Free Pearl Cove by Elizabeth Lowell Page A

already frayed raw. Hannah started to tell
     Archer to leave if he wanted, and go to hell while he was at it. Then she glanced at her
     foreman and saw his barely concealed satisfaction.
    Divide and conquer. The oldest game of all.
    Because it worked.
    Hannah faced Flynn with a smile that would have frozen fire. The Yank is a bit
     overbearing, but he has a point. Ill need that report for my own records. By supper should
     do it.
    By supper? Flynn said in disbelief. I cant do a proper job in that short a time!
    Then do an improper one. You had answers quick enough when Archer asked.
    That was different.
    Because hes a man? Hannahs smile widened to show lots of teeth. No worries, mate. I wear
     pants, too. Ill see you before supper.
    Flynn made a rough sound and stared down at his employer. Whatever the situation might
     have been when Len was alive, Hannah was in charge of Pearl Cove now. And she knew it.
     Flynn hadnt expected things to turn out this way when he dropped by to console the sexy
     widow.
    Right, he said. Supper.
    The front door and then the verandah door closed behind Flynn. Hard.
    Hands on hips, Hannah turned on Archer. Why were you so rude?
    Any manager worth his pay would have had a report on your desk within twenty-four hours of
     that cyclone.
    But A knock at the verandah door cut off her protest. She spun around, expecting to see
     Flynn again. Oh, Tom. Come in.
    Archer watched as Tom Nakamori opened the verandah door and then the front door. He was
     wearing the uniform of the day: shorts, tank top, sandals. In his case, all of them were a
     faded navy blue. His hair was thin and white. His eyebrows were a startling midnight
     black. A thin scar went from his collarbone to his chin. His knuckles were enlarged, but
     the hands themselves were still flexible. Like most of the workers, he showed the nicks,
     cuts, and bruises of trying to save Pearl Cove from the cyclone.
    Nakamori paused to make certain that the screens closed gently. He moved with the care of
     a man who had spent too many years dangling from a dive rope being towed over shell beds.
     If the physical labor itself didnt get you, nitrogen bubbles in the blood would. Sooner or
     later, the bends crippled most divers. A special few, it killed.
    Forgive the upset, Nakamori said, half bowing. The Perfect Pearl repairs better. With
     permission, I take divers and search lost shell early tomorrow.
    Of course, she said quickly. But check with Christian first. Hes preparing a report for
     me, so he might want you to start in a particular area.
    Nakamori nodded and tilted slightly forward again.
    Archer had two distinct impressions. One was that English wasnt Nakamoris preferred
     language. The second was that the wiry, barrel-chested Japanese didnt care much for
     Christian Flynn.
    Is there room for another diver? Archer asked Nakamori. He hesitated, then nodded. Hoi.
     Okay. When do you leave? After dawn. One hour.
    Is there extra dive gear?
    Nakamori looked at Archer from head to heels. Mr. McGarry gear fit chest. But bottom...
     The Japanese shrugged. Sorry. No fit.
    If I get too cold, Ill sit up top until Im warm again. Make sure theres room for Hannah,
     too. Archer looked at her. I assume you dive.
    She smiled, thinking of the hauntingly beautiful ocean beneath the surface, where colors
     flowed into a thousand shades of blue and all was grace. I havent really been diving since
     the storm. Christian said there wasnt room, and I didnt want to get in the way of salvage
     work. Then the engine started having problems. Its fixed now? she asked, turning to
     Nakamori again.
    Not now, he corrected. Tomorrow. Right, she said. Tomorrow. If calm, he added. She looked
     out at the sky. No huge clouds loomed or gathered in a solid western wall. It will be
     fine. Nakamori went through the front door, paused on the verandah, and looked back. Mrs.
     McGarry? Yes?
    My divers must feed families. They ask if need find more