“Regardless of his reasons, he said if you don’t drop this, he’ll have your funding dropped.”
Mac’s eyes widened in shock.All her years here, years of research taken away from her in the blink of an eye.Without researchers here, no one could track the migration pattern.“See, even more proof of his guilt.He doesn’t want me here snooping into his business.”
Alan pointed a warning finger at her.“Do not provoke him again, Mackenzie, or I’ll have no choice but to shut you down.”
Mac bit her lip before she could let lose another slur at the man.“Yes, sir,” Mac responded through gritted teeth.The asshole had bought his way into her company just to keep her quiet.
“E ota, bes?”Burt asked as soon as Alan left.
“I’m just great.”It wasn’t a complete lie.In doing this, Miles had just given himself away.She was getting closer to the truth.That’s why Miles was trying to shut her up.
“E ha tis tran lo en ur eh.”
Mac turned to look at Burt.It was on the tip of her tongue to confess everything.If there was anyone she could trust with their investigation into Miles, and Barry’s involvement, it was Burt, but there were too many ears.“It’s a look of determination.”
Burt didn’t look happy about that.“Jes e erful, bes.Mon lig da don et’n jus bea.”
She knew that.Miles would be on the lookout for her now.“I’ll take precautions.”She had Barry helping her.She would talk to him about it when she saw him later.He was supposed to be following Miles on the island.Maybe he’d learn something.
“Wha er e uzen en of?”
“Nothing that bears repeating.”Mac turned away from the dock to face Burt.“Let’s get Barry off the boat and go find some sharks.Have the cage ready.I want to go near where we did yesterday but not as far north and to the west in the deep pools.
“E da, bes.”
Chapter 28
Mac escorted Barry back to the dock.She looked like she wanted to kiss him goodbye but was hesitant in front of her crew.
“I’ll see you later, okay.”
Mac nodded, a look of relief on her face.Barry didn’t know how he should feel about that.He wasn’t one for public displays of affection, but he felt like he was Mac’s dirty little secret.Though he wasn’t really secret.Anyone with eyes could see there was something between them.Even Julie had asked him questions about their relationship.
Respecting Mac’s request to keep things quiet, he hadn’t revealed anything more than they were recent acquaintances.
“Don’t let what your boss get to you either.I’ll get the evidence we need on Miles, and he won’t ever be able to threaten you again.”
“You heard that?”
“Babe, everyone did.Your boss wasn’t exactly being quiet about it.But it just goes to show, we’re on the right track.”
“That’s what I think too.”Mac beamed.She was turning into a great little detective.
“Alright, go find some sharks.”
“Have fun going through data.”Mac hesitated a moment longer before raising up on her tiptoes and placing a brief kiss on Barry’s lips.
She rocked back to her heels, but Barry wasn’t going to let her get away with that little peck.Especially if he wasn’t going to see her all day.He gripped her biceps and pulled her back up for a thorough kiss.His tongue thrust in between her lips and stroked hers.It sat frozen a moment before responding, stroking back against his.
Knowing they had an audience, Mac didn’t let the kiss linger.Let her think about this the rest of the day.He pulled back, his lips latching onto her bottom lip before letting go.Mac stood with her eyes closed and her lips puckered.
“Have a good day.”
Mac’s eyes slowly opened, and she looked around as if she had forgotten where she was before stepping back.She turned around and froze when her crew all stood there staring in shock at them.
“What do you think this is, a pleasure cruise?Get to work.Burt, start the engines.Monte, unhook us.”She started barking orders like a general.
Barry didn’t linger but headed to his hotel.He was eager to go through the data he’d collected from Annabelle.He had a good feeling he was going to find something.
