Because she was on edge already, the firecrackers startled her.
Kirk had forced her to the ground. His muscles tense, he hovered over her, protectiveness radiating from him. The fireworks must have startled him, too. That’s all it was, wasn’t it? Fireworks? Still, her heart hadn’t stopped pounding.
People passed and stared at them like they were crazy—well, maybe more out of curiosity. Kirk pulled her to her feet and quickly ushered her around the corner, then into a crouching position.
“It’s only the fireworks, dude,” Judd said, though he stood in a defensive posture—a shield to protect the both of them. “Relax.”
Had Kirk been overreacting?
Cora tried to stand and escape her human body armor.
“No.” He gripped her arm and kept her huddled against the bike shop wall. “Please stay down.”
His bulging biceps told her well enough she couldn’t escape his raw strength if she wanted to. And she definitely wanted to escape. Kirk’s presence. This island. This entire scenario. But not before she looked Captain Menken in the eyes. Still, she should appreciate that Kirk continued to keep her alive.
She’d wanted to be near him, knowing he could keep her safe, but enough was enough. For crying out loud, she could just go to the authorities here on the island, except for Kirk and his concern about who they could trust. He wasn’t completely wrong there.
“This is ridiculous!” Cora made to stand again, fury boiling inside. He peered down at her, shadows framing the edges of his face and emphasizing his piercing eyes. What she saw in his gaze kept her frozen in place. Yeah, he could definitely kill with one look. Or, in this case, turn her completely immobile.
“Someone took a shot at you. The wood splintered next to your head. Didn’t you even notice?”
Her knees trembled. She struggled to speak. “What? Are you sure?”
“I’m dead certain.”
“Come on, then,” Judd said, leading the way.
Kirk’s hand still gripping her arm, he kept Cora close as they blended into the crowd. If someone was taking shots at her, at them, how had that someone thought they could take her out with all these people around? Or maybe they didn’t care, and in that case, wouldn’t Cora’s and Kirk’s presence in the middle of this throng put all these folks in danger?
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“We could follow these people to the main event where the music is coming from. Listen to the bands and watch the fireworks, but it’s all an act, of course,” Judd said.
“We could get some bikes and ride out of here, but I think Judd’s right. We’ll flow with the tourists and then slip into Jed’s bar to see if we can find Menken or Coburn or anyone at all related to the Sea Dragon.”
“Except...are you sure your crewmates aren’t heading over to watch the show?” Judd asked.
Too much was happening too fast. She didn’t know the answers when she should. Cora had to think on her feet, as the saying went. Her mind was still scrambling to catch up with this latest turn of events.
Kirk led them back into a shadowed corner next to the bike shop. He guarded her and watched the passing crowd as he urged them into the shadows. Then he turned to face the both of them.
“No. We’re not going to the big event, whatever it is. We’re not getting stuck in the crowd. In fact, I’m the only one staying on this island. Menken, or whoever is behind this, obviously knows we survived. Cora’s life is in danger. I need you to get her back to the Clara Steele and take the boat out somewhere safe. Keep Cora safe for me.”
Kirk grabbed Judd’s hand. The two men appeared to have an understanding and their agreement had nothing at all to do with asking Cora her opinion.
“Don’t I have a say in this?” She crossed her arms.
“Sure you do.” Kirk towered over her and leaned in entirely too close. “What would you like to say?”
His question surprised her. She’d prepared to make a stand. To do battle. Maybe she still would have to do that once she gave him her reply. “I want to find out who tried to kill us. I would like to see Captain Menken myself. Face off with him.”
“I know what you want. We’re all after the same thing. But right now can you honestly tell me you believe it’s in your best interest to stay on the island? Can you tell me you think that if you stay, and my attention and focus is on keeping you safe, that we’ll reach our goal?”
He had her there. “I...I hadn’t thought of it that way. But it’s more than that, Kirk. I must know something they want. I can help. Somehow I can help you, I know it.”
