Free Vortex (Cutter Cay) by Cherry Adair Page A

happened to your zero-tolerance policy?” Jed asked, curiously. “Think maybe it’s time to realize that sometimes a little bullshit is necessary to make the world go around more smoothly?”
    “Prevarication is never necessary.” Logan had been raised by a man who lied just because he woke up in the morning. Everything about his childhood had been built on a mound of fabrications and half-truths. “I have a new half-brother to prove it.”
    Still, it had taken years of negative reinforcement before he got the memo, and pared his life down to a couple handfuls of people he trusted.
    “You like family,” Jed pointed out. “Why’s this new brother an exception?”
    “This character worked for Nick for years before presenting himself. I’m predisposed not to like this family. We’ll see.”
    “The problem with people who have no vices is that one can pretty much figure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues. Just sayin’.” Jed tossed his empty soda can into the bin. “The sooner we find our wreck, the happier you’ll be. Hell, the happier we’ll all be.”
    “Damn straight, and on that happy note, our mystery guest had something interesting and unexpected to offer. She claims that emerald bowl I bought last month is a map. A map, coincidentally, to the treasure we’re looking for.”
    “Seriously?” Jed laughed. “Now I’m with you on the bullshit meter.”
    “Come up to my office and let’s see what the bowl tells us.”
    Still grinning, Jed got to his feet. “Maybe we should call in Madam Mermaid to interpret our reading.”
    Logan’s eyes narrowed. “No, we’ll figure it out without a slanted editorial. Get the lead out. We have a mystery to unravel, and a treasure to find.”

 
     
    Four
     
    Daniela was on her way back to her cabin from the galley, a steaming mug of tea in one hand, a plate of warm brownies mounded with melting vanilla ice cream in the other, Dog a shadow beside her.
    The corridor was quiet, the movement of the ship barely noticeable at all. On this deck were the cabins of the dive team. Half of them had gone with Wes that morning to buy her a bra. Dinner had been several hours ago, and she was so bored she was ready to run laps around the deck.
    Her cabin was at the end of the long corridor, apparently right next door to Logan. Lucky her.
    It was decent of him to allow her to stay on board, especially since he was making little attempt to hide his suspicion.
    She was lapsed, but the whole Catholic guilt thing made a hard knot in her belly when she thought of everything she was doing to stay alive. Justified? She hoped Father Morgan would be proud that after all this time, she still felt pangs when she lied. He’d done a good job.
    Her parents must be sick with worry. They knew some of why she’d run, but not all—thank God—and not where. Senator Victor Stamps had a very long reach and a way of persuading people that terrified Daniela, making whatever she did to protect her family worthwhile. Anything.
    Her parents were enjoying a Mediterranean cruise. They’d return to New Mexico in three weeks. That was cutting it awfully close, but she’d had no say in the matter.
    Thanks to Logan Cutter, Daniela felt safe, too. At least for the moment. Well, as safe as she could feel with two hundred pounds of muscular brooding male watching her every move. Right now all she needed to do was figure out how to outsmart her cousins before she repaid Cutter by bringing danger and mayhem to his pretty ship.
    It hardly seemed fair. But then sacrifice was supposed to bring one closer to God. Cutter might very well be up for sainthood when she was through with this nasty business.
    Even eating an elephant required one bite at a time.
    Locate the bowl. Check.
    Give said bowl to Cutter. Check.
    Give him the broadest clues she could without hitting him over the head with said bowl or actually drawing him a map. Check.
    Now it was up to him to decide what to do with the