Deep Blue Death, page 23
Jami stifled a groan. She hated to think of Gail being involved with the black-market trade in stolen artifacts. She’d considered her a friend who held a position of trust, despite only knowing her a few days, and the notion she wasn’t the person Jami thought her to be left a tiny scar on her heart.
And what was the real reason Sam Richardson had tried to enter Cataloging & Conservation? He’d said he wanted to speak with Linda, which seemed innocent enough. Sam could well have a thing for her, despite Linda not seeming to “put herself out there.” The idea certainly wasn’t outside the realm of possibility. Only thing was, Linda denied knowledge of his admiration—if indeed that was what it was—and wasn’t expecting him to drop by. So, why had he tried to gain access to C&C? He’d clearly backed off when she’d arrived on the scene. Had he been up to no good—intent on theft perhaps? Could he and Linda be co-conspirators? Surely not. Over the last few days, she’d come to trust Linda ... well, to a certain extent, anyway.
Then there was the mystery about Gail’s cell phone, or phones. Had she owned two of them? She’d found one in Gail’s desk drawer. Had John lied about the phone in the box he carried while clearing out her cabin? Somewhere in the back of her mind, she’d filed away the fact that it was in a glittery case, and now she couldn’t ignore it. John had said it belonged to him, but he didn’t strike her as the type of man who would purchase a sparkly phone case for himself. The phone had to belong to Gail. On the other hand, John could have simply meant it now belonged to him, along with all Gail’s other possessions. She couldn’t be sure. But if Gail had owned two phones, what did it mean? That she used one for personal use and the other for criminal activities because it would be easy to discard if her activities came into question? Sadness cut through her again at the thought of Gail’s involvement, but another possibility was that John had taken possession of Gail’s phone the night she died, which sure pointed the finger in John’s direction.
But she had to admit the most eye-popping piece of information had been delivered by Anna when she informed Jami that Gail had been in a long-term relationship with Ian Scali, and had only recently taken up with his brother, John, when Ian broke up with her. That was the news she’d wanted to tell Cole when someone pushed her overboard.
All that seemed to leave her with three suspects: Linda Arnold, John Scali, and Sam Richardson. Linda, because she knew Jami was onto something, but as Cole said, she probably lacked the strength to toss her overboard. Still, that didn’t preclude her involvement. She may well have passed information on to a colleague who had the muscle power. John Scali, due to circumstantial evidence and through his relationship with Gail, had access to Cataloging & Conservation. Then there was Sam Richardson, one of several divers who may have been able to steal small items, possibly concealing them inside his buoyancy jacket, while diving. He’d stated that the NASCAR cap was given to him by John Scali, but he could have been lying to protect himself by steering her down the wrong path.
Next, she was thrust overboard by someone unknown. Logic told her this person was responsible for the thefts and Gail’s murder, and they apparently thought she knew far more than she did—enough to make them want her dead. Chills like icicles crawled up her spine, and she shivered again, but she pressed on, her thoughts settling on Brian Bonner and why he left the ship. Instinct told her there was no family emergency. Most likely, he’d been taken into custody for further questioning because the police had evidence against him.
But what could that be? Neither Cole nor she had reason to suspect Brian in any way, except for the fact he had access to artifacts on the seabed and the deck troughs like all the divers.
Then there was the puzzling conversation with John Scali and Sam Richardson this afternoon. Was Cole right? Had John been fishing to see how much they knew? And why was Sam so keen to pin everything on Brian Bonner? Did he have something to hide? Did John?
At this point, Jami put the pen down, her brain overloaded with a jumble of thoughts. She was getting nowhere, despite her best efforts to figure it all out logically, and it was now 3:00 a.m. She needed to be asleep, yet she wanted to read Gail’s diary. Yawning, she knew she wouldn’t be able to concentrate, so she returned the notebook to the drawer and flicked off the light. She snuggled back under the covers after making a mental note to check out both the diary and the phone—if only she had the password—tomorrow, as soon as the opportunity presented itself.
