The water flowed around him, moving him the direction it wished for him to go. For a moment, he allowed the decision to be made for him. Then he shook his head and flicked his legs to go against the current, heading down. It had been too long for him since he’d been diving. Sure, he did snorkeling a few times a week and dove at least once, but not like this. It had been much longer since his blood pumped with the energy this hunt pushed into him, keeping alert. He gazed around, searching for anything that appeared to be a potential entrance to a lava tube.
He moved with purpose but not frantic. The knowledge Tully sat on the fish finder, keeping an eye out for sharks, made him feel better. He avoided sharp rocks aware that blood in the water wouldn’t be anything to benefit him.
Nothing.
He checked his waterproof map as well as his gages before continuing on his way. A half hour later, he broke the surface, searching for the boat.
“OT.”
He turned one-eighty and pushed toward the waiting fishing boat where Tully leaned over the edge. No Natasha.
“Find anything?”
He reached up and allowed Tully to lift him clear. On deck, he removed his fins then took off his facemask. Raking his hand through his hair, he looked around. “Where’s Natasha?”
“Galley. Can’t tell me? We have to wait for your girlfriend?”
“Not my girlfriend and I just think it’s more productive to just say it to both of you at the same time.”
Tully smirked but lifted the tank and helped him out of it.
Natasha returned with a bottle of water. Her expression remained contained as she moved her gaze between himself and Tully. She took a long drink and shrugged. “Well?”
OT reached out, plucked her water—same as she’d done to his coffee earlier today—and drank it. Never once dropping her gaze.
“Right,” Tully muttered. “Not a girlfriend. I’m taking us to the next spot if you two give a damn. I’ll be up there out of the way and not looking.” He scampered away leaving OT with Natasha. The motor kicked over and the slow winch motion as it brought up the anchor one chain link at a time.
He cocked an eyebrow and unzipped his suit, just wanting a bit of breathing room. “How are you doing?”
“I was fine. Thirsty.”
He smirked and tossed her back the water bottle. “Come on.”
They each took a seat.
“Did you have any more thoughts about what it could be she was after?” he asked.
“No, but like I said at the beginning, she wasn’t a newbie. Ash was an experienced diver. Something or someone had to aid in her death.”
“Accidents happen.”
She drank and wiped the back of her hand over her mouth. “I understand that but again skeptical.”
“Of what?” Tully’s question was hollered.
OT sighed and shrugged. “Stay out of this.”
“Fine. Thought we were doing this together.”
“Stop griping. We’ll discuss everything together when we finish checking.” He gave her a smile. “We’ll be there soon.” Walking away to the ladder, he shed the top from his skin, letting it dangle from his waist. A final quick gaze to Natasha and he took the ladder a few steps at a time.
“She’s a suspicious little thing. Cutie though. And sexy. Even all bundled up like she is.”
“Of course she is and you needn’t be thinking about her sexy. You’re married.”
“But not dead. Doesn’t she trust you?”
“I suppose. But only to a point. This is hard for her, cut her some slack.”
“Damn, she’s gotten to you.”
OT snorted. “Whatever.”
“You never cut anyone any slack. You forget, I’ve seen you in investigator mode.” A quirk of his lips. “But that’s not all. Look at this.” Tully gestured around them. “No one in sight. No boats for miles. You could be down there romancing her but you’re hiding out up here with me. She scares you.”
“No way.” He crossed his arms until Tully raised his eyebrows so he lowered his arms, trying for nonchalance.
“Thought so.”
“Kiss off. Just focus on driving the boat.”
Tully laughed.
The amused looks continued from his friend through the next two stops.
After he was back topside from the third dive, they all sat around on deck chairs. He had the middle one with Natasha on one side and Tully on the other. The anchor still down and the boat rode the motion easily.
Off in the distance a few more boats had come into view.
“I’ve marked several spots that have potential. Honestly, I would say the first spot. I want to get back and mark it, so I can compare it to the current that day.
“What’s that going to do for us?” Natasha got up and stretched her arms over her head.
Tully cleared his throat.
Hearing it, OT dragged his gaze from the way her shirt pulled against her breasts. “Based on how you said she was an experienced diver, she’s not going to expend energy and air on trying to fight the currents unless she was positive whatever she was after was there.”
“She would have known. Ash was crafty even though she played it close to the vest.” Natasha went to the edge and peered over, a slight wistful expression filling her face, even so briefly. Then it was gone and she turned back to face them, sitting on the side.
“Okay,” OT added. “Then we work it. I’ll come back down with extra air and see what I can find.”
“And Mr. Tully has time to come out here as well?”
“I like that, Mr. Tully.” His friend grinned and puffed out his chest.
OT turned to him to flip him off.
In an instant, Natasha crumpled and vanished over the side.
