Deep Betrayal Page 0,89

a page with a nautical chart of the lake. “Here,” he said, marking a spot between Isle Royale and Thunder Bay with his finger. He wrote down the coordinates on a piece of scrap paper, slid them to Calder and said, “That would be my first stop.”

Dr. Coyote narrowed his eyes. “If you do go looking …” He got up and opened a drawer, pulling out a linen bag that bulged at its seams. He untied the string and dumped a pile of Indian Head pennies on the table, many tinged green with patina. They rang out as they knocked together. “My grandfather gave me this bag when I graduated from dental school. They were his father’s before that. He said to give some of them to Maighdean Mara every year to thank her for my good fortune.”

“And did you?” I asked.

“I was young. I was embarrassed by an old man’s foolishness.” He scooped the pennies back into the bag and handed it to me. “When you get there, give her these for me. They’re long overdue.”

“We couldn’t take those. You should offer them yourself,” I said.

“I’m sixty-three years old, and I’ve lived here my whole life.” He pressed the bag of copper coins into my palm and folded my fingers around it. “If I haven’t got myself up there by now, I never will. I leave this in your capable hands.”

He lightly brushed one finger against my pendant, then looked me directly in the eye so I’d know it wasn’t an accident. He said, “I’m sure she has no interest in me now that I’m an old man, but if you think of it, say hi to Nadia for me.”

33

NEGLECT

When we got back into the car, I pulled the map out of the glove compartment and started to plot our route. Calder kept his eyes straight ahead and left the car in park. “It’ll take us six hours to drive to Thunder Bay, and that’s just one way,” he said.

I looked at the legend and walked my fingers down the interstate. “Twelve hours? Plus who knows how long it will take us to find her. My mom’s never going to let me be gone that long.”

“Have you tried calling for your dad again?”

I folded up the map deliberately, taking my time to line up the creases before I answered. “No. Have you?”

“I’ve tried, but he’s not responding. I thought maybe you might have had better luck.”

“We don’t need his help,” I said.

“He’s not the bad guy,” said Calder, leaning toward me. “He’s just a little lost right now.” He pressed his head to mine. “Three searchers are better than two, particularly when one can’t swim very fast.”

I gave him a little head butt and he sat back, rubbing his forehead. “Okay, fine. I get it. You don’t want his help.”

“How far a swim is it to Isle Royale?” I asked.

“Just because driving would take too long doesn’t mean we’re swimming. It’s over a hundred nautical miles. That’s too far for you.”

“I can handle it,” I said.

“No.”

I pushed harder. “Our little boat can’t make it that far. It’s too small to cross that much open water. Swimming is our only option.”

Calder shrugged and adjusted the rearview mirror. “No problem. I’ll get us a bigger boat. There’s plenty to choose from in the marina.”

“Let’s not add to our troubles, okay? Maybe the Pettits would lend us their Sun Sport.”

“Which one of us is better equipped to ask for it?” asked Calder, chuckling low under his breath.

“Let me try the traditional way,” I said. “I’ll ask politely. They might say yes.”

He wrapped his arm around my neck and pulled me close. “Gotta love your optimism. Just let me know when you get the no, and I’ll pick us up something nice.”

* * *

In the end, I was right. Jack might have fallen into hysterics when I told him why we needed the boat, but he handed me the keys anyway, saying “You’re delusional. We both know who’s behind it all. Quit being so gullible.”

I ignored Jack and prepared for our trip, packing food and putting on the best fate-tempting outfit I could find: a Jimi Hendrix Isle of Wight Festival T-shirt, dated August 1970. If this was going to be our last hurrah, so be it.

Calder didn’t seem as fatalistic. I wondered if he planned on leaving me alone in the boat while he searched. If he did, he was a slow learner.

Calder checked the gas tank and filled an extra can.