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Our coffees were ready at the same time. She plonked a mug on the coffee table before her dad and smacked his leg to wake him again. I remained standing, waiting to see what was next on the agenda.
Old Smithy groaned as he swung his legs over the side of the couch and reached for his mug.
As Indiana stood with her back against the kitchen counter and sipped her coffee, my stomach growled loud enough that she swept her gaze at me. “Hungry?”
“Yeah, always.” I shrugged. “So, what do you want me to do now?”
“I didn’t peg you for the type to take orders.”
“From you . . . I think I’d be a fool not to.”
She looked away, but not before I caught the flicker of something softer in her eyes.
Progress.
“Well, while you’re busy protecting us, I’m going to dive down to that wreck.”
I studied her, contemplating whether or not voicing my concern would backfire.
“What?” she snapped.
I put my mug down and shifted so I could see her father better. “Are you diving with Indiana, Old Smithy?”
“No.” Indiana answered for him. “Dad’s keeping watch over the equipment while I’m down there.”
“But I thought the second rule of diving was to stick with a buddy.”
Indiana gave a chuckle that I thought was fake. “There are no rules out here, Kingsley.”
“Safety should come first.”
“Aw, you hear that, Dad? The cop is worried about me.” She gave me the side eye.
“Yes, Indiana, I am.”
Her stunning amber eyes seemed to shimmer in the dawn glow. Or maybe that was anger flaming in her irises.
She flicked her hand. “Well, thanks for that, but we have no choice. Because you bastards aren’t paying me to raise this wreck, I couldn’t hire anyone to help me. Dad needs to stay up top to keep the compressor going. So, unless you want to risk your balls in that shark soup, then it’s just me.”
I looked at Smithy, who had an expression that seemed to dare me to answer.
“Can you scuba dive?” I asked him.
He scoffed. “I’ve been diving since before you were born.”
“Good. In that case, you have two choices, Indiana. I can either dive with you, or I can maintain the compressor while Old Smithy dives with you.”
She chuckled. “What do you know about engines?”
“I was a mechanic in a past life.”
“Ha, he’s got you there.” Old Smithy smacked his hairy leg.
“Shut up, Dad.” She glared at him.
He pushed back on his seat like he was enjoying the show.
Indiana settled her gaze on me. “That air compressor is my lifeline down there.”
