Chapter 59
It was a sight for sore eyes.
Not long after that, Defender-class patrol boats closed in.
The Coast Guard fished us out of the water, and crewmen triaged Mike. They took us back to the station where EMTs waited, along with the sheriff and Emily.
When I stepped ashore, she gave me a hug and squeezed tight. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I was worried sick.”
I was still pretty damp from my dip in the ocean, but she didn’t seem to mind.
Mike was transferred to an ambulance and taken to the hospital for treatment. We were all pretty banged up, but I had no desire to spend the rest of the evening in the emergency room. If anything still hurt beyond reason in the morning, I’d go see about it.
Paris Delaney and her crew were on the scene, and I gave a brief interview.
“You’re a hero. You successfully diffused the bomb at the stadium.”
“Only with the help of a lot of people. Dr. Foster should really take all the credit.”
The lens focused on her.
Emily did not want to get on camera.
“What can you tell us about the nature of these devices?”
“I’m sorry, but that’s classified,” Emily said.
“What about the explosion at sea?”
I intervened. “I can safely say the threat has been neutralized. The residents of this fine island have nothing to fear from that particular perpetrator.”
“Are you saying the bomber is dead?”
I smiled. “He got everything that was coming to him.”
I answered a few more questions, then we filled out after-action reports. By that time, I was ready to unwind and put this all behind me.
Emily drove JD and me back to the Avventura. I invited her aboard for a celebratory cocktail, and she accepted.
We all made our way up to the sky deck, and Jack slipped behind the bar. He poured whiskey for us and made a cosmopolitan for the lady. We found a seat at a table and sipped the fine beverages under the stars and the glowing moon.
"What's going to happen to Ashton?" Emily asked.
"He's facing numerous state and federal charges, including conspiracy and terrorism,” I said. “He'll get some consideration because he assisted, but he's going to be an old man before he gets out.”
She looked at the sparkly rock on her finger. "It's probably not even real."
Emily slipped it from her finger and tossed it overboard. It plunked into the water. She lifted her glass to toast. "To new beginnings.”
“Here, here,” JD said.
We all clinked our glasses and sipped our beverages. It was a nice night, getting better every moment.
"What's next for you?" I asked. "Was that all the Oblivium in existence?”
Emily nodded. "Newport stole my formula and all my notes. He wiped the system data so no one could re-create it. I'll have to start from scratch." Then she added, "Or I might just forget how to create it altogether," she said with a smile.
We decided to order in for dinner. Jack ran up to Diver Down, grabbed the to-go boxes, and returned to the boat. We chowed down on the sky deck and filled our bellies.
Like a good wingman, Jack retired early and left Emily and me to our own devices on the sky deck. Now that she was single, she had a lot of pent-up frustration she needed to work out, and I was more than happy to assist.
In the morning, Daniels called. “How are you feeling?”
"All things considered, I feel pretty good. A little stiff and sore. But I've got a good physical therapist that can help me work that out," I said, smirking at Emily as she snuggled beside me.
"So, you're feeling fit and ready for duty?”
"Always.”
“Good. Because we've got another situation."