Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Cal made a disgusted noise. “You need to see my stack of certifications? Discharge papers? Medals and commendations? My last five years of solo recovery dives?”
“No. Sorry. I’m sure you know what you’re doing.” I offered a smile but wasn’t surprised when he didn’t return it.
“I do.”
“Cal comes highly recommended.” Ever the peacemaker, Monroe had a too-bright tone. “We’ve been discussing the case and evidence for months, waiting for the right timing to do the dive. I’m excited to see what we find.”
“Me too. And I’m here to help.” I kept smiling even as Cal raised his eyebrows. “Put me to work.”
“Good to know.” He nodded sharply, but the brush-off couldn’t have been clearer. “I better start assembling my gear. Back in a few.”
With that, he strode back to the RV, leaving Monroe to glare at me. “Well, that could have gone better.”
“Hey, it’s not my fault the guy has the personality of a weathered fence post. Probably doesn’t know how to smile.” An uninvited urge to see Cal smile took hold. I wanted to know how a grin transformed his grim features, and moreover, I wanted to be who put it there.
“Not everyone is the life of the party.” Monroe put a hand on my shoulder. “And I know you’re trying. But give Cal a chance to impress you. He doesn’t need a sparkling personality to crack this case for us.”
Oh, he’d impressed me all right, not that I’d confess that to Monroe. Instead, I nodded. “Let’s see what he can do.”
Chapter Two
Cal
I wasn’t kidding about diving alone. Simply organizing the ragtag group of volunteers was an effort, much as sending emails and fielding questions had been in the lead-up to this dive. Having some volunteers was necessary, and whenever I did a recovery dive, there were generally locals eager to get involved. Which was good, but their presence could also easily be a problem. Every Joe and Jane with a dry suit thought they could help. It took diplomacy, something I was woefully short on, to find appropriate jobs for people, teach them how to run equipment when necessary, and explain the basics of the mission and the plan for the day. A lot of damn talking.
And I’d talked enough already, sniping with Monroe’s impatient civilian friend who had an endless stream of opinions. Monroe was nice enough, but I could already tell Holden would be one of those civilian problems.
“Hey, Cal.” The more reasonable Monroe strode over to where I was laying out my gear. A good-looking guy with brown hair and aristocratic features, he was a preppy dresser who still carried a lot of lieutenant energy. “Anything I can do to help?”
“No.” Manners, Cal. Manners, a distant voice echoed in my eardrums. “Thank you, but I’ve got it.”
“Good. I know you two didn’t get off to the best start, but Holden really is a good guy.” Monroe’s too-serious expression was a dead giveaway that this was the real reason he’d come over. “And he and I have both been looking forward to you doing his podcast while you’re in town like you said you could.”
“Holden’s the podcast guy?” I blinked. I’d conveniently forgotten about agreeing to be on the podcast. I was hardly media savvy, but when Monroe had called about the case a few months back, I’d recently finished a ten-hour drive listening to episodes of Holden’s podcast. Being asked had made all my stiff muscles from the long drive fade away. Ego. Always getting me in trouble. And I should have recognized Holden’s deep, melodic radio voice, but I’d been a bit preoccupied with my irritation. “He’s Professor Justice?”
I glanced over to where Holden was reviewing something on a tablet. Unlike Monroe and his preppy tastes, Holden was dressed simply in black cargo-style pants, heavy hiking boots, and a sweatshirt making a joke about nineties music I didn’t quite get. Not sure why, but I’d expected Professor Justice to be all suits and shiny shoes.
“Yep. It’s his real last name. And a fitting one too. He jokes around, but he’s on my short list of people I’d call in a pinch and trust to come through.” Monroe was so earnest he might as well be Holden’s spokesperson. “And the podcast is popular for a reason. He’s a nationally recognized expert on procedure, and his podcast has led to a number of cold case breakthroughs.”
“I’m sure he’s smart.” Smartass, more like, but I could at least try for civility. Try. “And I’ve heard the podcast a time or two.” Or twenty, but who was counting?
“It’s great, isn’t it?” Monroe’s tone was almost too enthusiastic, like he was trying too hard to get me to change my mind about Holden. “He’s a former cop as well. Injured on the job in Portland.”
“Huh.” I made an inarticulate sound. So he wasn’t entirely a civilian, but that didn’t make him less irritating.