"That would be one explanation," Joley ventured cautiously.
Abigail's fingers tightened around the steering wheel until her knuckles grew white. "It's the only explanation. I'll have to let the others know the house isn't safe."
"The house doesn't keep all people out, Abbey. Sarah and Kate's fiances can come and go with the doors locked. Don't you remember how the padlocked gate swung open for Damon the first time he came to meet Sarah?"
"I met Aleksandr before the prophecy began unfolding and in any case, Matt and Damon are engaged to Sarah and Kate. That's completely different." Abigail glared at Joley, daring her to continue the conversation.
"Hmmm." Joley studied her fingernails. "I do believe I heard a rumor you were engaged to this man."
"Do shut up. I can't drive with you annoying me."
Joley laughed as they turned onto the long drive leading up to the old mill. "You seem to have managed just fine, if you ask me."
"Which I didn't." Abigail parked the car as close to the old building as she could. The mill had been for sale for years, until their sister had recently decided to purchase it. The sprawling building overlooked Sea Lion Cove and had once been a small but thriving lumber mill hiding the much more lucrative business of smuggling. The mill had tremendous history behind it. Kate Drake wanted to preserve as much of the old building as possible when she renovated it into her bookstore and coffee shop. Once the renovations were complete, a large deck and a floor-to-ceiling wall of glass facing the ocean would offer a breathtaking view of California's rugged coast.
"Do you ever wish you were normal, Joley?" Abigail asked as she pulled a heavy case from the car.
Joley shrugged, watching Abigail's face carefully. "What's normal, Abbey? We have each other and that's what really matters in the long run. We have our aunts and our parents and cousins. Our family is different, yes, and maybe we pay a price for our gifts, but the good outweighs the bad." She reached into the backseat and lifted out the other case. "You've been carrying a burden for some time. Don't you think it's time to share it with us?"
Abigail looked away from her, her body going stiff with rejection. "I'm not ready yet, Joley."
"That's all right, Abbey," Joley said. "Just remember we love you and no matter what's wrong, we'll find a way to help."
Abigail blinked back tears. "I took my magic for granted for so long, Joley. Don't do that. Don't think you can just get comfortable with it and just use it without thought." She turned her face away from her sister toward the sea. "Do you hear them?"
Joley had a million questions but she pressed her lips together and nodded. Abigail seemed fragile to her. Way too fragile. She was going to have to talk to Libby and see if she could help ease whatever trouble Abigail was carrying. Joley was suddenly very afraid for her sister. She swallowed every question and sought for something to say that would lift the sudden tension. "I think I do hear them, Abbey. I remember all your work, listening for hours with headphones and scanning your video footage all the time, but I never paid that much attention. They sound like clicks and whistles, don't they?"
Abigail unlocked the door to the mill. "Each sound is used for a variety of reasons. All of them seem to have a signature whistle, rather like their name. I think it identifies the individual and they call to one another using that specific whistle. Many of the researchers believe, like me, that they do communicate on a much greater scale than we first thought."
"They have their own language?" Joley had hit on the right thing to say. Abigail was so devoted to the dolphins and her research that her tone had brightened considerably.
"I think they do, but it certainly isn't anything like our language."
"They always seem so intelligent and happy. Whenever I see them I have this crazy urge to dive into the ocean and join them. And you know me and the ocean."
"Just keep in mind that they are wild, Joley. Dolphins can be aggressive and they certainly could hurt someone given the right circumstances. All too often people misinterpret what a dolphin is doing simply because they seem to be smiling."
"Well, I'm not really planning to dive into the sea with them," Joley admitted. "I just meant the impulse is there. I know you do it, but I like to keep my distance from anything weighing more than I do."
Abbey grinned at her sister. "That includes men?"
"Damn straight. Ever since that gate opened and the prophecy started unfolding I'm not even dating. I'm not even looking! Not me. No way. No how," Joley declared. She watched as Abigail unlocked a second door leading down into the basement. "Isn't that where the earthquake cracked the seal and allowed that spirit to escape?" She shivered. "I really need a cup of tea."
