Page 82 of Secrets Beneath the Waves

She turned her focus back on him when he was past her.

Luke moved with purpose, weaving through the throng of tourists and vendors as if he had a destination in mind. Ellie followed from behind and kept her movements casual, glancingat trinket stands or pausing to look out at the cruise ships whenever he turned his head.

Years of fieldwork taught her how to tail someone without being seen, but Luke was different. He was trained too.

He turned into a quiet area of the port where crew members lingered. One man stood off to the side smoking a cigarette.

Ellie slowed, instincts urging caution.

Luke approached the crew member, a man in his early thirties with a weathered face and the unmistakable demeanor of someone who had seen too much of the ocean. Their conversation was hushed, their gestures subtle but purposeful.

Ellie’s pulse quickened as the crew member scanned his surroundings, his dark eyes lingered in her direction just long enough to make her stomach knot. She crouched lower and touched her face, the faint scent of sunscreen from her hands clinging to the humid air around her.

When she peeked out again, she saw Luke hand the man a small envelope.

What are you doing, Luke?

The crew member took the envelope. He pocketed it and walked away.

She watched as Luke abruptly turned and walked in the other direction. Away from her.

Ellie immediately pulled out her phone and dialed his number. The phone rang once, twice until he picked up.

“Ellie?” Luke’s voice was steady, but there was an edge to it, like he was caught off guard.

“Hey, Luke,” she said, keeping her tone light. “What are you up to?”

There was a brief pause. Ellie could almost hear him weigh his response.

“Just . . . eating an early dinner,” he said finally. “What about you?”

She glanced around. The crew member had vanished, and Luke stood at a street corner, ready to cross.

“Oh, nothing much,” she said, her voice casual despite the tension coiled in her chest. “I was thinking about how I haven’t been scuba diving in ages. I was wondering if you’d want to join me sometime.”

Another pause. Luke’s hesitation was barely perceptible, but Ellie caught it.

“Scuba diving?” he repeated, his tone lighter now. “Yeah, sure. That sounds like fun.”

“How about Saturday?” Ellie suggested, forcing a smile into her voice. “We can make a day of it.”

“Saturday works,” Luke said. “What time?”

“Morning,” she replied. “I’ll text you the details.”

“Looking forward to it,” he said, his voice warm but still guarded. “See you then, Ellie. I’ll talk to you tonight.”

As the call ended, Ellie let out a shaky breath.

Now she had two good suspects. A twang of regret shot through her heart as she thought about the romantic feelings she had for both.

She pushed the thoughts aside. There was no room for sentiment in this game. Friday, she’d take Matthew scuba diving. Saturday, Luke.

The Cayman Trench ran deep. Deep enough to bury secrets, lies, and perhaps, the men who carried them.

CHAPTER

TEN