Tammy jumped and spun around.“Oh, yes.Sorry!”She quickly wrapped it.Meanwhile, the teacher reached over, grabbed her coffee that Tammy had been holding hostage and hurried out.
Tammy’s shoulders slumped when she noticed she’d lost her target, but managed a smile when she handed Oliver his sandwich.She paused, not letting it go.“Wait.I know where I’ve seen you.You’re on that show about shipwrecks.”
Damn.He tugged at the sandwich and she let go.“Nice to meet you.”
“Are you here to dive on the new wreck?”
The rumours would spread either way.“I am, but I’m working for the museum now.Have a nice day.”He hurried out of the cafe.
Oliver couldn’t do anything about being a recognisable face.The show wasn’t mega popular but had its die-hard fans.
He debated ringing his department head for more information, but the man would call as soon as he heard the news.He wouldn’t be happy, but neither was Oliver.Treasure hunters were the bane of his existence.They cared nothing for the history of a wreck, or things like provenance, and were just out to make their fortune.He strode to the marina, his appetite gone.
TheOceanidwas in its pen and Sam and another man were on board.Oliver waved to get Sam’s attention and Sam met him at the gate.“Morning.We’ve moved the gear onto the boat, but left you to decide where you want it,” he said.
“Have you heard the rumours about treasure?”
Sam blinked and his expression shuttered.“Yeah.What did you hear?”
Oliver noted Sam’s immediate tension, as if ready for defence.Not good.“Something about kids being kidnapped and treasure being found.”
Sam’s mouth set in a hard line.“Who’s been talking?”
No denial of it, which was interesting.“Tammy at the cafe.”
Sam swore.“Just what we need.”
“It’s on the news.People are going to flock to town.”Oliver followed Sam on board, the urge strong to order him to hurry.He needed to think this through, not simply panic and react.He sipped his coffee.“You don’t seem tired.”
“Years in the military means I’m used to lack of sleep.”Sam gestured to the other man.“This is my cabin boy, Arthur.”
The ‘cabin boy’ was solid and, though not as tall as Sam, was taller than Oliver and in his late twenties or early thirties.Arthur rolled his eyes and held out his hand.“Ignore him.He thinks he’s funny.Call me Sherlock.”
Oliver grinned at their teasing.“Nice to meet you.”He’d bet Sherlock was military as well, not just from the way he’d assessed Oliver, but also from his prosthetic leg.Lindsay had told him about Sam’s new crew member when he’d rung her about the groceries.They might be useful in scaring away would-be treasure hunters.“We need to get out to the wreck.If enough people believe the rumours of treasure, it will be crawling with divers in days.”Maybe he should wake his students.
Sherlock turned to Sam.
“Word has spread,” Sam explained.“Let’s get the equipment tied down before we go anywhere.”
Oliver let out a breath.He was right.They couldn’t afford for it to be damaged.The deck was wide and flat, giving a great space for the equipment.A couple of tables were fixed in place and they could mount some of the smaller gear on them.Bench seats ran along both sides where they could attach the scuba tanks, and the air compressor he’d hired to refill the tanks was already on the deck at the back.
“Does it pass?”Sam asked.
“It’s perfect.”Oliver pointed to a couple of machines.“Those need to be mounted on the tables.”
They got to work.
“Are your students coming?”Sherlock asked.
Oliver shook his head.“They’re sleeping.I don’t expect they’ll rise before midday.”At Sherlock’s incredulous look he added, “I’m worried the storm might have done some damage and the visibility won’t be great.They’re more useful to me going over their notes than being on the boat, disappointed.”
The man nodded and went to untie the boat while Sam started the engine.Soon they were motoring out of the marina and south towards the wreck.
Oliver inhaled the salty air.Blue skies, and a bit of chop to the water, but combined with the low hum of the engine, it released the tension in his shoulders.He’d spent so much of the past year surrounded by people: regular classes at university, and then his work at the Shipwrecks Museum.He hadn’t had time to be on the ocean.Some of the stress melted away.
It was like coming home.
“You’re welcome to join us on the top deck,” Sherlock said.
