13. Indiana
I slammed the trap door to the hidden room shut, hoping the oncoming boat didn’t have high-powered binoculars that enabled them to see my movements.
My heart hammered against my ribs as I raced along Rhino’s well-worn deck, keeping in the shadows as I sprinted to the rear. The sun pierced through a gap between two storm clouds, spearing a beam of light right onto the oncoming boat like it was the main act in a show. I lifted my sunglasses and squinting against the glare, I peered through the binoculars. Adjusting the focus, I searched for the encroaching vessel with my pulse thundering in my ears.
The dot in the distance grew, shaping into a sleek rubber boat with an Air/Sea rescue emblem emblazoned on its side. My chest squeezed. Fucking hell.
Tyler Kingsley was at the bow of the boat.
“Damn it,” I muttered.
“Who is it?” The pungent stench of alcohol wafted off Dad’s tongue.
“Kingsley.” I gave Dad the binoculars. “He’s coming in on an Air/Sea rescue boat.”
Twisting his face into a scowl, Dad peered through the binoculars. “What now?”
“Stuffed if I know.”
“He’s like a bad penny.” Dad handed the binoculars back to me.
“He’s worse than that,” I said. “He’s a cop.”
Even as I said the title, the word didn’t hold the bitterness it usually did.
I recognized the young man driving the boat. Jordan was from the Air/Sea rescue team. Maybe he was in charge while Levi was out of action.
The rubber boat bobbed closer, and as the hum of its motor grew louder, closing the distance, Tyler’s wavy black hair whipped in the wind, stubbornly perfect even in disarray.
Jordan cut off the engine, and the boat kissed Rhino’s rear dive deck with a squeal of rubber. Tyler’s boots hit the deck seconds later.
“That’s far enough, Kingsley,” I shouted to him from the next level up.
He swept his mirrored glasses off his face and aimed his piercing blue eyes at me like they were heat-seeking missiles.
“What do you want now?” My words were sharp enough to cut off his head.
“We need your help again, Indiana.”
“Hell no. I’m not a damn charity. Besides, I paid my duty and?—”
“I know.” He paused as if letting that sink in. “Aria’s offering ten thousand dollars.”
Halting my jaw from dropping, I released a mocking huff. “Ten grand? I’ll believe that when I see it.”
He tugged his phone from his shorts pocket. “Tell me your bank account and you’ll have it within minutes.”
I crossed my arms. “What’s the catch?”
“We found a tracking device in Chui’s yacht. It was damaged and Cobra is still trying to decipher the data, but they found a signal deep out in the ocean. They need your help to investigate it.”
Ten grand could float Rhino for months and keep the wolves at bay. I bit down on my lip, feeling the scar on my forehead pull tight. The offer was tempting, even though resentment bubbled inside me. I hated the damn authorities telling me what to do.
“What if we don’t find anything?” I asked.
“You get to keep the money, and we’ll have had a bit of fun.” Wriggling his eyebrows, he pulled his sunglasses back down.
Why does he have to look so damn sexy?
“Tell Aria, if she gets twenty grand in my account in an hour, she has a deal.”
“She said you might say that. Deal.”
Damn it. I should have asked for thirty grand.
He reached into the rubber boat and pulled out two bags.
“Don’t tell me you brought your coffee machine again?”
He chuckled as he plonked the two bags onto the deck.
“Thanks for the lift, Jordan,” he said, and he pushed the boat off Rhino’s side.
Jordan saluted me, then revved the engine to full and powered away.
Tyler hoisted his bags, and as he strolled toward me, I stood my ground.
“Money first, Officer Fancy Pants.”
He lowered the bags and pulled out his phone. He held it up, possibly looking for a signal, then he dialed a number. I hated that his mirrored glasses hid his eyes, and I also hated that I actually wanted to see those stunning blue irises of his.
I put my foot up onto the railing and ran my gaze up his body. He must work out to keep so fit. His dark hair was so healthy it glistened in the sun. He probably used expensive shampoo and paid for a pricy gym membership. Even his shorts and T-shirt looked like they were designer quality. I couldn’t remember the last time I bought new clothing. No need when I barely left this boat.
