by Barb Han
“My boy wouldn’t take off without sending word home,” she stated emphatically. “He has no reason to run away.”
“Has he done this before?” The question had to be asked.
“He’s a good boy. He only goes where we send him. If he could, he would come home. A few days after the last time he slept with us the rains came. They didn’t stop for three days. The storm took my son and never gave him back.” Those last words seemed to drain her energy.
The hurricane?
Daniel had forgotten to check the weather but it would make perfect sense. The kids took off on some adventure, maybe even got lost. Javel would know the area having grown up here. They got stuck and then the rains came. If the two survived those there might not have been a way to get home.
Dread settled over Daniel. Javel would know how to navigate most of those dangers. And yet Mother Nature could punish even the most adept survivalist. Daniel had firsthand knowledge of the perils of underestimating her powers.
“Did Javel have a boat?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“I did,” Isiah said. “Mine’s missing. He took it. I know he did. No one else would take my boat and Javel knew where I kept it. I told him he was free to use it any time.”
A picture emerged. Daniel knew exactly what he had to do.
“What was your son wearing when he left the house to go to work with his father?” Daniel asked.
“His favorite red striped shirt,” she said, drawing horizontal lines on her blouse.
“I’ll be back,” he promised.
He didn’t commit to more than that. He couldn’t in good faith. He wouldn’t give false hope.
But he would bring answers.
Chapter 16
Clara brushed her teeth. She rinsed her mouth, looked into the mirror and saw the outline of a man. She gasped. It took a second to realize that Daniel stood there. He’d slipped in without a sound. “Sorry. You scared the hell out of me.”
She willed her heart to stop racing. The look on his face said he had news.
He brought his hand to her hip and when she turned around to face him, he kissed her.
Surprisingly tender lips brushed against hers before he pressed his forehead to hers.
“What’s wrong? Where’d you go?” she asked.
His silence, like he was taking a moment to breathe in her scent before he shattered her world, brought a sense of foreboding.
“What did you find out?” She rooted her feet to the floor.
He took a step back and held her hand.
“Ashlyn met up with a local boy. A fifteen-year-old by the name of Javel. His mother said he was happy, a good kid.”
Clara leaned her hip against the counter for support. She got the gist of what he was saying. “Are they alive?”
“I don’t know.” He looked at her, through her, with the most piercing brown eyes.
“But they’re together.” He produced a pad that had been tucked behind his back in the waistband of his jeans.
“This is hers,” Clara said, her voice barely a whisper. This was the closest she’d been to Ashlyn in weeks. Her heart jackhammered her ribcage. She caught Daniel’s gaze. “She takes this with her everywhere she goes.”
Clara listened intently as Daniel briefed her on his meeting with Javel’s mother.
“I don’t understand why the boy’s parents wouldn’t come forward,” she said but then she’d seen the abject poverty on the island that lay just beyond the borders of the manicured resort. This place was a dichotomy. So much wealth visited but very little stayed except in the hands of a select few.
“I already contacted a few old acquaintances.” Daniel’s grip tightened around her fingers and the move comforted her. “People are on their way to scour every island within a twenty-mile radius. I hired a boat, which will be at the dock waiting for us by the time we get there.”
Adrenaline surged at the thought of finding Ashlyn.
“We couldn’t get a flight in a couple of weeks ago because of the hurricane. There’s only so much we could learn from watching the weather report. Did Javel’s mother say how bad the storms got?” she asked, letting go of his hand and setting down the sketchpad.
“Bad.”
That word sat heavy on her chest.
“I’ll just be a minute.” Clara was dressed and ready to go in less than five. Triple that and they were boarding the boat.
Hope was a full balloon in her chest.
With every hour spent scanning small uninhabitable islands around the Jamaican coastline the balloon deflated a little.
By nightfall, all the air had been let out. Maybe she was expecting too much, too soon but that burst of hope was all she’d had to cling to in days.
Daniel paid for the boat and made arrangements to go back out the next morning.
When they returned to the suite, the man Daniel described as Isiah paced near the door. His hopeful expression deflated much like the balloon when he got a look at them.
After introductions, Daniel said, “We’ll go back out tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that until we find out what happened. I have a dozen people out there searching. You’re not alone anymore, my friend.”
