I’d even received a call at home from my boss, Jim Lowell, with news that the Regional Director had just announced his early retirement. Though Montgomery claimed to be sad about his decision, I imagined he’d be consoled by a suitably large pension. Everything seemed to be falling into place. That is, except for my heart.
“Did you hear anything more from that nice man at the FBI yet?” Marie asked.
I shook my head no. Guidry had called a couple of hours ago. The only news was that they’d finally located the plane, and a search-and-rescue team was now on its way.
“Don’t tell Alfred, but I had a little tête-à-tête with Thomas before,” Marie confided. “He tells me that he hasn’t seen any sign of Santou in the afterworld, and that you shouldn’t give up hope.”
Considering that Thomas was her dead husband, I suppose he would know. Besides, I was eager to take solace where I could find it.
Marie brushed a lock of hair from my eyes, and my tears started to flow. Why did life have to be so tough? Why do any of us have to die or grow old? I’d lost my mother only two years ago. If Jake were taken from me now, it would be more than I could bear.
Marie linked her arm through mine and gently kissed my hair. “We’ll just sit here with the Waving Girl until you get word,” she said, referring to her sculpture of the girl looking out to sea.
But my gaze was focused on a flock of pelicans that flew overhead, as I remembered Santou’s words.
Always take refuge in nature. It’s the one constant in life that will never change.
I soared along with them, my soul nestled on their wings, until the very last bird disappeared.
Acknowledgments
Thanks go to USFWS Special Agent Pat McIntosh for allowing me to ride shotgun and showing me how to walk through the marsh; Dr. Greg Masson for teaching me the fine points of contaminants and how to collect evidence when knee deep in water; Barb Zoodsma, with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, for imparting her knowledge of manatees; Anna Ashwood Collins and Sue Morrison for inviting me into their home and sharing their friendship and wine; my editor Sarah Durand for jumping in and treading lightly; and to Carol Fuca who is always there to provide encouragement, listen to me kvetch, and play second mom to Max and Tallulah.
About the Author
JESSICA SPEART writes about environmental and wildlife issues. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times Sunday Magazine, OMNI, Travel & Leisure, Audubon, National Wildlife, Mother Jones, Delta’s Sky Magazine, and many other publications. Coastal Disturbance is her seventh Rachel Porter mystery. Jessica lives in Connecticut with her husband and their two dogs, Max and Tallulah.
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Praise for the RACHEL PORTER
Mysteries by
JESSICA SPEART
“Fresh and close to the bone. [Speart’s] characters breathe with the endlessly fascinating idiosyncrasies of living people.”
Nevada Barr
“Each of Speart’s books is a great read and a lesson in endangered species conservation and wildlife law enforcement.”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Chills and laughs galore.”
James W. Hall
“The author portrays stark atmosphere…vividly…There are plenty of appealing characters, not the least of which is Rachel herself.”
Publishers Weekly
“[Speart’s] mysteries take readers to all sorts of interesting places…She has a real flair for bringing colorful characters to life on the page.”
Connecticut Post
“Speart’s stories ring true. And, as a bonus, each story delivers a powerful conservation message…Speart not only tells a great story, she teaches me about a seldom seen world.”
Charleston Gazette Mail
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Jessica Speart
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Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
COASTAL DISTURBANCE. Copyright © 2003 by Jessica Speart. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
EPub Edition © MARCH 2007 ISBN: 9780061844560
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