Page 76 of Life, Love and the Pursuit of Happiness

He narrowed his eyes, studying her for a moment, but then he shrugged. “It’s up to you, but I can’t guarantee anonymity if some newshound digs it up.”

She shivered inwardly at the prospect.

“Anyhow, before any of that happens, we first have to notify the state and historical societies of the shipwreck site. Find out exactly what we have in terms of gold recovered so far. Study the pictures of what remains below . . . cannons, portholes, and so on. Anything nondegradable that has survived the elements. Then put together a schedule for working the rest of the site. People in authority get their noses out of joint if they read about artifacts being taken out of the ocean without the salvagers following protocol. So, we need to get our ducks in a row, according to the rules.”

“Don’t other countries sometimes try to claim the treasure from shipwrecks, even when they haven’t done the work to recover it?”

“Yes, but that shouldn’t apply here since we’re only five miles out. International waters begin at twelve miles. Of course, sometimes the original owners of a ship try to claim the goods, but the owner of this ship was a conglomerate of factory owners in the 1860s. Proving a claim would be impossible.”

Since Merrill mentioned phone service resuming, she clicked on her cell phone even as they talked. Her eyes went wide with alarm when she saw a grand total of 48 calls and 66 text messages, many of which seemed to come from Ms. Gardner, her parole officer. Skimming the texts didn’t provide much info, just that she wanted Delilah to return her calls.

Merrill had gone into his bedroom while she’d been checking her phone. He came back with a leather Dopp kit which he dropped next to his sea bag. Noticing her reaction, he asked, “Is something wrong?”

“No, just a lot of calls to be handled.”

“They’re probably like email. A mass delete should take care of them pronto.”

I wish!

The engine slowed down noticeably as they approached the wharf at Bell Forge and Merrill prepared to go back up on the deck. Before he did, he walked over to her again and tilted her chin up for a quick kiss. “It’s going to be wildly busy this afternoon, for both of us. Will I see you tonight?”

He probably meant in his motel room after her grandmother and Maggie were asleep.

She hesitated and then nodded.

His kiss then was longer and deeper before he whispered against her mouth, “Good. I can’t wait.”

She couldn’t, either.

Dammit!

“And I have something serious I want to discuss with you regarding our future.”

“Future? What future?” she tried to joke.

“You know exactly what future, babe.” He didn’t smile, just stared at her, daring her to disagree.

Double damn dammit!

For that, she could wait.

Are secrets a deal breaker among lovers? . . .

They arrived back at Bell Cove at ten a.m. to a calm and pleasant reception of one. Gabe Conti. Which had to be good news.

“Is it true? Really? Five, maybe ten million in gold? You are fucking unbelievable! No wonder the Navy didn’t want to let you go.”

“Shhh! Hold your enthusiasm,” Merrill warned as Gabe alternately clapped him on the back and grinned like an idiot.

“Yeah. Right,” Gabe said, then continued to grin. “This is the most excitement I’ve had in weeks.”

Merrill took that to mean that Laura had dumped him again, or maybe he’d dumped her this time. Those two had a relationship much like a roller coaster. One or the other was always jumping off, then climbing back on.

After the initial unloading of the boat, Charlie drove it off to the pump station. She still insisted on sleeping on board the boat out at the site, which allowed him, Famosa, and K-4 to have their own rooms at the motel.

Bonita and Famosa went to the university. They would be researching some of the items found and preparing a press release. A list had already been prepared of all the agencies to be contacted once Merrill gave the okay signal.

K-4 and Gus were planning lunch at the Cracked Crab after a quick shower and shave. There was mention of two Victoria’s Secret models in town that Gus knew from his old football days. They were here—well, in Nags Head—for a photo shoot and a few days’ vacation.