Page 13 of Night Watch
Kennedy should have thought of that. She was a professional, just like Sierra. But then Sierra hadn’t just had an armed man chase her and wasn’t captivated by the very attractive ex-boyfriend in the room.
Get a grip, girl, she told herself as she slipped on the paper booties.Or before this is all over, you’ll be in for a world of hurt.
In the family room two hours later, Kennedy inspected the O-rings on the oxygen tank to make sure it formed a tight seal with the regulator, then connected her buoyancy compensator, which looked like a bulky vest, to the tank, making sure to pull the tank straps tight. It would be easier to do the prep work for her dive on the deck, but Erik had asked her to stay inside for as long as possible.
Not a big deal, really. Except his presence seemed to fill the room as he watched her every move, a longing expression on his face. He was fully trained in diving. It was something they’d enjoyed doing together. She had enough gear for him to join her, but she didn’t need the distraction. Of course, she wouldn’t tell him that he distracted her. She wouldn’t tell him that seeing him caused these unexpected feelings.
Professional. That’s what they were. She just had to focus on her task.
She took the dust cap off the regulator and attached it, along with her low-pressure inflator and alternate air source.
He moved closer. “I wish you’d let me dive with you.”
“No point. Besides we’ll have our cameras on and communications devices in the face masks so you can watch and listen in.” She tested the air pressure. Good. She had a full tank of air.
Before she could reach the valve, he twisted it all the way open to test the regulator. Their hands brushed, and she snatched hers back.
Great. Way to hide your emotions from the guy.
“Would you mind checking to see if Charlie is ready to dive?” she asked, hoping to get Erik out of the room.
“No problem.” He met and held her gaze. “Don’t mind leaving now that I saw with my own eyes that your equipment is working fine.”
She was an independent woman. More independent than a lot of people, but her heart warmed under his concern. He’d always been protective and caring, but he never took it to extreme measures. Still, diving could be dangerous if she didn’t carefully check the equipment. She hated to admit it, but she enjoyed the fact that he’d wanted to be sure of her safety.
She went back to her buoyancy compensator while he walked out the door. She loaded the BC pockets with tools and evidence containers that she might need. She also added a folding tactical knife. Never knew what she might run into down there.
Perfect.She was ready. Pumped to be diving again, even if it was thanks to a less than positive situation, she grabbed lights, a mask, and fins and headed out to the deck.
Charlie, a tall lanky guy, stood waiting. “Ready?”
She nodded. “You’re good with the plan?”
“I am.” He put a headlamp on and slid into the water.
She glanced at Erik, whose eyes were narrowed.
“Relax,” she said. “We’ll be fine.”
“I know, it’s just…” He shrugged and gritted his teeth.
She didn’t want him to finish that sentence, as it seemed as if his feelings for her might not be dead either, and they didn’t need that kind of distraction.
She slipped into the river and swam out to the first rope just as big drops of rain hit the water. She followed the rope down and was soon surrounded by murky darkness. Some people would freak out in such a claustrophobic situation, but she found it comforting. All the troubles and sounds of the outside world disappeared.
“Everything okay?” Erik’s deep voice sounded in her ear.
Right.The outside world was still there. “Good, but it’s very hard to see.”
“At the bottom yet?”
She adjusted her headlamp. “I’m descending slowly so I don’t disturb the silt and further obscure my vision.”
“Keep me updated, okay?”
“Roger that.” She reached the bottom and began scouring with her hand, feeling for any object.
She and Charlie would eachhold onto the rope while sifting through a foot ofsilt, mud, trash, and foliage. They’d marked off a small section where she’d seen the item go into the water, and they would move back and forth in straight lines—like mowing a lawn—and as soon as she completed a section, Charlie would search the same area. If they didn’t locate the item, they would expand downstream.
