Read Gray's Domain: Purgatorium Series, Book Two for Free Online Page B

private pier. Daphne and her parents rode with Roger, who then returned for Brock, Cam, and Bridget. Vince drove another jeep with Emma, Gregory, and the older woman, Mary Ellen—the woman who’d reminded Daphne of a Mrs. Santa Claus. Vince parked the jeep at Willows Anchorage and joined the cruise, but Roger returned to the resort. The captain welcomed everyone aboard and introductions were made. After life vests were distributed to those who wanted one—namely, Mary Ellen and Vince—the boat departed from the pier as the passengers lined up along the railing and gazed out to sea.
    The sun was a large dark-orange globe nestled in thinly stretched pink clouds. The sea, relatively calm, reflected stripes in a color somewhere in between. Gulls flew low overhead, as though expecting to be fed. Other boats sailed farther out in the distance, but not close enough for Daphne and her group to see their passengers. Although the wind blew more swiftly here on the water, it wasn’t the all-out accost Daphne had experienced on the ride from the mainland.
    Daphne was giddy. The bit of guilt she had felt over the earlier exercise with the snakes had vanished, and in its place was the thrill of anticipation. She never did learn who had pretended to be the sharks during the supposed attack on her a week ago, but after what Pete had told her of his faked death using Stan’s deep-sea diving gear, she suspected Stan and Pete were two of the three. The fact that Dave was almost always with Vince, and wasn’t today, led her to believe he would be playing a third shark.
    As the boat rounded the harbor, Cam leaned close to Daphne’s ear and whispered, “The headlamp on the captain’s cap is really a live-stream camera. Take a look.”
    Captain Jim wore a baseball cap with what looked like a headlamp attached to the bill.  He’d worn the same thing the day Daphne had taken her cruise. She gaped as she realized her shark attack had been broadcasted. Why and to whom? Was Prospero watching from inside her office? Her memory of what Larry had once said about the watchers made her crinkle her forehead in wonder. Were there others watching the exercises? Dr. Reynolds, maybe? Arturo Gomez?
    Brock, who stood on the other side of her, leaned in and murmured, “What was that about?”
    She planted a quick kiss on his lips. “Nothing. He just said something funny about the captain.”
    “What?”
    Daphne’s mind reeled as she nervously turned the silver bracelet on her wrist. “Um, that he looks like he has a wooden leg.” Daphne inwardly groaned and scolded herself for not thinking fast on her feet. She’d have to do better if she was going to be any help with the therapeutic games.
    Brock glanced over at Jim. “Come on, what did Cam really say?”
    Daphne squared herself to Brock. “Ssh. You have to swear not to tell.”
    He nodded. “I swear.”
    “Cam likes Bridget, but don’t let on you know.” Daphne felt a little good and a little bad about the lie. Hadn’t Brock lied to her ? Besides, she had a feeling Cam did like Bridget.
    Brock grinned and turned back to the sea, apparently satisfied.
    Just then, Gregory pointed out at least a half dozen sea lions sunning on a rock near the edge of the harbor. Jim turned the boat toward them. Daphne’s dad took photos as they stopped and idled twenty yards from the sea lions, until Bridget lifted her sundress over her head and dived into the sea.
    Like last time, Cam slapped his thighs and said, “I can’t believe she’s actually doing it!”
    “Are you sure that’s safe?” Mary Ellen asked.
    “Absolutely,” Jim said.
    Cam turned to Daphne and, with his eyes, motioned toward the water.
    What? She lifted her brows at him.
    He held a finger discreetly near his chest and pointed toward the water. His lips mouthed, “Jump in.”
    Cam said, “It’s pretty safe, Mary Ellen. Just ask Daphne. She went swimming with Bridget the last time we took the cruise and had a close encounter with