SHELTER

by Boston, Claire

  His grip on the side of the cockpit tightened. Whatever happened, he wouldn’t let them return without Zamira.

  About twenty minutes later, a dot appeared on the radar. “We’ve got them,” Kim said.

  Jeremy’s eyes strained in the darkness and finally a light flashed between the waves. “Over there!” He pointed.

  Kim nodded. “That could be them.”

  Jeremy strode over to Agent Franklin. “What’s the plan?”

  She raised her eyebrows. “The plan is for you to stay on this boat while we board and search the trawler.”

  He shook his head and opened his mouth to protest.

  “You shouldn’t even be here,” Franklin snapped. “You do as I say.”

  “She’s right, Jeremy. We’re trained for this.” Lincoln handed him a radio. “Once we’re on board, you need to watch. They might panic and throw the women overboard.”

  Jeremy grabbed the radio, his jaw tight. He nodded once, but he wasn’t going to make promises he couldn’t keep.

  As they neared the vessel, it became clear it was a fishing trawler. The Marine Rescue boat shone its spotlight towards it and Franklin hailed it over the radio. “This is Blackbridge Marine Rescue One to the vessel Hera, over.”

  A long silence before, “This is Hera. Go ahead, Blackbridge Marine Rescue One.”

  “You need to stop your engines and prepare to be boarded.”

  “What’s this about?”

  “I repeat, stop your engines and prepare to be boarded. All personnel should come out on the deck.”

  “Roger that.”

  The spotlight illuminated three people as they came out onto the deck dressed in wet weather gear. Henk wasn’t among them. Was this the wrong boat?

  On Franklin’s command, Kim pulled the Marine Rescue boat next to the fishing trawler and the three Border Force officers and Lincoln transferred and then Kim pulled back.

  The officers searched the men on deck and then Franklin went to the wheelhouse and the others went below deck, out of sight.

  Jeremy gripped the side of the boat.

  Where was Zamira?

  ***

  The boat rocked and banged as it went over wave after wave. It seemed like an eternity since Zamira had called the police. She had to hope they could find the boat in the middle of the ocean. She wrapped the rug tighter around her shoulders and stroked Bethari’s head. The poor woman lay groaning on the bed, clinging to the side, her face pale. Annisa sat on the opposite bunk watching Zamira as if she could make anything happen.

  Zamira couldn’t let them down. They would get out of here alive.

  At least neither of them was still shivering.

  Suddenly a loud announcement over the ship’s PA. “We’ve got trouble. A boat’s approaching… looks like Marine Rescue.”

  Yes! They were saved.

  Footsteps pounded past the door and then the door flung open. Henk held his gun. He screwed up his nose as the smell of vomit reached him, but he strode in and someone shut the door behind him.

  “If anyone speaks, I’ll put a bullet in them,” Henk said.

  Zamira shuffled away from him and Annisa scooted to the other end of the bed, closer to her. Poor Bethari groaned, not moving.

  “Shut up.” Henk swung the gun towards her. “You give us away and you’ll be dead.”

  Tears ran down Bethari’s face, but she was silent.

  “What’s going on?” Zamira asked.

  Henk scowled at her. “It will be a pleasure to kill you, so don’t tempt me.”

  “They’ll hear it if you shoot me.”

  He grunted.

  The PA again. “Marine Rescue are boarding. Everyone up on deck.”

  Zamira’s heart beat fast. “They’ll search the boat.”

  He grinned at her. “But they won’t find this room.”

  Her stomach dropped. They couldn’t be this close and not be rescued.

  A few more footsteps pounded down the steps and voices yelled, “Clear.”

  They were searching.

  She needed to call the police back. Tell them they had the right boat. She needed a distraction.

  Bethari pulled herself up and retched silently over the bed. Henk moved back, his face a picture of disgust.

  That was it. If she could fake being sick, Annisa could cover her for long enough to make the call.

  She tugged on Annisa’s arm and whispered, “Stand in front of me. Help Bethari.”

