“No, ma’am, go ahead,” the officer responded. “What can I do for you?”
Dar collected her thoughts a moment. “We were out in the storm last night,” she began.
“And it was a rough one,” the captain commented. “We were out there ourselves. I trust you got in safely?”
Dar nodded. “Yes. But we radioed in a distress call for a boat we saw out there. I was wondering if you were the ones we talked to, and what happened.”
The man cocked his head to one side. “We had quite a few calls,” he said with an apologetic grin. “What time was it?”
“Late. Eleven, maybe. Out to the southeast of here.” Dar’s eyes flicked to the man’s nametag, then back to his face.
“Ah,” the captain murmured. “Yes, I remember the call. Tell you what, let’s go check the logs.” He turned and led the way back up the ramp with Dar at his heels. “I don’t want to give you the wrong information.”
As she followed the captain on board, Dar gave a friendly nod to the scattering of Coasties busily working. They entered the bridge, and the captain ducked inside the communications room and picked up a book. He brought it out and thumbed through it as she stood there watching.
“Ah.” He leaned on the book. “Yeah, here it is. 11:32 local. Are you the Dixieland Yankee?”
Dar chucked. “Well, I own her,” she drawled. “She’s a little bigger than I am.”
The captain glanced at her and grinned. “Sorry.” He glanced back down. “SOS reported in with latitude and longitude. We went to those coordinates, Ms…?”
“Roberts.”
“Roberts. But unfortunately, I have to tell you we didn’t find any boat there to rescue,” Captain Culver told her with an apologetic look.
Dar was momentarily stunned. “Ah,” she murmured. “You didn’t find anything?”
“Well,” the captain lifted his hand, “to be honest with you, we didn’t spend a lot of time looking. The storm was about on us and we were pitching like nobody’s business. We didn’t see any boat and our spotlight didn’t pick up any debris, if that’s what you mean.”
“Mm.” Dar inhaled. “Well, I understand, since we were being Terrors of the High Seas 361
tossed around last night, too. We were glad to see the marina.”
“Good job to get in safely,” the captain complimented. “Were they friends of yours?”
Dar shook her head. “No. Just a fellow boater in trouble.”
“After we finish here, we’ll take a run out there and see if we see anything,” the Coast Guardsman told her. “And if you’re in the area I’ll…ah…”
Dar glanced at him as he hesitated. “Yes?”
He blinked. “Oh, sorry.” He rubbed the back of his crewcut in mild embarrassment. “Your necklace caught my eye. I’ve never seen a woman with one of those before.”
With what? Dar’s brow contracted, then she looked down at herself. “Oh,” she murmured. “It’s my father’s,” she told him with a faint smile. “No, they haven’t let women into the program.”
The captain grinned. “Gotcha. We’ll let you know if we find anything. Will you be in port for long?” He closed the book and folded his arms across his chest, watching her.
“We’re leaving tonight,” Dar replied. “But we’ll be around.
Give us a holler.”
“Absolutely.” Captain Culver held out a hand. “Nice to meet you, Ms. Roberts. Have a safe trip.”
Dar clasped his hand, then allowed him to guide her out of the bridge and down the ramp. She left the cutter behind and walked on down the dockside, deep in thought. Had they all drowned? She was hard pressed to admit anything but relief if that’s what had happened. It put a closure on the incident, didn’t it?
Or did it? Wouldn’t DeSalliers’ friends, his family, want to know what happened? Wouldn’t they come searching, trying to find out? Wouldn’t there always be questions, following them?
Dar sighed as she paused to watch the waters of the marina ripple past. Then she shrugged, and started walking again. If questions came, then they did. She had questions of her own, and after all—they’d been in the right through the whole mess, hadn’t they? So, if someone wanted to investigate, well… she’d cross that bridge when she came to it. Right now, she had other things to do and places to be, and that was that.
“HEY, KERRY?” CHARLIE spoke up as Kerry was pouring another round of wine. “You interested in changing professions? I got a job for you if you are. This is some first rate chow.”
Kerry seated herself, giving Charlie a smile as she acknowledged the compliment. “Thanks, but no. I’m happy with the job I have.”
“You sure? Hospitality business’s got great benefits,” Charlie persisted.
362 Melissa Good Kerry sucked on her fork. “Well.” She pretended to mull the idea over. “Let’s see: in my current position, I can walk into my boss’s office, shut the door, and get a kiss that sends my stockings flying out the window. Can you beat that?” she enquired with a completely serious expression.
A tiny squawking noise from her right made her look in time to see Dar caught in mid-chew, her blue eyes widening in startlement as everyone turned to stare at her. “Ooh,” Kerry murmured. “I’ve never seen you blush like that before.”
Dar swallowed and shook her spoon at her partner. “I’m gonna make you blush in a minute, Kerrison,” she warned. “I’ll tell them what you like to do with i..fmpf.”
“Dar!” Kerry covered her partner’s mouth. “Bad girl! Not in front of your father!”
Andrew started laughing, his low rumbling breaking the moment.
Dar nipped Kerry’s fingers, making her yelp and remove her hand.
“Lord.” Andrew chuckled. “If you two ain’t something.”
“Yeah?” Dar turned her head. “Remind me to tell you sometime about Kerry’s views on parental sex.”
Kerry covered her eyes. “Jesus, Dar, I’m going to kill you,” she uttered in a hoarse squeak.
Bud, who had been silently eating his dinner since his arrival, chortled softly at that. He was still obviously stiff and sore, but he’d remained peaceable during the meal, his usual acerbic comments absent
Cautiously, Kerry peeked out from behind her hand, trying to ignore the twin pair of twinkling blue eyes. Dar poked the very tip of her tongue out at her, and Kerry made a grab for it, snatching her partner’s nose instead and tweaking it. “Troublemaker.”
Dar pointed at herself in feigned innocence, then at Kerry.
“You started it.”
“Kerry, I gotta admit it I can’t beat that benny pack.” Charlie shook his head, his bearded face crinkling into a grin. “And I wouldn’t wanna try.”
Kerry leaned her flushed cheek against her fist. “I know. I asked for that.” She poked Dar’s shoulder. “But thanks for the compliment. I’ve always enjoyed cooking, and I especially like doing it for people who appreciate the results.”
“Hey, I appreciate it,” Dar interjected.
Kerry smiled. “I know, honey. That’s why I always do it for you.”
Everyone chuckled and Kerry relaxed, relieved that the evening hadn’t been nearly as uncomfortable as she’d imagined it would be. They were all clustered around the small table, enjoying Terrors of the High Seas 363
her fish and vegetables as the boat rocked gently, the windows open to catch the cool evening breeze. She’d lit candles to save the drain on the Dixie’s batteries, and in the background Dar had a light, peaceful, New Age CD playing.
She smiled to herself as she thought of the surprise she had for Dar, something she’d held in the back of the small freezer and earlier had put in the refrigerator to thaw. “Ready for dessert?”