Ward
The wall of water was exactly what I'd hoped for. Now we’ll leave it to the coast guard.
For a few precious seconds, no one could see anyone.
The Mariner's Crown couldn't see us.
The men on the reef couldn't see us.
Even the attack boats disappeared inside the white curtain of spray.
I grabbed the radio.
"Nathan."
"I'm here."
"Kill your lights."
"They're already off."
"Good."
I looked at Storm.
"Can Sea Whisper make a hard turn through the channel?"
She studied the chart for less than two seconds.
A determined smile touched her lips.
"Grandpa taught every one of us this channel."
She pointed toward a narrow opening between two rock formations.
"Tour boats won't use it."
"Too shallow."
"But Grandpa always said Sea Whisper could slip through there at half tide."
I smiled.
"I like your grandpa."
"So did everyone else."
The spray began to settle.
"We've got maybe fifteen seconds," I said.
Storm nodded.
"I can do it."
"I know."
Without another word, she spun the wheel.
Sea Whisper leaned hard to port.
The engines growled as she threaded toward the narrow passage.
The water changed color again.
Dark blue...
Green...
Then almost crystal clear.
Boulders appeared beneath us.
Close enough to touch.
Ben stepped onto the bridge.
"Storm..."
"I know."
"I've never seen water this shallow."
Storm never looked away from the channel.
"I have."
Behind us—
The first attack boat burst through the mist.
"They found us!" Ivy shouted.
"They think they have."
Storm whispered.
The passage curved sharply.
Within seconds, Sea Whisper disappeared behind a towering limestone outcrop.
The attackers kept racing straight ahead.
Past the opening.
Past us.
They never saw the hidden channel.
Ward let out a slow breath.
"They missed it."
Nathan laughed over the radio.
"I don't believe it."
"What?"
"They're chasing empty water."
Ben looked out from behind the rocks just in time to watch two of the attack boats roar past. The Coast Guard chasing after them.
"They're still going!"
Frank's voice drifted up from below.
"I'll keep the coffee warm!"
Nathan keyed his mic.
"And the bourbon!"
Rose answered before Frank could.
"Only one glass, young man!"
Even I laughed.
For the first time all morning...
We'd stolen a little piece of victory.
Then Storm's smile vanished.
She pointed ahead.
"Ward..."
I followed her finger.
Hidden inside the cove...
Half concealed beneath years of vines and weathered rock...
Was an old wooden dock.
Broken.
Forgotten.
Attached to it sat the remains of an ancient boathouse.
I frowned.
"That wasn't on the chart."
Storm shook her head.
"No."
"It wouldn't be."
She eased Sea Whisper alongside.
"My grandfather brought us here once."
"You've been here?"
"When I was fourteen."
She looked around slowly.
"He told us this place had saved lives once."
I stared at the weathered building.
"What did he mean?"
"He never said."
I jumped ashore first.
The old dock groaned beneath my boots.
It had probably been abandoned for decades.
Storm joined me.
The others followed.
The boathouse door hung crooked on rusted hinges.
Nathan's voice crackled through the radio.
"Ward."
"What?"
"I've still got eyes on the bad guys."
"Where?"
"They're searching."
"They think you disappeared."
I smiled.
"Good."
Then Nathan's tone changed.
"But..."
"What?"
"The Mariner's Crown isn't searching."
Every instinct I had came alive.
"What is it doing?"
A long silence.
Then—
"The silver-haired captain..."
The Coast Guard intercepted the Mariner's Crown and made the silver-haired captain break off. He must be aware of Ivy’s millions of viewers, and he can't risk firing on a Coast Guard cutter with millions of people watching Ivy's livestream.
Just then, a loud THUNK echoed from inside the abandoned boathouse.
Everyone froze.
Ben instinctively stepped in front of Calle.
Calle reached for Storm's arm.
I drew my pistol.
The sound came again.
THUNK... THUNK...
As if something...
Or someone...
Was trapped inside.