Penelope gasped. “You were shot?” Her fingers trembled as she tried to undo the knot holding the bandage in place so she could get a better look.
Sam stopped her. “It’s a graze. Don’t worry, I’ve had worse.”
So calm all the time. She couldn’t imagine what he must have gone through in the army. “You’re going to the hospital as soon as we get back. Should I call an ambulance?” The thought of him having the bends also lingered in her mind.
“No need. Trust me, Penny, I’m fine.” He tucked her under his arm and she stayed next to him as they motored back to the marina.
Georgie drove them to the hospital and between the doctor examining him, and Brandon calling for the story, they didn’t have time to talk, but Penelope was happy to be with him. They were both alive, and the future seemed so much brighter. It was more than a couple of hours later before Dot led them into the interview room. She looked as if she’d aged ten years.
“Where are Murray and Declan?” Sam asked.
“Already on their way to Carnarvon gaol.” Dot gestured to a seat. “Tell me what happened.”
Penelope sat next to Sam as he explained about suspecting Declan and then being knocked unconscious. “When I woke, I was in the cabin of the luxury boat. I turned on the tracker and tried to free myself, but they got the upper hand.” He sounded disgusted with himself.
Penelope squeezed his thigh. She’d heard the story when he’d spoken with Brandon, but it didn’t make it any easier.
“Grant shot me, Murray attached the chain to my legs and pushed me over. I grabbed the scuba tank on my way off, but it didn’t have much air in it.”
“Enough to save your life,” Dot pointed out.
Thankfully. Penelope could still close her eyes and see him floating there. Hopefully both men would be locked away for a very long time. “Did Murray or Declan tell you anything useful?”
Dot pressed her lips together.
“Come on, Dot, give us something,” Sam said.
“Murray is talking. Declan hasn’t said a word. Nhiari has gone to tell his family what’s happened.”
That couldn’t be easy. Penelope couldn’t believe Declan had been so involved. She’d trusted him. But now that she reviewed the past few weeks, so much made sense. “Declan called you in when Sam had the licence breach,” she said. “Do you think he knew about Sam’s relationship with the Stokes and was punishing them?”
“It’s possible,” Dot said. “Did he do anything else that seems strange to you now?”
Penelope thought about it. “Declan was very insistent about checking in with the office each day, in particular if we changed our plans. I always thought it was a safety measure.”
“I bet it was so he could make sure you didn’t run into any of the smugglers,” Sam said.
Penelope nodded. “The dead fish samples went missing as well. Declan probably never put them on the plane.”
“That might be why Murray and Grant went after you in town and then again at the whale,” Sam said. “Declan wanted to stop you from getting too close.”
“Have you got the results for the fish?” Dot asked.
“I wasn’t in the office this morning,” Penelope said. “But the official results should be there.”
Sam ran a hand through his hair. “Unless Declan destroyed them.”
“He can’t have. The results will be in the system, both the lab system and on email. Perth will have a backup even if Declan deleted it.” They’d be able to identify the chemical she couldn’t.
“I want a copy of them,” Dot stated.
“I’ll make sure you get it. There must be more than gun smuggling out there.”
Sam groaned. “Did Brandon call you about the cache on Muiron Island?”
Dot gave him a laser glare. “Which cache?”
“We saw Grant and Murray burying something else out there last night.”