"All this time I thought you were the adventurous one."
"I'm very adventurous after twelve in the afternoon," Joley pointed out. "And I really rock after midnight."
Abigail laughed. "Be careful on these stairs; they're old and crumbling. Kate told me there's a place where the tunnel caved in but we can get through the rubble."
"How exciting," Joley said, rolling her eyes. "You owe me so big-time for this." She made her way down the basement stairs and waited while Abigail searched for the entry to the tunnel that led to the cove.
"Have you ever met a man you considered marrying?" Abbey asked.
Joley tossed her head. "Not likely. No one could stand me. I'm too mean."
Abbey laughed. "You really are a nut. You don't let anyone push you around, but you're one of the nicest people I know."
Joley blew her a kiss. "Thanks, Abbey, but since I happen to know you don't know very many people--in fact, you shun people--that isn't much of a testimonial."
"I don't shun people. They shun me." Abigail found the entrance and stepped through, wrinkling her nose. "It smells musty and fishy in here. And we'll need a flashlight."
"I brought a gun, not a flashlight." Joley bumped into her sister as Abbey stopped to drag a flashlight from her bag. "I should have known you'd be prepared."
"Naturally."
"People don't shun you, Abbey," Joley said. She glanced nervously into the tunnel, then took a deep breath and followed Abigail.
"Yes, they do. Wouldn't you if you weren't my sister? Do you remember all those years in school when I couldn't quite control my gift? All I had to do was accidently use the word truth and everyone within hearing distance would give the truth to me. Kids blurted out all kinds of things around me that they didn't want known. Would you want to risk your deepest darkest secret? Look what happened when Inez roped me into joining the Christmas pageant committee last year. I caused a huge scandal."
"That wasn't your fault. That spirit had escaped and was wreaking havoc on all our gifts. You used the word truth in a room and Sylvia Fredrickson's lover confessed they were having an affair."
"It was so horrible. Two marriages broke up over that. And Sylvia slapped me in front of everyone."
"You should have decked her." Joley picked her way through the rubble of debris on the narrow stone stairs. "It's wet and moldy down here. Ew."
"I did cause it to happen. She went to school with us and she knew very well I did it," Abigail said with a small sigh. "I didn't really blame her for being angry."
"She's the one who was having the affair with a man whose wife was about to give birth. Sylvia's always after somebody else's husband," Joley replied with a little sniff. "And if she's the one shunning you, count yourself lucky."
"It's wet down here." Abbey played the light over the wall of the tunnel. Most of it was rock, but there was one section where water seeped out and dripped onto the stairs, making them slick. "Watch your step right here. It looks as if someone fell."
Joley stiffened. "What do you mean, someone fell? Katie and Matt haven't been down here yet. Matt was going to close it off. He thought it was dangerous to keep the stairs. Did he come down here?"
"Either that, or the Russians are using this route to smuggle something into the country," Abbey said.
"That
's not funny. Maybe I ought to get the gun out of my purse."
"Actually, I'm not joking," Abigail said, halting to study the skid marks in the slimy mud. "This happened fairly recently. We'll have to ask Matt if he's been down here, which is entirely possible, so let's not panic."
"I wasn't going to panic," Joley protested. "I was going to get out the gun. I really didn't like the sound of a hotshot hit man. No one's been in this tunnel for years, Abbey. And no one has access to the cove. You don't really think they're smuggling something through here, do you?"
"It's a possibility we have to consider."
"Great, Jonas is going to turn into the mad, tyrannical dictator. He'll lose his mind over you going to the cove, Abbey."
"What do you mean, me going to the cove? You're with me."
Joley laughed. "Jonas doesn't expect me to exhibit any sense. I was smart enough to carefully cultivate the appearance of being a complete ditz. You, however, have all those impressive letters after your name and write papers published in journals and generally are expected to have tremendous sense at all times." She peered closely at the scuff marks. "Matt's a big man. Does it look like it could have been him?"
