by Sommer Smith
They soon reached the area where Keilani had seen the divers, and upon close inspection, they found evidence that someone had recently been there. The reef was empty of sea life and some of the sediment from the bottom of the sea floor was still floating around where it had been stirred up. However, the reef contained nothing out of the ordinary, just a few startled fish.
Keilani looked at Micah and shrugged. Emmett gestured for them to wait. As they watched, he swam in close and began to touch parts of the reef. He manipulated a piece here and there until a whole chunk came loose. It was fake. There, beneath the missing piece of artificial reef, lay a hollowed-out section of ocean floor, two metal cases nestled carefully inside. Micah had a pretty good idea what they would find in the cases.
Taking out his waterproof phone, he snapped a few pictures, opened the cases, and when the bags of white powder secured in waterproof plastic appeared, he took more pictures of those.
He gestured for Emmett to leave the cases. They made sure the missing piece of reef was secured back into place before slowly surfacing. He took no chances on Keilani getting the bends, even though they weren’t really diving very deep.
When they surfaced, Emmett began to question Micah. “You just plan to leave them down there?”
“I’ll report what we have found to the United States Navy and let the investigation team work out the retrieval. They need to know where the drug runners are operating from. And if we take their goods, they will know we are on to them. ” He began to swim back to the boat.
“Does that mean we’ll have to come back?” Keilani looked a little sickened at the thought. The idea of running into the drug runners probably didn’t set well, and the more time they spent down there, the more likely they would get caught.
“No need for that. I saved the coordinates.” He gestured to his wrist where he wore a high-tech watch and saw her face relax a little.
The roar of a boat motor put his senses on alert, however, and when he scanned the horizon, it was headed straight for them. The trio was still a good swim from their own boat, which had drifted a good distance away with the ocean’s tide, and the new vessel was moving at a high speed.
He called out to Keilani, but her wide-eyed gaze was already fixed on the oncoming speedboat. She looked frozen with fear, prompting Micah to swim to her. Xavier had started toward them in the boat, and Emmett, too, closed in around Keilani. If they went down, it would be together. That was what SEAL family was for.
“Get your gear in place,” Micah instructed Keilani with a calm tone. “We may have to dive to avoid the boat.”
Her nervous gaze darted between him and the speedboat as she swallowed and nodded. She followed his instructions as he and Emmett did the same.
They were exactly halfway between the two boats, which now seemed to be headed directly for one another. When Xavier would alter his course to avoid the nose of the other boat, it would change course as well, keeping the bow pointed right at Xavier. They were closing in and it wasn’t going to be pretty.
“On the count of three, we dive and go as deep as we can as fast as we can. I’ll let you know when we can surface again.” Micah waited for acknowledgment and then began to count down while locking hands with them both.
The trio dove with all their might, Micah and Emmett practically dragging Keilani along between them, though she kicked as hard as she could. It was only a matter of seconds before a blast rocked the surface and hot water pushed them toward the ocean floor on a forceful current. The surface of the water brightened above them and then dimmed to a dull orange glow. A few bits of debris were projected through the water around them. Somewhere to their far right, Micah caught a glimpse of Xavier’s form as it launched into the depths. He had made it off the boat in time.
Micah kept an eye out for the other boat driver. He, too, had probably hit the water before the collision. Now they would all have to swim back to the beach.
He thought about Keilani’s arrival and wondered if she was experiencing a sense of déjà vu right now. She was going to wish she had never taken this job.
The water slowly quieted above them and Micah, Keilani and Emmett began to drift back to the surface. Micah steered them as much toward the beach as he could, all the while keeping a lookout for both Xavier and the other boat driver and making sure Keilani stayed within easy reach.
Before they could break the surface, however, a projectile shot through the water toward them. Micah lunged for Keilani in slow motion under the water, pulling her back into the depths as the underwater missile missed her by inches, exploding into a small section of reef thirty feet away. Apparently the boat driver hadn’t been operating alone. Was there another enemy boat nearby? Where else could they be shooting the torpedoes from?
Micah could see Keilani’s wide eyes behind her mask, and he prodded her into action. He had no idea where their attacker was, only an approximate direction. It was only seconds before another missile appeared. Avoiding contact by a fraction of an inch, they began to swim frantically back toward the shore.
Micah had lost track of both Xavier and Emmett but knew his brothers could easily take care of themselves. It was up to him to protect Keilani.
He did have to admire her physical strength, though. She was more than just a strong swimmer—she was a powerful athlete, cutting through the water with amazing strength.
The fact did nothing to make him feel better about the constant barrage of torpedoes, however. It took far too much energy to avoid the projectiles, slowing them down much more than he would have liked. Keilani adapted with grace, bobbing and rising in the water at the onset of each new obstacle like one of the dolphins playing a new game. He could see that she was growing fatigued.
The ocean floor below them gradually grew shallower, granting a bit of hope, but just as Micah began to believe they might actually make it, the ominous shadow of a shark fell over them. It was relatively small, but still just as threatening. Keilani practically froze in the water—not the reaction he had expected from her. He tried to urge her on, but she was unresponsive.
