There was no remorse in Emma’s tone.“So, you sent someone to spy on me?”
“I wouldn’t say spy.”
“And what would you call it, sending someone to check in on me who was supposed to stay in the shadows.”Right now, Mac wished he had stayed there.Knowing he had gotten close to her because of her sister made her stomach turn.She felt so used and dirty.
“When you say it like that it sounds bad.”
“How else does it sound when you send someone to look after me?I’m an adult, Emma.I am more than capable of taking care of myself.”
“Barry offered to go when I became worried when I hadn’t heard from you after you told me you were looking into that hotel guy.”
So, her sister had jumped to some conclusion she had gotten herself into trouble, and she’d sent someone to check in on her.“I’ve been busy on the boat.This is an important time of year for us.”Normally, she didn’t take any time off this time of year, but she’d wanted to do her own research, and time had been of the essence.
“I know, but I still worry.You’re my baby sister.”
“I have been living alone and taking care of myself for years now.Why now?”What had changed.They only spoke on occasion and hardly ever during migration season.
“You can be a bit headstrong, and you have a passion for sharks.I did some research on that Miles guy, and he looked like the type of person one shouldn’t mess with.”
Barry had also mentioned Miles’s personality.Honestly, she didn’t know much about him other than she didn’t trust him and held him responsible for the disappearance of sharks.“What did you think I was going to do?Break into his hotel and demand answers or something?”
“I don’t know, but I was worried.”
Mac knew she couldn’t go after Miles without proof.If she approached him with her suspicions, he would just change tactics.She had only spoken her concerns with some of the locals.“You should have trusted me, Emma.”
“I’m sorry,” Emma replied, sounding contrite.“I was worried, and Barry offered.I accepted his offer without thought.I’m really sorry, Mac.I should have trusted you more.”
Mac knew her sister hadn’t meant any harm in what she had done.She couldn’t hold a grudge.“I accept your apology.”
“Thank you.Are you going to let Barry help you?”
“I honestly don’t know what he can help with.”
“A lot more than you think.”
“That sounds ominous.”
“I can’t tell you more than that.It’s Barry’s story to share, not mine.”
That did even less to ease her apprehension about him.“You’re not helping your cause.”
“Just trust him to help you, Mac,” Emma said softy like she always did.Emma rarely ever raised her voice.It was one of the things that made her a great therapist.
“Is that what you instructed him to do?”
“No, he offered to go down and see that you were okay.Nothing more.If he’s offering to help, maybe he knows something about Miles and wants to protect you.”
So an innocent bystander didn’t get hurt, or because he actually cared about her?“Thanks, Emma, I have to go.”
“Alright, take care ofyourself, Mac.”
“Will do.”
Mac hung up and stood in her living room, debating what to do.Everything Barry had said checked out.The question remained though, should she trust him like Emma suggested to help catch Miles, or would she keep doing it alone?
Chapter 16
Mac stood outside Barry’s hotel room, waiting for him to answer.Emma had said to trust him to help, but what could he honestly do to help her?She wasn’t referring to his prosthetic arm.He had already shown her he was more than physically capable of anything.But what could he do as far as research?She didn’t even know what he did for a living.