His expression softened. “Then help me this way. Go back with Judd, just until I find out who is behind this and who we can trust. I’ll come back for you and we can make more plans, but plans that don’t include putting you in the line of fire. Do you trust me?”
How many times would he ask her that? Until she gave him the right response? She stared into his blue gaze far longer than she should. She wasn’t sure she could take this man’s intense focus on her much longer, but she refused to turn away. “You know I do.”
Relief washed across his features. “Then trust me when I say this is the fastest way to find Menken—me on my own while I know you’re safe. We tried it your way and it didn’t work.”
She nodded. “Okay, then. But I don’t want you to be in the line of fire, either. Why should you be the one to do this? Because you’re the big strong man?” Way to go, Cora. He was a hero. Had she already forgotten that he’d saved her? His quick thinking meant he had found and revived her after the diving accident. And he had gotten them off that boat today before it was too late.
“Because—” He stopped before finishing. Catching himself. An emotion she couldn’t read surged in his gaze. Deception? No, that couldn’t be it. She was reading him wrong. It was just because of Stephan that she’d ever doubted Kirk. She hoped she wasn’t making a mistake in trusting him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”
“No problem. I won’t hold you captive, Cora. You’re free to walk this out on your own.” He stepped back, his gesture confirming his words, but his jaw worked back and forth.
She suspected that he hoped she wouldn’t take him up on going it alone. She would be a fool to do it. At least she knew that much. “I know you were in the navy. You’re skilled and up to the task. I can use a weapon like the average person, and that’s about it. I’m better with a speargun.”
His cheek hitched. Phew. They were good again. Strange how much she hated for him to be upset with her.
“I’m scared for you, that’s all.” And she meant it.
“You don’t need to be.”
“We’re wasting time.” Judd had hovered near the edge of their hiding corner. “Whoever shot at her before will catch up if we don’t hurry.”
Kirk drew near again, as though...as though he might kiss her. “I’m glad you’re seeing reason. Now, let’s get you back to safety.”
Where she should have stayed. She had only cost Kirk time by insisting she come with them. But she hadn’t known someone would try to kill her. Someone who must be keeping very close tabs on her whereabouts.
A bullet whizzed by her cheek. Cora screamed.
Kirk and Judd covered her and hurried her away from the crowd, through shops and between buildings, back to the pier. Her mind and heart raced, believing at any moment she could be standing in the presence of her Maker.
Kirk tugged her into the shadows. The marina was packed with boats, the Clara Steele mere yards away. “Judd is going to check his boat before you board to make sure it wasn’t rigged with explosives while we were out.”
“He’s risking his life for us,” she said.
“We learn to do that serving in the armed forces, and that skill, that propensity to be on guard, never really goes away.” His blue-eyed gaze peered down at her, and that intense feeling swept over her again—that Kirk would kiss her. And to her utter disbelief she wanted that kiss. Her attraction for him had never gone away, even though she’d tried repeatedly to tamp it down. She’d already been hurt by this guy and she wouldn’t give him the chance to hurt her again.
Judd’s signal interrupted what might have been a goodbye-and-keep-safe kiss. She should have been relieved rather than disappointed.
Kirk ushered her to the Clara Steele. Judd had already prepared to leave the dock, and it looked like Kirk would hang back and pick off anyone who tried to harm her. Maybe in subduing the shooter, he could get answers.
“Keep safe, Cora,” he said as she boarded the boat.
“Stay alive,” she said. “Find who did this. I know you won’t disappoint me.”
A bullet slammed into the Clara Steele, much too near her head.
Cora’s in danger!
Gunfire rang out around him—and Cora was the target. The marina was relatively deserted, with most people touring the village, the countryside or attending the main event. Anyone at the marina might have thought the sounds were firecrackers—but Kirk would never have been fooled.
Pulse racing, he returned fire, aiming at the stack of crates from where shots were fired, giving Cora the chance to slip belowdecks as Judd maneuvered and steered the Clara Steele out of the marina.