The shark hadn’t yet noticed them, but he was directly in their path to shore. They could swim around him and risk expending energy they might not be able to afford, or they could try distracting him long enough to swim past. He couldn’t do either, if he couldn’t get Keilani moving.
She seemed frozen in place in the water, as if some sudden arctic blast had frozen her into a solid object. But she was prodded into action as the huge beast swung his beady eyes toward them.
Micah was left without a choice as the shark began to charge. Without hesitation, he motioned for Keilani to go while he moved forward to distract the shark. The animal started, then swung back toward Keilani, her smaller size evidently indicating an easier meal.
Diving toward it, Micah grabbed the huge shark’s dorsal fin, seeking to anger it in hopes of granting Keilani time to escape. The shark arched toward Micah, massive jaws wide in attack.
Micah jetted upward in the water, the shark’s teeth barely missing his foot. Diving once more, he watched Keilani pass as he floated a moment to attract the shark’s attention. This time when the shark sped in for the kill, Micah drove toward it, driving all of the force he could through his feet and connecting with the top of the shark’s head, momentarily stunning it. While the shark writhed in surprise, Micah used all the energy he had left to follow Keilani toward the shore.
Fatigue weighed on him, pulling his middle down and tugging at his legs. The temptation to just stop swimming and let the fatigue win hit him hard. He could see Keilani up ahead, looking back and urging him on but it was in a delayed motion, his body retreating into a dreamlike state. But SEAL training had taught him exactly how to deal with this.
Focusing with every ounce of his strength, he forced his way out of his own head. With fierce strokes, he powered toward Keilani, giving no quarter as he s
natched her around the waist and drove them toward the shore.
The shark had lost interest since its meal turned out to be more difficult than it had anticipated, but the torpedoes kept coming. He could tell Keilani was getting tired. Her motions had slowed considerably and he feared one of the torpedoes might strike her. They were small, but he had seen what kind of damage the projectiles could cause. Designed to explode on impact, they easily caused serious damage, sometimes death, to their victims.
The shore still seemed an infinite distance away, but he kept them moving. A shadow darkened the water above him, and Micah tried to determine if the hull of the boat was friend or foe. He was almost certain it was a fishing boat, which did nothing to answer his question. Keilani looked up and pointed, but he could only shrug and urge her on.
* * *
Keilani’s adrenaline had run out and it had taken her strength with it. The seawater grew warmer as they got closer to shore, but it wasn’t helping her morale any. The urge to quit swimming was so strong now that she was having to try to think of other things. The diving gear only weighed her down more, and she had no hope of keeping up with Micah’s superior athleticism.
His tug on her hand urged her a little faster for a bit, but he had to be growing frustrated with her. In an effort not to disappoint him, she dug deep and gave a renewed push. Each torpedo was harder to dodge, but they weren’t coming as frequently as before.
Keilani worried about Emmett and Xavier, though. They were well trained for this type of adventure, but she hadn’t seen them for so long that it concerned her. The boat hull above them had moved on, but now it seemed to be cruising back in their direction. It slowed, not far above them, and a diver hit the water.
Keilani’s heart plunged into a rapid rhythm once more. Was it another enemy swimmer intending to finish them off? She couldn’t tell, but the diver had definitely spotted them and now swam in their direction.
Micah stiffened, but then the other diver gave some sort of signal and he relaxed, tugging Keilani toward the boat. He helped her aboard and she slumped onto the deck in absolute exhaustion. She was relieved to find that the other diver was Emmett.
Micah stripped off his scuba gear as he began talking rapidly with the other diver, as well as another man on the boat. Xavier was there, too, she realized. He must have found the fishing boat and come looking for her and Micah after finding Emmett. She was too spent from the long swim to have more than a passing interest right now, though. She probably would have been content to lay facedown on the boat deck had Micah not come to check on her.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?” He gently rolled her over.
Keilani suppressed a groan. “I’m fine, just so very exhausted.”
A stranger handed her a bottle of water and a towel. She thanked him as Micah introduced him as a local fisherman. Tom Hawkins had apparently witnessed the boat crash and rescued Xavier right away. They had easily found Emmett after he shot back to the surface, but it had taken them a little longer to locate Micah and Keilani.
“Do you know anything at all about what happened to the driver of the other boat?” Micah was speaking to the boat captain.
“I saw him jump right before the collision, but couldn’t find him by the time I picked up Petty Officer Carraway here.” He gestured to Xavier but shook his head. “It’s like he just disappeared. As for the torpedoes, I assume he had an accomplice. He probably had him staked out keeping watch.”
“Did you happen to get a good look at the man on the other boat? Could the torpedo guy have come from the same boat? Do you think he had more than one guy helping him?” Micah fixed Tom with an intimidating stare, but the fisherman just blinked back at him, friendly expression never wavering.
