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Chapter Nine
Coop
Warm sunlight, wafting fresh air, and the lapping of ocean waves surrounded us as we descended from the jet to solid ground. We were all a little speechless as we looked around, taking the island in.
Tall, tubular palms lined the landing strip, their crowning fronds swaying in the floral-scented breeze. I visually traced the origin of the fragrance to a vibrant, thick blanket of red. The flowers draped over the volcanic rock ledges that had been blown out and chiseled back to make room for the runway. The flora hemmed an evergreen jungle where high in the canopy gold monkeys chattered at the rainbow-colored birds looping among the branches.
I’d seen the island many times and from many angles, in the highest definitions of color no less, but being able to feel and smell it was like everything before had been in black and white.
“This place is magical,” Thea exclaimed as she stared off toward the bay. Along the stretch of sand where Aziza’s mirage had dissipated, Miller was playing in the calm surf with two large white lions. Most every day Dr. Walsh took various big cats out for a swim and elephants for hikes, like they were children at camp.
Everything about the island had been designed to make it appear fantastical, and even though I’d seen it a million times through the lens of surveillance, I found myself awestruck by the reality of it.
Staff members as richly varied as the island’s topography emerged as if on parade to assist us with our baggage. Most of the faces held some familiarity. I viewed them often during routine observations. But one in particular was more like family. Vivian McQueen. I couldn’t help but smile as she exited the thatch-roofed pavilion, all legs and a smile.
“If it isn’t the cowboy with the bluest eyes in Texas! Finally,” she teased as she pulled me into a hug. “Thought you might never find the pathway here.”
“I know, I know. I took the long road.” Even in Vivi’s embrace, I found myself glancing over her shoulder, unable to hold back my disappointment. “Where’s Zee?”
Vivi leaned away, her eyes narrowed with mock confusion. “Well, did you knock?”
“Did I what?”
She pointed to a sign below a brass bell on the pavilion’s entrance that erroneously instructed visitors to knock instead. The Oztralians, as the rest of Beryl Enterprises called those who lived on Marakata Cay, enjoyed spouting cryptic inside jokes. But I wasn’t in the mood for their Ozzie humor. I just wanted to see Zee.
“Oh, Cooper, smile or we’ll make you wear the emerald-colored glasses.” With a playful swat to my biceps, Vivi turned her joviality on the others. “Welcome to Marakata Cay. I’m Vivian McQueen, but everyone calls me Vivi. You must be Leo. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Vivi eyed the younger and prettier of us Cooper boys. Even with his wild mane of hair and scruffy five o’clock shadow, his calmer nature had a way of peeking out from his brawn. She turned to extend her hand to the next in line. “And, Mr. Steele…”
“Please, call me Nik.”
“Nik, of course,” she said as she shook his hand. “We’re honored to have you helping Michael with this project. And…”
Vivi looked around, finding Thea had wandered over to one of the squatty miniature palms flanking the pavilion. The tree was short enough for her to reach up to fondle the pair of hairy brown balls dangling from it. She curiously glanced back at us. “What do you do with these?”
I couldn’t help but exchange a look with Vivi, before saying, “Oh, darlin’, you just keep doing what you’re doing.”
“And you, love, must be Thea.”
Thea turned with wide eyes and dropped jaw as she openly gawked at Vivi, stammering, “You… You’re…”
Thea’s amnesia had not only stripped her of memories and experiences, but also of any social filter, making the otherwise intelligent and savvy woman come off as a naïve ingénue.
“I’m what, dear?” Vivi asked with a gracious but reserved smile.
Even with a supermodel mother and a soccer star father, I knew Vivi had been bullied through school due to the extreme length of her legs and the rare onyx depth of her skin. I braced for Thea to stick her foot in her mouth on some aspect of Vivi’s dramatic appearance.
“So…beautiful! And your accent! What is it?”
I released my breath as Vivi’s trepid smile turned into a hearty laugh. “The same as the Queen’s, love. And you gave us quite the scare. So glad you and Titan are well. I understand you weren’t prepared to come to the island. OZ asked me to arrange some clothing and toiletries for you. They are in with the supplies.”
“Thank you, Mr. Zaki’s generosity has been overwhelming already. I don’t suppose he would agree to meeting with me? I’d really like to thank him in person.”
“Oh, nobody sees OZ in person. Not nobody, not no-how,” Vivi said with a laugh. “But I will relay your thanks. It’s truly his pleasure to take care of those who come to stay with us. Speaking of, I imagine you all are starving and ready to eat, yes? We’ve set a buffet for you. Right this way.”
We followed Vivi into the open-air, beachside pavilion where the tables looked more like parade floats with their rainbows of berries and vegetables spread out around artistic fruit carvings. Other tables had vast selections of meats and cheeses along with intricate ice sculptures. Beyond them, several manned stations for made-to-order entrees to suit anyone’s tastes awaited.
“You do know there are only four of us? Six with the pilots?” I asked.
