"Well, they're certainly upset," Shelley said, forcing a laugh as she reached out to touch Cam's arm."Things happen.We're scientists.We adapt."
Cam recoiled from her touch as if it burned.
"Here's the thing, Shelley," he said, his voice low and steady."I don't have proof that you did anything, but your attitude, your timing, and your complete inability to grasp what we've lost — it doesn't sit right with me.I suggest you take a walk to the tourist area and stay there while we figure out how to move forward."
Shelley opened her mouth to argue but thought better of it.She needed time to think and to salvage her plan before it unraveled completely.
"Fine," she said, forcing a tight smile."I'll give you some space.But I'm here to help, Cam.Don't forget that."
Cam didn't respond.He looked grim, already focused on the mess of tapes in front of him.
Shelley turned and walked out, her mind racing.This wasn't how it was supposed to go.But she wasn't done.Not by a long shot.
Chapter 75
Disappearing act two
"IwishRileywerehere,"Gray mumbled into his hands as he sat on the rocks surrounding the lagoon.Marta placed a comforting hand on his back.
"I know you want her here, but I think it would make things worse," Marta whispered."Riley would fiercely protect you, and I don't know what she'd do to Shelley.I'm so sorry this happened, Gray, but honestly, I don't know how it could have.Are we even sure Shelley did anything?She was only in the office for a few minutes before Declan whisked her away, and then they took her to town.As far as we know, she was there all night...unless..."Marta's voice trailed off as she pondered.
"Gray, how long was it between when Declan and Cici lost Shelley and when she reappeared?"Marta's mind raced.Could Shelley have returned to the Lagoon without anyone noticing?
Gray thought for a moment."At least a couple of hours.We were all scrambling for information, and no one saw her again until just before the evening ended.Cam and I didn't come back from the Thatchers for almost an hour.Everything seemed normal when we got back.You really think she could've come back?And why would she erase all my research?It's definitely not going to win me over and make me want her to stay and help redo all the data collection."He looked intently at Marta, trying to make sense of it.
"Let's think this through logically.What do we know for sure?Shelley is claiming the lab sent her because you were behind on your research.Not to be that person, but...are you?"Marta asked, needing him to be honest.
"Definitely not," Gray replied."We were actually ahead by three days.That's why Riley and I included Phoenix in the project.Even though he wasn't trained and needed a special prototype for his pectoral fin, we had the time to do it.Plus, we were already planning the satellite projects.My boss didn't know yet, but Riley and I wrote up a new proposal.I was hoping to make things more permanent for me."Gray blushed slightly, the idea of leaving California and settling on the island seeming less far-fetched as he thought about his future with Riley.
"Wow, that's exciting!Cam will be thrilled to have a more permanent research here," Marta said, smiling."So, it sounds like your boss didn't send her.Let's put a pin in that for now.We still don't know if she came in on the extra cruise yesterday or, and hear me out, what if she's been here longer and we just never knew?If she had come in on the Sunday flight, then she could have tricked Bruce and got in before she showed up yesterday."
At this, Gray's eyes went wide.He realized Shelley had sidestepped how she'd gotten onto the island, but also, he'd never even considered she could have been here longer than she let on.Plus, Daniel had said that when Dustin drove Shelley to the Lagoon, she knew about the gate.That couldn't be a coincidence.
"When's your call back to your lab?"
"Lady Thatcher said we could come by at lunchtime, so we've got about an hour before we head over.But I don't think my boss sent Shelley.I think she came on her own, and something tells me my boss is going to be furious when she finds out.Shelley's a menace to me, but she's good at data analysis."
Gray's gaze drifted across the lagoon to the trainers heading out with the first group of tourists, the dolphins leaping excitedly.He should be out there doing his research with Riley.But as he thought about it, he was glad she was off on an adventure with Bear.If he could make a life here, he'd join them on adventures all the time.
"Do you think she somehow came back here last night and took the tapes?Could she have erased them?"Marta asked, hesitant but needing to explore every possibility.
"I'm not a fan of hers, but I'm not sure she'd actually erase them.In fact--" Gray stopped mid-sentence, his eyes locking onto the dock where they had left Shelley's luggage."You don't think the tapes could be in those bags, do you?"Marta followed his gaze.
"I say we go have a chat with Shelley," Gray said, marching toward where Cam had told her to wait.
As they approached the dock, two things made Gray's pulse race; Shelley's bags were gone, and so was Shelley.
"What the hell?She was just here!Cam?"Gray called, running up the steps to the lab."Cam, where is she?"
Cam stepped out of the office, looking confused."Where's who?"
"Shelley!Her bags—they're gone!"Gray sputtered, barely able to get the words out.
"Oh, Shelley," Cam said, realization dawning."The catamaran dropped off the first tourists of the day.I asked them to take Shelley back to the harbour with her luggage.We all needed a break from whatever's going on, and that luggage was a beast.The guys on the cat hauled it on board with no trouble.Why, you didn't want her gone?"
Gray ran a hand through his hair."No, I mean yes!Yes, I wanted her gone, but Marta and I were thinking.What if, when she disappeared last night, she came back and took the tapes or switched them or something?I know it sounds crazy, but nothing else makes sense.The tapes were fine last week, and then she shows up, and now they're blank."
Gray glanced at the canal, watching the catamaran disappear in the distance.If only they'd had the chance to check the bags without her knowing, maybe they held the answers they needed.