Jami’s last thoughts before eventually drifting into the Land of Nod were of tomorrow’s visit to One Reef Island. Would Cole be able to find a clue on the Blue Dolphin that would point to Gail’s killer?
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
When they reached the island, Cole wasted no time getting Jami settled by the freshwater pool so he could return to their Zodiac and dive on the Blue Dolphin.
“You sure you don’t want me to keep watch in the Zodiac while you dive?” Jami asked, wanting to be involved yet unsure exactly what she’d be watching out for or how she could communicate if there was a problem.
“Thanks, but it’s not necessary. You need the R&R, so I’d rather you stay here, relax, and just enjoy the sand, sun, and the view.”
Only a little disappointed, Jami grinned. “I’ll certainly be doing that.” She dropped to her knees on the blanket Cole spread across the sandy area under the overhanging trees where she had a clear view of the pristine lake and the waterfall.
“I’m going to scout the beach, see what else might have been washed up. Don’t wait on me for lunch. Wish me luck,” he said, heading back down the track leading to the beach. “And make sure you rest. We need that ankle in tip-top shape tomorrow if you’re going to get clearance to dive.”
She gave him a thumbs-up as he turned away and disappeared from view.
Alone in this little sliver of heaven, Jami kicked off her shoes, slipped out of her clothes, and dropped them in an untidy pile on one of the large rocks at the water’s edge. Cole would be angry, having specifically instructed her to rest, but there was no way she could resist plunging into the invigorating crystal depths. A quick swim could hardly hurt, and Cole need never know.
But first things first.
Totally naked, Jami returned to the blanket to retrieve a tiny cake of motel-sized soap from her backpack, then returned to the pool intent on giving her body a good lathering, while taking time to enjoy the process without the Seaclaim’s three-minute timer cutting off the water. With soap in hand, she plunged in, giving herself over completely to the restorative quality of the natural water, alternatively floating and diving. The coolness felt good on her body, and she decided Cole’s concern that she was still hampered by her injury was unfounded. Supported by the water, her limb moved freely with hardly any discomfort.
Soap was a foreign fragrance in this tranquil, natural bushland setting, but it had felt so wonderful on her skin. Anyone watching could have been forgiven for thinking she hadn’t bathed for an entire week rather than the night before. But the benefits of a rushed, timed shower just did not compete with a leisurely bath, especially in surroundings such as these. Working up a good lather, she vigorously washed away an imagined accumulation of dirt, perspiration, and frustration in the abundance of water surrounding her. Here, there was no necessity to be frugal with the precious commodity. It was the most curative experience she could remember in a long while. Next, because she hadn’t thought to bring shampoo, Jami turned the soap on her hair before plunging into the deep expanse of crystal-clear freedom.
Finally satisfied she could scrub no longer; Jami left the water to slather herself in sunscreen and relax on the blanket.
Even though it was getting late and Cole would soon return, Jami decided on one more quick swim before getting dressed. This time she waded in slowly. The coolness of the water tingled on her skin as it inched its way up her body. As it reached her breasts, her hardening nipples began to throb, and she pushed off the sandy bottom, swimming quickly to the center of the pool before rolling over and floating. The water lapped gently across her glistening body.
A vision of Cole’s face was all she could see before her. Even the sky reflected the deep blueness of his eyes. Her body felt more alive than ever before, and there was a burning ache in the pit of her stomach. How her attitude toward him had changed since their first meeting. She’d loathed him then, but now the hopeless romantic in her couldn’t help speculating if he could be the one. She wouldn't mind him sweeping her off her feet at all. Groaning with the knowledge of how much she wanted him, she swept her arms above her head and stretched out fully in frustration before twisting and plunging toward the bottom.
When did this happen? How could she have allowed it? She had enough on her plate without becoming intimately involved with this man. The water swirled past her face as she grappled with her thoughts. She touched her toes to the loose stones along the bottom, then propelled herself to the surface.
