The Ocean Dark

68

“You’re not going to throw me overboard, are you?” Tori asked, attempting a smile.

The serious little FBI guy, Nadeau, shook his head. “I don’t think that’s on the agenda. At least not today.”

So he did have a sense of humor. It was just buried underneath an intense expression and the air of purpose that swept them both along the corridor and up the stairs. They passed an open door leading out on deck and the warm breeze helped her feel more awake and alert. But Agent Nadeau opened an inner door and Tori reluctantly passed through it.

She had started to feel a little claustrophobic in the room they’d given her — not because of its size, but because they would not allow her to leave. If she had to use the bathroom, one of the Coast Guard seamen would accompany her and wait outside the door, but otherwise she remained a prisoner. After Josh had visited her, she had tried to rest, but as tired as she was, she only fidgeted and tossed and finally sat up again.

Nadeau’s mysterious arrival had been a blessing.

“You still won’t tell me where you’re taking me?”

The agent preceded her down the hall, oblivious to any danger of attack from behind. She might be in custody, but obviously they didn’t perceive her as much of a threat. Maybe that was because of Josh, or maybe it was because, even if she did try to get the jump on Nadeau and make a break for it, she didn’t have anywhere to run.

“I’m taking you to a meeting,” he said.

“About what?”

“Something to do with the operation, obviously. Beyond that, I have no idea, and wouldn’t be able to tell you if I did. Can you stop asking now?”

Tori understood Nadeau’s shtick now: cranky guy. Apparently he thought it was part of his charm.

He led her up another inner flight of stairs and then back toward starboard to a door flanked by yet another pair of seamen in the uniform of the U.S. Coast Guard. One of them rapped on the metal door and then unlatched it, swinging it open for them to enter.

“Very Chamber of Secrets,” she said.

But the room surprised her. Instead of the dreary, cheerless cell she had anticipated, she found herself in a small rec room a bit like those on board the Antoinette. Windows on the starboard wall let air and sunlight in and the smell of popcorn swirled on the breeze. Someone had used the microwave to pop some recently, but Tori doubted it was anyone in the room. She knew all but one of them, and she thought they had better things to do.

There were three FBI agents in the room — Josh, Rachael Voss, and the asshole Turcotte — and now Nadeau made four. Turcotte stood by one of the windows and did not even glance up when she and Nadeau entered and the door clanged shut behind them. The only person she did not recognize was a beautiful older woman with silver hair, whom she gauged at about sixty. The woman was dressed all in black and looked both stylish and serious, but she nodded to Tori, almost friendly.

“Please, Miss Austin,” the woman said. “Take a seat.”

In her current circumstances, she knew she shouldn’t be making snap judgments, but Tori liked her immediately. Nobody else in the room had bothered to sit, but Tori went to one of the chairs around a round card table and slid into it, forcing herself not to even glance at Josh.

She hadn’t forgiven him for lying to her, but as her anger had receded, she had begun to understand that he must be telling the truth. It couldn’t all have been pretense. He would never have risked losing his job for her. That implied that either she meant something to him, or he’d wanted her so badly he couldn’t control himself, or a little of both. And all of those options intrigued her, no matter how much it still stung.

Tori watched him as he spoke quietly to Agent Nadeau, loving his eyes and the line of his jaw, and feeling foolish to be thinking of such things in the midst of something so weird and awful.

She rolled her eyes a little and started to turn away, then caught both Rachael Voss and the silver-haired woman watching her. The older woman seemed interested and amused, but Voss’s nostrils flared and her eyes narrowed in consternation. She had obviously seen something in the way Tori looked at Josh and didn’t approve.

Someone rapped on the metal door. It was opened from outside and Tori blinked in surprise as Gabe Rio stepped into the room. The captain of the Antoinette looked ragged around the edges, with dark circles under his eyes, but he kept his chin high in defiance. No handcuffs, but they were obviously far more wary of him than they had been of her, for the broad-shouldered FBI agent who followed him into the room watched his every move. The seamen out in the hall closed and latched the door behind Gabe and the big agent.

“Thanks, Mac,” Voss said to the big guy.

When Gabe saw the agents gathered there, he sized them up and then walked toward the card table.

“How you doing, Tori?” he asked, sliding into the chair beside her.

“I’m all right. You holding up?”

They both knew she wasn’t talking about his bandaged leg or the harrowing experience they had shared, but about Miguel’s death, and the revelation that his brother had been having an affair with Gabe’s wife.

Gabe knocked his knuckles on the table. “I’m still here.”

“And we’re glad you are,” the silver-haired woman said.

The FBI agents all focused on her as if she were a judge calling the court to order. Even Turcotte pulled his attention from the window. He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall, body language saying volumes about his disapproval of this situation, whatever it might be.

