Necessary Detour (24 page)

“I’m well aware of vocal chord nodules and you need to stop talking to let them heal.”

“Do you see me talking a lot?” He threw out his arms.

Connie chuckled sympathetically at Pete.

“What do you want to do, Nikki? Stay with us a few more days or leave and tell no one about us?” They waited for her to make a decision.

Although Connie’s situation was different, both women would be starting a new life soon. Nikki had willingly chosen hers though, one she wanted desperately. Connie’s life had been chosen for her and was motivated by keeping herself and her child alive. If she left and someone knew she’d been with Connie, her life might be in more jeopardy. She took a deep breath, looked at her three companions and slapped the table. “What time is lunch?”

****

He’d kidnapped a world-famous celebrity. Hell, he’d either be called up for this or commended. Nothing in-between. His punishment might depend on Nikki’s view on being convinced to stay with them. The other marshals in the department would wonder if he’d kept the gorgeous rock star for reasons beyond helping her escape the press. He wondered too.

Pete pulled out the heavy nylon sails like he knew what he was doing and laid them on the sailboat’s deck. Hooking up those suckers and catching some wind would be fantastic. But with the manual in one hand, he soon realized how difficult it would be to sail this boat. Especially without knowledge or crew. He closed the book
Sailing for Dummies
.

According to what the Department told him that morning, Connie wouldn’t be called to testify for a few more days. He had the time to read up on sailing while they waited. And Nikki was staying. Elvis sniffed the air at the bow, keeping watch like the beast he was, making Pete wonder why he’d never used a dog before on missions. Canines had better senses than a human when it came to smelling or hearing an oncoming intruder.

Connie and Nikki talked in the stern, at the seating area, while Tony set up a board game between them. Over the last month, Connie had probably missed talking to another adult. Pete hadn’t been much company, not wanting to get too close. And his vocal nodules. Many times over the last weeks, Pete had wanted to engage Tony in a game of chess or something, but stopped himself. That wasn’t his job and he had to stay focused. Brandon would have been Tony’s age now, but that didn’t mean he had to befriend the kid. In a few days, they’d go to Seattle where Connie would become someone else’s responsibility. Then she’d be gone to wherever the witness protection program sent them.

“You’re doomed,” Tony yelled.

“Have a heart, Tony,” Nikki said.

Pete saw the Stratego game on the table. Abandoning the sails, he meandered back to watch. Nikki got along really well with Tony, and, aside from adding levity to this adventure, she was just plain fun to stare at. “You saw my flag.” When she stood up to point at the Stratego board, he noticed a little baby bump that her hip-hugging pants couldn’t hide. She was definitely pregnant. He’d tried to put that information away somewhere last night, but why? Embarrassment for her because of how she presented the information? She’d been embarrassed, but he reminded himself that Nikki wasn’t his, just because he’d kissed her twice.

If he could take back that shower kiss he would, simply because she’d thought he was a married man. But he’d gotten a lot of mileage out of the memory of it. The way she sighed against his cheek when he pulled back. Now he’d like to kiss her again, to see how much better it was knowing Connie wasn’t his wife. Nikki’s pregnancy didn’t dampen his interest at all. Hell, he’d made mistakes in the past and been forgiven, even when he didn’t deserve it. And he’d fathered a baby when the timing was less than perfect. The memory of that would never go away, he’d realized. It just moved aside to let new memories in. Memories that didn’t involve Marnie or the baby. Or Brandon’s death.

When they finally weaned Marnie off the tranquilizers, she’d wanted to get as far away as possible. “I can’t stay here anymore,” she’d said, and he foolishly thought she was suggesting they move to another town.

“I’ll put in for a transfer.”

“No, Pete. I’m leaving. Going back to New Orleans, without you.” Her stoic expression frightened him.

He’d let her go. It didn’t matter that what he needed the most after Brandon’s death was Marnie. It didn’t matter that the only family he had was his wife of two years. He’d have to cut all ties for the sake of her survival. When he found out she remarried a year later, he’d been grateful. That’s when the real healing began.

Life was supposed to go on, but dating was out of the question. No woman wanted to take on a cynical U.S. Marshal and he couldn’t blame them. The fear of hurting again kept him from any emotion beyond the least amount needed in the bedroom. He was better off alone.