It was imperative that she rein in her feelings. She couldn’t allow Cole Cadman to take command of her emotions, no matter how much she longed for romance. Logic told her it would never work between them; they were from different worlds with different goals. No matter how illogical, given her current occupation, she wanted the picket fence and a career, while Cole appeared to be perfectly happy exploring the waters off Western Australia for shipwrecks. Somehow, she had to gain control, focus on reality, and forget her wildly inappropriate romantic sentiments. Again, she dove for the bottom.
Quelling this burning fire wouldn’t be easy, but she must be firm with herself. There were priorities she was not about to sacrifice for some physical urge that would undoubtedly pass. Besides, if she was to give in, it would probably be a one-night stand. Hardly the stuff of romantic dreams, and something she had never been interested in and had no intention of starting up now.
Jami’s head broke the surface and she gasped for air, exhausted, frustrated by her confused emotions, and resenting Cole for the physical desire he stirred in her. She was about to head for shore when a splashing sound caught her attention, and blinking the water from her eyes, she realized it was Cole swimming full force toward her. A breath caught in her throat, and the whoosh of her pounding heart echoed in her ears. There was no escape. He was a powerful swimmer, and there was no chance of outdistancing him.
“Are you deaf?” he asked, not breathless in the least when he reached her. “I’ve been calling out to you. Didn’t I tell you to rest that ankle? What do you think you’re doing out here?”
“I couldn’t resist a swim,” she stammered, bewildered by the anger in his words, yet heady from his nearness.
“You’re taking an unnecessary risk. What if you got a cramp?”
“You didn’t say to stay out of the water. All you said was to rest, which I did, all day. Anyway, I’m an excellent swimmer, and I didn’t think there was any risk in taking a quick dip.”
Treading water, they glared at each other until Cole finally broke the silence by flatly stating, “It’s common sense when you have an injury, Jami. I wasn’t aware I had to spell it out for you.”
“Geez, do we have to do this again?” she shot back, rolling her eyes.
“No, we don’t. You just need to get out of the water.”
“Why?” She met his gaze with full intensity, the fire of desire now morphed to equal his angst, and added insolently, “Tarzan’s here to save me if I sink.”
“For goodness sake, Jami, will you just do it and stop being so damn difficult?” He all but growled, thrusting his arms toward her. “This isn’t some kind of point-scoring contest.”
She thought he was about to push her toward shore, but if he was, he had second thoughts, and she felt his arm encircle her waist while the other kept them both afloat. His warmth shot the fire Jami had almost put out to incredible heights, and she battled the strong craving and urgency she’d never felt before rising inside her.
She turned to face him, not sure what to expect, but instead of heading toward the shore, Cole pulled her roughly against him. Jami was acutely aware his desire matched her own as she pressed against his shorts. His free hand cupped her head, bringing it firmly, but gently, toward his own. Closing her eyes in anticipation, she mindlessly wrapped her arms, then her legs, around his body.
In contrast to the water temperature, the warmth of his mouth was unexpectedly hot, shattering any remaining resistance, and she hungrily parted her lips to his searching tongue as the water crept up over her chin. It didn’t matter that they sank beneath the surface, locked in each other’s arms. She was only conscious of his enveloping caresses and her desire to be a part of him.
That was all the air she needed.
Lightning sparked through her entire body as Cole’s hand found her breast and every nerve was electrified as he gently rolled her nipple between his fingers. Her moaning sigh was caught by his mouth when she felt the dizzying rush of water as he propelled them both to the surface.
They gasped for air, still in each other’s arms, and Jami was uncertain whether her lightheadedness was due to a lack of oxygen or the proximity of his powerful and desirable body. “Maybe we should get out of the water,” she said.
Cole stared at her, his expression giving little away before his strained voice could get out, “You’re right. It’s getting late. We’d better get to shore and back to the Seaclaim.” And before she knew it, Jami was free of his grasp and pushed toward the beach.
