Sherlock nodded, unperturbed about being ordered around.“Let’s go.”
Dot was still focused on the drugs that had washed up and wasn’t paying any attention to him.Oliver debated saying something to her.No, better not to disturb her.
But it was with reluctance that he followed Sherlock back to the tender.
Chapter 4
Dot’s shoulders relaxed the moment the tender engine growled to life.Oliver was gone.She exhaled and mentally shook herself to focus on the drugs in front of her.Their voices had carried to her and as much as she’d tried to block them out, she couldn’t.Oliver’s voice still had a warm timbre that sank deep into her soul, making her feel cared for and important.
It was ridiculous.Their relationship had ended a decade ago.It shouldn’t affect her.The only reason it had was because she hadn’t been prepared to see him.
The excuse soothed her even as part of her acknowledged it was a lie.
Oliver had been studying maritime archaeology at university when she’d met him at a party in Perth.She’d been at the police academy and determined not to let any guy get in her way.Not after Brandon Stokes had broken her heart.
Not that she’d ever let him know.
But Oliver had been persistently charming, had genuinely seemed to care for her, and she’d been so pathetically desperate for love that she’d let him sway her plans.She’d agreed to stay in Perth and start her police career there instead of heading home to Retribution Bay.
What a mistake.
She shook away the memory and took the last photo before bagging the drugs.In the distance, the tender arrived at theOceanidwith only two people on board.
“Have you heard anything from Nhiari?”Sam asked.
Of course he hadn’t left with the others.That was too much to ask for, but if she was honest, she’d grown used to having him around.“Not yet.”
The search and rescue party had gone out this morning.Dot had been planning to join them when Sam had called about the drugs.“She’s not answering her radio.”Dot hoped Georgie was right and Lee, the man who had kidnapped Nhiari, was on their side.If it was true, Nhiari would be safe.If not, she might already be dead.
She squeezed her eyes closed and pushed the thought out of her head.She couldn’t think like that.Her best friend was strong and capable.She would survive this.
Though, as her brother discovered, it only took one bullet to end a life.
The grief lurking constantly below the surface threatened to appear, and she forced it away.Clearing her throat, she said, “I’ll bag this and then do a pass around the other islands to check if there’s anymore.”
“Oliver didn’t see any signs underwater.”
She flinched at his name.
Sam fell in step beside her.“So, there’s history between you two.”
Dot flashed him her back-off laser glare, but it bounced off.
“You haven’t seen each other in how long—ten years?”
Her chest tightened, and she swallowed the urge to tell him to mind his own business.That would only make him more persistent.“About that.”
“Quite a coincidence he should turn up now.”
Dot narrowed her eyes.“What are you suggesting?”
“Stonefish brought Kurt to town to get information out of Gretchen.They could have arranged for Oliver to come for the same reason.”
She should have thought of that.Foolish.The tiny sliver of hope that Oliver had come to town because of her vanished.She hadn’t thought herself an easy target, but it appeared she could be manipulated just like everyone else.With their contacts, Stonefish could have had a hand in who led the expedition.“Noted.”
“Was it a bad break up?”Sam asked.
“That’s none of your business.”
