Chapter 3 #2
“Are you kidding me? Someone was shooting at me,” Kimo exclaimed.
“Then they took the dive boat with the radio. I had to hide in the reef until they left or risk being target practice. Then I swam a long way to shore. Trust me, I wanted to get back as soon as possible. That’s my friend out there going through God knows what kind of hell. ”
The detective seemed unfazed by her story. “Could you be suffering from exposure, maybe enough that you could have hallucinated this entire scenario?”
Rex took a step forward.
Kimo held up a hand to stop him. “We were photographing the bioluminescence. It was a routine effort until we found a shipping container on the ocean floor. When we looked inside, there were decomposing bodies shackled to the walls. Maybe the men who attacked us had something to do with the dead people in the container. I don’t know.
All I do know is that they took Alana, my friend. ”
“You say you photographed the alleged shipping container.” Detective Sykes lifted his chin. “Where are the photographs? Where’s the proof?”
Kimo sighed. “I downloaded some of them to my laptop and the cloud. If I can borrow a laptop, I’ll show you.”
“What about the camera you were using?” Sykes asked. “Was it on the boat as well?”
Kimo shook her head. “Sadly, I lost it while fleeing the gunmen on the attacking boat. I must have dropped it when I released the BCD with the tank.” Her brow dipped lower. “Are you going to do anything to find Alana?”
“We have people out there as we speak, looking for your dive partner.” The detective squared his shoulders.
“In the meantime, I suggest you don’t leave the island.
We might have more questions. Your dive partner, Alana Neal, might turn up.
It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours—hardly soon enough to file a missing person report. ”
“She’s not just missing,” Kimo’s voice rose. “Alana was abducted. You can’t wait twenty-four hours to search for her.”
“We’re handling it and looking for that missing dive boat as well. It’s easier to hide a body than a boat.”
Kimo’s brow descended. “I don’t give a damn about the boat. I want my friend back.”
“That boat might have all the answers about your missing friend.”
Rex didn’t like the way the detective spoke to Kimo. It was as if he was implying Kimo was as responsible for the disappearance of the dive boat as she was for the disappearance of her friend.
“Are you accusing me of something, Detective Sykes?” Kimo asked, her voice rising.
The man held up his hands. “I’m not accusing you of anything. I’m just trying to get to the truth.”
“I told you the truth,” Kimo said.
“Well, then, you have nothing to worry about.” He dipped his head. “Until we find Ms. Neal, don’t leave the island.” The man left the examination room.
Kimo stared after him, her brow furrowed.
“He thinks I had something to do with Alana’s disappearance and that I did something with the dive boat.
” She lay back against the pillow as the doctor and the nurse continued to work on the gunshot wound on her calf.
“Has the whole world gone batshit crazy? Or have I?”
Rex’s lips twitched. “Maybe a little of both…?”
Kimo snorted. “Thanks for the vote of confidence. Now, leave.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Like I told the security guard, I’m here until whoever is after you is caught.”
“I don’t need a bodyguard. I need to find my friend.” She jerked her legs.
“You need to remain still until we complete our wound care,” Nurse Bowman said.
“Sorry,” Kimo said. “Trust me. I want you to finish so I can get out of here and start looking for Alana.”
“Fortunately, the bullet missed any major arteries.” The doctor straightened.
“But infection is a possibility. I’ll call in a prescription for antibiotics.
Keep the wound clean and dry, take the medication, and it should heal within a couple of weeks.
See your primary care physician for follow-up and stay away from men with guns. ”
Kimo’s laugh choked on a sob. “That might not be an option, especially if they come after me again.”
“That’s why you have a bodyguard,” the doctor said. “Hang onto him until you’re in the clear.”
The doctor lifted his chin toward Rex.
“On it,” Rex promised.
After the doctor left the room, the nurse gave Kimo her discharge orders and asked what pharmacy she wanted the antibiotic sent to.
Kimo gave her the information and asked, “So, I can leave?”
Nurse Bowman nodded. “You need rest to recover from your ordeal.”
