“Can I talk to you?” she asked, trying to keep the pleading out of her voice. “Alone?”
Marcus stared at her for a minute, then turned to Chico and Kenny. “Why don’t you guys take a lunch break.” He pulled out a couple of bills from his wallet and handed them to Chico. “It’s on me.”
Kenny’s face scrunched up in confusion. “But Marcus, it’s only seven in the morning.”
Chico grabbed the money and stuffed it in his back pocket, cuffing Kenny on the head and giving him a little push toward the gangplank. “You maybe would rather stay here and scrub the deck some more? Come on—we go get coffee. Maybe we can find someplace to buy you some brains too.” The older man gave Beka an encouraging smile as he passed her. “Buena suerte, chica.”
Beka thought she was going to need more than good luck. She was going to need a miracle.
* * *
MARCUS HAD NEVER been so happy to see someone in his entire life. Even though Beka looked like crap; she was pasty white under her tan, and her dark circles had dark circles. If he had a little more ego, he’d think she’d been pining for him. But he was pretty sure that wasn’t it. For the moment, he was just glad she was here. He’d find out why soon enough.
“You brought Chewie,” he said, for lack of anything more intelligent to say.
“Yes. Actually, he’s kind of why I’m here.” If he didn’t know Beka better, he’d swear she looked guilty. Obviously she was up to something, but it wasn’t diving, because she didn’t have any gear with her.
“Why don’t you come on board and tell me about it,” he said, and was rewarded by a shadow of her usual sunny smile. He realized with a shock that she hadn’t even been sure he’d let her on board.
He gave her a hand onto the boat, the dog bounding after her with a thump that shook the entire ship. “Hey,” he said softly, still holding on to her hand and gazing down into those amazing azure eyes. “You look terrible. Are you okay?”
Beka gave a tired laugh. “Still the charmer, eh?” Chewie woofed in what might have been agreement.
Marcus shook his head. “If you want charming, I’m afraid you’ll have to stick with your friend the Irishman. Or prince, or whatever he is.”
She pulled her hand out of his but didn’t move away from him. “He’s a rat and a murderer, actually. And he turns out to be behind both the problem I was trying to find a way to fix and the disappearing fish. That’s why I’m here. I need your help to stop him.”
Sonofabitch! He knew he didn’t trust that guy. “I’d be happy to stop him. Permanently, if necessary. But maybe you’d better tell me what the hell is going on. Obviously, I’ve missed a part of the story.” His own fault, for walking away just when it was getting good. Not a mistake he planned on making again, if he could help it.
Marcus guided Beka over to sit on a bench, Chewie sticking close to their heels.
“I’m sorry,” he and Beka both said at the same time. She looked startled, eyes so wide he could almost see the ocean in their depths.
“You’re sorry?” she said. “What are you sorry for? I’m the one who didn’t tell you the truth from the beginning and let you think I was a normal woman.”
Marcus snorted. “I never thought you were normal, Beka. Hell, the first time I met you, I fished you out of the sea in a net. But normal is highly overrated.” He wanted so badly to reach out and hold her, but he was afraid she’d pull away if he tried. “I’m sorry I overreacted when you told me who—what—you really are. You’re still Beka, and I should have realized that.”
“Oh, for the love of Poseidon, could the two of you please just kiss and make up and get it over with? I need to get out and back again as soon as possible; we don’t have time for all this romantic crap,” a deep voice said.
Marcus looked around, trying to figure out who the hell was talking. With a shock, he realized it was Chewie.
“Holy shit—your dog can talk!” He almost fell off the bench, and Beka tried not to snicker.
“Of course I can talk, you twit,” Chewie said. “I’m not a dog. I’m a dragon disguised as a dog. Have you ever met a dragon that couldn’t talk?”
Marcus glanced around to make sure no one else could hear them. “You’re the first dragon I’ve ever met, as far as I know.”
Beka took pity on him. “Don’t worry. No one else can understand him unless he wants them to. But Chewie’s right, we shouldn’t stay away from the bus any longer than we have to. He’s really not supposed to be gone at all. But I need him. And the Wily Serpent, if you’re willing to take me out one more time.”