“I don’t need a doctor. I wasn’t injured.”
“Except for that nasty cut on your forehead,” Sam said, brushing it with his thumb.
Nhiari stepped forward. “No need for you to come with us, Declan. We’ll call you. Why don’t you chat with Sam and then head home?”
Declan hesitated and then nodded. “Of course. I’ll need a full doctor’s report for my records and a copy of the police report.”
“I’ll call you later,” Penelope promised. “The dead whale still needs to be towed before it hits the beaches.”
“I’ll arrange it,” Sam said. It would give him an opportunity to find those bastards. “Declan can tell me what I need to do.”
Penelope frowned. “No, they might still be out there.”
“They’ll be long gone,” Sam said. “You don’t want to shut the beaches because of the carcass.”
She glanced at Declan and Rob and pressed her lips together. There was something she hadn’t told him.
“Rob, you can go,” Sam said.
He reluctantly left, and Penelope hugged Sam. “The whale was shot multiple times,” she whispered. “Don’t go out there, please.”
Son of a bitch. Penelope had been set up. Her plea pulled on his heart, but he wouldn’t promise. Not when he had an opportunity to stop them. “I won’t go out alone.”
It was the best he could do.
She nodded, relief on her face. He was certain she thought he would take Brandon, but it would take too long to get him into town. No, Declan wasn’t going anywhere.
While Penelope left with the police officers, he called to his crew, “You can all go home. I’m going out again to deal with the whale.”
He waved them goodbye and then gestured Declan into the cabin. After they were both inside, he shut the door with a click.
“You want to tell me who reported the whale carcass?” Sam asked, his tone mild.
Declan blinked and took a couple of steps back. Smart man. “It came through our reporting line.”
“The police can track that,” Sam said. “How about you tell me the truth before I tell them to check?”
Declan flinched but frowned. “What are you talking about? I am telling the truth.”
“The whale was shot. Who do you suppose would shoot a calf in the head?”
Rage flashed over his face. “They said it was already dead.”
Bingo. “Who said?”
Declan’s eyes widened, and he swore under his breath. “They’ll hurt my family if I tell you.”
“Stonefish have hurt a lot of families already. The only way to keep your family safe is to tell me what you know.”
The man shook his head. “You don’t understand. They’ll take my children from me.”
Crap. Someone else in the wrong place at the wrong time. “Nod if I’m right. They told you about the dead whale and told you to send Penelope.”
Declan nodded.
“This isn’t the first time they’ve contacted you.”
He nodded.