Since Tori and Gabe were sitting, the silver-haired woman joined them at the card table. The five FBI agents in the room remained standing, a few feet back, observing. None of them seemed particularly happy about being there — not even Josh.

“Miss Austin. Captain Rio. My name is Dr. Alena Boudreau and I am now in charge of all matters relating to this operation, including the events that transpired over the past twenty-four to forty-eight hours aboard the Antoinette and on the island.”

As if in punctuation, a sudden roar filled the room. It took Tori a moment to realize the sound came from a helicopter that had just flown overhead.

Turcotte glanced back at the window. “Four choppers,” he said, turning to look at Dr. Boudreau. “You’re not wasting any time.”

For her part, Dr. Boudreau adopted a serious expression, but Tori had a feeling the woman was only indulging Turcotte.

“The civilian helicopter will be returning to St. Croix in a couple of hours. They’re loaning us their services in the meantime.”

Dr. Boudreau turned back to Tori and Gabe. “Let me make this short and sweet. I’ve read the statements you gave about the creatures … the sirens, as you call them … and what happened to your crew. I’m sure the last thing either of you wants is to ever set foot on that island again. However, that’s precisely what I’m asking.”

Tori felt her mouth drop open and frigid air seemed to envelop her.

“You’re crazy,” Gabe said. “Out of your mind, lady.”

“You can’t possibly—” Turcotte began.

The woman shot him a dark look. “I have the authority to choose any team I want — to incorporate anyone, with any specialty, from any government agency, organization, or armed service, or to recruit any civilian who is necessary to the completion of the operation with which I am tasked. Do you want to argue this some more, Agent Turcotte, maybe give our people less time before nightfall, or can we get on with it?”

The buzz of helicopters outside grew momentarily louder and then receded once more.

Turcotte gestured for her to continue.

Dr. Boudreau sat up straighter in her chair and gazed at Tori and Gabe. Though still rational and open, her friendliness had vanished. “I’m in a bit of a hurry, so here’s the deal. Captain Rio, those creatures killed your brother and almost your entire crew. They’ve taken away your livelihood. Your life will never be the same. Miss Austin, obviously you have no job to go back to. Both of you are headed for criminal trial, possibly prison. I can offer you something better. Significantly better.”

Tori glanced at Josh, but he looked away. In fact, none of the FBI agents looked happy. That pleased her. Whatever might upset the FBI where this case was concerned had to be good for Tori Austin.

“We’re listening,” she said.

Gabe rocked back in his chair, arms crossed in defiance. “Go ahead.”

Dr. Boudreau nodded, studying them. Sizing them up. “The United States government would like to keep these events, and the operation that is about to commence, a secret. Where the two of you are concerned, there are several ways that can be accomplished. First, they could simply have you killed.”

She said it in such a casual and offhanded fashion that it took Tori a moment to process, then she flinched away from the older woman.

“That’s not funny, I know,” Dr. Boudreau continued. “But I know I have your attention now. The good news for me is that your criminal endeavors make any such measures unnecessary, even if that were the sort of thing I would ever be a party to, which it isn’t. The bad news for you is that I can arrange to keep these events quiet by making sure you are both incarcerated for life in places where no one would ever believe a wild story such as this one. I would really rather not pursue that option.”

“Then don’t,” Gabe said.

“That, I’m afraid, is entirely up to you.”

Tori gnawed her lower lip. She could sense Gabe’s anger and resistance and did not want to seem too eager, but she had resigned herself to prison or whatever else fate might bring, and the chance to avoid that had her heart soaring.

“What do you want from us?” she asked. Her gaze shifted past the silver-haired woman to Josh. He gave her an almost imperceptible nod. Beside him, Voss did not seem to notice, focused — as the others in the room were — on Dr. Boudreau.

“I’m capable of giving you a new life,” the older woman said. “I’m offering you a chance to start over anywhere you like with a modest annual stipend and a new name. You only have to do two things for me. First, never speak of this island or the things you call sirens again, and second, come with me out to the island as part of my team.”

Gabe actually laughed. “And why would we do that?”

Tori barely listened. The words were still echoing in her mind. A new start and a new name. She had tried for a fresh beginning in Miami, and that had led her here, and almost to prison. The idea that she might get yet another chance at wiping the slate blank seemed surreal.

Dr. Boudreau gestured toward Agent Turcotte, or, rather, beyond him. Out the window, Tori could see a helicopter in the distance, Coast Guard or Navy personnel landing on the island.

“I want to get this done today—”

“Why?” Gabe asked. “Today, tomorrow, next week, what difference does it make?”

Dr. Boudreau nodded as though in approval of the question, then slid her chair back. She walked over to the window and peered out, standing just a couple of feet away from Turcotte. As she turned to face the card table again, she gave Agent Turcotte a meaningful glance, as though the words to follow were meant for him as well.