“Hey, Aria,” he said into the phone, his voice all business. “Indiana has agreed to twenty grand. Yep. Okay. Of course. Will do.”
He ended the call and looked up at me. “Aria said she’ll ask Zac to transfer the money immediately.”
My heart skipped a beat. Twenty grand!
Today is payday, after all.
Yet it was so weird that I believed him. I hadn’t met a cop yet who hadn’t fucked us over.
“Here.” He handed me his phone. “Send Aria your bank account details.”
We had a Mexican stand-off for a few beats before I typed my bank account details into a text message to Aria. I handed the phone back to Tyler, and he picked up his bags.
I should have made him wait until the money showed up, but instead, I said, “You really do have your coffee machine. Don’t you?”
“Sure do.”
Groaning, I turned my back on him and marched away.
I stepped into the shade of the hut, and Dad jolted back like I’d caught him stealing booze from his ‘secret’ stash. The old Vegemite jar that doubled as his whiskey glass was half full, and I couldn’t decide if he’d just topped it up or he was halfway through finishing the drink. The time of day was irrelevant when it came to Dad’s addiction.
The bittersweet smell of booze was woven into the fabric of my childhood and went hand in hand with who my father was. The bottle next to the glass was one taken from Chui’s boat. I should have told him to put the bottle away, but Dad wouldn’t, and also, I shouldn’t give a flying hoot what Tyler thought about the expensive liquor.
I turned on the kettle, and with my back against the fridge, I watched Tyler pull his coffee machine from his bag and set it up. The machine looked brand new, and so did his bags. Or maybe Tyler hated getting dirty.
This was the wrong boat for that kind of mentality.
Tyler cradled his coffee machine like a precious artifact, and I rolled my eyes at the absurdity. Here we were, roughing it on the open sea, and this man was worried about his caffeine fix. I wondered if his woman received such dedication.
Did he have a woman?
Indiana! You don’t fucking care.
The machine sputtered to life, and the rich coffee aroma mingled with the salty air. Despite myself, the scent was inviting. Tyler’s love for good coffee bordered on extreme, a stark contrast to my own indifference.
He was taking forever, and certain it was to piss me off, I said, “Kingsley, have you got the info on where we’re going or not?”
He clicked his fingers, and when he bent over to reach into his bag, I got a fabulous view of his butt.
Dad made a noise like he’d swallowed his tongue, and I glared at him.
“Okay, here we go.” Tyler unfolded a piece of paper which was actually six sheets of A4 taped together. “May I?”
He pointed at the coffee table, and after Dad removed his drink and whiskey bottle, Tyler laid the pages out on the table.
“Ryder told me that you would be able to work this out,” he said.
“Ryder, huh?” I still had a beef with him. That bastard had me arrested, and after everything Dad and I did to save Piper for him.
I was in two minds about telling Tyler the deal was off, when I remembered the twenty grand. That was an amount I couldn’t refuse. Then again, if that money was already in my bank, then maybe I could fudge this search to suit me.
No. I wouldn’t do that. Dad and I did some things that skirted the law, but outright lying was not in our wheelhouse.
I leaned over the map, zeroing in on the spot Tyler pointed at.
“That’s in the middle of nowhere,” I said.
“That’s what Ryder said.”
“Why doesn’t he go there then?”
“The Border Force boats are out of action. One of them was attacked with armor-piercing bullets and has been written off. Did you know about that?”
I nodded. “What about the planes?”
“They are all up in Townsville at the moment.”
“That’d be right.”
Tyler sat beside Dad and rested his hands on his bare knees. “So that’s why we need your help. Do you know where that is?”
“Yeah. Unfortunately. How do you know there’s something out there?”
“Because the DIMS pointed at another?—”
“DIMS? What the fuck’s that?” Dad growled at Tyler.
“Sorry. We found a specialized computer in that yacht you salvaged that looks to be Chui’s Drug Inventory Management System. DIMS.”
Dad’s brows thumped together.
“Maybe that dot relates to where that shipping container fell off the ship?” I said.
