Chapter 59 Missed connection
Missed connection
When they returned to the lagoon, Gray and Cam noticed everything had been closed up. There was no one in sight, and all the closing duties were done.
"Everybody left already?" Gray asked, looking at Cam quizzically.
"Looks like it!" Cam glanced at his watch and frowned. "Holy! I didn't think we were gone that long."
"Yeah, the Thatchers really like to talk your ears off!" Gray mused.
Not that he minded spending time with them; they were fascinating people.
Their family was one of the oldest on the island.
But Lady Thatcher had a tendency to talk, and talk, and talk!
They needed only to confirm whether they had set up their satellite phone.
Instead, they found out they had a landline installed too, an unusual luxury on the island.
But for people like the Thatchers, who had more money than anyone else, it made sense they would make it happen.
"I can't believe they convinced the government to run a line out there for a landline!"
Unfortunately, when they called the lab back in California, no one answered. Gray explained it wasn't unusual for the time of day, and they decided to try again tomorrow. They had a phone at the dive booth, so they'd go there first thing in the morning.
Cam just smiled at him. "You do not know how much power these people have. If they want something, they get it done. The entire Lagoon facility exists because of them. They funded everything."
Gray gaped at Cam in surprise. "I had no idea. Have they always been this generous with their money?"
"Is it generosity? Or a way to show off?
" Cam leaned back thoughtfully. "Having an entire facility of dolphins right across from where you live?
It's the ultimate humble brag. 'Oh, let's just go visit our dolphins right over there!
' They don't come by often, but when they do, they bring someone super interesting and always leave a tip.
We give them the royal treatment when they visit. "
"That makes total sense. You definitely want to keep them happy!" Gray smiled. "Honestly, though, I didn't even realize how much time had passed. Those cookies were amazing."
Lady Thatcher had insisted they sit down for tea and cookies.
"You can't just stop by and not have something to eat!
" she had said. "It wouldn't be proper." She also needed to know everything about Gray, but they convinced her that a formal dinner would be the best way to learn about him.
She agreed, promising to send over a few options for dates when they could arrange a dinner.
Gray was still shaking his head. It was the strangest interaction he'd had.
"Okay, here's what we need to do," Cam said, breaking into Gray's thoughts. "We've got to find the rest of the crew and figure out what they've discovered."
"Yes, let's get that done! Where should we go first?" Gray asked as he started walking toward the staff parking lot.
"Where are you going?" Cam called after him.
"I'm going to our vehicle. Or, well, your vehicle," Gray said, still walking away from Cam.
"I didn't drive today. I brought the boat from the harbour because we needed supplies. My vehicle's back at the harbour. Jump back in the boat, my friend. We've got to zip around the island before we can start figuring things out."
"Well, shoot," Gray thought to himself. He'd hoped they'd get closer to the answers faster. Now they had a boat ride ahead of them. Maybe he should rent a vehicle for the rest of his time on the island?
"Cam? Where's Riley?"
Cam paused and looked at him, then realized they hadn't checked if Riley had returned while they were gone.
"Shit! Hold on, I'll see if Phoenix is here." Cam took off running down the dock toward Phoenix's pen. Gray's worry deepened as he watched him go. What if Riley wasn't back yet? Where would she have gone?
He suddenly perked up as he heard Cam shout, "He's here!"
What? Riley is here? Gray rushed toward the pen, his steps quickening as Cam turned back toward him. He couldn't see the platform because of the low tide, so Riley must be sitting on it. As he drew closer, he noticed the director's confused look.
"Phoenix is good. Were you going to check on him?" Cam asked, his brow furrowed.
"Oh, right," Gray thought, realizing Cam had meant Phoenix, not Riley, when he said, he, not she, is here.
"No, just thought Riley was there. I couldn't see the platform from back by the boat," Gray said, trailing off, reluctant to finish his thought.
He had been hopeful. Hoping she had come back and he could sit down with her to tell her what he'd told the others.
Shelley was a menace, and regardless of whatever lie she was spinning, there was no way his boss had sent her here.
He needed to find Riley and get Shelley off the island.
"Let's go, bud," Cam said, cutting through Gray's thoughts.
"We've got a bit of a ride to get back to the harbour.
Riley must've gotten back when everyone was on closing duties, and they all left together somewhere.
Cici and Declan are supposed to keep Shelley occupied, so they should be at the Square. We'll catch up with them there."
As they reached the boat, Cam jumped in to start it, while Gray undid the ropes again.
He hopped in beside Cam and secured the lines in the boat before they headed for the canal.
Deep down, he hoped Cam was right, that everyone was together in town, maybe having an after-work drink.
But something told him otherwise, and it made his heart ache.