“I need to find my friend. It’s more likely her ordeal is worse than anything I’ve experienced.”
The nurse nodded. “You can’t help her if you pass out again.”
“Can I take the hospital gown with me, seeing as I have no other clothes?”
The nurse’s lips twisted. “Absolutely. Sorry about the wetsuit, but it’s protocol to cut away restrictive clothing.”
Kimo sighed. “I get it. Thanks for everything.”
Nurse Bowman glanced toward the door. “Oh, good. Your wheelchair has arrived.”
“I can walk out,” Kimo insisted.
Nurse Bowman shook her head. “Hospital rules. You’ll be escorted out in a wheelchair. I assume your bodyguard will take it from there.”
Rex nodded. “I’ll take it from there.”
Kimo pressed her lips together. “Seeing as I don’t have my car or street clothes, I’m at your mercy.” She sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, exposing her bare backside to him.
Rex’s lips quirked on the corners. “Do you want me to secure the gown in the back?”
“I do not,” she said, reaching behind her neck to fumble with the ties.
“Here,” Nurse Bowman hurried around the opposite side of the hospital bed and tied the strap at her neck and halfway down her spine, pulling the edges together to cover her naked back. “Take it easy getting up. You might feel a little dizzy.”
Rex came to stand beside her and offered his arm.
Kimo frowned at him and pushed off the bed. “I can handle this.” As soon as her feet hit the floor, her knees buckled.
Rex’s arm shot out, wrapped around her waist and pulled her body against his. “Just go with it,” he murmured. “Handle things later.”
She didn’t fight him—she couldn’t at first.
The orderly brought the wheelchair close enough that all she had to do was turn around and sink onto the seat. A scowl marred her pretty face.
“I don’t like being weak.”
“You’ve had a bad day,” Rex reminded her. “I’m sure you’ll be back wrangling sea turtles and octopuses after a little sleep.”
“He’s right,” the nurse said. “Rest.”
Rex almost chuckled at the mutinous frown pulling her eyebrows into a V.
The orderly turned the wheelchair and rolled it out into the hallway and to the exit. “I’ll wait with her while you bring your vehicle around.”
Rex frowned. “I don’t want to leave her.”
The orderly shot a glance over his shoulder and then nodded. “Look, I’m not supposed roll patients out into the parking lot.”
“That’s okay,” Rex said. “I’ll take her from here.”
“I can’t let you take the wheelchair—” the orderly started.
“I won’t need it.” Rex bent and scooped Kimo up in his arms. The back of her hospital gown did little to cover her nakedness. The warm skin of her legs and back seared the nerves of his arms as he carried her out into the parking lot.
“Hey,” she said, tugging the gown over her thighs, her cheeks flushing a pretty pink. “I can walk.”
“Could you not argue for one minute?” he said. “It’s faster this way.”
Her lips formed a tight line, and her brow wrinkled. “Are you always so bossy?”
“Only when I need to be.” He came to a stop beside a shiny black pickup. As he neared it, the doors automatically unlocked. Swinging her legs around, he reached for the doorhandle, pulled it open and unceremoniously deposited her into the passenger seat.
After closing her door, he hurried around to the driver’s side and slid behind the wheel. “Where to?”
“I need clothes,” she said. “My place.” She gave him directions. Thankfully, her cottage was on the same side of the island as the hospital. They were there in less than fifteen minutes, as the pre-sunrise turned the night into a gray precursor to brilliant sunshine.
Before Rex could come around to her side of the truck, Kimo pushed open her door and slid out. Rex cursed beneath his breath and reached for her as her knees buckled. He caught her around her waist and steadied her. “Stubborn woman.”
“Bossy man,” she countered. “I can walk.”
“Save it for when you have real clothes and shoes.” Once again, he swept her up into his arms and carried her toward the little house.
“Shoot. My keys were in my purse on the boat the attackers took.”
He climbed the steps and stiffened. “I don’t think you’ll need the keys.”
“Why?”
Rex’s arms tightened around her. “The door’s open.”