Page 85 of Until We Break

I blinked. “You can hire a call girl if you need someone to wait for you with slippers when you get home. There are plenty of services full of beautiful women who are happy to get paid to do that for you. I’m not your emotional support ex-girlfriend.”

“It’s not like that. I don’t want someone else. I need you to be there. No one else knows what it’s like to watch their father die.”

I hopped up from the table. “Stop. Stop saying it.” I wanted to cover my ears like a small child. I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Margot, wait.”

“No. I’ve got to go. I have a meeting with…” Before I finished my sentence, I ran out of Reel Time. I pushed back Nan and her disapproving grimace. I drove home, fighting hot tears. Fighting demons. Fighting pain.

I walked into the cottage and headed straight for my room. I cranked the AC down, climbed into bed, and cried until I fell asleep.

FORTY

Caleb

The water was my safe haven. My go-to. The place where I found peace. The place that presented answers. But not today. No matter how many shoals I coasted over or how many channels I followed, there wasn’t an answer to the problem Carrie had created for me. Damn it. Damn her for doing this.

The bag full of money was under my bed. As the hours passed, I grew more uneasy that I had left it. The cleaning crews didn’t go through our things, but what if today was the day someone’s vacuum tangled in the bag’s strap? What if I had just done the single most stupid thing I could have done?

I steered the boat around in circles, just waiting for a call to come in from base. I waited for word that a swimmer needed help or a boater was in distress. Nothing. It was quiet. That was supposed to be a good thing. I was no good out on the water like this. The money was burning through my mind over and over. I coasted closer to shore and pulled out my phone.

“Hi, there. I was wondering when I’d hear from you.” Her words were slow and seductive.

“Carrie, you shouldn’t have left what you did with Gabe last night.”

“What? I told you I wanted to repay you. Consider yourself repaid.”

I growled. “This seems like a joke to you. It’s my career. I could lose everything. I’ve tried to explain to you how serious it is. I can’t take the money.”

“No one will ever know. Keep it somewhere safe. Use it when you need it. Buy something nice for yourself. You deserve it. You deserve more.”

“I want you to take the money back. I can’t accept it. You know I can’t. You aren’t stupid. Stop the games and let me drop the duffel bag off tonight.”

“Oh shoot. I’d love to see you tonight, but I’m going to be gone this weekend. Lucas and I are headed to the mountains for a few days. I thought I’d take him somewhere cooler. We can talk when I get back if you want.”

“What do I do with a bag full of money until you get back?” I gritted my teeth.

She giggled. “The bag’s not worth that much. But deposit the money. Invest it. I’m sure you could make that money grow in a sweet little dream you’ve always wanted to try. I’d love to be a part of that dream. Whatever you want, baby. Enjoy it. I’ll call you when we get back to Tranquil Harbor and we can talk some more.” She hung up.

I thought about pitching my phone into the water. I was furious.

Before I started the engine on the boat, I drifted for a few minutes. The waves sloshed against the side of the boat. I lookedover the side as minnows weaved in and out of seaweed. A pelican landed nearby, and I knew those minnows didn’t have a chance.

It was eat or be eaten on the water. Sometimes it was all about diving deeper, getting away from the surface to hide out until the danger passed.

Maybe that’s what I needed to do with the money. Let all this blow over with Carrie. Let her move on to something else so I could come up with a plan. Maybe it was a good thing she was going out of town for a few days.

My radio crackled. A rush of adrenaline pumped through my veins. It was the call I had waited for all morning.

“This is base. Cutter 21?”

I picked up the receiver in a hurry to answer. “Cutter 21 copy.”

“We have an abandoned vessel near the Blue Heron Marina.” My heart beat faster. I turned the engine.

“I’m en route now.” I spun around in a wide U-turn and headed toward the marina. I knew it probably had nothing to do with Margot, but I raced there as quickly as I could.

When I arrived on the scene there was a small ski boat tied to a buoy post. There was no one in the area. I called in to base.

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