Page 58 of The Deadly Shallows

Thomas climbed in the back of the ambulance with Megan, his stiff gaze on Celia. “Don’t think we’re done yet.”

“I didn’t do anything. I . . .”

His hardened gaze said he wasn’t buying any of her excuses.

Trent shut the rear bay doors, got Billy settled up front, and pulled down the drive.

Caleb strode to his car.

“What are you doing?” Austin asked.

He popped his trunk. “Diving down to assess the situation.” He turned back toward her, holding his dive gear. “Do you mind if I use your bathroom to change?”

“Of course not.” She opened the back screen door. “You know where the hall one is.”

“Thanks.” He slipped into the room and changed, pulling on his wet suit more for protection from the cut-up barrel than for warmth. Though, given how quickly hypothermia set in, he ought to pay more attention to the cold.

He opened the bathroom door and headed outside. Reaching his car, the back hatch still open, he slipped on his tank and took hold of his mask.

As he headed for the sound, the screen door squeaked behind him, and he turned to find Austin in a black wet suit that fit her to perfection.

He quickly turned his attention back to the water. “What are you doing?” It was obvious what she thought she was doing, but he could handle this on his own.

She grabbed her tank and gear. “I’m going to see for myself.” She pulled her hair back, wincing as she lifted her arm.

“You should rest your shoulder.”

“It’s fine.” She planted her hand on her shapely hip. “If roles were reversed, would you sit on the sidelines?”

He exhaled. “No.”

“Then why do you expect me to?”

He sighed. “Point taken.” He caught a glimpse at the base of her neck and noticed a tattoo of two intertwined hearts. “Who’s the tattoo for?” he asked, unable to stem his curiosity.

“What?” She slipped her tank in place.

“Two hearts. Did you get it for a boyfriend?”

“Nope.” She slid her mask in place.

“Not wanting to share . . . interesting.” He slipped his mask on, and they headed for the water together. “Be careful,” he said before lowering himself in.

“You too.”

He quickly found the barrel Megan’s leg had been stuck in. They were going to need to haul it out. He pulled the flashlight from his side zipper pocket. Austin was right. A sandbar wove in an erratic line away from his line of sight, but the barrel Megan had been stuck in sat smack in the middle of it—just high enough to grab the girl’s leg.

As he approached the barrel, he felt several quick tugs at his elbow. Austin.

She swam a few yards away and pointed toward a submerged outcropping.

He swam to her side, and his eyes grew wide.

THIRTY

Caleb’s flashlight shifted to rest on another barrel, then another and another.

Austin’s chest squeezed. There had to be at least a half dozen around the outcropping. Only the one had landed on the sandbar.