“Tully! She’s overboard.” OT was up and running to dive in before his words even faded from the air. Slicing through the warm water, he opened his eyes to see her sinking down, not even fighting. That wasn’t all. A thin stream of red rose up from her shoulder area, dispersing into the water, alerting its presence to any and all sharks in the vicinity.
Shit.
No bubbles left her mouth. He kicked harder, grabbing her beneath the arms then surging up toward the surface. They broke together. “Tully!”
“Here, I’m here! Anchor’s coming up. Hand her up to me we’ll bring her over the side.”
Awkward but they managed. The moment Tully had her, OT climbed out himself and scrambled to her side, staying low. “Get us out of here.” He focused on getting her breathing again, angling her head back.
Tully obeyed and they soon rushed to land.
He could hear him calling it in over the radio. OT wasn’t a medic but he had rudimentary skills and after hurrying to the first aid kit, he returned to her.
She wasn’t responding verbally but at least she breathed on her own, however shallow. Eventually, her eyes opened, hazy and full of pain.
“Hang in there.”
Natasha searched his face for something then sank back into unconsciousness.
What the hell is going on?
He never even heard the shot. Silencer or suppressor. His mind replayed the positions of the boats that could have been seen. It didn’t matter, the shot could have come from a much farther distance. High powered rifle.
Someone didn’t want her digging into this. But who? More treasure hunters? He focused on the rest of the ride into port. Medics awaited them.
“Oww,” Natasha moaned as the waiting medics strapped her to the stretcher.
“Can you hear me, ma’am?” one questioned.
“I’m right here, Natasha.” OT took one of her hands.
“Sir.”
He ignored the warning.
She swung her unfocused gaze to him. “OT.” Then she went under again.
“Sir!”
He climbed in the back of the ambulance. “I’m going.”
The door closed on Tully’s concerned expression.
The sirens wailed and they were off.
αβ
Pain pushed through her bringing her from the darkness where it’d been held at bay. Her entire left side was aflame with pain. She didn’t remember all of what happened just that there was discomfort. More than she’d had in years. Ever since the accident and her resulting surgeries.
The smell of hospital filtered to her nose. The sharp, cold, sterile scent burned her nostrils, making her eyes water as it brought back all those unpleasant memories.
She cracked her eyes open a little bit, expecting splintering pain when the first light came in. There wasn’t any, a fact that alone shocked her.
“Welcome back stranger.”
“OT.”
“Could have just told me you were tired of hearing me talk.”
“Hoping TC would show up to save me,” she whispered.
His smile was a lot more like indigestion. “Sorry, it’s OT not TC.” He shrugged and leaned forward to take her hand. “What’s with your obsession with that show?”
“Magnum.” She sobered. “What happened to me?”
His thumb skimmed along the back of her hand. “You were shot.”
She held his gaze. “I’m really beginning to not like Hawaii. Why would anyone want to kill me?”
His hold on her hand tightened. “We’re going to figure it out.” His eyes held her immobile. “Together.”
“It’s not logical.”
“How so?”
She wanted to sleep. Shifting on the uncomfortable bed, she tried to free her hand but he held on. “If they want my knowledge of what Ashlee shared, I would think they’d let me do the legwork. Obviously, that’s not the case.”
“Which means—”
“They don’t want me digging into her death, because It wasn’t accidental it was—” She snapped her mouth shut, unable to bring herself to speak those words.
“It was what, Ms. Zion?” another voice asked.
Two cops stood there and she froze.
OT never stopped the soothing caress on the back of her hand. “Can we help you?” He turned and glanced at them.
“We have a few questions for Ms. Zion here.”
“Don’t you think you should ask her if she’s up to a few questions?”
The men shared a look.
Natasha looked at OT and shrugged. “I don’t know, I’m tired.” Eyes closed she turned her head away and listened to OT argue on her behalf.
Eventually, she drifted off once more and when she came to, he was the only one there. “Get me out of here,” she begged.
He didn’t argue but rose and left the room. Within the hour, they were in a taxi headed to his place. OT sat right beside her, arm around her shoulders.
She found she didn’t mind so much.
“Are you okay?”
“That’s close to the hundredth time you asked me.”
“Prepare for a hundred more.” He tucked some curls behind her ear. “I get it.”
“Get what?” Truly, she was curious as to what he meant.
“Why you’re hesitant to talk to cops but someone tried to kill you today.”
“I’m aware.”
“You need to be protected.”
“Am I not safe with you?”
His gaze hardened in the flashing lights of the street lamps as they passed beneath them. “Yes, of course, but I’m not a cop.” His hold tightened.
“Used to be though.”
“I was an investigator.”
“Military. You’re qualified. Put it on my tab.”
OT muttered something she wasn’t positive she understood but it had to do with things being too dangerous for her?
Natasha didn’t respond, just allowed herself to rest.
At his house, they settled in the living room drinks in hand, nonalcoholic, and new charts spread out on the coffee table with the markings of where he’d dove earlier that day.
They had a lot of work to do before she could sleep again.