“Maybe.” Tyler scrunched his nose. “Maybe not.”
“Have you caught the assholes involved in that case?” My mind formed a rotten picture of those poor victims floating around in that shipping container after it toppled overboard.
“Unfortunately not. But I’ll get those bastards.” Tyler clenched his jaw. “What those victims went through?—”
He shook his head, and a cocktail of sorrow and anger crossed his expression.
I studied him. Tyler meant every word. Maybe he was a cop who got results, after all.
Maybe I could ask him to investigate Mom’s cold case.
“If it was that container, why would that DIM thingy still be sending off a signal?” I asked.
“That’s why we need to investigate it.”
“But surely that computer was encrypted, and didn’t you say it was damaged? Maybe it’s all crap?” I frowned at him.
“Cobra is highly skilled at cracking computer code.”
“What’s Cobra?” Dad scowled.
“Sorry, Cole Tanner. He works with Aria.”
“Jeez.” Dad huffed. “What is it with that lot? Cobra, Blade, Viper. Who do they think they are?”
I knew who they were, and those incredible soldiers could call themselves anything they wanted. But that was a conversation for another time.
“Cole is still working on the computer.” Tyler stood and walked to the coffee machine. “But the DIMS did correctly pinpoint a drug den that you found in the Everglades. We were just lucky that you were able to find that place in the middle of nowhere first.”
Kudos to Tyler. Rubbing Dad up the right way was going to win him brownie points.
Dad swiped his hand like he was swatting away a ghost. “It was nothing.”
“It wasn’t nothing. But anyway, the fact that it pinpointed that site gives us hope that the DIMS will help us locate more of Chui’s assets.”
The coffee machine changed in tone, and black liquid dripped into the cup he’d also brought with him. The delicious smell made my mouth water.
“I’ll get us going,” I said. “That spot on the map is a long way out.”
“Great. Want me to make you a coffee?” Tyler grinned, making that dimple in his chin somehow sexier.
I would give anything for a coffee, but there was no way I would give Tyler an opening.
I strode from the hut. As I headed toward the bridge, a cry of seagulls swooping over Kangaroo Island added to the waves slapping against Rhino’s hull. My gut churned as I wondered if making this agreement with Tyler and Aria was making a deal with the devil. It was always Dad and I against the cops, not working with them.
What the hell just happened?
As I strode onto the bridge and the overdue notices on the corkboard fluttered in the morning breeze, I convinced myself that it wasn’t Tyler that loosened my stance on trusting cops, it was the promise of keeping Rhino afloat a little longer.
I pressed the buttons to haul up all four anchors, and the grinding noise reverberated through my feet. Once the anchors were back onboard, I started Rhino’s engine, and the beast rumbled to life, shuddering the walls around me. Lifting my binoculars, I scanned the horizon. Other than a massive cargo ship on the eastern horizon, the waters were clear.
Turning the steering wheel hard right, I aimed Rhino away from Pineapple Reef and pushed the throttle forward.
“Hello, captain.” Tyler entered the bridge.
I jolted. “Christ Almighty, Kingsley. What did I tell you about sneaking up on me?”
“Sorry.” He winced. “Brought you coffee.”
He tentatively placed a coffee mug on the counter in front of me.
I squinted at him.
“Two scoops of Nescafe Blend 43 instant coffee and three sugars,” he said. “That’s how you like it, right?”
He clenched his jaw like he was trying not to smirk.
Fighting the urge to giggle, I said, “Don’t make me regret this.”
“Life’s too short for regrets.” He winked at me, turned, and strolled away.
My gaze fell on his sexy ass.
Twenty grand to check that butt out . . . I’ll take that.
Once Rhino was out of Pineapple Reef’s turbulence, I set a course for the mystery dot on Tyler’s map and coaxed the engine to maximum speed. But even with Rhino at full speed, our destination was going to take all day.
I did a double-take when Dad led Tyler past the bridge out to the bow. They both carried coffee mugs.
What the hell is Dad doing?
Through the front windshield, Dad pointed at our backup hydraulic winch that hadn’t worked in years. As the pair of them nodded and sipped their coffees, Tyler seemed to get more of a conversation out of Dad than I did in a whole week.
