Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks

that with a couple of calls from here. Maybe there’s a place that registers boats by name. I think I can call the paper down there to find out. Was there anything else in the second letter?”
    “Not that I can tell. But the third letter has a little bit more information. From what he writes, two things stand out.”
    Deanna chimed in. “One, that Catherine has indeed passed away.”
    “And also that it looks like he owns a scuba-diving shop where he and Catherine used to work.”
    “That’s another thing to write down. I think we can find out more about that from up here as well. Anything else?”
    “I don’t think so.”
    “Well, it’s a good beginning. This might be easier than we think. Let’s start making some calls.”
    The first place Deanna called was the Wilmington Journal, the newspaper that served the area. She identified herself and asked to speak with someone who was familiar with boating. After a couple of transfers, she found herself speaking with Zack Norton, who covered sportfishing and other ocean sports. After explaining that she wanted to know if there was a place that kept a registry of boat names, she was told that there wasn’t.
    “Boats are registered with an identification number, almost like cars,” he said in a slow drawl, “but if you have the name of the person, you might be able to find out the name of the boat on the form if it’s listed. It’s not a required piece of information, but a lot of people put it down anyway.” Deanna scribbled the words “Boats not registered by name” on the pad in front of her and showed it to Theresa.
    “That was a dead end,” Theresa said quietly.
    Deanna put her hand over the receiver and whispered, “Maybe, maybe not. Don’t give up so easily.”
    After thanking Zack Norton for his time and hanging up, Deanna looked over the list of clues again. She thought for a moment, then decided to call information for the phone numbers of scuba-diving shops in the Wilmington area. Theresa watched as Deanna wrote down the names and numbers of the eleven shops that were listed. “Is there anything else I can do for you, ma’am?” the operator asked.
    “No, you’ve been more than helpful. Thank you.”
    She hung up the phone, and Theresa looked at her curiously. “What are you going to ask them when you call?”
    “I’m going to ask for Garrett.”
    Theresa’s heart skipped a beat. “Just like that?”
    “Just like that,” Deanna said, smiling as she dialed. She motioned for Theresa to pick up the other extension, “just in case it’s him,” and they both waited quietly for someone to answer at Atlantic Adventures, the first name they were given.
    When the phone finally picked up, Deanna took a deep breath and asked pleasantly if Garrett was available to teach any classes. “I’m sorry, I think you have the wrong number,” the voice said quickly. Deanna apologized and hung up.
    They received the same answer on the next five calls. Unswayed, Deanna went down the list to the next name and dialed again. Expecting the same answer, she was surprised when the person on the line hesitated for a moment.
    “Are you talking about Garrett Blake?”
    Garrett.
    Theresa nearly fell from the chair at the sound of his name. Deanna said yes, and the man who answered went on.
    “He’s with Island Diving. Are you sure we can’t help you? We’ve got some classes starting soon.”
    Deanna quickly excused herself. “No, I’m sorry. I really need to work with Garrett. I promised him I would.” When she put the phone back in the cradle, she was smiling broadly.
    “So, we’re getting close now.”
    “I can’t believe it was that easy. . . .”
    “It wasn’t that easy, if you think about it, Theresa. Unless a person found more than one letter, it wouldn’t have been possible.”
    “Do you think it’s the same Garrett?”
    She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you?”
    “I don’t know yet. Maybe.”
    Deanna shrugged off