Page 36 of Echo and the Homicidal Sea Panda

“Where it’s at, it’s deep enough that it takes nearly five minutes to get to the bottom of the sea bed. I can only hold my breath for about twenty, so that only gives me ten minutes to search before I have to race back up to the top. I had to keep re-surfacing over and over,” Echo said. “Using scuba gear, we could stay down for longer periods and perform a more thorough search.”

“True,” Diego said. “Do you need—or want—company? I could stay on the boat and use the maps to help direct you.”

Echo smiled. “And have usbothbreak the treaty?”

“I just want to make sure you’re safe out there. Plus, if you’ve been invited by Maelstrom, you’re not breaking anything. He’s the matriarch’s eldest, and I hear he’s her enforcer.”

“You make him sound like a mafioso or a ki?—”

One of Diego’s brows rose.“A killer?”

“Don’t call him that,” Echo murmured.

“We already know of two kills he’sdefinitelymade, and there are likely more. They don’t call them killer whales for nothing, you know?”

“The two we know about were to save his mother—and to save me.”

“Maybe.” Diego sighed. “I just don’t want you to forget who he is. A highly intelligent predator. Until you know him better, you don’t know for sure you’re safe with him. It’s been one night, Echo. Don’t fall into a trap.”

Echo sensed he could trust Mael, especially after hearing him speak his version of events, but Diego was right. It had only been one night. He didn’t know Maelstrom Marino at all. “Will you play nice if I let you come?”

Diego crossed his arms over his chest. “I can try, but I make no promises.”

“Try really hard,” Echo said. “I don’t need the whole day to turn adversarial.”

Diego nodded. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Meet me at my slip at one,” Echo said.

“Need me to bring anything?”

“Just yourself.” Echo suddenly realized he had no boat.“Fuck… can we use your boat? I can pay for the gas.”

“What’s wrong with yours?”

“Little mishap coming into the harbor. Hank’s fixing it,” Echo said.

“Yeah, fine,” Diego mumbled before heading out the back door.

Echo locked it and scanned the kitchen. He was used to being home alone, but for some reason, it felt off. A part of him wished Mael hadn’t left, but Echo also understood the need for quiet to calm a raging mind. He needed that himself after the past couple of days.

Tilly appeared, meowling loudly.

“Where have you been, fur nugget?” Echo asked, giving her head a scratch. “Were you hiding from the big, bad orca?”

Tilly meowled again.

“I suppose you want food, hmm?”

After giving Tilly a little more love, Echo grabbed his backpack and marched upstairs to get dressed. When he walked into his bedroom, he froze. A smile came to his lips. The bed was made. His clothes from the night before were folded and stacked at the end of his bed. And there was a note. He walked closer and lifted it, laying his backpack at the foot of his bed.

Can’t wait to see you tomorrow.

XO

-Mael

I’m 960-224-3125, btw

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