THE SUN DIPPED LOW in the sky as Aurora finished the last of her ’50s-style burger and fries. She and Jordan sat in an old-fashioned booth inside the popular ice-cream parlor, which was located at the very end of the pier. Through the windows to one side, they could see amateur fishermen vying with the sea lions and sand sharks for mackerel and sand crabs. On the other side, the outside snack shack did a brisk business selling clam chowder, hot chocolate and coffee.
After visiting the Mission, they’d stopped by to see Donna and drop off John Doe’s phone number. Next came a visit to the lawyers, and finally, the sixty-mile drive north to the city of Oceanside and the Harbor District. They’d missed lunch and opted for a served meal rather than fixing one on Aurora’s boat.
Aurora slurped the rest of her root-beer float through her straw. Jordan had ordered a soda. She watched the sunset while he finished the last of his steak-and-cheese sandwich and onion rings.
“A good day’s work, yes?” he said. “Good news about Gerald, we got copies of the documents, plus had them removed from public view, and a gorgeous sunset to boot. Tomorrow we start planning our salvage operation.”
Aurora nodded. “I figure we can be on the water diving in two or three days if the weather holds. By the end of the week anyway. It depends on Donna’s work schedule—and Neil’s. Since we want to keep this operation small...” She finished her drink and shoved the old-fashioned soda-fountain glass away. Propping her head on her hand, elbow on the table, she gazed out the windows again as Jordan finished his meal.
“Tired?” Jordan asked.
“A little,” she admitted. A lot, she thought. All this stress and worry is killing me. “But take your time. I’m in no rush.”
“I’m done here anyway. Ready to go?” he asked.
“Yeah...” Her voice came out sounding odd.
“Anything wrong?”
“Looks like there’s a fire at the harbor,” she said. “I’m not sure—it’s not dark enough to tell—but I don’t like the looks of it.”
“Where?”
She gave him the landmarks up the coast. “A little close to home,” she said anxiously.
“You may be right,” Jordan said. “I’ll get the check.”
“We can take the tram back to the parking lot. I need to see what’s up.”
They caught the little tram the diner used to transport passengers who didn’t want to walk the quarter-mile length of the pier. Once off the tram at the beach parking lot, Aurora took the truck keys from Jordan and drove to the harbor along a road that was as quick as it was unfamiliar to him.
By now, the setting sun had dipped halfway below the waterline, and the glow of the fire could be seen more easily. Emergency vehicles, both watercraft and traditional vehicles, filled her usual parking area. Aurora left her truck in the public metered lots, and the two of them hurried toward the commotion.
“Oh, no! It’s coming from my slip,” Aurora cried.
Jordan followed her to the gate, only to be stopped by law-enforcement officials. Aurora pulled out her dock key. “I moor on P dock,” she said and recited her harbor parking ID number to prove it. “Is there anything I can do to help? Is anyone hurt?”
Despite the failing light, Aurora recognized the coughing patient, oxygen mask over his face. “That’s Keith,” she said to Jordan.
“Who?”
“My slip neighbor, the one who docks next to me. The guy whose lines I’m always having to fix.” Aurora turned back toward the officer. “Is he badly hurt? How’s his boat?”
“Not bad. His boat’s fiberglass, and your neighbors pulled him out before the fire spread. As far as we can tell, he was drinking and smoking and passed out with a lit butt. He was lucky.” The officer, named Elliot according to a tag he wore, cleared his throat. “I’m afraid you weren’t as lucky, miss. If you’ll come with me...”
Aurora didn’t wait to be escorted. She ran down the sloping ramp to the waterline and concrete slips. The red lights of fireboats flashed and reflected off the water, while various emergency personnel moved aside to let her pass on the narrow throughway.
She saw the smoldering fiberglass of her neighbor’s boat still riding above the flames. Her nose burned from the smell of debris and flame retardant. Her eyes burned, too—but not for the same reason.