“Morning, Karen. Is Declan in?”
The receptionist nodded. “Check his office.”
Declan sat behind his computer, staring at the screen, his expression one of displeasure. Penelope rapped on the door frame. When Declan glanced up, she asked, “Is this a bad time?”
Declan sighed and pushed back from his chair. “Just reading the latest from senior management. They really don’t understand how things work up here.”
“Maybe they should come up and spend a week shadowing one of us.”
Declan laughed. “Like we’d get them to leave their cushy offices. What can I help you with?”
Penelope smiled. “I’m planning to head back to Muiron today. I wanted to check the poachers hadn’t left any pots or nets behind.”
“Good idea, but you can’t dive alone. Mitchell can go with you tomorrow.”
Penelope stared at him, her gut clenching again. She’d been certain he would refuse. “You’re fine with it?”
He nodded. “Between you and me, something strange is going on in town—first with Matt being kidnapped by animal smugglers and now the poachers. I haven’t seen this much illegal activity in a while.”
Damn it. “Georgie invited me out to the Ridge for dinner last night, and when I mentioned I was planning to dive the area, both Sam Hackett and Brandon Stokes offered to come with me.” A slight lie wouldn’t hurt, but maybe Declan wouldn’t want her going down with civilians.
A brief hesitation. “Great. Check their dive cards before you go. Make sure they have licences.”
Penelope smiled. “Of course.” She’d almost guarantee they wouldn’t bring them and she wouldn’t have to go down. “I’ll call you if I find anything.”
The horrible nauseous feeling built again as she read her emails and tidied her desk, delaying the inevitable until she was in danger of being late. She couldn’t put it off any longer.
She waved goodbye to Karen as she left the building, her heart racing.
Breathe.
Her hand shook as she inserted the key.
First step, start the car.
Her wrist twisted of its own volition. Great what muscle memory could do. The engine purred to life and she had the vehicle in reverse before she could think about it.
Keep going.
Still breathing long slow breaths, she drove to the local dive shop to get her tank filled. “Brilliant morning for a dive,” the guy who filled it said. “Visibility should be at least ten metres, maybe even fifteen.”
Penelope managed a weak smile. “Yeah, should be great.”
At the marina she parked close to where the PAWS boat was penned and carried her equipment down. By the time she’d finished, Sam and Brandon had arrived.
Licences.
She let out a shaky breath as they approached her, each carrying a bag of equipment and an oxygen tank as if they weighed next to nothing. Sam smiled that easy grin of his and the fluttering in her stomach clashed with the nausea. She forced her own smile. “Morning. Before we start, I need to see your dive licences.”
Sam set his things on the jetty and pulled out his wallet, handing her his licence. She took it, annoyed at the way her fingers trembled. It was valid.
She handed it back and glanced at Brandon. “Your card.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t bring it. Sam will vouch for me. We got it together.”
Penelope stiffened her spine. “No. I’m sorry, but I can’t let you dive without seeing a licence.”
Brandon’s incredulity was clear. “It was our idea to dive. You wanted to come with us.”
