Chapter 2 - The Man She Saved
Gwen's Ford pickup tore along an old logging road while black SUVs disappeared behind them.
Marcus drove.
Gwen hated that.
“You're riding the clutch.”
Marcus stared ahead.
“This vehicle has an automatic transmission.”
“Then somehow you're still doing it wrong.”
Adrian sat beside Gwen in the back.
His face had grown pale.
She noticed.
“You're bleeding again.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you're doing that thing men do.”
“What thing?”
“Confusing consciousness with good health.”
Marcus almost laughed.
Adrian glared at him through the mirror.
Marcus immediately stopped.
Gwen opened the emergency kit beneath her seat.
“Hold this.”
She handed Adrian clean gauze.
He pressed it against his bandage.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“My workshop.”
Marcus looked back.
“We just left your workshop.”
“My other workshop.”
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
“You have two?”
“My father repaired lobster boats. He didn't trust banks, insurance companies, weather forecasts, or tourists.”
“A sensible man.”
“He also didn't trust Italians.”
Marcus looked at Adrian.
Adrian shrugged.
“Nobody’s perfect.”
Twenty minutes later, they reached an abandoned boathouse hidden behind cedar trees.
Gwen unlocked it.
Inside sat an old fishing vessel.
Marcus stared.
“That floats?”
Gwen looked offended.
“Get out.”
Adrian leaned against a workbench.
“What happened last night?”
Gwen studied him.
“You don't remember?”
“Fragments.”
She poured coffee from an old thermos.
“I heard the aircraft.”
“Helicopter.”
“It hit the water beyond Blackstone Point.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“Pilot said something about controls.”
“Then?”
“Impact.”
Gwen handed him coffee.
“I found you trapped beneath part of the frame. You were conscious for maybe thirty seconds.”
“What did I say?”
She hesitated.
“Interesting question.”
“Gwen.”
“You told me not to call the police.”
Marcus and Adrian exchanged a look.
“Anything else?”
“You said one name.”
Adrian's eyes sharpened.
“What name?”
“Victor.”
Marcus went pale.
Adrian set down the coffee.
“Victor Salerno?”
“I don't know. You just said Victor.”
Marcus turned away.
Gwen noticed.
“You know him.”
Adrian answered.
“My cousin.”
“Good cousin?”
“No.”
Marcus pulled out his phone.
“Victor knew the flight plan.”
Adrian nodded.
“He also knew the aircraft maintenance schedule.”
Gwen crossed her arms.
“So call the authorities.”
Neither man answered.
She sighed.
“Of course.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Victor isn't someone the local sheriff can simply arrest.”
“Everyone can be arrested.”
Marcus muttered, “That's adorable.”
Gwen pointed at the door.
“You can wait outside.”
Adrian almost smiled again.
Then his expression changed.
He had noticed something through the dusty window.
“Marcus.”
Marcus turned.
A vehicle had stopped beyond the trees.
Not one of theirs.
Adrian's voice became quiet.
“They found us.”
Marcus reached for his phone.
“No signal.”
Gwen did not panic.
She walked toward a rusted electrical panel.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling somebody.”
Marcus stared at the panel.
“With what?”
Gwen flipped a switch.
An ancient marine radio crackled alive.
“My father believed cell phones were government tracking devices.”
Adrian looked at Marcus.
“Again. Sensible man.”
Gwen tuned the radio.
“Harbor station seventeen, this is Miller Marine.”
Static.
Then a voice.
“Gwen?”
“Tommy, listen carefully.”
Adrian watched her.
“I need you to tell Sheriff Barnes there are strangers around the north inlet.”
Marcus shook his head.
“No police.”
Gwen covered the microphone.
“You don't give orders here.”
“They may have people inside local law enforcement.”
“So might you.”
Adrian said, “She’s right.”
Marcus stared at him.
Adrian continued.
“We need witnesses.”
Gwen transmitted again.
“Tommy, send everybody.”
“Everybody?”
“Everybody.”
“What happened?”
Gwen looked at Adrian.
“Tourist trouble.”
Adrian smiled despite himself.
May you like
Outside, car doors opened.
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