Body at Buccaneer's Bay: An M/M Cozy Mystery

“Another thing. I’ve dived that site before. I can’t understand how I never came across that diving suit.”

On the verge of sleep, Ellery jerked back to wakefulness. The moon had slipped down the sky, and the room was now in darkness, but Jack sounded wide-awake. Wide-awake and reflective. Something Ellery was getting used to. When presented with his own mysteries, Jack was like a dog with a bone. The difference was, in Jack’s line of work, crime was plentiful but rarely mysterious.

Ellery murmured, “It must have been lodged somewhere.”

“Maybe.”

“As the ship disintegrates, slowly but surely, it’s been working its way loose.”

He felt rather than saw Jack’s nod.

“Jack.”

“Hm?”

“You can’t blame yourself for something completely out of your control.”

“No, I know.” Jack’s mouth brushed Ellery’s temple. “Thank you.”

“Yeah, but it’s the truth. I know you, Jack. You feel responsible for…everything.”

Jack made a sound of amusement. “Well, not everything.”

Ellery said stubbornly, “This diver probably died before you were even born. But even if he didn’t, even if he died on what you consider your watch, it’s not your job to be everywhere all the time. There’s a reason Pirate’s Cove has a police department and not a-a one-man band.”

This time Jack laughed out loud—earning another of those human-sounding moans from the foot of the bed. Jack scooped an arm under Ellery’s shoulders, pulling him close. He said softly, “You’re good for me, you know that?”

“I think so.”

“Am I good for you, do you think?”

Ellery said doubtfully, “I think so.”

Jack grinned, bent his head, said against Ellery’s lips, “You really are a terrible actor.”