Faster, Judd. Move faster! Kirk willed his buddy to push the trawler, but the boat couldn’t so quickly escape. That’s why it was up to Kirk to hold off whoever wanted Cora dead. Was it Coburn or Menken shooting at them? Or both? Who else of the twenty crew members was involved? He suspected it boiled down to a handful or fewer and he already had at least two suspects.
As the Clara Steele fled the gunfire, Kirk thought about his decision to send her away. He hoped he’d made the right one. He wasn’t entirely sure Cora would be safer out there on the water after what they’d already been through over the last twelve hours.
After all, this had started out on the water in the Salish Sea.
But Judd knew what he was doing. He claimed he had practice at finding the best secluded spots to fish—nobody would be able to find them.
Slinking between boats moored in their slips, Kirk made his way toward the stack of wooden slatted crates from behind which the shots had been fired. He slipped up next to a crate, held his weapon at the ready and crept around. Ready to shoot each time he turned a corner.
But the shooter was long gone.
Looked like his own bullets marred the surface of a couple of crates. He remained next to them and let his gaze roam the marina and then Farrow Village, bustling with activity. In the distance beyond the marina, houses with green grass in the yards lined the beach. Gentle waves rolled onto the gray, pebbled shore. Seagulls searched for food—crabs or old french fries, take your pick.
Though Kirk wouldn’t consider Farrow Island large—fourteen miles long and fifty-four miles of shoreline—it wasn’t exactly something he could explore in a day. Still, he would find those responsible. Somehow. Someway. Of course, they could very well flee the island, and then what? But Kirk had a feeling the bad guys would stick close enough to make sure all loose ends were tied up.
Cora was a loose end.
As he made his way back to Farrow Village, he headed to Jed’s, the restaurant and bar where he knew at least one person from the Sea Dragon would be hanging out. He mentally ran through the list of crew members again. Were any of them the shooter? He honestly couldn’t picture the men he’d worked with on the Sea Dragon for the last couple of months taking shots at Cora. They all seemed to adore her. Especially Lance, who’d clearly had a thing for her—but he’d died on the Sea Dragon, his body lost forever along with Trip’s. Nor could Kirk picture the jovial Captain Menken being responsible for the bombs that had taken out the research vessel, his intent to get rid of the evidence and loose ends—to kill Cora and Trip. But the guilty parties often had others fooled.
Perhaps Lance and Kirk would simply have been collateral damage.
Allowing outrage to fuel his focus, he blended into the crowd again, aware that he would be the target now, at least on this island. If it hadn’t been for the series of unfortunate events—Cora seeing what she shouldn’t have seen and then Kirk’s cover somehow being blown—they might still be on the Sea Dragon.
Then again, this could all be on Trip.
Across the street and a couple of storefronts down, Jed’s was open for business. The sense of urgency that lives depended on him finding the killers before someone else was murdered accosted him. That, and the fact that Jackson had given him a set time to solve this.
Kirk dug down deep and sent up a silent prayer. Lord, please let me find someone here. I need answers and I need them fast.
He stood back in the shadows until his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting typical in this kind of establishment. A woman in conversation with a couple of guys at a table laughed. Her voice carried over to Kirk. “You’d be disappointed,” she said.
Her pronouncement brought back Cora’s last words to him.
I know you won’t disappoint me.
And that was just it, wasn’t it? Kirk had disappointed his family already. He was a walking disappointment. His father had made that exceedingly clear when Kirk hadn’t become an attorney and part of the family business—Higgins and Sons, Attorneys at Law.
If he didn’t find out who was responsible in the next few hours, he’d not only let down Drake and Commander Jackson, but also Matt, his supervisor. He’d chosen this career; the least he could do was succeed in it. Secure justice. And maybe, in getting justice for those who were killed, he wouldn’t let Cora down, either.
A familiar guffaw from the bar pulled his focus back. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end.
