too late to take it back, though.

  “You have a boyfriend?” Interest sparked in Darcy’s eyes. “Does he live on the ship with you?”

  “He’s part of the security team.”

  “Cool.” Darcy rummaged in the beach bag she carried and came back with a camera that looked very similar to the one Rowan carried. “So, I brought my camera, too. I’m something of a shutterbug enthusiast.”

  Rowan was taken aback. This had to be some sort of trick. The woman was trying to ingratiate herself to Rowan, bond on a personal level, and then use that interaction to trick her. There was no other explanation for what was happening. “Oh, well ... .”

  “I’m taking some classes in my free time,” Darcy explained. “Obviously being an accountant pays the bills and I can’t risk my job because it’s a really good one. I still want to dabble in photography. I’m learning about shutter speed and aperture, but I was wondering if you would take a look at a few of my photos. I don’t think I have the knack for shooting in direct sun yet.”

  Rowan felt caught. She couldn’t admit to being suspicious of the woman. If it were any other guest, she would politely look at the photos and offer advice. She had no choice but to do that now. “Sure.” She licked her lips as Darcy started searching through her photos

  “Like this one,” the woman started, holding up her camera in front of Rowan’s face. “The shadows at the edges are creating problems.”

  Rowan frowned as she stared at the photo. It was actually decent quality, but Darcy was right, the shadows were unfortunate. “There’s not much you can do about that,” she said after a beat. “I’m guessing you took it between noon and three.”

  “Yeah. How did you know that?”

  “Because the sun is highest in the sky at that point, and you were on the east side of the ship. I’ve had similar problems. It’s best to avoid those times. There are tricks you can try but even then you won’t be able to fix everything that’s wrong here.”

  “So ... there’s nothing I can do?”

  “Not really. I’m sorry. Natural light is the best to learn under, but sometimes the sun can be a bigger burden than help.”

  “Hmm.” Darcy swished her lips and searched for another photo. “What about this one? I took it last night, when the moon was out and rippling off the ocean. I think it looks cool, but it’s too dark.”

  Rowan turned her attention to the new photo and frowned. She recognized the couple at the center of the photo. It was her and Quinn. They sat on the lounger they occupied the previous evening and looked intense as they stared into each other’s eyes. In addition to that, the omen Rowan was so familiar with — the one that spelled death and destruction — was clearly visible in the corner of the photo. That couldn’t mean anything good.

  Rowan’s hands shook as she slowly lifted her eyes to Darcy. The woman was watching her with overt curiosity. It almost looked as if she was going to ask a question. Rowan decided to head her off before she could.

  “Darkness has different challenges,” she stated, speaking robotically. “Whatever you do, don’t use a flash. It’s better to buy your own lighting equipment and try to work with it that way.” She handed the camera back to Darcy, making sure to keep her expression neutral. “Is that all? I really have to get back to work. I’m behind.”

  “Sure.” Darcy’s eyes filled with disappointment as she accepted the camera. “I’m sorry to have taken up so much of your time.”

  �
��Oh, don’t worry about it. I would love to give you a tutorial. I simply don’t have time now.”

  “Perhaps later?”

  “Sure. Sounds good.”

  7

  Seven

  Rowan felt as if her heart was going to pound out of her chest. She was at a genuine loss and didn’t know what to do. She tried to remain on the deck because that was what was expected of her, but she couldn’t do it. She had to escape.

  She fled toward the employee hall, every intention of holing up in her room and burrowing under the covers taking over her brain. She didn’t make it, though, because a hand snaked out from a utility closet before she could fob her way inside and dragged her away from salvation.

  “Stop!” Rowan lashed out with a vicious right hook, convinced she was about to be attacked. Instead of an enemy, though, she found Fred watching her with impassioned eyes. “What are you doing?” She was incensed as she pushed him back. “You scared the crap out of me.”

  Fred’s gaze was speculative as it roamed her face. “I don’t think I’m the one who freaked you out,” he countered. “I think the Phoenix Society chick who approached you did that.”

  Rowan hoped her negative reaction wasn’t as obvious to Darcy. Fred was the observant sort, but he didn’t know her well enough to pick up on all her moods. It was disconcerting that he managed to read her as well as he did. “I’m not freaked out. Why would you think that?”

  “Because your body language changed when she showed you the camera. What’s up?”

  Rowan wasn’t sure how she should respond. Fred was aware she saw the omens. She didn’t want to cause a panic, though. She also didn’t want to explain things when she wasn’t sure what was going on herself. “She took a photo of Quinn and me together last night,” she offered. That wasn’t a lie, she reminded herself. “She was watching and we didn’t see her. It just weirded me out.”

  Fred was all business. “Where were you and Quinn?”

  “On the deck. We were sitting in one of the loungers and talking. I guarantee he didn’t realize we were being watched either. We obviously have to be more careful.”

  “Not necessarily,” Fred countered. “If you two were acting lovey-dovey— like normal — then they probably assumed you were just out having a romantic evening.”

  “Yeah, but ... why show me the photo?” That’s what Rowan couldn’t wrap her head around. “She clearly wanted me to know she was watching.”

  “Or she wanted to push you to the edge and see if you would crack. I mean, well, you didn’t act like a normal person in that particular situation.”

  Rowan bristled at the comment. “And how would a normal person have reacted?”

  “Just off the top of my head, a normal person would’ve questioned why she was taking photos of you at all.”

  “She said she was practicing taking photos because she’s interested in the process.”

  “Do you believe her?”

  Rowan wasn’t sure how to answer. The fact that the omen showed up in a photo Darcy took meant that she had a similar gift ... and wanted Rowan to see the omen. Was she warning her? Was she trying to tip her off? Was it an attempt to frighten her? If so, it worked. Rowan couldn’t remember ever being so terrified.

