Graces grandmother had raised Grace by herself after Nells only child, a daughter, turned out to be too irresponsible to raise the kid shed brought into the world. Vanessa Stafford was beautiful, but vain and totally selfish. Grace had only glimpsed her mother twice. And for all she knew, her father didnt exist, since her mother didnt bother to marry him or anything else.
But there was nothing Grace wouldnt do for her grandmother, a woman whod sacrificed much of her own life to give Grace a home, solid roots and a good education. A woman whod already raised her daughter alone.
Admittedly, Grace knew very little about ocean salvage. Just what shed gleaned online and from books checked out of the San Antonio libraryyet this was a mission she was committed to completing.
Jorge, will you refill my air tanks? Ive got a feeling we havent seen the last of that gentleman. And I use the term loosely, Grace said, shivering in spite of the suns heat.
His company is powerful, the old Cajun muttered. They have jobs and a lotta dough. Shrimpers lost many off-loading docks when Kemper moved in. Maybe youd better do as he says. Ill motor us around the point.
Ah, Kemper Oil. That explains his arrogance. Ive seen their logo on a whole bunch of trucks and buildings in town. Still, he doesnt scare me. Much, she murmured quietly in a tone that didnt support her conviction.
Jorge picked up her tanks with a shrug.
I spent every spare minute over the past year making sure I had every piece of documentation I needed to search for this plane. Our angry Kemper rep will just have to cool his heels until I find my grandfathers plane and prove to the navy that he didnt purposely go AWOL, but gave his life in the line of duty, she explained, although shed already told Jorge this more than once. Grandmother battled the navy for years. Her big fear, Jorge, is that shell die before reinstating my grandfathers honor. I will find the plane and give her peace of mind, Grace said with steely resolve.
GAVIN DAVIS MET Zeke at the slip. He helped guide the runabout into its moorage and lashed the line thrown to him by Zeke around a T-cleat buried in the dock. So, boss, that didnt take long. You set her straight in a hurry, I guess.
Zekes snort told the real story. But he elaborated anyway. It was a wasted trip. Why didnt Norm say she tossed around words like historic and government sanctioned?
No kidding? Gavin stopped in his tracks. She didnt mention government to me. Although, I did tell you she claimed to be hunting for a WWII plane.
I know. I didnt figure out the significance then, Zeke said testily.
So, what are we gonna do now? We can forcibly remove her, cant we?
Zeke shifted on the gently swaying dock. Maybe, but I dont know that for sure, Gav. And Id rather not take that route if we can avoid it. Ill check at the courthouse first and see if I can find out how tight her permit is. Will you phone David Decker and tell him we need to delay renting his barge? Hell whine about lost time and money and try to put the screws to us to pay extension fees. Remind him that until Kemper got here, his barges sat empty.
What excuse do I give Dave, Zeke?
Tell him the truth. Weve got a problem sitting in the bay. If Ms. Staffords got the backing of the Pentagon as she claims, her story will circulate. Think of the hammering well take by the press if she says Kempers uncooperative. Shell have every historian and environmentalist in the state rallying around her and the flag. So, until I get the real skinny, lets keep a low profile.
PKs gonna be so pissed. Did you call him?
Zeke gave a shake of his head. Not yet. Grace could be running a bluff.
Gavin grinned. Grace, is it? You two got chummy pretty fast if youre on first-name basis.
Zekes second snort surpassed his first in fury. Shes not my type. I thought you saw her, Gavin. Hell, the game hen I had for dinner last night had more meat on its bones.
Who knows what your type of woman is, buddy-boy? No ones seen you out on the town in the three-plus years youve worked here.
Zekes sudden scowl had his co-worker backing off. I sowed my wild oats over in Kingsville before coming to Galveston. Learned a valuable lesson the hard way, Gavin. Came away with a motto: why be miserable with a woman when I can be happy without one?
We all figured you got burned, Zeke. Youre not alone there. Rick Foster has a daughter in New Orleans he only sees once a year cause his ex keeps going to court. Im shelling out double alimony. Half the time I cant scrape up funds to go on a date. Yet we all keep trying to find Ms. Right. Shoot, dont you miss cuddling up to a soft, warm body on these cool spring nights?
No. And if I ever do Ill get a dog, Zeke said emphatically.
I dont reckon God meant for man to live his life alone, Gavin muttered.
Im not alone, Zeke said more testily than he usually spoke to a member of his crew. Ive got my son and my mom to fill that void in my life.
Kids and moms dont fill the empty bed Im talking about, man. Are you claiming you dont miss sex?
Of course I do. Im human. But liking sex with Trixie Lee Wilson led to getting careless one weekend when I rolled into town after three months wildcatting in West Texas. Me being careless led to Trix getting pregnant, which led to us getting married. The rest, as they say, is history.
Didnt your daddy ever tell you the worst reason for gettin hitched is a pregnant girlfriend?
Cant say he did. My old mans the reason I did stick around and do right by Trixie Lee. My fine, upstanding daddy took a powder the minute my mom told him she was going to have his baby. This conversations going nowhere, Gavin, he said abruptly. Especially since I wouldnt trade Matthew for anything. Go call Decker. Ill see you after I check out Ms. Staffords story. Without another word, Zeke sprinted to his pickup. He slid behind the steering wheel and slammed the door. A knot the size of Dallas took up residence in his stomach. Damn, but he ought to know better than to get drawn into conversations about women and marriage. It was a subject he did fancy footwork to avoid. As a rule, Zeke didnt care if the crew razzed him about his lack of datesnot even when they talked behind his back. They were aware that hed been married and divorced. Until now, hed never admitted his split had been a messy one. But since hed come clean about the divorce and brought up his dad, maybe theyd leave him the hell alone. Zeke got tired of making excuses about why he didnt want to go drinking and carousing with the other guys on payday weekend. He believed a man ought to keep his home life separate from work.
Well, crap, hed blown that, and Gavin tended to be a blabbermouth. Zeke didnt doubt that his life story would soon circulate through the bar at Willie Gs the next time the crew hooked up there for happy hour.
He sighed. Maybe it didnt matter. The crew might take pity on him and quit having their wives and girlfriends dig up spare friends on Friday nights.
Zeke swung into the parking lot at the courthouse, thinking it seemed unusually busy. That forced him to concentrate on finding a parking space. When one suddenly opened up in front of the building, Zeke grabbed it, vaulted from his vehicle and pocketed his keys.