Hook, Line and Mystery: A Steamy Small Town Mystery (Mystery, She Wrote Book 2) by Delta James

Author:Delta James [James, Delta]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-01-25T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

KIT

Kit paused at the threshold of the marine research center, his fingertips grazing the cool metal of the door handle. The center belonged to him, and him alone. Although he often worked for the Department of Marine Resources, he was not their employee. The center’s structure stood solid and familiar, its walls containing a world he revered—a sanctum where science and sea mingled in harmonious existence. Here, amid the soft murmur of filter systems and the faint aroma of saltwater, he found solace, a place to lose himself in marine life.

Beside him, Abby’s presence was like a new current in these waters. He had felt and carried her presence so strongly all day that when he realized she had joined him, he wasn’t all that surprised. She leaned forward slightly, her tawny hair brushing his shoulder as she absorbed the sight of the building that held so much of his essence. Her gaze roamed over the façade, admiration kindling in her eyes, their green depths reflecting the sky just moments before dusk.

“Quite the fortress you have here,” she said, her voice carrying a note of respect and humor that resonated with him.

The corners of Kit’s mouth lifted fractionally, pride warming his soul even as he felt the bittersweet sting of memories. Clara had walked through this same doorway with him, her laughter echoing off the walls, her dreams interweaving with his until they were indistinguishable from one another.

“Built it to last.” His hand finally turned the handle, allowing them entry into his research sanctuary.

Abby stepped inside, her interest obvious as she peered into the nearest tank which held a mixture of corals and fish. Kit watched, a silent observer, as her fingers hovered millimeters from the glass, delicate and hesitant.

“Everything in these tanks has its own story,” he said quietly, gesturing toward the vibrant ecosystem contained within the confines of reinforced acrylic. “They’re pieces of a puzzle we’re still trying to understand.”

Her head tilted, Abby’s lips parted in an unspoken question, but she remained silent, allowing him to guide her further into his world. They moved between the tanks, the blue light painting their skin in ethereal hues, and Kit sensed a communion unfolding between them.

“I hope I’m not intruding. I spent some time at the library and thought I’d just stop by.”

“Not at all. Welcome to my world,” he said, his voice steady.

The center was a hive of marine life, tanks lining the walls, each a window into an underwater realm. He watched her face as Abby realized that part of the center had been built into the cliff and that some of the tanks weren’t tanks at all, but rather heavy, impenetrable windows of acrylic that allowed people to stare into the sea itself. As far as he knew, there was nothing else like it.

“It’s amazing, Kit. I had no idea,” she said, her voice filled with genuine awe.

He led her through the aisles. With each step, he allowed her to share part of himself that he rarely revealed to anyone.

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