She misunderstood him.
“Sure you can,” Sam said easily.“But we’re not leaving you out here alone.We’ll hang around until you’re done.”
Dot glared at him.“You’re a pain in my arse, Sam Hackett.”
“But you still love me.”He grinned and blew her a kiss.
She rolled her eyes and stalked back to the police boat.Oliver watched her go.
“Don’t mind Dot,” Sam said.“She’s got a lot on her plate at the moment.She’s not usually this abrupt.”
“I know.”Oliver pulled at the collar of his wetsuit, hoping to let a bit of air in.
“How?”The question was quick, insistent.
Oliver frowned.“What?”
“How do you know Dot?”Sam studied him, eyes narrowed, gaze probing.
Shit.He rubbed the back of his head.“We dated back when I was at university and she was at the police academy.”
Sherlock moved closer and Sam’s eyebrows rose.“Was it serious?”
They might as well have him tied to a chair in a dark room with a heat lamp spotlighting him for their intensity.He shrugged, glanced over to make sure Dot was out of hearing range.She was getting equipment from the boat.“We had plans to move in together.”
“What happened?”Sherlock asked.
“I got an opportunity to work on the expedition of a lifetime and I took it.”
“Long-distance relationships can be hard,” Sam said.
Oliver nodded, though that wasn’t the problem.Dot hadn’t been willing to try.“I’m not sure she wants to acknowledge it, so don’t say anything to her.”
They both nodded, but he wasn’t convinced they would keep their mouths shut.
Dot carried a camera and a case over to the first packet of drugs.She placed the case down and took photos, moving up the beach, documenting everything.
Sam and Sherlock followed her, keeping a respectful distance, but both constantly scanned the surroundings as if expecting someone to burst out of the bushes and attack.
Oliver jogged to catch up.“Do you think someone is around?”
Sam turned to him.“What makes you ask?”
“You’re both like bodyguards, keeping a watchful eye.Do people camp on the island?”
“Not usually,” Sam replied.“There’s been some odd stuff occurring in town lately, and we’ve learnt to be careful.”
Oliver tensed.“Is Dot in danger?”
“She’s a cop,” Sherlock said.“Some level of danger comes with the job.”
That didn’t answer his question.Dot had done some street duty in Perth, but he hadn’t considered it dangerous, as no one carried guns.She’d never expressed a desire to go into any of the more dangerous areas like organised crime or the tactical response group.When he’d heard she’d moved back to Retribution Bay, he figured drunk and lost tourists were the most she had to worry about.Definitely not drug smuggling.“Should we search the island?”
“Dot will when she’s finished documenting this.”Sam swatted a fly buzzing around.“Do you want to do another dive?”
The wreck.He’d forgotten all about it.He should spend his time working, not worrying about the woman who’d left him.“Yeah.”
“Sherlock, take him back to the boat.Get his tank refilled.There’s food as well.”