"It's impossible to tell." Abbey met her sister's gaze. "Look, Joley. I didn't expect this. I think one of the dolphins was shot last night. They risked their lives to save me and I have to go to the cove and try to help, but you don't. Why don't you go back to the house and call Jonas and let him know what's going on? I don't think anyone's here, but it's better to play it safe."
"You're out of your mind if you think I'm leaving you here, Abbey. Just get moving. I'm too bullheaded to be afraid. I get mad when people threaten me or someone I love, you know that. I mean it, get moving."
Abbey touched Joley's arm. "Thanks, Joley. I can't leave the dolphin if he's in need of medical help. They've come into the cove--they like the shallow water--and I'll be able to treat him. Another few steps and we should be nearly to the beach. Let me go first just in case. When I know everything's all right, I'll call you."
"I'm coming with you."
Abbey shone the light along the bottom stairs. It was useless to argue with Joley once she made up her mind to do something. And truthfully, Abigail was grateful for her presence. She followed the stairway all the way down to a narrow entryway that opened into a natural cave. The ceiling had been painstakingly carved out until one could walk stooped over to gain entrance to the cave. Early morning sunlight filtering through the cave's mouth provided enough illumination for them to see where they were going without the flashlight. The sound of the sea mixed with the whistles and chirps of the dolphins. The wind blew steadily and salt spray dashed against the rocks along the caves.
"It's a beautiful morning," Abbey said.
Joley rubbed her nose and grinned at her sister. "I haven't seen one in a while. Yes, it is." The sun had risen over the water, scattering rays of gold and silver along the surface to form gleaming pools in the cove, shimmering with invitation. "No wonder you spend so much time in the sea."
Abbey caught her arm before she could step out of the cave. "Let's be careful. Do you see those tracks in the mud? Several people have been here recently."
"Could be kids."
"Maybe. Maybe not." Abbey looked carefully around the cove. The beach appeared deserted. Out in the water, several dolphins spy-hopped. One called to her, using her signature whistle. "Stay here, Joley, and cover me."
Joley put down the case she was carrying and fished her gun out of her purse, all business. "Be careful, Abbey. And if I yell, you hit the ground."
"Will do." Abbey picked up both cases and strode out over the coarse sand. She examined every nook and cranny, every hiding hole she could see as she walked to the water's edge. Once there, she allowed her gaze to travel upward to examine the cliff above the cove.
When Abigail was positive she was alone in the cove, she signaled the all-clear to Joley and waited for her sister to join her.
Joley stared in awe at the sleek heads bobbing in the ocean. "I've never seen so many dolphins."
"They're beautiful, aren't they?" Abbey waded out into the shallow water, whistling softly. "Keep a watch on the cave and the cliffs, Joley. I'm going to call Kiwi in." She took a last look around the cliffs and out to sea, searching for a boat that might be concealed in the rocks and ensuring there were no spectators. She lifted her arm and made a small circling motion and then brought her hand back toward her as she repeated a strange high-pitched whistle. "Kiwi is coming in."
The large male dolphin swam into the shallows, until he was in about a foot of water. Abigail waded the rest of the way out to him. Joley held her breath. The dolphin was enormous up close and very powerful looking. Abigail talked soothingly and ran her hands over the dolphin while she examined the wound.
"How bad, Abbey?" Joley called. She had a clear view of the dolphin's eye. It was definitely intelligent and seemed to be nervous as it watched Joley. "It doesn't like me here, does it?"
Abbey rolled the animal gently in the surf to get a better angle on the wound. "It's not that. He feels very vulnerable. They seem to be able to know when we all join together so I doubt he's upset that you're here. I've been trying to figure out how the dolphins know when we reach out to one another."
"Energy? We can feel the energy, maybe they can."
"Maybe," Abigail mused. "Kiwi's wounds aren't too bad, but he'll need the antibiotics I brought. The bullet shaved the skin off my back and shoulders, and Kiwi's wound seems much like mine. We were both lucky."
"Libby will want to take a look at you this morning, Abbey. She isn't going to leave your treatment to a paramedic."
"I don't want her to waste her strength on me. It hurts a bit, but nothing I can't handle. My leg is worse."
