Page 10 of Hearts on the Line (The Maverick Key #1)
Maddie
The Coconut Grill Café bustles with the midday crowd.
Voices around us blend with the clinking of plates and the soft beat of island music drifting from the speakers.
A fun, pirate-themed centerpiece showcasing boxed crates and treasure chests stands in the middle of the restaurant.
Capturing the spirit of the island. I sit across from Hannah on the shaded patio, where the bright orange umbrella above casts dappled light across the table.
We’re settling in for lunch after a long morning at my first vet house call—a sweet little tabby cat named Rascal and his owners, Bob and Edith Clark.
Poor Rascal has an upset tummy but should be as good as new in a few days.
Last night was interesting. The lively dinner, chaos at the Blue Fin Tavern, and all the quiet moments in between. The cheers of the crowd, Wes’s easy grin, and Scott’s heated gaze.
Our server sets our waters on the table, condensation trailing down the glasses.
The tangy scent of lemon drifts up from the slices floating inside.
I take a sip, letting the coolness chase away the lingering heat of the day.
Hannah hasn’t been herself all morning. She was the life of the party last night, but today, she’s uncharacteristically quiet.
“This place…” Hannah says, flicking the wrapper off her straw with ease. “Isn’t it like a permanent vacation?” She drops the straw into her glass and blows a bubble into the water. “That’s what I tell myself on the weekends, and then Monday morning comes around.”
Hannah’s small shop at the center of town sells handmade island trinkets with a mystical flair. Candles, charms, local art. She does well enough, picking up side gigs where she can to fill in the gaps. I offered to pay her for her help with Rascal today, but she politely refused.
I open the menu. Fresh-caught tuna with tangy wasabi aioli. My mouth waters. I wave the server over and place my order. Hannah orders a house salad.
“Extra croutons, please.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Living dangerously?”
“Don’t judge me.” Her lips twitch.
The server disappears, and I lean back in my chair, letting the ocean breeze wash over me. My fingers drum against the table as I debate whether to bring up Nathan’s notes. The weight of what I’ve uncovered grows heavier by the day, but if there’s anyone I can trust on the island, it’s Hannah.
“I’ve been going through more of Nathan’s notes.”
Hannah’s gaze sharpens. “What kind of notes?”
I hesitate, “So, remember I mentioned he was working on a theory about an ancient civilization that he believed existed thousands of years ago?”
She leans in, her focus on me, tuning everything else out.
“He believed they were descendants of Atlantis—people who fled when their homeland sank into the sea. His hypothesis was they settled on an island system in the Gulf. Later, he discovered traces of their existence in Carter’s Drop.”
Hannah blinks, leaning forward. “Atlantis? That’s… wild. Do you think he was right?”
“Yes, I know Nathan. If he believed it, I do too. He wasn’t the type to chase fairytales.
If he wrote it down, he had the evidence.
His notes suggest he was very close to finding what he was after.
But…” His coded words flash in my mind. “He wrote some of his notes using symbols—he was keeping a secret. I’ll need to find some of my old journals to decipher them.
He was using a code we created as kids.”
Hannah stares at me like I’m from outer space.
“Code? Like the Klingon language or something?” She giggles.
“Hey, scientists raised us—it’s how we kept each other entertained as kids.” My heart pulls with the memories of our childhood. Playing with no other cares in the world.
“He also wrote the words: I don’t trust him.”
Her brows knit with concern. “Do you think his disappearance may not have been an accident?”
“Until I figure that out, I can’t trust anyone with what I’ve found.” I meet her eyes, my voice firm. “Promise me, Hannah. Don’t tell anyone.”
She reaches across the table, her fingers brushing mine. “I promise, Maddie. Whatever you need, I’m here.”
The server returns with our food, interrupting the conversation.
My ahi tuna sandwich is picture-perfect.
The seared fish glistens under a drizzle of soy glaze, paired with crisp greens nestled between toasted ciabatta bread.
I take a bite, savoring the tangy heat of the wasabi against the tender fish.
Hannah’s salad is a colorful mix of greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and golden croutons glistening with olive oil. She picks at it, her thoughts drifting elsewhere once more.