“We have encountered these sirens before, but we know very little about them. Right now operation personnel are beginning an observational sweep of the island, but they are amphibious creatures. They will come up on land tonight, or at least they will if any of those people are still on the island come nightfall. I’d rather not begin the job only to have them interfere with it overnight. Beyond that, we cannot be certain how far beyond their main habitat they’ll be willing to stray, so there’s no way to accurately gauge what would be considered a ‘safe distance’ from the island. All in all, the best course is the most expeditious, and that is why I am willing to bring you both into the fold, and reward you afterward with your freedom.

“I’d like you to accompany me to the island and work with my people to point out any and all caves that you recall from your search yesterday — especially what Captain Rio called the ‘kill sites’ in his statement, and what you, Miss Austin, referred to as ‘the grotto.’ The faster we survey the island, the faster we can begin purging the island of these creatures.

“Now,” she added, “time is of the essence. Your decisions?”

Tori glanced at Gabe, but he had lowered his gaze, staring at the table or perhaps at nothing, eyes haunted and distant. She did not look away and eventually, either noticing her in his peripheral vision or simply aware of the press of her attention, he lifted his chin. For several seconds, they regarded each other, and then Gabe turned toward Turcotte.

“And part of this whole Get Out of Jail Free card, this new life, would be testifying against Viscaya?”

Turcotte gave a curt nod.

Tori saw Josh blink and glance first at Voss and then at Turcotte, and she knew the man was lying. Dr. Boudreau kept her face blank.

“No, Gabe,” Tori said, focusing on the older woman. “They’re going to make the Antoinette disappear, and they’re gonna make us disappear. We don’t have to testify to anything as long as we play along and keep our mouths shut. Isn’t that right, Dr. Boudreau?”

Turcotte glared daggers at the silver-haired woman, but Boudreau clearly had no interest in blowing smoke.

“That’s right,” she said. “No strings except your silence afterward.”

“And what about Angie Tyree?” Gabe asked. “Where does she fit into all of this? ’Cause I don’t see her in this room.”

Tori felt bad that she hadn’t even thought about Angie. The woman had never been her friend, but she was the only survivor of the Antoinette who had not been brought into this meeting.

Josh stepped closer to the table. His eyes had a glassy sheen from the Vicodin the shipboard doctor had given him.

“Angie’s going to be given the same choice Dr. Boudreau just gave the two of you, but we don’t want her on the island. She had a total mental breakdown last night and I don’t think all the pieces are necessarily back together again. She’d be a liability.”

Gabe kicked back and put his boots up on the table, crossing his arms. Though he spoke to Dr. Boudreau, his gaze rested on Agent Turcotte.

“So Angie gets to choose prison or silence, and we get to pick between prison and fucking suicide?” His brow furrowed deeply and Tori thought he had aged a great deal in the past day.

“You’ll be off the island by nightfall,” Dr. Boudreau said, her impatience growing.

“So you say,” Gabe replied, then shook his head. “But the only way I can guarantee that is to not go at all. I’ve seen those things up close and I think I’ll stay here, thank you.”

Tori stared at him. “Gabe, they’ll put you in prison. This is your chance to—”

His expression stopped her short. His sorrow pained her. He had always been a good man, involved in crimes he had never wished for on behalf of a brother who had never been grateful enough. Now he was paying for his crimes far more on the inside than he ever would in prison.

“Why do I care?” Gabe asked, small crinkles of pain around his eyes. “What can prison take away from me? I’ve got nothing left.”

“Boo-fucking-hoo!” Turcotte snapped. He started toward the table, but Nadeau and Mac immediately stepped in his path. Turcotte rolled his eyes in disgust.

Tori looked around to see that the rest of them were watching her.

“What about you, Miss Austin?” Dr. Boudreau asked.

She felt almost guilty, not standing up to them. But unlike Gabe, she still felt like she had plenty to lose. Her future. Her freedom. A chance at tomorrow. Twice she’d been spared and, this time, she would not screw it up.

“I’m in,” she said, lifting her chin, looking from Boudreau to Josh and Voss.

Dr. Boudreau thrust out her hand, a look of satisfaction on her face. “Thank you, Tori. You won’t regret it.”

The words sounded hollow. When Tori looked at Gabe, he lowered his gaze, either angry with her or just surrendering to his sorrow. He’d been broken up inside, but she was just happy to be alive. And if she did feel pangs of regret already beginning, what did it matter? Provided she survived, she would get over it.

Still, the thought of returning to the island, with its caves and its bones, made her feel sick. “Let’s go before I chicken out.”

And they were all moving, headed for the door. Mac accompanied Gabe, who would be locked up again. But Dr. Boudreau, Josh, and Voss surrounded Tori, hustling her out of the room and down the corridor as though afraid she would change her mind.

“So, Tori,” Dr. Boudreau said, “ever been in a helicopter?”