They put their mugs down, and Tyler pulled off his T-shirt. As he anchored it beneath a toolbox, I was graced with an impressive view of the defined muscles lining his chest.
I nearly swallowed my tongue when the pair of them worked together to pull the front compartment off the engine housing and began taking the machine apart. Tyler must have some kind of magical draw because there was no way Dad would work with a cop.
I bit back a sigh. Or maybe Dad was just enjoying male company for a change. I could relate to that. I would enjoy some male company, especially with a man as freaking sexy as Tyler.
Tyler and Dad laughed at something, and I couldn’t stop staring. I couldn’t remember the last time Dad belly laughed like that. Then again, it was hard to laugh when we worked and lived on the boat that held too many bad memories and too many ghosts of Mom.
A wave of jealousy washed through me. I wanted in on their conversation and laughter.
Tyler turned to me and waved. Then the annoying bastard watched me until I had no choice but to wave back. Fighting the smirk on my face, I finished off my coffee and hated that it tasted too bitter and too sweet.
Damn him for ruining my morning caffeine fix.
As the men seemed to work in total harmony, I settled with my butt against the back counter, watching them. Rather than wrestle with the demons that constantly marched around my mind, I tried to relax and enjoy the show. Dad was so used to working solo that I was surprised that he accepted Tyler’s help, but Tyler wasn’t just helping, he seemed to be taking charge. Maybe he’d downplayed his mechanical skills.
Maybe he could refurb all our aging equipment.
As the sun arced overhead and we headed further and further away from civilization, Dad and Tyler moved from one job to another. I opened my ancient computer, and when it finally found a signal, I checked my bank balance.
Holy shit. It had been way too long since I’d seen five figures in my account. I plucked the overdue notices off the corkboard and shuffled them into order of importance.
“Hey, captain.”
Jerking back, I gave him a foul look. “Goddammit, Kinglsey. You’re going to give me a heart attack.”
“Sorry. Would you like one of my special coffees?” His smile was so damn swoon-worthy my knees just about buckled.
“You’re not going to relent until I do, are you?”
“Nope.” He flared his stunning blues at me.
“All right then, show me what all the hoo haa is about.”
He winked. “Coming right up.”
The hum of Rhino’s engines vibrating beneath my feet was a comforting purr for a change. I pinned the bills back on the corkboard, then I checked our direction and adjusted the steering wheel a fraction.
“Here you go.” Tyler stepped onto the bridge with a steaming mug. “Tyler’s special brew with three sugars.”
“Special brew, huh?” I took the coffee from him and sniffed.
“Smell good?”
You smell good.
He blinked at me.
Oh shit, did I say that out loud?
My heart skipped a beat.
“Taste it,” he said, his eyes shimmering.
I sipped the coffee; the blend was smooth and didn’t have any bitterness.
“It’s good, right?”
I chuckled. “Okay, you win. It’s an improvement on my Blend 43.”
He laughed, and Officer Fancy Pants hit another level of smoking hot.
“How are we going?” He nodded at the map I had laid out on the back counter.
“We’re traveling well. Still a few more hours. How are you going with Dad?” I took another sip.
“He’s great,” Tyler said. “He tells some funny stories.”
What the hell? I just about choked on my coffee. Nobody ever called Dad great, especially not when it came to conversation.
“Are you hungry? Zena gave me enough food to last us a week,” Tyler said.
“Yeah, actually, I’m starving. That would be great.”
“I’ll be back in a tic.”
Tyler and Dad joined me on the bridge to eat, and as the pair of them chatted about fishing and boats, I couldn’t believe Dad was the same man who woke up this morning.
Zena’s mini hamburgers were amazing, and Tyler’s coffee really was to die for.
But it was Dad’s jovial mood that made me happy.
The rest of the day was a continuation of everything good about our morning, and as the sun dipped lower, streaking the sky with molten hues, the sea air drifted through the bridge, coaxing away the stale air that seemed to have dominated my zone for years, tempting me to believe that Dad and I may have finally turned the tide on our miserable years.