"Did a shark really bite you?"
"No! Of course not, and it wasn't an attack." Abbey quickly opened her bag and dragged out a thick salve and a bottle of pills. "A shark has rough skin and I think he just raked me as he made a pass."
Joley made a face. "Don't talk about it. I'm always afraid when you go swimming with the dolphins. I used to have nightmares about some sea creature dragging you down into a watery grave."
"Really?" Abbey laughed. "I've always loved the sea and found it a wonderful fantasy land. It's interesting and different every single day. I like that there's an aspect of danger and I have to be alert all the time."
"Abbey, what are you doing?" Joley watched as her sister smeared a thick paste over the wound and then crouched down in the water near the dolphin's head.
"I'll have to treat him several times to make certain this doesn't get infected. Joley, it's important you don't repeat the hand signals I used to call him to me, or the whistles and chirps. He trusts me, but if that trust were broken, I wouldn't be able to have any kind of a working relationship with him or a friendship."
"I'm not about to break the code of silence," Joley said, "but I have to object to you putting your hand in that dolphin's mouth. It has more teeth than a shark." Alarm spread fast as she watched Abigail's hand disappear into the open mouth. "What are you doing?"
"Giving him antibiotics orally. He needs a combination. Don't worry."
"Please take your hand out of there before I flip out and scream or something equally sissy lala. You're really scaring me, Abbey. I'd rather have the Russian hit man try something."
"He's being so trusting and good," Abigail said. "Aren't you, Kiwi?" She signaled to him that she was finished. "He's such a steady dolphin. They're all different. Some of them are much more nervous and high-strung. I'm sending him back out to sea, but most likely they'll stay in the shallows. I just don't want anyone noticing and bothering them. Kids can be silly and sometimes cruel. I'd be really upset if someone threw sticks in their blowholes. It's happened in some of the places I've been and I can't seem to control my temper."
Joley laughed softly. "You wouldn't have to worry. If you told Hannah, they'd only do it the one time and she'd do so
mething spectacular to teach them a lesson. Word is, Sylvia has this recurring rash on the left side of her face. It shows up in the form of a handprint every time she flirts."
Abigail rolled her eyes. "Didn't Hannah remove that?"
"She says only Sylvia can by doing the 'right' thing."
"What is that? She can't help flirting. Flirting defines who she is."
"I think Hannah expects her to apologize to you."
"The world will come to an end first. Sylvia has never apologized to anyone for as long as I can remember, and we went to kindergarten together." Abigail watched the other dolphins as they moved around Kiwi. "I want to get a couple of shots of them with him. They know I've put something on his wounds." She pulled her camera out of her bag. "Do you mind staying a little longer, Joley?"
Joley shook her head, a small grin on her face. Abigail was already shooting away with the camera, snapping pictures like a madwoman, doing their aunt Carol proud, wading out into the water to her waist to get better shots, oblivious of the cold water soaking her jeans.
The wind came in off the sea and the gulls took flight, circling above them as the dolphins began to form small groups and go off in different directions to hunt for food. "Look what they're doing," Abigail said, obviously excited. "See how they leap and spy-hop? They're communicating where the hunt is on. See how they're herding the fish into a smaller and tighter ball? They're calling in the others."
"What the hell are you doing, Abigail?" The voice broke the early morning silence, thick with ire and Russian accent.
Abigail nearly dropped her camera in the water, juggling it to keep it from falling. She spun around to face Aleksandr Volstov. He looked handsome. Clean. Immaculate in a suit. Not in the least rumpled or wet. Even his hair was combed. "Great. How did you get down here? You're on private property."
"I ought to shake you. You have about as much sense as a crab."
Joley coughed delicately, earning her a glare from her sister.
"Don't you ever sleep, Aleksandr?" Abigail demanded. "Sheesh, Joley. What good are you with that gun? Why didn't you just shoot him? I brought you along for a reason and it wasn't to be staring at the scenery. You were supposed to be on guard. I thought you were going to shoot anyone who came near us."