Page 274 of Hidden Depths

Sea Whisper eased away from Thomas's dock.

The old sailor lifted one weathered hand.

"Fair winds."

"Fair winds," we answered together.

I watched him grow smaller against the shoreline.

Standing beside the old boathouse.

Still watching.

Still guarding Grandpa's secrets.

The trip across the harbor was quiet.

The waves slapped gently against the hull.

Calle was captain for a few hours. All of us could captain a boat. We all had our own yacht. Calle lived on hers.

Nathan was checking every boat they passed.

Ben remained on the upper deck.

Ward never left the stern.

Watching.

Always watching.

I walked over beside him.

"Something bothering you?"

His eyes stayed on the water.

"I don't like unanswered questions."

"You think someone followed us?"

"I think if James Sinclair spent decades worried about these people..."

"...there's a reason."

“I also think if someone shot at us and launched illegal rockets, then there are definitely bad guys after you.”

I looked back toward the fading shoreline.

"I think so too."

Twenty minutes later...

Sea Whisper eased alongside the dock, where Frank and Rose would leave us.

Ben was the first one onto the dock.

His eyes swept every direction before he reached for a line.