It would be about time.
Tyler’s whistle preceded his entrance onto the bridge.
“Hi, captain.” He leaned against the door frame, yet he commanded my attention in more ways than I wanted to admit.
“Well done, Kingsley. You remembered.”
“Why are you so jumpy, anyway?” A playful edge carried his words.
I scowled at him rather than reply because I had absolutely no idea why I was so jumpy.
He scanned out the windshield. “How are we going?”
“We’re cruising just fine. You and Dad finished for the day?” I asked.
“Old Smithy has gone for a lie-down.” His tone was so caring, my chest squeezed. “He’s a good guy.”
His unexpected comment was warm and oddly soothing.
“Many would disagree.” I stepped back from him, trying to escape his manly scent.
“Maybe they don’t know him.”
“You think you know him?” I folded my arms.
He shrugged. “I guess not. But I know his type.”
“Oh yeah, and what type is that?”
“The type who would kill to protect their family.”
He had that right. It was a pity Dad hadn’t been able to save Mom that way.
We fell into an easy silence that wasn’t strained or awkward. It was new territory for me to be around a virtual stranger and not feel guarded.
Every so often, I sensed his blue eyes watching me, but he would shift them away before I could catch him.
I had the feeling he was gearing up to ask me something I wouldn’t want to answer, so I said, “What’s your story, Kingsley?”
“Story?”
“Yeah, you know, kids? Wife? Trail of destruction behind you?”
He released a nervous chuckle, and I blinked at him. Had I hit a nerve?
“None of that.”
“What? No baggage?”
He shrugged. “Nope.”
“Hmmm.”
“Ever think about life off the boat?” His gaze fixed on me.
“Nope. And you changed the subject.”
“No, I didn’t. I told you I don’t have any baggage.”
“Then either you’re a fucking hermit or a liar.”
A fleeting shadow crossed his face but was hidden quickly by a half-smile. I had a feeling that he had some serious baggage.
I turned to the endless ocean ahead. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to tell me.”
He sighed. “It’s not that I don’t want to.”
I swooped my gaze at him, and a flicker of sadness crossed his eyes.
“I can’t tell you,” he finished.
I cocked my eyebrow. “Were you in the Secret Service or something?”
“Or something.” He shrugged, and for some crazy reason, I believed him.
“Playing with the big boys, huh?”
“Yep.” His tone held no malice, yet it was disarming. “What about you?”
“Yep, I have more baggage than what went down with the Titanic.”
He burst out laughing. “Then you and I are going to get along just fine.”
That’s what scares me.
A pang of longing swam through me. It was so nice to have a decent conversation, but it wasn’t just our discussion I was enjoying . . . it was him.
With each nautical mile, our small talk continued. We shared our likes and dislikes of food; fancy restaurants for him and junk food for me. And music; he liked classical music, which just about floored me. I was more into AC/DC and Jimmy Barnes. We discussed the pros and cons of growing up as only children. He talked so fondly of his mom and dad that I was completely jealous of the bond he had with his mother.
I was beginning to understand that he really wasn’t able to tell me some things, but that only made him much more interesting.
Finally, we neared the location represented as a tiny red circle on the map, and I eased back the throttle.
It was rare to have barely any breeze at this time of day. Normally, the afternoon winds brought choppy waves. Today, though, the ocean’s surface gleamed like polished steel as the setting sun cast golden hues on the western horizon. I cut the engines, and Rhino coasted to a gentle stop, bobbing on the swells. The sonar had led us to a stretch of sea that looked no different than any other.
Tyler and I leaned over the magnetometer monitor. We had no idea what we were looking for, but if there was anything metal on the bottom of the ocean, then it would show up on this monitor.
“How does this thing work?” Tyler asked.
“The magnetometer measures anomalies in the Earth’s magnetic field. So, it detects anything magnetic like iron or?—”
Tyler jabbed his finger at the corner of the monitor. “You mean like that?”
We both leaned over the screen, and our shoulders nudged together.
“Holy shit.” I gasped. “That’s not a boat. It’s a plane.”