  Annisa turned, and Zamira slipped the phone out of her pocket. Then she retched and Henk swore under his breath. Hands shaking she opened the phone and scrolled through the contacts. What was the policeman’s name? Lincoln. No number for him. Who else? She closed her eyes, concentrating. One of Jeremy’s friends volunteered for Marine Rescue. It wasn’t Jamie… it had to be Kim.

  She retched again, and dialled Kim’s number.

  “Zamira?”

  Relief filled her. He must know what was going on. “There’s a hidden room on the boat you’re searching,” she whispered. “Henk’s with us and he has a gun.” Annisa shrieked and then Zamira was yanked backwards. The phone flew out of her hand and landed on the floor. She looked up into Henk’s red, enraged face.

  She had only seconds to register his fist coming towards her before it hit her.

  Pain exploded through her head and she fell against the bunk.

  Henk picked up the phone and swore. “You bitch!” He yanked her towards him, pressing the gun against her head.

  Fear coursed through her veins. “If you shoot me, you’ll be up for murder, not just kidnapping.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “It might be worth it.”

  She prayed they would find the room quickly.

  He moved his gun towards Annisa. “Or perhaps I should kill your friend instead.”

  “No!” The words came out before she could stop them. “Henk, please.”

  “I’ve got nothing else to lose. They’re going to put me away for a long time and I don’t do well in confined spaces.”

  More footsteps and the door clicked open. Two Border Force officers stood there, guns pointed in the room. “Drop it,” one demanded.

  Thank God.

  Henk pushed Zamira in front of him, the gun to her head. “I’ll shoot her.”

  Bethari sobbed on the bed, not moving.

  The room was too cramped, and if people started shooting it would not end well. Particularly not for her.

  “Hands behind your head,” the officer ordered.

  “No. Move out of the doorway.” Henk pressed the gun harder into Zamira’s temple and she winced in pain.

  “How about you let the other women go,” the officer said, his gun not wavering.

  “I want the Marine Rescue boat,” Henk demanded. “Tie it to the front of the trawler, no people on board.”

  “Give us one of the women as a show of faith.”

  Henk growled low and yanked Zamira back. “Get out of here.” He nodded at Bethari.

  Annisa looked at Zamira.

  “Take Bethari and go,” Zamira said in Malaysian. “Quickly now.”

  Annisa pulled Bethari up, encouraging her to move. Bethari was incredibly weak but she stumbled out the door. Henk grabbed Annisa and jerked her back. “Not you.”

  The officer pulled Bethari through the door and continued to train the gun on Henk.

  “Mr Jennings, put down your gun.”

  The cold barrel pressed unwavering against her head. “No. You’ve got two minutes to have the boat in place.”

  If they didn’t obey the order, Zamira was pretty sure what the consequence would be.

  “Move back,” Henk demanded. “We’re coming out.”

  One of the officers glanced down the corridor where Bethari had gone and then stepped that way. The other man followed, his eyes not leaving Henk’s, his gun still trained on them.

  “Do exactly as I say,” Henk told Zamira. “Move forward slowly and stop when you get to the door.”

&nbs
p; Zamira translated for Annisa and added, “When you get to the door, run towards the officers.”

  Annisa’s eyes widened and Zamira nodded in encouragement. Henk didn’t have the right angle to shoot Annisa.

  Henk tightened his grip on her arm. “Move back,” he ordered the officers.

  They stepped back, only one still visible. Annisa shuffled to the entrance and as she cleared it, she leapt to the side.

  Henk roared. “I’ll shoot this bitch.”

  The gun pressed painfully against Zamira’s skull.

  “The Marine Rescue boat is waiting for you,” the officer still in view said.

  “You try anything, you flinch at the wrong moment and I will kill you,” Henk growled.

  She believed him. Fear spread through her. This couldn’t be the end. She needed to see Jeremy again, tell him she loved him. There had to be another opportunity to escape before Henk got off the boat.

  Henk shoved her through the door, using her as a shield, his strong grip around her waist keeping her on her feet. The two officers stood in the corridor, guns out facing them, ready.

  “Walk backwards,” Henk said.

  She had no choice as he dragged her back, the rocking of the boat making it hard to walk in a straight line, but the corridor was narrow and braced them.

