~ Chapter 2 ~
~ Chapter 1 ~
Dashiell Montclair
“Hey, Dad, glad you could make it.” Squinting in the bright sun, I shake hands with my old man, slap him on the back, and walk him to the helipad. “How’re things across the pond?”
“Nothing worth mentioning.” One side of his mouth crooks up.
Bloody hell. I wonder what priceless bauble he’s stolen this time.
Overhead and to the north, the double-arches of the century-old Brooklyn Bridge stand tall against the cloudless sky. Its shadow traces the edge of the pier by my feet where the East River laps the black wood. Manhattan’s skyline at my back, I stretch, stare out at the harbor, and try to tamp down my nervous energy.
The pilot who’s haunted my dreams for months is late. Did she change her mind? I pull out my iPhone and check my messages but there’s none from her.
My father scratches his short beard, sticks both hands in his jacket pockets, and glances at the parking lot. “Where’s Mac?”
“I gave him the day off.” Visualizing his leggy replacement, I smile and point out the tall brunette jogging across the pavement. “She’s taking his place.”
“That so?” Thick, gray brows arch above his piercing blue eyes before he turns toward the out-of-breath, gorgeous woman coming to a halt in front of us.
The early morning sun reflects in her eyes, making the brown flecks shine like gold. “Sorry I’m late. I’ve been inside filing paperwork.”
Blood drains from my big brain to the lower one, swelling behind my fly. Hoping she’ll ignore my bulging attraction, I take her outstretched hand and give it a firm shake. The odd combination of soft skin and strong grip makes her even more intriguing.
Her fingers linger and her gaze sinks below my navel. Her pink lips form a perfectly round ‘O’, reminding me of dark bedrooms and porn movies.
Shit . Using super-human powers, I let go her hand, swivel to my overly observant old man, and don a polite mask. “Dad, meet Lanita Manuel. Landy, this is my father, Alistair Montclair.”
“She yours?” Keeping her back to me, she points out my beloved MD600, sitting on the tarmac.
My old man chuckles. “Unfortunately, Dashiell saw it first, otherwise I would’ve snatched her up in a heartbeat.”
Gaze off my new baby, he crosses his arms at my substitute pilot. “Young lady, have you ever flown a McDonald Douglass before?”
Most would consider his question rude, but she ignores him, hops in the front seat, and grabs Mac’s checklist.
“They’re a two-wheeler with training wheels compared to the heavily loaded Viper I’m used to. Unless you’re expecting heavy artillery, we’ll be fine. Buckle up. I’ll only be a moment more.” Lights blink on and off as she continues checking the helicopter’s controls.
Recalling a heated kiss in Seattle, I adjust my pants and climb in the back with my dad. In the front, Landy bites her plump lower lip, places on her helmet and inspects every inch of the interior. Mac relies on our maintenance crew, but being new, I don’t blame her for being thorough.
When the blades spin, I slip my headset over my ears and my father points to a private frequency. “Where’re we off to?”
I wish we’d had time to discuss the case, but he’s been overseas since my staff spotted the latest online reward. “A body washed up near Little Egg Harbor and the widow wants answers.”
“If you’re interested, the bounty must be substantial.” He reaches under the seat in front of him, unzips a soft cooler, and twists open a water bottle.
Not wanting him to choke, I wait until he swallows before answering. “She’s offering a million dollars for information leading to the arrest of her husband’s murderer.” And a perfect opportunity to get reacquainted with a certain pilot who got under my skin.
Smiling, he shakes his head. “Helluva job, bounty hunting.”
“Says the professional jewel thief.”
“Son, my occupation is as ancient, honored, and noble as yours is-”
“None of your concern.” Unwilling to discuss this again, I close my eyes, touch my harness, the door handle, and surrounding obstacles. Not until I have everything memorized, do I open my eyes again.
“I thought that expensive survival course was supposed to fix your fear of flying.” My dad could’ve worked for Scotland Yard. Instead, he uses his insane powers of observation to drive his only son bloody bonkers.
Because of this, I lie without remorse. “I’m not afraid. I’m simply aware of all the damn things that can go wrong.”
“Ready?” Landy, now wearing dark sunglasses, glances back and I give her two thumbs up.
After she shoots me a wink, I switch back to her wavelength and speak into my mic. “Take her up, firefly.”
“Good copy.” “Tower, this is alpha-beta-fiver-fiver-niner, lifting off.”
The blades accelerate, her fingers wrap around the throttle, and the ground falls away. As we circle the Statue of Liberty, I search for my missing laptop, then relax. I almost forgot. For the first time in years, I left it at the hotel. Today, I intend to enjoy the view, both outside the cabin and in. Later tonight, I’ll take her out on a proper date and begin where we left off.
About to sink into my soft leather seat, I jump at the screeching alarm. The bird starts to shake. At first, I’m not concerned but as we spin and fall from the sky, my heart races, and her voice rings in my headset.
“Mayday, mayday, mayday.”
For a few seconds, our pilot struggles with the controls, and shouts back, “Brace, brace, brace.”
I can do this. Bending my elbows, I slip my fingers under the edge of my harness and wiggle my thumbs. If I survive the impact, I’ll need them unbroken to open the door.
Eyes wide, my dad grips my knee. “I love you, son.”
“Love you, too.” A split second later, we hit the surface so hard, I spit out a temporary crown.
As the copter lilts to the side, saltwater gushes in through the broken front window, soaking my feet. Counting seconds, I release my belt and turn to the motionless man beside me.
“C’mon Dad, wake up.” No time for gentleness, I slap his cheeks until his lids raise, and shout over the rushing water. “On my mark, take a deep breath, grab me, and don’t let go, no matter what. Nod if you understand.”
Once he bobs his head, I lean into the cockpit. Before I can check Lanita’s status, the bird flips upside down and water fills the cabin. Exhaling fully, I suck in maximum oxygen, dive, and yank on the door. When I turn for my father, our pilot appears and tilts his head toward a space not yet flooded. Giving me a thumbs up, she shoves him toward me. I wait for him to grab my waistband then push away from the falling metal. With downward motion stopped, I lose all sense of up. My panicked pulse thumps in my ears until I remember my training and swivel my head all around.
There! My lungs about to burst, I swim toward the sunlight sparkling over the murky surface. Treading water, I search for a brunette’s head, but she doesn’t pop up.
She was right behind us. Where the hell did she go? I dive deep and fight the urge to breathe. My arms sweep in a wide arc, and I snap my heels using all my strength. At last, I reach the fast-sinking copter, stick my head inside, and as I inhale a small pocket of air, I grab a motionless hand. Tugging hard, she breaks free, and I swim us above the waves.
An inflated yellow lifejacket circles my dad’s neck. He holds her while I pull the string on her vest and mine. If we were onshore, I’d thump her on the back and start mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
My wet jeans and soggy shoes make it hard to stay afloat but there’s no time to spare. Wrapping my arms around her from behind, I make a fist, place it under her sternum, and perform the Heimlich.
Hallelujah, she coughs.
By the time a white fishing trawler glides alongside, I’ve swallowed half the harbor. They’ll need a tanker to pump my stomach.
As I imagine the germs I’ve ingested, a young guy jumps in and helps Landy into the craft. Dad follows and I’m last. My ass on the boat bottom, I rest against the side and stare up at the sky. “Holy shit.”
“We made it.” My father slaps me on the back, forcing my drifting attention to the here and now.
“She’s lucky to be alive.” The captain presses a towel to Landy’s head, bleeding profusely. Her eyes are still closed but her chest rises and falls.
How long had she been underwater? Had I gotten to her soon enough ?