CHAPTER 1
Five years later
The four young, fit looking, suntanned people were frolicking in the water off of Conger Island. Conger is one of the many almost man-made islands off the coast of Hispaniola. The island's purpose is mostly a port for passing cruise ships. Conger has built a large concrete structure as a dock for the passing gigantic ocean liners. The waters are crystal clear and located near a coral reef, which allows travelers to have a unique snorkeling experience. Travelers are also treated to some Latin flavor all along the dock. Before the dock construction was completed there were many skirmishes and flights between the locals as they argued over the best spots for their small shops. However, Samantha Silver and her three friends didn't care about the history of the dock or the struggles of the locals; they are here only for fun and frolic celebrating Samantha's 30th birthday. The place is perfect for what they want: shops, bars, restaurants and beautiful sunshine.
Samantha is tall compared to her friends, about 5'10". She played volleyball in high school, but since then was basically undecided on a career path. She has done lots of things to make ends meet, from waiting tables, to modeling, to office work, but she has never found what she would call a career. She has long dark hair, beautiful features, and light green eyes. She always thought that her eyes would set her apart from the other models, but New York City was filled with beautiful women and let's face it, by age 30, she realized that she would be at the end of a modeling career. Anyway Samantha is actually okay with that, and frankly enjoyed bouncing from job to job without a lot of responsibility. She went to college, but more because she felt she was supposed to than anything. She studied business, but only because the math requirements came easy to her. Her father Jonathan used to work with her when she was a little girl and she caught on quickly.
Then when she became a teenager, her father wasn't around very much. Samantha always assumed it was because of him, but they really became estranged because of her mother. She is down here now on the boat her father named after her, not to sign blame, but maybe find some answers to what happened to her dad. Her friends Jessica, a blond haired blue-eyed writer who works in the city and Macy, a young woman with closely cropped brown hair were along for the celebration. The three women were roommates at NYU and really best friends. The other member of this celebration, unfortunately, was Macy's constant companion, her boyfriend Chad. All four of the young adults are good looking and happy for the most part. I mean why shouldn't they be? Macy and Jessica have good jobs that they enjoy and Samantha, while her finances are pretty squared away thanks to her grandparents, lived all of her 30 years on the upper edge of middle-class and she is thankful, but not spoiled or satisfied.
In all actuality the tall, black haired beauty hasn't told her friends that the real reason they came here was because of a letter she had received from her father.
Macy circled and then surfaced climbing up on the back of the boat. "Man you guys, this is the most active snorkeling I have ever done. There is so much tropical sea life down there it's amazing," she announced to the other three already on deck. She grabbed a towel and chose the lounge chair in the middle.
"I know," Jessica agreed, "it's almost like an aquarium."
"I'm not sure; it doesn't seem that different than the Jersey shore."
"Chad, I don't believe you," Macy snapped, "it is the most beautiful coral reef I've ever seen in real life. The only reason you're along on this trip is because I didn't want to deal with you pouting and bitching over every little thing when I got back."
"If you throw him overboard, Sam and I promise not to tell."
"Hey, you would regret that Macy. I mean who would keep you company?"
"I don't know Chad," Samantha answered, "but there were quite a few staring at her in the bar last night."
Chad stood there looking down, smoking his cigarette because he knew Samantha was right. Their night last night at the bar had seen Macy strut her stuff in front of everyone, embarrassing the normally secure Chad.
"What's the matter Chaz," Jessica teased. "Yeah, it was fine when you were shaking your ass for those young the Latin girls."
"Thanks Sam, that was three whole days ago but thanks for bringing it up."
"No problem, I just wanted to help out."
"Why do I feel like you are all in this together?"
"Chad honey, what did you expect going on a week's vacation with all of us?"
Putting out his cigarette and putting on his sunglasses, and in his best New York accent replied, "I didn't expect you to be busting my balls all the time."
"Maybe they need busted. I mean, what guy goes on vacation with three girls just so he can watch his girlfriend?"
"That's not why I came down here Sam. I came down because I was worried for your safety ... all of you. You heard the stories about that a high school girl disappearing in the Caribbean; I wanted to make sure that didn't happen to you."
"Just the same," Macy butted in, "we are going out to dinner by ourselves tonight. Tomorrow is Samantha's birthday and we need a little girl time." Macy's comment caused the other friends off guard and they both were shocked that it even came up.
"Really, that's not fair. I mean what am I supposed to do?"
"You were a lifeguard on the Jersey shore dear, I'm sure you will think of something.
"Yeah, do you still have your little flags? You could signal to the shore from the boat."
"Good one Jessica. Those guys always thought they were such a big deal, doing this and that back and forth," Samantha added waving her arms to the delight of the other women.
Obviously Chad was upset and a little embarrassed. He reached for his cigarettes although he had just finished one. He lit up and replied, "Those little flags, as you guys call them, was our way of pointing out cute girls to the other lifeguards. Maybe I will just do the disco tonight."
It was obvious that he was doing whatever he could to make Macy jealous. It wasn't working however and she responded with, "Do you whatever you want to; I'm going to."
There was coldness in her voice and a look in her eyes that Samantha and Jessica had never detected before. Could she possibly be getting tired of Chad? The other girls hoped so, but didn't dare say anything. Instead the master conversationalist, and Jessica changed the subject.
"Hey Sam, can you really drive this boat?" With a smile, Samantha replies, "with the help of that GPS below and what my father taught me ... you bet."
"I thought you weren't allowed to see your father," Macy asked.
"That didn't start until I was a teenager," Samantha answered.
"Was your mom afraid that your old man might do something to you?"
"Chad," his girlfriend exploded!!
"What? I heard he was a little different that's all."
"That would be a lot different, don't you think? And it would be sick too. Her dad wasn't a pervert, he just got burned out on Wall Street," Jessica pointed out, standing up for her friend.
Chad stood with the cigarette in his mouth and his palms face up as he shrugged the comment off.
"If that's true, then how old were you when you learned?"
Samantha put on her cover up and sunglasses as the sun continued to hang lower in the...