  Henk stopped. “Reach up,” he said. “Open that hatch.”

  She glanced at the hatch above her head. Wide enough for two of them to fit through. A ladder was attached to the wall underneath it. Henk couldn’t possibly keep the gun on her while he climbed out. The officer furthest from them spoke quietly into his radio. There had to be more people above deck.

  Did Henk really think he could escape?

  She climbed up a ladder rung, pushed the hatch open and Henk shifted the gun to the middle of her back. “Slowly now, we climb out together.”

  She glanced at the officers and the man nodded. Trust.

  The metal rungs were thin but wide and Henk stepped on the same rung as her, holding her in place next to him. She effectively screened Henk from the officers below deck as they moved up the ladder. Moving up another rung enabled her to see above deck. The Marine Rescue boat hovered off the trawler’s bow, its lights shining directly at her. Agent Franklin and Lincoln moved into view, guns out. The boat rocked and water washed over the bow, making the deck slippery. The wind blew through Zamira’s wet clothing, freezing her. This was her chance. If she moved fast enough, the officers could get a clear shot at Henk. She hefted herself out of the small space as a huge wave washed over the bow. The water hit her, knocking her off balance and she rolled along the deck, letting the wave carry her away from Henk.

  A shot rang out and she hit the railing of the boat, her legs sliding under. She lunged for it, but it was too wet, her hands unable to grip. With one more desperate reach, her fingers brushed the metal. The boat’s bow dipped, meeting the ocean, and water sucked at her legs, pulling her under and off the boat.

  No. She reached for the railing, but it was no use.

  She managed a single gasp before the freezing cold ocean closed above her again.

  ***

  Jeremy was going out of his mind. The officers had been on the trawler for a good ten minutes, but no Zamira. The crew were handcuffed on the deck and Lincoln stood guard over them.

  Zamira was on board. She’d called Kim to tell him. So where was she?

  Movement at the main door caught his attention and Lincoln rushed over to take a woman from Agent Franklin. Not Zamira or Annisa.

  Lincoln moved the woman to the side of the boat and gestured them over. The deck height difference between the trawler and the rescue boat was significant.

  “Jeremy, go help,” Kim ordered as he manoeuvred the boat into place.

  He gritted his teeth as he threw the line to Lincoln and then grabbed the woman’s waist as she straddled the edge of the boat. He half lifted, half fell, pulling the woman with him, but managed not to hurt either of them. “Where’s Zamira?”

  No answer. The woman was pale, soaked to the skin and shaking. He wrapped his arm around her waist and helped her into the cabin below as Annisa ran out on the deck. She spotted them and raced to the side, not needing any instructions.

  Jeremy left the other woman with Kim and went to help Annisa on board. “Where’s Zamira?”

  She pointed back to the trawler. Not helpful.

  “Get to the front deck.” The words were murmured over the radio. Lincoln gestured for Kim to shift the boat away and move to the front of the fishing vessel. Jeremy hustled Annisa down into the cabin area. He shoved towels at both women, glancing through the windscreen.

  Moments later a hatch opened and Zamira’s head popped out.

  His breath left his body. She was alive!

  She climbed out, Henk right behind her, a gun pressed against her side. Jeremy froze, his hands clenched. If Henk shot her, Jeremy would kill him. He didn’t blink as Zamira crawled onto the deck, swaying with the motion of the boat. A wave washed over the deck, knocking Zamira over. She rolled towards the side and grappled for the railing. A bang. Henk’s gun pointed directly at Zamira.

  No.

  The water swept her legs under the railing and she reached for the bar.

  She wasn’t going to make it.

  Jeremy was already moving as Kim yelled, “Man overboard.”

  In two steps he was at the railing, scanning the water.

  There. Zamira reached for the side of the fishing trawler. A wave crashed into her and her head hit the side. She stopped struggling and slid under the water.

  No!

  Jeremy dived in, the ice-cold water hitting him like a brick. The waves pummelled his body, throwing him this way and that, but he swam towards where Zamira had disappeared. Taking a deep breath, he dived under. The Marine Rescue gave a little light, but not enough. His heavy fireman gear helped him down, dragging him under.