Pete packed away the sails. He’d learn to sail another day. What was he even thinking? A new game of Stratego had been set up, and Nikki was helping Connie conquer Tony’s warriors. The sound of their laughter made him smile, but he resisted the urge to join them, knowing his presence would change the dynamics. Nikki was a nice addition to their group. Before her, no one laughed. It was like she’d brought the fun with her. For a rock star, she was surprisingly personable. Not aloof, like the models and celebrities he’d been assigned to during his career as a marshal.

Pete zipped up the sail bags and considered the little dog who’d taken a shining to him. “Elvis, can you learn to sail and teach me?” The dog tilted his head as far as Pete guessed it would go, and stared. Pete laughed out loud. “Man to man, Elvis.” He bent down to scratch the dog’s ears. “Does your Mom think I’m a jerk, or what?” He glanced back at Nikki and realized that even her giggle sounded musical. “I think I’m growing on her, don’t you?”

****

Food from a can was surprisingly tasty when you didn’t have much else. Some of the canned soups Pete had stored in his sailboat cupboards were downright yummy. Just add water. Easy enough. With supplies rationed, Nikki hoped she wasn’t eating more than her share. Pete had joked that Nikki would be eating them dry at this rate and if they were lucky they’d have another few hours.

“Sounds like you’ve been around pregnant ladies before,” Nikki joked while they did dishes.

“If you’re having ice cream cravings, I’m afraid you’re just going to have more baked potato soup.” He smiled at her.

“In my first trimester, I couldn’t stand the smell of most food, especially fish, but I’m craving it now.” She searched his face for a clue. He hadn’t said if he’d been married, just that he and Connie weren’t married. The mystery of his personal life was driving her crazy, as was the brick wall that went up anytime she asked him anything personal. “I had vocal chord nodules once.” Was this a safe subject? “Chinese herbs did the trick. Saved me from surgery. You can buy the tea at health food stores. You should try it.”

“I will if you’ll make it for me.”

“Deal.” Had they just set up a date to meet after they were free from this adventure?

Nikki washed the last dish and let the water drain out of the steel sink. “Can I ask you a personal question?”

“You can ask.”

“Why did you buy a sailboat if you can’t sail?”

“Oh, you noticed, did you?” Pete chuckled and set down his towel, leaning against the counter and crossing his arms across his chest. “Sailing is my dream. When I got stationed on the west coast, I started looking for a boat,” he smiled. “I’m going to learn to sail.”

“Will you get much time out here between jobs?”

“I’m retiring after this one,” he explained. “Once I learn to sail, I’m going to Mexico.”

She envied his freedom waiting just on the horizon. “When my boat broke down on Louisa Lake...” Now was as good a time as any to settle this. “...did you see me out there waving?”

“I did. According to protocol, I couldn’t leave Connie.”

Nikki groaned and put her hands on her hips. “Why not call someone?”

He looked apologetic. “I did call the marina, then Sandy’s Bait Shop, and then the sheriff who said he’d send someone out. And he did, but you were home by then.”

“Ninety minutes later.”

“I had no idea that you were pregnant.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Now, I feel terrible about just watching you.”

“You watched me?” Nikki tried to sound shocked.

“To make sure you weren’t in any jeopardy. Besides, it was only as much as you were watching me.” Pete smirked.

She set her dish towel on the counter. “I was only watching you because I thought you were dangerous and couldn’t figure out what your problem was.”

“And now?” Pete looked sideways at her.

“And now I think you’re just…slightly…strange.” Nikki grinned to herself and climbed the stairs to join the others on deck.

****

The next day Tony caught a pretty good-sized ling cod with Pete’s lucky pole.

“Let’s fry it up for breakfast.” Pete was more impressed that Tony got up early than he was by the fish. He was happy to introduce the boy to the joys of fishing at seven a.m. Pete was awake anyhow, and it was the kid’s first time with a fishing pole.

“Breakfast?” Tony didn’t sound convinced that the big slimy thing on the end of his line would turn into a meal.