Coburn. Declan Coburn was a retired Alaskan Airlines pilot turned shipwreck diver and maritime historian—but mostly he worked security on the Sea Dragon. A lot of good that had done. The guy also loved to drink. He couldn’t drink before a dive, but he hit the bars every chance he got.
Kirk slowly approached, fully aware that Coburn’s reaction to seeing him alive and well could tell him everything. He slid onto a stool at the bar right next to Coburn and ordered a sparkling water with lime.
Coburn’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Hey...hey, man. I thought you were back at the Sea Dragon.” His gaze searched the room. For a quick escape? “What? Did you decide to hit the island for the fireworks later?”
He knows something, all right.
“Nah. I just came to look for you guys. I was waiting on the Sea Dragon for you to bring Shari back for Cora. Remember? I thought there might be some sort of holdup.” More than anything, Kirk wanted to pound this man for what he’d done to Cora. To find out what had happened on that dive this morning that had left her for dead, and so much more. “Did you find Shari? When was the rest of the crew planning to head back with the part for the ROV?”
“Uh... I don’t know. I wasn’t the one in charge of that. But I had planned to join everyone in a couple of hours, probably.” Coburn eased off his stool and downed the rest of his liquor. He gripped the edge of the bar.
The fact that he was half drunk could help Kirk find out what he needed.
“I need to find the restroom,” Coburn said.
“You’re not going anywhere.” Kirk downed his seltzer water, then slammed the glass on the bar much too hard.
“What do you mean, man? I have to go.”
When Coburn moved, Kirk grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back, pressing the muzzle of his gun into his side. “Keep quiet. You’re coming with me.”
He ushered Coburn out of the bar, aware the man could try to make his escape there. He was physically fit—despite his love affair with alcohol—and fully capable of taking Kirk out if he got the advantage. Except today it was unlikely he would get that advantage since he’d had too much to drink. Kirk forced him between the buildings.
Even with one arm twisted behind his back, Coburn somehow managed to pull a knife from his jeans pocket.
With no one in the alley to interfere, Kirk pointed his weapon at Coburn so he could look down the barrel instead of only feeling it in his side. Maybe that would be much more intimidating. “Come on. You’re not actually going to try to fight me.”
The man flicked the knife at him. Kirk jerked out of the way, but he wasn’t nearly quick enough. The knife sliced through his upper arm near the previous wound and seared him with pain. But even worse, Coburn took advantage of the momentary distraction and took off, running out of the alley and around the corner.
The man had called Kirk’s bluff—he wasn’t prepared to kill Coburn, especially since he hadn’t gotten the information he needed. Kirk put the weapon away and prepared to follow.
He could easily catch up with the drunk man.
Kirk fled the alley and turned right, the same direction Coburn had taken. He spotted the man, caught up between two other crew members—engineer Scott Epperson and computer tech Chuck Hays.
Even better. Kirk stepped back into the shadows. He could follow. Watch and listen. Find out what he needed to know.
“You drunk again?” Hays asked. “You were supposed to be at the marina two hours ago!”
“You stupid jerk!” Epperson looked like he wanted to pummel Coburn but held back. “They’re here on the island. They’re alive.”
“I know that.” Coburn pulled away and stumbled into the wall.
Kirk wasn’t far behind. All they had to do was look over their shoulders.
“What do you know? You know nothing. What little you do know—like when to meet us and where—you can’t even follow through.” Hays punched him.
“I know the code.”
Seething, Hays yanked Coburn to him by the collar. “Quiet. Do you want to get us killed?”
Coburn laughed almost hysterically, as if fear had taken hold but he didn’t care. “You mean like Lance killed Trip? Tried to kill Cora?” He wiped his eyes, crying now.
Lance murdered Trip? Lance was behind the attempt on Cora’s life? Kirk’s mind stumbled at the news.
“Sweet Cora,” Coburn continued. “Well, you don’t have to worry anymore. Verone has her. He’ll keep her for us.”
Verone...
Judd Verone.
Kirk stumbled back into the shadows. He’d trusted the wrong person.
He’d left Cora with that murderous traitor.