“All right. That’s it.” She’s pushing a crouton around her plate. “What’s on your mind? You’ve been thinking about something all morning. I thought something was cooking between you and Wes last night, but today, you’re acting like someone broke your favorite toy. Spill.”
She sighs, stabbing a tomato with her fork.
“Okay, fine. After we got back to your cottage last night, and you and I said goodbye, I realized I’d forgotten my purse in the inn’s kitchen.
When I went back inside, I noticed Wes and Garrett speaking in the hallway.
It didn’t look friendly. They seemed… intense. ”
My stomach twists. Garrett and Wes? “What were they talking about?”
“I couldn’t hear much,” she admits. “But it gave me a weird feeling. I thought those two barely knew each other.” She frowns. “Wes saw me. He didn’t let on. He just kept talking to Garrett.”
Her eyes squint. “He’s so hot and cold. One minute, he’s all charm and the next, it’s like he’s hiding something and…
he’s always looking at you, Maddie. I’m sure you’ve noticed it.
I thought he might just have a crush on you.
You’re just so sweet and gorgeous… not to mention smart.
But now I’m convinced that’s not it. I’m not sure what it is about him, but he’s giving me bad vibes. ”
Wes’s spat with Garrett is odd, but my instincts tell me I can trust Wes.
“I’m sure I remind him of Nathan. We look alike. Since they were friends, it may be déjà vu when he looks at me. Heck, I feel that way when I look in the mirror.”
Hannah tilts her head, her eyes squinting.
“Also, Wes is exhausted. There is something or someone weighing down on him. I know that kind of fatigue when I see it.”
Uncertainty flicks across her eyes. “Maybe.”
I move to another topic. “Hannah, did Nathan ever tell you anything about his personal life? Like whether he was seeing anyone or had a steady girlfriend?”
“Nathan?” She sets her fork down. “No.” She pinches her chin. “I didn’t see him every day, so I guess he could have been seeing someone. He was private. Women noticed him, of course, he was—successful, handsome, mysterious—but I never saw him on a date.”
I glance down at my hands, Nathan’s poem flashing in my mind. “Wes mentioned Nathan told him about a girl in his life who was important to him, and I found a love poem Nathan wrote. Keeping a secret like that doesn’t match the brother I knew. I feel like he would have told me if he had someone.”
“That’s interesting. If there was a woman in his life, maybe he was keeping it quiet to protect her.” She pauses. “Do you think this relationship could be connected to what happened to him?”
“I’m not sure, but I think there is more to his disappearance than a diving accident. There had to be a reason Nathan was diving alone and couldn’t trust the people he was working with.”
I swallow the tears in my throat. “Why didn’t they find his body, Hannah? I’m convinced someone harmed him or worse. If that’s true, I can’t move on until I find the answers.”
“I understand. Nathan always carried so much responsibility on his shoulders. I see the same resolve in you. Whatever I can do to help you, I’m here. You tell me. I’ll spy, maim, kill. I’m on it.”
I laugh. “Okay, another topic… I noticed Jamie talking to you last night. The two of you seemed pretty cozy.”
Color creeps over her cheeks. “Jamie’s sweet. He told me he likes having me around.”
Amusement tugs at my mouth. “He has a crush on you.”
Hannah lets out a breath and shakes her head. “Jamie? No, we’re just friends.”
“Are you sure about that?” I tease.
She ducks her head, hiding a smile.
The rest of lunch passes with light conversation, and all the earlier tension is gone.
Hannah and I make plans to go through my storage boxes on a quest for my old journals.
We’ll make it fun with a movie, wine, and food.
After we pay the bill and gather our things, my mind is already turning to my next move.
“I think I’ll share a little more information with the dive team tomorrow.”
“Really? I thought you didn’t trust anyone.”
“I don’t. But Garrett said I could be part of the team. If I want to stay involved, I need to contribute something… I’m just not sure how much to share.”
Hannah rests a hand on my arm, her gaze steady. “You’ll figure it out.”
We grab our purses and rise from the table.
“Come on.” She puts an arm around me and leans into my side, laying her head on my shoulder. “Let’s get some ice cream.”