Page 14 of The Tides of March

It was always a headache whenever the Coast Guard got involved and Ronan hated having all the extra bodies stomping around on his beach. But there was nothing for it as Ronan considered the lifeless young man. He would need to be processed and moved before the tide came in and the lad’s soul howled for justice. Ronan could almost hear it on the wind as he stared at the body, sick in his own soul at the senselessness.

He didn’t like the strange welts dotting the young man’s back and limbs and Ronan didn’t need to be a cop or a scientist to know that nothing native to the Chesapeake Bay had made them. Once again, Ronan was gripped by the urge to make sure Tony was safe, then barricade him inside, away from the incoming tide.

“I’ll be right back, lad. Gonna send for help,” Ronan told the dead boy, then hurried back to the cottage.

“What happened?” Tony asked when Ronan stomped up the hill, breathless and sweating despite the breezy morning.

“Time to get ye back inside. Found a body and need to call Winston,” he said as he lowered and reached for Tony.

“Hold on!” Tony caught one of Ronan’s hands and held onto it. “A body?”

“Aye.” Ronan nodded, staring at their hands. “Gonna call the Coast Guard but we better get ye in first.”

“No way! Go make that call. I’ll be fine.” Tony’s head swung toward the door and he released Ronan’s hand, not that he cared.

“The Coast Guard’s about to storm my beach and they’ll wanna question ye if they know ye were here,” he warned but Tony gasped.

“So? I’ll tell them I didn’t see or hear anything until you told me. I haven’t done anything wrong and I want to see what happens. Can you move me closer?”

“Closer?” Ronan finally straightened and rested his hands on his hips. “Ye wanna get closer to a dead body?”

“It’s not like I have somewhere else to be oranythingelse to do,” Tony replied flatly. “And this might be something that Nox and Nelson will want to know about,” he added but Ronan shook his head.

“They can read the report. I’m not moving ye closer. I don’ want ye out in the elements longer than ye need to be and ye’ll wear yerself out.”

“Fine. I’ll stay here but I don’t want to go inside yet.” Tony crossed his arms over his chest defiantly but his color was already peaked and his eyes were looking heavy. He shivered as the wind ruffled his hair and for a second, Ronan saw the boyin the tide pool. “Go make the call,” Tony urged, shaking Ronan back to the present.

“Aye.” He offered Tony a quick bow and hurried up the steps, but risked a glance over his shoulder. Tony was shielding his eyes and stretching, attempting to see over the dunes and the tall grass. He was alert and alive but Ronan pictured him on the beach, lifeless and covered in those evil-looking wounds. “Ye sure ye wouldn’ prefer to come inside where it’s warm? I’ll put on the fire and ye can listen to Dean,” he offered, hoping Tony would bite. He was particularly fond of Ronan’s old Dean Martin records but Tony just waved him off. “I’ll get ye a thicker sweater,” Ronan sighed in defeat.

An hour later, it was just as Ronan had predicted: several Coast Guard boats littered the shore as cadets and dogs searched the safer parts of the island. Ronan had locked up his pack and was looking on as a coroner’s team processed the young man’s body. He had called MacIlwraith after calling Winston and the young professor was concerned as well and already making inquiries of his own.

“Was passing by your cottage and noticed you have a visitor,” Winston said when she joined Ronan. “Stopped and had a little chat with Tony and he seems like an interesting fellow.”

“He’s alright, I suppose. Got nothin’ to do with this,” Ronan muttered, tipping his chin at the activity on the beach.

“Probably not,” Winston agreed absently, engrossed as she watched them lift the victim into a body bag. “Just didn’t know you had friends or that you took guests at the cottage,” she said with a dubious snort.

Ronan shrugged. “He wasn’ me friend but I said he could use the place while he recovers.”

“From what?” Winston frowned in concern as she looked in the direction of the cottage.

“Nothin’ serious. Wore himself out with a little too much work so they thought a break would do him good.”

Winston shot him a skeptical look. “Hmmm.”

“What’s that mean?” Ronan asked and Winston shook her head.

“Not where I’d send my friend if he needed some rest and relaxation.”

“Too bad Tony wasn’t yer friend, then,” Ronan said, dismissing the subject. “Ye need me fer anything else or can I go about me business? The wind’s gettin’ brisk and Tony’s probably ready to go inside.”

“He can’t manage on his own?” Winston asked, once again looking concerned but Ronan waved it off.

“Not at the moment, but he’ll be back on his feet soon enough.”

“Go ahead. I’ll check in when we’re done here,” Winston said and Ronan gave her a salute and headed off, wishing the lost lad peace and safe travels.

Tony had plenty of questions when Ronan returned and carried him inside.

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