Ghost Writer(67)

“I'm not.” Those chocolate eyes gripped me with their bitter-sweet expression. “Circumstances have thrown us together, Madame Kirby. All too soon, they will pull us apart.”

I gave an impatient shake of my head and pushed away from the table. “The same can be said of Captain Campbell, and everyone else I've met this summer.”

“Yes, but you'll always know where to find Captain Campbell. The same cannot be said of me.”

I took a couple of turns about the room. I was feeling agitated, irritated, and confused. Sure, I was attracted to Captain Campbell, but I didn't like having my choices made for me.

“Dora said I needed to have a safe fling. Maybe she's right. She suggested Franchot, but I'm thinking Alex Mercuros.”

Gravell’s eyes hardened.

“Not funny, Madame Kirby.”

“Not a joke, Chief Gravell. I can handle the loss of privacy. I am getting used to the ghosts. But I will not be railroaded into a relationship because it's expedient.”

“I thought you cared about Captain Campbell.”

“I do. And I care about you. But both of you have decided that a relationship is not in your best interest at this time. Okay. Fine. That's your prerogative. Just don't get your knickers in a knot if I look elsewhere for less complicated companionship. As Dora so indelicately put it, I'm packed with raging hormones.”

I sighed and sat down to close up my tablet. Again our knees touched and my anger deflated. Gravell started to move, and I laid a hand on his sleeve. He covered it with his hand. The dark scowl had disappeared. We seemed to have a problem. We couldn't go forward and we didn't want to back away.

“Mercuros will enjoy the flirtation,” he said eventually. “I'm sure Franchot will too. Neither will complicate your life and neither will change our relationship.” He gave me an odd smile. “Whatever it happens to be.”

I nodded. I gave his arm a squeeze and pushed myself up again.

“I have lots of studying to do tonight. Do you include diving among your many talents?”

He shook his head.

“Then go. If you stick around, you'll distract me. I have to be able to pass the exam tomorrow.”

He left, reminding me to call if the crew descended on me again, or I felt the need to take a walk on deck. Once he was gone, I addressed the room.

“So, is there any one of you who can help me cram for my test?”





Chapter Thirty-Four ~ Examinations



Franchot was impressed at how much I had managed to absorb in such a short time. I gave credit to my teachers. Welland and Cross smiled. Alex gave a valedictory nod. Behind him, Naire gave me a broad wink. He had managed to detach himself from the group and, with hand signals, tested my memory mostly by telling me when I was wrong. He also hung around in the morning during my final training session with Welland and Alex. He complicated their hands-on instruction with a bit of poltergeist-like activity. He made everything I did just a little bit harder. It was good preparation for Franchot's test.

Now we were crowded into Franchot's office. Welland, Gravell, and I took the available extra chairs. Naire perched on an invisible seat about halfway up the wall.

Alex stood, but didn’t look as if he was going to stick around anyway. “I want Jen to take another practice dive after lunch. If that goes well, and if you’re okay with it Skipper, I have no objection to Jen joining the dive tomorrow.”

Franchot nodded.

“Cross and I would like to join the dive,” said Welland.

“Cross is the other diver who rescued me,” I said, for the benefit of those who didn’t have a clue.

“After all, we promised to look out for Ms. Kirby for insurance purposes.”

Franchot rolled his eyes. “I expected as much. Tinsdale wants to send a couple of divers too. It's going to get rather crowded. How about this, I'll allow one observer per ship to join our team, of which Jen is now a part.”

Welland and Cross looked at each other for a minute then shook a fist each. Welland's rock beat Cross's scissors. I tried not to look as if it mattered, but I was glad to have another woman along. I didn't bother hiding my pleasure in Franchot's assumption that I'd satisfy his requirements during this afternoon's dive. Now we just had to convince Captain Campbell.



Gravell escorted me to the captain's office and tactfully withdrew. I brought some of Cookie's Tollhouse cookies. Gravell made sure that fresh coffee was supplied for the meeting. I poured and waited for the captain to put aside some paper work.

“Bribe?” he asked, looking at the container of still warm cookies.

“Social lubricant. I thought cookies were more appropriate than liquor before lunch.”

He allowed me a half smile.

“Have you talked to Franchot?” I asked, knowing he had.

“Oh, yes,” he sighed.

He shuffled the pages in front of him. “This pile contains a certificate of completion for the written portion of the diving test. Captain Franchot has also included a note attesting that he is willing to oversee your open water dives pursuant to you completing your qualifications for a diving certificate.”

He held up a handwritten note. “This is a less formal, but similar offer from two of my own crewmembers. Then we have this.”