The two women had poked their heads through the cabin door when they heard the excitement. Connie walked over to pat her son on the back and Nikki laughed, at Tony’s expression. “If it’s okay with you, I can cook it,” Nikki said.

Tony stared at Pete who was taking the hook out of the fish’s mouth. “Sure.”

“Do you want me to gut it too?” Nikki came closer to examine the cod.

“I’ll do it.” Pete stepped in. “I know how to gut a fish.” He didn’t want Nikki to one-up him on his own boat, especially after the remarks she’d made about him owning a boat he couldn’t sail.

Once the filets were presented to the chef, Pete watched Nikki coat them in batter she’d made from corn flakes and flour. When she picked the fried pieces out with a fork and drizzled lemon butter on top, Pete’s mouth was watering. “I thought you couldn’t cook.”

“I can’t cook many things, but I know how to fry fish. I spent my childhood summers on a lake with my grandparents and have always loved fishing.” Nikki beamed at Pete, who was still studying her from his seat at the table. “My grandfather loves to fish, and it’s one of the things we shared growing up. And Quinn.” Nikki carried the plate of fish to the table. “Come and get it!”

The cod was melt-in-your-mouth perfect with the salty crust and a hint of lemon. Watching his breakfast companions, Pete was confounded that they were having such a good time in the midst of what was actually happening. Boat life was like that though. Living for the moment, taking pleasure in the little things—like eating fresh fish caught minutes earlier in the Pacific Ocean.

****

The third day on the boat with no name, it poured rain, trapping them in one of two shelters—the cabin below deck or under the bimini awning that covered part of the outside deck. Elvis was going crazy with a hamster sharing his quarters and had been banished to the deck if he wasn’t going to play nice and leave the cage alone.

“Better put that thing out of the little guy’s reach,” Pete said, hanging the cage from a hook in the ceiling.

All day they played cards, read, and talked until the sky got darker and Nikki announced she would make dinner. “After all, I’m eating the most,” she laughed.

“I believe in this case it’s called opening cans and heating,” Pete said. “Not exactly cooking.” He pointed to the can opener on the counter and the display of cans they’d earlier lined up to take inventory of their food. “And if you’re as good with a can opener as you are at eating” —he looked at Tony and grinned— “I’d say we can look forward to a big meal.” Everyone laughed and Nikki flicked him on the leg with the damp kitchen towel.

Connie didn’t appear to be jealous of the attention Nikki got from Pete. Maybe even the opposite. The two women often shared a special look when Pete was funny, cute, or flirty, and Nikki got the impression that everyone thought it was good fun.

Tony sat on his bunk with a video game while Connie read a novel from the limited stash on board. Pete was in and out of the cabin. He’d set up motion detectors on the boat and the gulls kept setting them off. “Damn gulls are as bad as the Louisa Lake squirrels.”

“Did you have cameras in the trees at Louisa Lake?” Nikki stopped opening a can, remembering her skinny-dipping.

Pete nodded. “They only worked half the time. The rest of the time the squirrels sat on them and rearranged them. That’s why I kept driving in and out all day. I was adjusting the cameras.” He looked at her significantly. “But in the end, those cameras saved you from drowning and from the press. And Dwayne.”

“Did you ever see me skinny-dipping?” she whispered.

“Why? Did you do a lot of naked swimming?” He kept his voice low, but Connie looked up from her book.

“Not a lot.” Nikki’s eyes widened. “Oh, my God, did you?” she mouthed.

Pete grabbed a stack of plates to set the table. “You don’t want to know.”

She wasn’t sure if he was teasing her, but continued to look at him. When their eyes met, his look of embarrassment mixed with a guilty grin, told all. He’d seen her swimming naked. Nikki grabbed his arms and forced him to look her in the eyes. “You saw me swimming naked?”

Tony narrated his game from the bed. “Take that, you evil sorcerer.”

Pete turned his back to Connie and Tony, and whispered. “From a distance. I saw you get out of the water naked. You put on a T-shirt and walked up to your house with a towel wrapped around you, so technically” —he glanced behind him where Connie was pretending to read her book— “I saw the back side of you for four seconds, from very far away.” He shrugged. “But running over to the monitor to see better made me stub my toe on the bedpost if that makes you feel better.”