Eyes of Fire by Heather Graham Page A

There’s more to this picture than you realize. People have been dropping like flies all around you.”
    She swung around, staring at him. “What are you talking about?”
    He leaned forward. “Three different sets of divers—ostensibly sports divers—out from Key Largo, Coconut Grove and Fort Lauderdale—have disappeared entirely in the past year.”
    â€œBut we’re not in South Florida—”
    â€œOh, right. We’re on an island not far from it. In all three cases, they were headed for the waters right around Seafire Isle.”
    â€œYou just said you weren’t a cop anymore.”
    â€œI’m not.”
    â€œThen…”
    â€œI’m working for private concerns,” he told her.
    She lifted a hand in exasperation. “Okay, so your divers were heading for these waters. They could have disappeared anywhere. We’re within the boundaries of the so-called Devil’s Triangle out here. Pay attention to me. Ships have disappeared. Whole fleets of airplanes. I’m sorry about the divers, but I don’t understand why that should suddenly make you show up on Seafire Isle. Especially on the night I just happen to be attacked in my bathroom. Then again, it’s incredibly good luck that you just happened to be at hand, ready to come through my window after the intruder.”
    He smiled then, lifting the beer, swallowing. “I heard your scream. I couldn’t get in the front door—it was locked. I came around the house. Found the window. No great mystery.”
    â€œOkay, then. The great mystery is why someone would suddenly want to attack me because you’ve come to the island.”
    â€œI’m sure I had nothing to do with someone attacking you.”
    â€œI’ve never been attacked before.”
    â€œThere’s a first time for everything, isn’t there?”
    â€œI’m still convinced that this first time has something to do with you.”
    He shook his head, finishing the beer. “Nice attitude. God knows what might have happened to you if I hadn’t been here, and I still haven’t heard a ‘Thank you, Adam, for saving my life.”’
    â€œBut what if I was attacked because of you being on the island? Am I supposed to thank you for having put my life in danger?”
    He leaned forward suddenly, with startling speed and agility that reminded her how dangerous he could be when he chose, that any time he gave the impression of casual relaxation it was just that—an impression.
    â€œSamantha, use some damned sense, will you? Your father disappeared because he got close to something. And then Hank disappeared.”
    She swallowed hard. “My father knew that no matter how good you were, it was never safe to dive alone. A dozen things might have happened. He could have had a heart attack. He might have gotten excited about a discovery and tried to come up too quickly. I’ve had to accept the fact that he probably drowned.”
    â€œWhere’s the body? Where’s the damned body?”
    â€œYou’re not listening. You’re refusing to see the obvious! The sea doesn’t always give back her dead, you know that!”
    â€œOh, Sam, come on! You’re trying to say that your father and Hank both disappeared because of some Devil’s Triangle bullshit.”
    â€œIt doesn’t have to be anything strange or mystical! People have disappeared—”
    â€œYes, and there were sea monsters before men discovered the truth about giant squids and whales. There’s an explanation for everything. You know it, and I know it.”
    â€œRight. Like there might be a real explanation for the fact that you’re here.”
    â€œYou are persistent.”
    â€œI’m in danger, or so you say.” Sam waited for him to say something reassuring. He didn’t.
    â€œI just told you that three groups of divers—”
    â€œDisappeared during