“I heard he bought the entire island.”
“Hmm,” her father groaned, “a fact that hasn’t been proven. He wouldn’t let anyone take a look at the charter he has, but I did a little research and he can’t purchase public property.”
Sin just stared at the father.
“Doesn’t really matter,” he said, “he owns the fishing company and the paper to most of the fishing boats.”
Hearing the word ‘boat’ drew Sin’s attention and she looked back at the action out on the water. “What were you saying about the boats?”
With a gentle touch, her father took the binoculars from Sin and focused on the reef. He put them down and rubbed his forearms. Sin could tell he was getting cold from the breeze.
“Don’t get me wrong,” he said, “I would never begrudge any man or woman from making a living for their family, but . . .” he pointed out toward the boats, “this is something different. Now, just about everyone on the island has a new boat with sonar and is out destroying the reef for the almighty dollar.”
Sin wanted to know more about the fishing company and Heap, but something else kept nagging at her. “Two nights ago, I swore I saw two boats fishing in the black of night, and they were fishing the first reef.”
Her father scrunched his eyebrows together. “Fishing at night? On the reef closest to shore?”
Sin nodded and pointed to where she thought she remembered the boats. The truth was, she had no doubt where the boats were.
“It must have been the moon or the darkness playing tricks on you, Honey. No one, even those who grew up here, are crazy enough to navigate these reefs in the dark.”
“But you said they are all using sonar. Wouldn’t that let them move around the reefs in safety?”
Her father shook his head. “No way,” he said. “The currents are too unpredictable and the inner reef is too high. Maybe someone would be foolish enough to try to fish the outer reef, but look,” he pointed to where the boats were, “even in broad daylight, none of them go anywhere near the inner reef. It’s just too dangerous.”
“Hmm, I guess I was just tired or mistaken.”
“We have so much to catch up on, come inside and have a cup of coffee with your old dad.”
Sin smiled. “I’ll be there in a minute.” After she heard her dad go back inside, she refocused the binoculars and zoomed in on the boats.
Carmelita and her father were sitting on the couch talking in hushed tones when Sin walked inside. They had apparently heard the screech of the screen door before they saw her and quickly ended their conversation.
I need to use some WD40 on that door, Sin thought.
She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat in the overstuffed chair facing the two of them. Taking a sip of coffee, she watched their mannerisms and knew they were uneasy.
“So,” she said, “why all the whispering?”
Her father glanced at Carmelita and then looked at his daughter. “We were just discussing my ability to drive. Carm doesn’t think I should so soon after treatment, but I was telling her that I felt fine.”
Sin knew he was lying. One of her greatest assets as a ‘paramilitary’ operative was her ability to read people’s non-verbal cues. This perceptive ability was what kept her alive in the field and made her such a hot commodity on the open market.
Sitting with her legs folded underneath her, she took another sip of her coffee and focused her gaze on Carmelita. The woman never could lie to her. Her face looked etched with guilt. Sin then moved her attention to her father. “I will stay and help you like we discussed, but I think it’s best if I stay at the Wayfair Inn. If you will excuse me, I’m going to pack my bag.”
“Nonsense,” her father said. His voice rose as he spoke. “Why would you go and do a foolish thing like that?”
Sin’s frustration began to percolate. She took a final swallow of coffee hoping to swallow her resentment along with it. “If you two,” she pointed a finger at both, “can’t tell me the truth and feel the need to lie to me, then I see no point in staying in this house.” With continued calm she said, “Now, if you will excuse me, I need to call and make sure they have a room.”
“Thomas,” Carmelita yelled, “are you going to lose your daughter again?” Her Cuban accent was heavy when she was angry. “If you don’t tell her the truth, I will and then I will leave also.” She sounded more like Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy with every word.
Thomas’ shoulders slumped as he looked at the only two people left in his life. With tentative movement, he reached for Sin’s hand. “Sit, please, and I will tell you the truth.”
Sin wasn’t ready to acquiesce. “I have some questions of my own and I want straight answers.”
Thomas nodded.
Sin’s stare bore a hole through him. His look saddened her. He had always been so strong, such a pillar in the community, and he looked so small at this moment. He appeared broken.
She sank back down in the chair as Carmelita refilled their coffee cups.
“Thank you,” Thomas said.
Sin swallowed hard. The weight of the world seemed to be on his shoulders.
I almost miss the pig-headed version, Sin thought.
“When you came in from the porch,” he said, “we were arguing about the conversation I had with Heap yesterday at the hospital.”
“You never did tell me the truth to why he was there,” Sin said.
Her father raked his fingers through his thinning hair. “When did you get so smart?”
“I always was, you just never noticed,” Sin replied.
Thomas wagged his finger at her and his face reddened with embarrassment. “Touché,” he said. “I guess I deserved that one.”
Sin leaned forward and let her long dark hair fall over her face. “It has nothing to do with intelligence, Dad; it’s instinct.
