On Fire(49)

He judiciously said nothing.

Sig sat up straight, almost gleeful.

"Straker! You and Riley are" -- "Stop right there, before you say  something that'll get us both in hot water." He wished he could keep her  spirits up, but he knew he couldn't.

"Sig, various lobster men including my father, have given your  grandfather a hand. I don't think they've stepped over the line yet, but  they've come damned close." "I know. Riley told me. Are they in any  danger?"

"Nothing they can't handle, I expect. They'd love a chance to nail  anyone who'd sabotage a ship." He leaned forward, eyed her intently.

"What your sister didn't tell you, because I haven't told her, is that  some of the lobster men saw your husband's boat in the bay shortly  before she discovered Sam Cassain's body on Labreque Island."

Sig frowned. She'd sunk back against the couch again, her dress draped  over her bulging stomach. His words didn't seem to register.

"Matt's boat?"

"Yes."

"Well, he was on Mount Desert that weekend. Everyone was. Caroline,  Abigail, most of the center's staff. My father, Riley. My mother didn't  go up--she doesn't have anything to do with the center anymore.

It wouldn't surprise me if Matt ditched Caroline and his sister to sail  up to Schoodic. " She added softly, " We both have a lot of memories up  that way. "

"The police have probably talked to the lobster men They'll have told  them they saw him. Sig, I'm not suggesting he had any direct involvement  with Sam's death or how he ended up on the island."

"But that's how it looks," she finished for him. She shut her eyes, breathing out in a mix of frustration and resignation.

"The police didn't say anything about lobster men Matt's boat" -- "They wouldn't, necessarily."

Her eyes brimmed with tears.

"I don't know what to do."

"Trust your instincts and call the police the next time you see your husband."

She leveled her artist's gaze on him.

"He's not a killer."

Straker didn't respond. What response was there?

"He's not."

If Emile was right, someone had sabotaged the Encounter. Someone who  knew boats. Someone who, according to Riley, probably hadn't realized  Bennett Granger would be aboard. That opened up the possibilities.                       
       
           



       

"Sam's death could have been an accident," Sig said.

"Matt's never been that interested in the center. He indulged his father  and Abigail, but he had no scores to settle, no grand plan for  preserving the world's oceans. He just wants to know why his father  died."

Straker could see she was getting upset; her face was red, her hands twisted into knots. Time to change the subject.

"My God," she said, going even paler, "it's not as if he sabotaged the Encounter."

"Sig, I'm not jumping to any conclusions. Neither should you."

"Why would he fund Sam to find out what really happened if he knew? If he'd done it himself? Why would he" -She gulped for air.

"I suppose if he's guilt ridden and the explosion, the fire, the  flooding were all worse than he expected, he might want to know what  happened. He could" -- "Sig. Stop."

She placed a hand on her brow, tried to control her rapid breathing.

"Tell me about Abigail," Straker said quietly.

Sig licked her lips, calming slightly.

"She's wonderful. Riley and I have known her since we were little kids, but she's older than we are.

She was always good to us. I think she might have liked to become a marine scientist, but she never did. "

"Your sister did."

"Oh, there was never any question of that. You remember. She and Emile  were joined at the hip from the minute she could dip a hand into a tide  pool."

"Did you feel left out?"

Sig smiled, looking better now. "Are you kidding? With Riley tramping  around after Emile and Mom and Dad, I was free to draw, paint, do my own  thing.

My mother and I have grown closer since she moved to Camden and took up nature writing. "" What about your father? "

"He's a great guy, and he and my mother are happy together now, even if  they have unconventional living arrangements. I'm not sure I could stand  it myself. I know Riley couldn't."

Straker made no comment.

Sig went on.

"My father can't wait for the Encounter II to get finished. He doesn't  have Emile's charisma, but he's just as committed to the center's work."  Her expression hardened suddenly, and she glared at Straker.

"He didn't blow up the Encounter."

Straker sighed. "You and Riley have to quit trying to read my mind.

You're no good at it. "

Unlike her sister, Sig had the grace to blush.

"I'm sorry. I'm defensive. There's one more thing about Abigail I  probably should tell you--she and Henry Armistead are having an affair.

I'm not surprised, really. Abigail's divorced. Henry's charming and  handsome, and they both live and breathe for the center. They've had a  traumatic year, trying to make up for the loss of both Emile and  Bennett."

"They're keeping their relationship secret?" "For now. I suspect they  want to have a better idea of where it's going before they open  themselves up to that kind of publicity and scrutiny."

"She and Armistead have to fill pretty big shoes."

"Yes, they do."

An awkward silence followed. Straker had never been much on small talk.  He got to his feet and motioned for Sig to stay put, but she didn't. Her  color had improved, and she seemed to have more energy, even a little  fight, now that she'd had a chance to talk.

She touched his arm.

"My sister isn't as invulnerable as she likes to pretend. You'll be gentle with her?"

He smiled.

"If I don't throttle her first."

Riley lasted in her office just over ninety minutes, thinking about the  fall whale migration south, before Henry stormed in. He inhaled sharply  and dropped into her extra chair, frowning at her.

"The Maine State Police were at Abigail's this morning."

Matt. They would want to talk to him about his role in bringing up the Encounter's engine. Riley nodded.

"I hope they'll get to the bottom of this mess soon."

"They'd get to it a lot sooner if your grandfather" -He stopped himself, waved a hand in frustration.

"Well, you know my position on Emile. I'd hoped we were over the hump  when Caroline had us to Mount Desert last week. It'd been a year since  the Encounter, and" -He sighed, throwing up his hands.

"Obviously I was wrong."

"You weren't wrong. Henry. We had a great time at Caroline's. None of us could have predicted Sam's death."                       
       
           



       

"I hope not."

Riley felt her stomach turn over.

"You're not saying" -He raised his eyes to hers. "Let me be plain, Riley. I hope for your sake Emile's exonerated."

"He will be," she said.

"If he's not, I'll resign. You won't have to fire me. What about my father?"

"He doesn't have your visibility. He's pure research, and he's been more  willing to allow the possibility that Emile has gone over the edge."

"I understand," she said quietly.

"But I'm not worried. I know my grandfather. Henry. He didn't kill Sam or set those fires."

He sighed, as if he couldn't expect her to say anything else.

"Abigail's terrified for her brother. Nearly losing Sig just about did her in, and now the police are looking for Matt."

"It's a mess. I know that. With any luck the police will find Matt before he does anything really stupid."

His chin shot up, his eyes sparking. "Are you implying" -She gave him a quick smile.

"I'm not implying anything."

Henry rose, stiff, formal, carefully controlled. "Riley, if something else is going to blow up in my face, I need to know it."

"Hey, I'd like to know it, too."

Her halfhearted attempt at humor didn't go over well.

"I'm asking you to keep me in the loop."

She groaned.

"There is no loop. Henry. I wish there were." She jumped up from her  desk, suddenly restless; she couldn't imagine focusing on her work.

"We're all in difficult positions. We're all under a great deal of  stress. Believe me, I'm not trying to make things worse for you."

"I know, I know." He exhaled, looking less angry and frustrated, more tired.

"Forgive me. It wasn't my intention to downplay the ordeal you've been  through in recent days. Abigail said the police left her with the  impression they have information they aren't willing to share with her.

I was hoping you had some idea what might be" -She did have some idea.

She had plenty of ideas. But Straker would have her head if she sat  Henry down and told him everything. Instead she mumbled, "I'm just doing  the best I can."