Oliver turned and smiled.“Thanks.I’ll sort a few things out here first.”
He took his time preparing his dive gear and then going through his notes, appreciating the time alone.No crew stood next to him, pointing a camera and microphone in his face.He didn’t have to think about his facial expressions or what he was wearing.It was just him, by himself.
He smiled.
When he was satisfied he was ready for the dive, he climbed the ladder to the top deck.As he did, Sam asked, “How are Gretchen and Jordan this morning?”
Sherlock smiled.“Good.Gretchen’s taking Jordan over to Cody’s place to talk about everything.”
“No nightmares?”
“None.”
What were they talking about?Maybe his question was written on his face, because when Sherlock spotted him, he said, “Those rumours about the kidnapping were true.My partner’s child was taken from school by his father yesterday.”
Not all divorces were amicable.“He’s all right now?”
Sherlock nodded.“The kid’s resilient.”The wonder in his voice was clear.“We’re both keeping an eye on him, but he seems to have got through the ordeal without any problems.Gretchen’s going to arrange a visit with a psychologist when he’s next in town just to be sure.”
“Where’s the father now?”
“In gaol.”Satisfaction laced his tone.“Dot took him to Carnarvon last night.”
“She was coming back when she ran across you,” Sam added.
No wonder she’d looked so tired.“Lucky for us.”Oliver pursed his lips as he sat on the bench seat across from Sherlock.“So if the kidnapping rumours are true, what about the treasure?”
Sam laughed.“Have you ever lived in a small town?”
Oliver shook his head.
“You’ll learn pretty quickly how rumours can expand.A kidnapping isn’t exciting enough, it’s got to be kidnappingandtreasure.”
Sherlock nodded.“People love to associate shipwrecks with treasure.”
One thing he’d learnt over his time working on numerous shipwrecks was, people only told you what they wanted you to know.In this case, both had avoided answering the actual question.Unfortunately, they were also right.The moment news of a new shipwreck was announced, people thought of pirates and doubloons.He changed the subject.“Do either of you dive?”
Sam nodded.“I’ve been diving for years.”
“I’m planning to get my ticket this year,” Sherlock answered.“There’s too much opportunity up here to dive.”
“You know we’ve got the two shipwrecks here?”Sam asked.“TheRetributionis at the other end of the island to the new one.”
Oliver nodded.“I’m hoping to have time to assess both of them.It’s been a while since anyone from the museum has been out to look at theRetribution.”
They were approaching the base of the gulf and multiple islands dotted to the east of them, but it was the long, low island that caught Oliver’s attention.“That’s where we’re going?”
“Yeah.”
He squinted.Something was scattered along the shoreline.Perhaps debris from the storm.“Do you have binoculars?”
Sherlock handed them to him, and he adjusted the focus as he scanned the shore.A plastic barrel and lumps of rubbish.His shoulders tensed.“Looks like the storm washed up some litter.”He handed the binoculars back.It was like this all around the world.People thought it was fine to dump rubbish into the ocean and it would magically disappear.Unfortunately he knew all too well that wasn’t the case.He’d swum through fields of litter to get to some of the wrecks he’d worked on.
“I’ll take a look,” Sam said.“I promised Penelope I’d check the islands while I was down here.”He turned to Oliver.“My partner is with Parks and Wildlife, and she hasn’t visited all the islands since the storm.”
So he wasn’t involved with Dot.Oliver couldn’t ignore the wash of relief through him.“I’m going to get ready.”
He went down to the bottom deck and by the time he’d changed into his wetsuit and suited up, they were at the dive site.They anchored nearby, and Sam checked Oliver’s gear.“I’m going to take the tender over to the island and clean up, but Sherlock will stay on the boat to be your watch.We’ve got radios to communicate with each other.”
