I shake the drying salt from my hair. “You’re assuming Garrett Harlow gives a fuck about your sleep schedule.”
“Yeah, well, the man doesn’t care about much beyond slapping his name on a museum plaque and science journal.” Jamie’s scribbling away on his clipboard, pretending like he’s working. “He talks a good game about preserving history and advancing human knowledge. I’m just not buying it.” Liam and Margaret both chime in with their agreement.
“Garrett’s never seen a blue hole up close or explored a cave in his life. But he talks like he’s got an oxygen tank strapped to his back.” Jamie’s never gotten over Garrett’s comment that I should fire him. I’d never do that. He does a damn good jobwhen he works and he’s family. Once I take someone on as part of the crew, it’s ride or die.
“Welcome to academia.” I give him a pat on the shoulder.
The sharp ring of my satellite phone cuts through the air.
“Speak of the devil,” Jamie mutters.
I sigh, fishing the phone out of the dry box. Sure enough, Garrett Harlow’s name glares on the screen. I hesitate before answering. “Rickter.”
“Scott. How’s the progress out there?”
I move to the stern, away from the engine noise. “Still scoping the first tunnel entrances. We’ve found nothing worth going deeper yet, but we’re narrowing the options down.”
“That’s not good enough. I need some results,” he huffs, like a spoiled brat. “I’m trying hard to be patient here, but the funding isn’t endless. I have to give the university an update tomorrow. Give me something.”
I bite down a curse. If it weren’t for the money and the opportunities for more work like this down the line, I’d let Garrett know just how much I care about his problems. The guy’s a jerk, but the fact is we all need the money, and projects like this are rare. The crew is counting on me for this job. Garrett dumps his shit on everyone else. He’s under pressure since the first investors pulled funding and it’s been a slow sell to get the university to approve more. Now that he has it, he’s over-promising and under-delivering. So daily, I’m dragged into his temper tantrums. I try to keep it from the crew.
“You hired me to do this right, not fast. I’ll get you the results, but we’re not—”
“Okay, fair enough.” He talks over me before pausing. “Oh, there’s one more thing. I almost forgot. Wes Harrington’s crew arrives tomorrow. He’ll also be diving in Carter’s Drop.”
“Harrington. Why?”
“He’s chasing down his own thing. Something about boosting views on his channel. It’s got nothing to do with our project, so let him do what he wants and stay out of his way.”
It’s convenient he has all the details of Wes’s plans. I doubt his interest is benign. Garrett doesn’t play that way. “Easier said than done.” I ball my fists. “We’ll be working in the same waters. It’s going to get crowded.”
“You can make it work.” He snickers and adds slowly. “You might even learn a thing or two from him. I understand he’s the best cave explorer in the business today.” I roll my eyes. Garrett’s weaselly voice really grates at me.
“You done?” I pause, letting the silence sink in. “Thought so.”
“Watch it. Anyway, there’s no room for any egos on this. It’s too important. Be the grown-up. I look forward to tomorrow’s update.”
The line goes dead.
I stare at the phone, resisting an urge to hurl it overboard. Losing a phone won’t hurt Garrett, so why bother? Jamie glances up from the clipboard, his good humor disappearing as he catches my expression. “Bad news?”
“Wes Harrington.” I shove the phone back into the dry box. “Garrett expects us to play nice.”
“That guy on that urban exploration channel? Wes UrbEx, I think it is. Why’s he coming here? Doesn’t he stick to old abandoned manmade structures?” His eyes widen. “Actually, his show is pretty wild. I once saw him—”
“All right. Enough.” I wave him off. “Yes. He’s the guy. He considers himself an explorer of all trades. I won’t deny he knows his stuff. But his showboating puts lives in jeopardy. In my book, that makes him an asshole. I don’t want him anywhere near our team.”
Wes and I were both tagged to a sea salvage rescue a few years back. As experienced technical cave divers, we’re ona short list of people called for when rescues require those skills. Fortunately, no one had died. He’d shown real courage and intelligence, but his antics and exploitation of the victims’ trauma for profit left a sour aftertaste.
Margaret doesn’t look up from her samples. “If Harrington or his followers get within five feet of our work, I’ll feed them to the sharks.”
“Hey, seriously, do you think he might let me in on one of his videos?” Jamie asks hopefully, combing his fingers through his curly blond hair. “Girls go nuts over those.”
“Sorry, J, there’s not enough room on his show for two pretty boys,” Liam says. We all burst out in laughter at Jamie’s expense. He shrugs and joins in.
The crew’s voices fade into the background as they work to anchor us back to the docks. As I look toward the sea, my thoughts drift. What a beautiful day. I close my eyes and say a prayer. It’s the same one I say every time my crew makes it home safely.
Then I see her face.