  “I don’t know what to believe,” Rowan replied finally, swallowing hard. “I was simply caught off guard. I know I didn’t react well but ... she threw me. It was an overt act. I’m sorry.”

  “It was definitely an overt act,” Fred agreed. “It’s weird that she would show you a photograph. I mean ... I get her wanting to pretend that she’s a photography enthusiast to bond with you. They clearly want to talk to you, which is why Spencer arranged for the dinner. This, though, this is something different.”

  “What do you think it is?”

  “I don’t know. I’m going to have a sit down with Quinn, though, so we can discuss it.”

  “Quinn is working a murder.”

  “Of someone who looks a lot like you. He’s going to want to know about this.”

  Rowan let loose a heavy sigh. “Fine. Don’t freak him out, though. It’s not fair when there’s nothing he can do.”

  “I’ll do my best to keep him from freaking out. Where are you going?”

  “Back to my room. I need to regroup and then I’ll be back on the deck.”

  “Okay. Just stay out in the open and try not to let them rattle you.” Fred gave her an appreciative shoulder squeeze. “Seriously, they can’t hurt you. We won’t let them.”

  Rowan thought of the omen in the photo. She wasn’t so sure that was true. “I’m sorry I screwed things up. I’ll do better.”

  “You didn’t screw things up. Just ... chill out. We’re going to get through this.”

  Rowan appreciated the sentiment, but she was riddled with doubt. “I’ll see you later.”

  “You definitely will.”

  QUINN WAS IN HIS OFFICE WHEN Fred tracked him down.

  “What’s up?” The security chief was having a crappy day and he was actually happy for the interruption. He’d just spent the last hour wading through divorce documents and he felt ridiculously dirty ... and tired.

  “You’re not going to like it,” Fred offered as he slid into the chair across from his friend’s desk.

  “Then don’t tell me. No, seriously. I can’t take more bad news.”

  “I don’t know that it’s bad news,” Fred hedged. “It’s certainly interesting news. Bad is in the eye of the beholder, though.”

  Quinn frowned. “I’m going to need more information than that.”

  Fred informed his friend of Rowan’s run-in on the deck with Darcy. When he was finished, Quinn was on his feet and pacing. He prowled the back of his office like a caged animal.

  “Why would she do that?” he exploded after muttering to himself for a full two minutes. “I mean ... what benefit is there to terrorizing Rowan that way?”

  “I think the answer is in the question,” Fred replied dryly. “They want to knock her off her game. I’m not sure how she came off in the interaction. She was obviously shaken. I mean ... she didn’t start yelling or demanding to know why the woman was skulking around and taking photos of the two of you in the middle of the night, but she very abruptly ended the conversation and took off.”

  “Where did she go?”

  “Back to her room. I talked to her before she headed down the secured hallway — and, yes, I made sure she reached the other side of the door so you don’t have to get worked up — and she seemed a little shaky. She clearly wants to be alone, though.”

  “She wanted to be away from you,” Quinn corrected. “She might need me.”

  “Or you could make things worse.”

  “How?”

  “She felt bad,” Fred replied, unruffled by Quinn’s steely-eyed glare. “She knew she screwed up and you could see the guilt practically rolling off her. There’s nothing to be done about it, though. She can’t go back in time and fix it. She simply has to move forward. Give her a bit of time to decompress and then we’ll attack it from a different angle.”

  “Or I could take a break and check on her. There’s nothing in the rules that says I can’t do that.”

  “Except common sense. When a woman is upset, you need to give her space. Everyone knows that.”

  Quinn’s stare was withering. “When have you ever been in a relationship long enough to test that theory?”

  “Um ... numerous times. Like ... ten.”

  “And how long after you gave them space did these women break up with you?”

  Fred’s lips tipped down. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  Quinn’s frustration bubbled up. “Women are different from men. They don’t want space when they’re upset. They want to be coddled and taken care of.”

  Fred was incredulous. “Um ... I think you just want to coddle her. She didn’t act like she wanted to be coddled.”

  “Not by you. I’m different. I’m her boyfriend. Women always want
to be coddled by their boyfriends. Men are the ones who want space.”

  Fred worked his jaw. “Do you want to know what I think?” he asked finally.

  “Not even a little.”

  “Good, because I’m going to tell you. I think we’re both right. I think there are times women want to be coddled but this is not the time. She felt legitimately bad. If you go running to her now, she’s going to assume it’s because you’re upset about how she handled things. You need to give her time to put the conversation behind her.”

  “I don’t happen to agree.”

  “You have work to do,” Fred added, adopting a different tactic. “You have a murder to solve. It would really help if you discovered the Phoenix Society people had absolutely nothing to do with what happened to that woman.”

  On that topic, Quinn could readily agree. “The only thing we have going for us is that she’d just gone through a tempestuous divorce. It’s always possible the ex-husband, furious because he lost half the money he brought into the marriage — and he was reportedly furious about that — sent someone to kill her.”

  “What about the cameras?”

  “Well, that’s another problem.” Quinn turned his laptop at an angle so they could both watch the screen. “This is the area where Deborah was killed about an hour before it happened. Tell me what you see.”

  Fred knit his eyebrows and leaned forward, squinting as he made out the action on the deck. “It’s not the best footage.”

  “Because of the darkness, we’re limited by technology. We do the best we can, but the farther away from the cameras you are, the harder it is to make out any details.”

  “Yeah.” Fred continued staring. “Still, that looks like Spencer right there.” He pointed at the screen.

  “It does,” Quinn agreed. “He’s out there with Darcy and Julia.”

  “Are they drinking?”

  “They have drinks. I obviously can’t tell what’s inside of them. They’re not acting tipsy, though.”

  Fred pursed his lips. “They look like they’re having a serious conversation.”