“No. There was only one more and the fella driving the boat had on a wetsuit, like maybe he knew he’d be swimming. Maybe they were both involved with the torpedoes somehow, too. It could have been there was a second boat that I didn’t see. They had to be getting the torpedoes somewhere. Who can say?” Tom handed Micah a bottle of water. “The boat looked familiar, though. I’ve seen it a few times in these waters.”
Xavier let out a snort. “Guess you won’t be seeing it again.”
Tom just nodded. “It was a strange choice for the bay here. Not any of the rentals. A high-dollar speedboat. Not practical, but most folks around here who want to show off just buy a yacht.”
“Unless it had another purpose. Maybe they wanted something fast?” Micah was fishing for information now. Keilani pulled the towel closer around her as the chill of shock set in.
“Oh, I’ve heard the rumors. I try to mind my own business, but people talk. You’re wanting to know if I think it has something to do with the drug runners rumored to be in the area?” Tom cocked an eyebrow at him.
“Do you?” Micah took a gulp from his water bottle.
“Hard to say. Suspicion alone can get a man killed in a deal like that.” Tom turned away.
“Just a minute, Mr. Hawkins.” Micah stopped him. “If the rumors are that prevalent, why has the press not made any mention of it?”
Tom pulled at his beard. “Don’t imagine they want any part of the cartel’s wrath, either.”
He walked away and Micah turned back to Keilani. “This is bigger than I thought.”
Keilani nodded. “But the biggest question I have is how involved are your dolphins?” The creases on his forehead did nothing to console her.
His lips compressed into a thin white line. “I don’t know, but they chose the wrong dolphins to mess with.”
He stalked away, obviously too angry to talk about it. His body language suggested he was struggling to keep calm, so she let him go without comment.
Truthfully, it angered her, as well. The mere idea of ruthless drug smugglers using innocent mammals in such a horrific way made her want to lash out, too. And Micah probably felt responsible. She honestly had no clue how anyone could manage to get their hands on navy sea mammals under the radar. It seemed impossible despite the ease with which these men seemed to be coming and going. They had to have knowledge of the whole layout of the dolphin enclosures, but it should be better protected, even top secret. She didn’t like where all the evidence was pointing.
A few minutes later she was still standing where Micah had left her when Tom Hawkins returned. He offered her a sandwich and she accepted gratefully. It would help to settle her nerves and replenish her energy.
“I understand you’re a doctor?” The seaman asked Keilani the question as if the prospect scared him. She found that odd.
“I’m actually a veterinarian. I’m here as a consultant for the navy sea mammal program.” Keilani watched his face, and he relaxed some when she explained.
“Oh. I wondered what a doctor would be doing out here with a bunch of navy SEALs. But Xavier called you Dr. Lucas. A vet—that makes more sense.” He was rubbing his beard again and she wasn’t sure if it was a nervous habit or just something he did when he was thinking. There was something vaguely familiar about him, though.
“Did you just happen upon the boat crash? We’re fortunate you were around.” Keilani took another sip from her water bottle.
“Not exactly. I was nearby, but Xavier radioed me. You see, he’s my nephew. He knew I’d be somewhere around and that you all were in danger.” His nonchalant tone suggested he was accustomed to his nephew being in danger. The fact that he was Xavier’s uncle might be why he seemed familiar, too.
“Well, I’m very thankful you were.” Keilani offered him a smile. He just nodded in return.
Before anything else could be said, Emmett sat down beside her. “Dr. Lucas, there’s one more thing. I wanted to make sure you were recovered first, but we urgently need your help. We found a seriously wounded dolphin on the dive and managed to haul him in.”
“What? Where is he? We need to get him to the veterinary facil
ities immediately.” She rose, finding a surge of adrenaline she didn’t know she had left.
Emmett put a hand on her arm. “He’s in the stern in a tub the captain used for fishing. We’ve rigged up a temporary sling for him. Come on and I’ll show you.”
NINE
As they situated the new patient in the care unit at the base, Keilani couldn’t hold back her tears. It was one thing for someone to come after her, but anyone who could harm an innocent dolphin was a monster. Micah was watching her, so she fought to get it under control. This little guy needed her help.
She uttered a quiet prayer as she ran her hands along the dolphin’s sleek form, careful not to cause him any additional pain.
Micah watched silently while she prayed over the dolphin. His voice was quiet with what she could only label reverence when she finished. “Do you think he’s going to be okay? Can you get him back to health?”
“We.” She turned to him. “I think we can. I need your help.”
Xavier and Emmett had helped them get the sea mammal settled, but once they were sure there was nothing more they could do, the pair went to complete reports on the day’s misadventure.
She began to give instructions, even as she assessed the mammal’s wounds. They soon had him sedated and on IV fluids, with several monitors extending from his form to keep tabs on his vitals. He had apparently been restrained and abused, his wounds indicative of someone’s anger. It was a wonder the poor guy trusted any humans to get near him. That fact alone was a testament to his weakened condition and the pain he was suffering.