Obediently she began to swim, stopping only momentarily as the waves from Cole powering past swamped her. She switched to breaststroke for a better view of him cutting through the water so effortlessly, and she found herself speculating about what he would do when he reached the beach. Her heart started to race again in anticipation.
With a fleeting image of passionate lovemaking in the moonlight, she almost unconsciously quickened her pace. The water swirled sensuously around her body, every nerve ending tantalized, and she could hardly wait to feel his strength encompass her again.
But Cole didn’t wait for her as she expected, nor did he even glance in her direction. Instead, as soon as his feet found the sandy bottom, he waded to shore, stopped only briefly to retrieve the cooler and blanket before striding off through the trees, his shorts dripping water onto the sand.
In disbelief and confusion, Jami swam to the shore, clambered from the pool, and grabbed her clothes. How could he do that? Just walk away? Did he think she was something to be turned on and off at will, like a light switch? The man was not only rude and insensitive, but he also didn’t have a romantic bone in his body, and she was not about to tolerate such treatment, not from him, not from anyone. She was a person with feelings and needs, not something to be toyed with.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Jami tried to slip quickly into her clothes, but the fabric clung to her wet skin. Wanting to catch up with Cole, she yanked at her shorts in frustration, uncertain whether her anger was at being left behind after the intimate moment they’d shared, or the frustration of unsatisfied desire, which still consumed her. Either way, he was not getting away with treating her this way, and she half ran, half stumbled angrily through the trees, a pillow and her backpack clutched in her arms, with the full intention of telling Cole Cadman exactly what she thought of him.
Jami didn’t have to wait long before she came face to face with him when he returned to gather the remainder of their equipment, but he walked straight past her, avoiding eye contact.
“What are you playing at?” she called out to his back, fury making her shake.
“Playing at?” he echoed blankly, his raised eyebrows indicating bewilderment as he turned around.
Heat prickled across Jami’s face. She was furious with him, yet knew she was partly to blame for allowing their embrace to go on for way too long, but he had instigated it, and that was the main reason she felt so cheated now. She’d understood he wanted her as much as she did him. Obviously, she’d read it wrong. Why hadn’t she let it slide instead of challenging him on it? But it was too late now to do an about-face. And why should he be allowed to get away with it? Was this how he normally treated women? “You had no right to grab me like that, kissing me the way you did and—” she paused, swallowing the mass of emotion in her throat “—touch me that way, then simply walk off. You can’t do that. I won’t allow it.”
Cole’s eyebrows came together as he shifted his weight onto one leg and placed his hands on his hips. “Aww, come on now, Jami,” he practically oozed. “I don’t recall hearing any objection from you at the time. As a matter of fact, I distinctly remember thinking you were enjoying every minute of it.”
“You had no right to grope me like you did, then just swim off.”
The amusement shaping his expression made her want to eat her words, and she was torn between wanting to swipe the smartass grin from his face and wishing the sand would simply swallow her up.
“Oh, so that’s it?” He smirked. “You wanted more?”
Jami blinked at his bluntness. Grasping for a response, she could only stammer before he roared with laughter.
“Well, to satisfy your obviously battered ego, my dear Ms. Latte, let me assure you that I certainly would have liked the encounter to proceed to its natural conclusion; however, despite there being a lot to be said for this island, it was hardly the right time or place. Now, if you don’t mind, it’s getting late, and I would like us to be back on board the Seaclaim before dark. Meanwhile, I’m happy to give you a rain check.”
“Now you’re being insolent.”
“Just letting you know the offer is still there.” He chuckled, stepping toward her, his arms outstretched to embrace her. “Let me carry you back to the Zodiac. All this activity can’t be doing your ankle any good.”
Jami stiffened. “I’m perfectly capable of walking the rest of the way, and I’ll thank you not to touch me ... ever again.”
“You might as well ditch that tone.” Cole chuckled, sweeping her into his arms. “You must know by now it gets you nowhere.”
