The newscaster continued her report.
“Friends of local billionaire philanthropist Doran Linnaeus are shocked by the news of his death. Authorities can confirm the drowning was due to Friday night’s storm just off the coast of Carlsbad. According to a statement by Detective Rod Mallory of San Diego’s Northern Division, Mr. Linnaeus fell overboard when his yacht was caught in the storm.”
The newscaster’s report was followed by a video of Detective Mallory. He looked somewhat pale and edgy.
“No charges have been filed at this time,” he said, avoiding eye contact with the camera. “This is a very tragic loss and we offer our condolences to all those who knew Mr. Linnaeus.”
The newscaster reappeared on the television.
“Though authorities insist the incident was accidental, reports of a failed business venture Mr. Linnaeus had undertaken that very evening have led investigators to speculate whether or not he was entirely stable at the time of his death. We have no further details at this time.” She paused as the camera angle changed. “In other news today, damage caused by the storm has created—”
Walter stopped the video and exited the website on the phone.
“They’re saying his death was an accident?” I said.
Calder shrugged. “What else can Detective Mallory report? That Linnaeus went out to kidnap a couple mermaids with a hostage and got thrown overboard by a girl he had just shot?”
“Mallory was probably one of the men on Linnaeus’s boat,” said Eamon. “He can’t point fingers at us if he doesn’t want to have to explain why he and several others were threatening an innocent group of people in the middle of the ocean.”
“Do you think they’ll stop following me?” I asked.
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” said Uther with a somewhat evil grin. “I’ve got ways of making sure people don’t cause any trouble once our tasks are over.”
“Linnaeus is dead and Marinus is captured. Once Uther gets his hands on Mallory, he and the rest of his men will move on.”
“I thought Marinus couldn’t ever go back to being a merman,” I said.
“Maybe not, but if he still has gills, he can still survive.” Eamon turned to descend from the helm. “I really don’t know what the merpeople will do with him.”
“What we can do now is take you back to shore,” said Walter while Uther and Calder followed Eamon. “I’m sure you’re ready to get off this boat.”
“Yeah…I don’t know what I’m going to do with the rest of my summer, though.”
“Study the ocean,” he suggested. “That’s still what you want to do, isn’t it?”
I looked toward the east at the distant shores of California, then toward the west where the ocean glittered and stretched on forever. Somewhere beneath those currents, my best friend began a new life. We’d been joined at the hip for so long, I wasn’t sure I knew how to continue on my own. Perhaps it was time I, too, began a new life.
I sighed. Did I still want to study the ocean? Now that Samantha was alive and safe, and the danger was over, yeah. I did. But not only that. I wanted more.
“I want to do what you guys do,” I said to Walter. “I want to help merpeople.” He turned his gaze on me, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Olivia, that’s very noble of you, but this isn’t an easy job. It’s inconsistent, thankless, dangerous work.”
“I don’t care. If I can help you guys, Samantha, and Seidon and Cordelia’s people, I want to do it.”
His expression went from surprise to pity. “I can speak to Eamon and Uther about it, but chances are, they’ll say no. You’re very young. Go to college. Get your education. Live some more life before you commit to something like this.”
“I’m the same age Calder was when he started. Can’t I do both?”
Walter smiled. “You’re a good kid. We’ll see.”
The street looked quiet and unremarkable when we turned into it. My aunt’s house was as I always remembered it—clean, unmarked and locked. Even the flower beds looked the same. I got out of the car and stared at the front of the house. A fading blood stain marred the concrete on the front sidewalk, a sinister memento of my adventurous summer. My throat tightened. I reached up and squeezed my shoulder.
Behind me, Calder and Uther unloaded my luggage. Samantha’s, they left in the trunk of my car. I trudged up the front steps, got out the key, and opened the door. The dark, still house smelled a little musty.
“Here’s all the mail we picked up,” said Eamon, holding a grocery bag bulging with letters, a magazine or two, and other assorted junk mail. He left it inside the door.
“Thanks.”
“Where do you want these?” Calder asked, laden with my luggage.
“Just leave them there.”
He deposited my suitcase near the front door. Eamon stood with his hands in his pockets and looked at me with a wistful, faraway look in his eye.
“If there’s any scent of trouble, you know how to reach us.”
I nodded. “Thank you for everything.”
Eamon’s crow’s feet folded as he smiled. “And thank you.”
I opened my arms and embraced him. He chuckled. I turned and embraced enormous Walter.
“You take care of yourself now,” he said.
“I will.” I then hugged Uther, who coughed and muttered, but smiled as I let him go.
“A pleasure,” he said. He, Walter, and Eamon stepped outside and waited on the porch. I paused, biting my lip, as I turned to Calder. What should I do about this goodbye? He gave me a half-smile and reached out to pull me in. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held on longer than I had with any of the others.
“Please stay in touch,” I said into his ear.
“I promise.”
I kissed his cheek, quick and soft so the others wouldn’t see. As I released him, my face grew warm. While Walter, Uther, and Eamon walked down the front sidewalk to their rental car, Calder hugged me again.
“If I hadn’t been so stupid…”
