She looked ill, and I worried she would faint. Tess went pale, and her eyes filled when I broke the news. JD and I helped her to a chair in Mark’s office. She did her best to hold herself together, but that wasn’t good enough. After a few moments, she broke into a sweat that slicked her porcelain skin. “I need to lie down.”
She was a gorgeous woman in her mid-20s with raven hair, hypnotic blue eyes, and a trim figure.
We helped her over to the sofa, and she reclined, almost hyperventilating.
“Just take slow, deep breaths,” I said in a calming voice.
“I think we should give her some space,” Mark said.
He stood from his desk, moved to the sofa, and took her hand. “I know you two worked closely together. We’ll give you some privacy. Stay here as long as you need to. I’ve got to run some errands anyway.”
“I’m sorry. I just wasn’t expecting this,” she said in a weak voice.
“None of us were.”
Mark flashed a comforting smile.
I left a card on the coffee table and told her to get in touch when she felt up to it.
The three of us left the office, and Mark flipped out the light, pulling the door shut behind him. He whispered, “Sorry. She’s very sensitive. We’re all passionate here and committed to the cause. I know they had a strong bond.”
“What kind of bond?” I asked.
The sparkling diamond on Tess’s hand told me her husband might not be so enthused about theirbond.
Mark knew what I was getting at. “Workplace romances are discouraged here, but who knows. Sheisa good-looking woman. But I’m a married man, so I don’t notice those kinds of things,” he said with a grin. “She doesn’t strike me as the type to run around on her husband. Nice guy.” He sighed. “Like I said, I stay out of the private lives of my employees. As long as they do their jobs and don’t cause problems, I’m hands off. My job is to provide leadership and an environment that allows people to thrive.”
Mark escorted us out, and we thanked him again. We left the building and strolled the parking lot to the Porsche.
“I think I know the reason for Andrew’s pending divorce,” JD muttered. “We should confirm his wife’s whereabouts. She might have thrown him to the sharks if she found out about Tess.”
He was half joking.
We climbed into the 911, and I pestered Isabella once again. “Can you tell me if Amara Holt is in Los Angeles and, if so, how long she’s been there?”
“Give me a minute, and I’ll call you back,” she said before ending the call. She sounded busy.
I dialed the sheriff and told him about the Calypso. The harbor patrol and Coast Guard would look for the boat. Perhaps it was drifting out there somewhere. Sharks attacking boats had become more common. A shark of this size might be able to do real damage.
Jack pulled out of the lot and drove back to Diver Down. We grabbed lunch at the bar and shot the breeze with Teagan. Harlan sat at the end in his usual spot, sipping a longneck.
Jack ordered the Baja Fish Tacos with chipotle and lime, and I went with the jerk bacon burger supreme with pineapple jam, applewood bacon, and spicy mayo. A side of sweet potato fries rounded out the meal.
Paris Delaney appeared on the flatscreen behind the bar. She interviewed the notorious shark whisperer, Ariel Riven. Ariel was a free-spirited blonde surfer girl with sun-kissed skin and azure eyes. Her velvety soft voice and dreamy gaze made her seem ethereal. The concept of fear didn’t exist for her. She would brave shark-infested waters without a cage or chain mail. She just knew no shark would ever taste her flesh. Perhaps even the great whites were mesmerized by her beauty.
"We just need more understanding and communication with the sharks,” she said. “Humans are not their natural prey. By and large, when a shark attacks a person, it's a case of mistaken identity. It's difficult for a shark to see directly in front of them.They often sample with a bite. You'll find that most sharks, after the first nibble, realize their mistake and go about their way."
Jack laughed. "That first nibble’s a doozy.”
"Nope. Sorry," Teagan said. "I'm never swimming in the water again.”
"You are way more likely to get hit riding a bicycle than you are to get bitten by a shark," I said.
“Talk to Whisper Willow about the odds.”
I frowned at her.
"Did you hear? People are having shark parties now.”