  His lungs screamed for air. She had to be somewhere, but she could be right next to him and he wouldn’t see her. He stretched out in all directions and his fingers brushed something. He kicked hard and found her hand.

  His throat closed up, and his body demanded he breathe.

  Changing direction, he kicked upwards. There wasn’t even a speck of light from the boats above. He wasn’t going to make it.

  He dragged Zamira to him and brushed the life jacket he wore.

  The inflatable jacket.

  He tugged on the tags, holding Zamira close and the jacket inflated, drawing him up. Frantically he pushed towards the surface. A light appeared. Not far now.

  His face breached the surface and he inhaled deeply, water and air filling his mouth. He turned away from the waves as his head spun and he gasped. Zamira’s eyes were closed, her face pale.

  “Zamira!” He shook her. No response. Pulse. He needed to check for her pulse.

  Waves crashed over them as he struggled to keep them both afloat.

  “Jeremy, catch.” Kim threw out a life buoy. It landed within arm’s reach and Jeremy placed it over Zamira’s head, threading her arms through. Her pulse was thready, but she wasn’t breathing. He tilted her chin back and breathed into her mouth once, twice.

  Her lungs inflated and then she coughed, water spilling from her mouth and he turned her to her side, his heart beating again as she spat and spluttered.

  “Jeremy?” Her voice was low, croaky.

  “Yeah. You’re all right, Miri. I’ve got you.” He held her in place as Kim pulled them in.

  They’d drifted some way from the fishing trawler, and Jeremy couldn’t see what was happening on board. He kicked hard to help Kim. The freezing water soaked through his layers and he shivered. Zamira’s eyes were closed again. They reached the edge of the boat and Kim leaned over and grabbed Zamira under her arms. He hauled her up and into the boat. Seconds later he was back, helping Jeremy aboard. Then they both huddled over Zamira slumped on the ground.

  She lifted her head. “Annisa? Bethari?”


  “At the front.” Jeremy pulled her into his arms, hugged her tightly. “You scared the life out of me.”

  She held onto him, shaking. “Out of me too.”

  Kim wrapped a thermal blanket around their shoulders. “Come on. Get out of the wind.”

  Jeremy helped Zamira to her feet. They moved forward and Annisa and Bethari shuffled around to give them more room. Jeremy glanced over to the trawler as he stripped off his life jacket. All the Border Force officers were on deck with the crew in handcuffs. Good. As he turned around, he frowned. Was that blood on the deck? He checked himself and then turned to Zamira. “You’re bleeding.”

  Kim was already on the radio requesting an update from Border Force.

  Her rain jacket had a hole in it and was rapidly turning redder. He pushed it up and his heart stopped. A bullet wound. “Where’s the first aid kit?”

  “To your left.”

  Jeremy found some gauze and pressed it hard into her side. “You’ve been shot.”

  She hissed. “That hurts.”

  “Lay down,” he ordered. “Kim, we’ve got to get her to a hospital.”

  There wasn’t a whole lot of room in the cabin, but he helped Zamira to lie down.

  “I need to check with Lincoln.”

  Jeremy’s teeth chattered as the cold spread through him, but Zamira had been in the water longer and he had to stop the bleeding, which was already soaking the gauze. He grabbed some more bandages but her clothing kept getting in the way. He unzipped her jacket. “Take it off.”

  She struggled to do what he said and Annisa helped her, then covered her top half with a blanket.

  Kim pulled alongside the fishing trawler and Lincoln climbed on. He hurried to the front. “We can go. The others are staying on the fishing vessel. They’ll motor it back to shore.”

  Kim turned the boat and let the engines roar.

  Lincoln crouched at the entrance of the cabin. “How are they?”

  “Zamira’s been shot.”

  Lincoln swore and reached for the radio, called for an ambulance to meet them at the boat ramp.

  Jeremy wrapped the bandage as tightly as he dared around her waist, his hands shaking — from cold or fear, he wasn’t certain. The bandage turned red even as her skin had a bluish tinge.