the flow of compressed air from the tank to the regulator, sucking in a deep breath and letting it out. She looked around at the equipment stacked on the deck. Buoyancy control device, or BCD, wrist dive computer with a built-in GPS, cylinder, regulator, booties, fins, wet suit, gloves, mask and diving knife. The most important item was the map she’d drawn of Cape Churn after researching her great-grandfather’s logbooks and journals that had been kept by the long since deceased lighthouse keeper from the late eighteen hundreds.
Emma straightened. “Do you have the location entered in your GPS?”
“Done.”
After a great deal of research and studying old letters and documents, she’d calculated a back azimuth from the locations reporting a sighting of the Anna Maria and determined the coordinates accordingly. Three years ago, she’d established a grid extending six hundred yards outward from that location, taking into account tide and ocean currents. Over the years, she’d dived the grid, meticulously ruling out one section after another until now. The final grid, her last hope to find the Anna Maria and keep alive the dream of a hospital addition benefiting the children.
A tentative thrill of anticipation shimmied across her skin.
Dave climbed the ladder to the helm and paused at the top, his back still to her as he faced the dock. “What’s with the police car?”
Emma glanced up, her gaze scanning the parking lot.
An SUV with Cape Churn Police written on the side pulled to a stop, and Officer Gabe McGregor got out.
Emma smiled and waved. Gabe and his fiancée, Kayla Davies, were friends of hers, though too often she felt like a pathetic odd man out to their loving family.
Another car pulled into the lot, parking next to Gabe’s SUV. A tall, dark-haired man unfolded himself from behind the wheel. Wearing sunglasses, a T-shirt, swim trunks and flip-flops, he strode toward them, carrying a large duffel bag, his broad chest and thick arms a testament of a firm regimen of weight lifting. Maybe even a little Native American ancestry, with those high cheekbones and square jaw. The stranger met the officer at the back of the vehicle. Gabe spoke and pointed toward the boat and Emma.
Emma’s pulse quickened, and she frowned at the realization.
“They seem to be pointing at us,” Dave commented. “Should I wait and see what they want, or take off?”
Emma wanted him to take off. She had a lot of seafloor to cover on her days off. But Gabe was her friend. If he needed to talk to her or Dave, she could spare him a few minutes. “I can wait.”
Gabe strode across to the dock, headed straight for them, the stranger keeping pace behind him. “Emma, Dave, glad I caught you.”
Feeling at a disadvantage, standing below the two tall men, Emma climbed out of the boat and stood on the dock, still staring up at the stranger with the officer. “Hi, Gabe. Good to see you. How are Kayla and the baby?”
Gabe smiled. “Both doing fine. Tonya had her first full night of sleep without waking last night. Kayla got up twice to make sure she was breathing.” He turned toward the man behind him. “This is Creed Thomas. He arrived in town this morning, looking for assistance in a case he’s working.”
Emma’s frown returned. “Case?”
Gabe nodded toward Creed. “I’ll let him tell you.”
The swarthy-skinned man stepped forward.
Dark, piercing eyes shone down on her, sending a ripple of trepidation across Emma’s nerve endings.
“As Officer McGregor said, I’m working a case for my insurance company, and I need the expertise of a diver familiar with this area to help me.”
Gabe grinned. “That would be Emma. She knows these waters better than anyone around.”
Emma nodded. “Why? What are you looking for?”
“A boat that disappeared off Cape Churn maybe last night or the night before.”
“Devil’s Shroud,” Dave said from his perch on the boat. “People from around here know better than to get caught out in that fog.”
Creed nodded. “Officer McGregor informed me you’ll be diving off the cape today, and I could use a boat.” He glanced toward Dave before returning his attention to Emma. “And, as I said, an expert diver to help me find the boat that went down. It was expensive, and my underwriters want to make sure it did go down and wasn’t stolen.”
Her chest tightened. “I had other plans for the day. If I can fit your search in around my plans, it’s a possibility.” Emma’s eyes narrowed. “Do you intend for me to find the boat, or are you going down, too?”
He nodded. “I’d planned on diving.”
“Are you an experienced diver?” She hoped so; otherwise, he’d slow her efforts.
Creed’s lips curled upward. “You could say I am.”
“Good.” Emma’s mouth firmed. “I don’t really have time to give lessons or rescue a new diver from getting the bends. I’ve got work to do.”
His dark eyes twinkled in the sun as if he was laughing at her. “I’ll try not to inconvenience you.”
Her frown deepened. “You won’t be carrying a speargun, will you?”
His forehead wrinkled. “No. Should I?”
“I’d rather you didn’t.” Emma smiled, softening her words. “I don’t want you shooting me by accident.”
Creed chuckled. “I take it you’ve been out with inexperienced divers before?”
She nodded. “I give lessons.”
“So,” Dave said from the deck, “do we have an additional diver today?”
Emma sighed. “I suppose.” She glanced at Gabe. “You owe me.”
Gabe tipped a finger off his hat. “He seems to be on the up-and-up, or I wouldn’t have suggested he join you.” He patted Creed on the back. “You’re in good hands with Emma. Not only is she an expert diver, she’s also the best nurse in the county. She helped deliver our baby girl.”
“I don’t think I’ll need a labor-and-delivery nurse on this dive.”
Emma laughed. “God, I hope not.”
“Be careful out there.” Gabe left Creed and Emma standing on the dock.
“Guess you’re stuck with me.” Emma stepped from the dock onto the deck of the dive boat.
Creed followed with his bag. “When are we leaving?”
Dave climbed down to the deck and flipped open the engine compartment, wiggled a hose, tightened a clamp and straightened. “How about now?”
“Do you have your own gear?” Emma eyed the man’s bag.
“I do.” He set the duffel
