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CHAPTER 24

THE SECOND HAPPY HOUR IN THE DOLLAR BAR WAS A REPEAT of the first gabfest The vacuous chitchat around the table ground on Gamay’s nerves, but she had to admit that the Gibson was perfect and that the dinner that folloas superb, featuring freshly caught shrimp in a savory jambalaya

Mayheaited politely until dessert was served before he made his announcement

“Dooley will pick you up pro,” he said “You can leave right after breakfast It’s been a pleasure to have you as our guest, Dr Trout We’ll be sad to see you go”

Mayhew’s broad grin see departure She wondered how long he wouldanother night

“And I will be sad to leave,” Gamay said in a perforhere in this slice of paradise”

Mayheas too caught up in the estion, they htcap and to watch the sunset

The scientists gathered in knots, keeping their voices low Occasionally, Ga they were talking a themselves about their research

By nine o’clock, all the staff people had gone to their cabins, leaving Gamay alone She waited another half hour until everyone had settled in, then followed the shell path to Song Lee’s cabin The ere dark

Gamay climbed onto the small porch and knocked softly at first, then harder There was no answer

She was surprised to find the door unlocked She went inside and switched on the lights It only took a few seconds to see that the cabin was unoccupied There was no sign that Lee had eaten dinner alone there Ga the path to the waterfront Lee’s kayak was not in the boat shed

Gamay pondered what she should do She could wake up Dr Mayhew and the rest of the staff, but, given the penchant for oysterlike secrecy on the island, it was likely she’d be cut out of the action

Impulsively, Gamay lifted the second kayak from its rack and set it on the beach

Then she had another thought, and dashed back to the boathouse to grab Dooley’s night vision goggles She slipped theot in, and paddled furiously

She followed the perimeter of the island and headed out into the bay The stranded cabin cruiser was greenish and grainy through the goggles She paddled directly to it to get her bearings, then turned in to the funnel-shaped cove Dooley had shown her earlier that day