Daniel patted Isiah’s back and tears leaked from the willowy man’s eyes.
“He’s a good boy,” Isiah said.
“I know,” Daniel reassured.
With those words, Isiah took in a deep breath and wiped his eyes.
At some point, room service was called in and Clara picked at her fish plate unable to get much of it down. She showered and sat on the balcony looking up at the stars until late.
That night, Daniel made slow, tender love to her.
“I don’t care how long it takes to find her,” Daniel stated on the fifth night. “We didn’t come this far to walk away empty-handed.”
He’d put word out among his network, which Clara realized was vast.
No news had come back in yet.
Clara had no choice but to be patient. Doing something besides trying to rattle chains state-side was a welcomed change. This was forward movement. This was doing something. This was making progress.
She splayed the satellite map out on the dining table in the suite and started marking off the islands that had been accounted for. Something hummed inside her and it was a good feeling despite the circumstances. It was the feeling that said they were getting close.
Another feeling was present too. That one felt far more dangerous because she was beginning to fall hard for Daniel.
There were no promises, no guarantees between them when this was over and everything inside her said it wouldn’t be long. It was that gut-level instinctual intuition that woke only when she stopped trying to overthink things.
Daniel came up from behind and wrapped his muscled arms around her waist. There was so much that felt right about the world when his body was next to her, skin-to-skin. He nestled his face in her hair at the base of her neck. His warm breath sent sensual skitters of awareness across her skin.
She breathed in and relaxed into the masculine piney scent that was all spicy and everything that was Daniel.
Another day would dawn soon and with it maybe a couple more false alarms. There’d been three already. But this is what progress felt like, exhaustion and exhilaration wrapped up together. One step forward, two steps back. This is what it felt like to know with every part of her being that Ashlyn was the closest she’d been.
Clara let her finger trail along the outline of Javel’s face in the sketchbook. He’d grown up on this island. He knew the area like the back of his hand.
A little voice reminded her that he would also know how to get home but she immediately quashed the negative thought. During times like these, she knew better than anyone to keep a positive attitude and cling to hope.
“We’re getting close,” she said to Daniel. She loved the feel of his solid walled chest against her back.
“I know,” he said. Those two wo
rds sent another round of chills down her back. He brought her in closer to him, hugged her tighter.
The next morning, Clara woke with a start.
She sat straight up in bed. Daniel was already up with a coffee mug in his hand. He’d been poring over the maps.
“Did you have a bad dream?” he asked.
“No. I thought I heard something,” she said.
He held up his cell. “Sorry. This just buzzed.”
He checked the screen as he walked over to her. His glorious bare chest showing, his fluid muscles flexing and releasing as he moved toward her wearing only his boxers.
The expression on his face changed and her stomach dropped to the floor.
“There’s an island five miles from the southern tip of the coastline.” The mattress dipped under his weight as he sat on the bed. “They found a body.”
Clara gasped.
“Male,” he said, studying the screen, “his bone structure looks to put him around the age of fourteen-to-fifteen. He fits the age of Javel. ID is hard because the body is decayed. He’s most likely been deceased for weeks. He’s wearing a red striped shirt like the one his mother described to me.”
“No,” came out as barely a whisper. Clara was to her feet and throwing clothes on before he could finish the rest of his sentence. Her heart ached for Javel and for his family. He was so young, too young. Based on what they’d learned so far, he was a good kid who didn’t deserve to have his life cut short over a mistake. Because he wanted to spread his wings and test the boundaries, taking off on an adventure with a pretty girl who wanted to do the same. Had they used bad judgment? Absolutely.
But who didn’t make mistakes growing up? Who didn’t put themselves in a dangerous situation at some point? No one deserved to die because of it.
She splashed cold water on her face, washing off tears that couldn’t seem to stop dropping and brushed her teeth in record time as Daniel dressed and gathered up their supplies.
“Ashlyn has to be on the island,” she said.
“A three-man crew is canvasing the area,” he said. “They might find her before we join the search.”
She appreciated Daniel for not telling her that thinking Ashlyn had somehow survived was wishful. It might be, but hope was all she had at this point. She couldn’t deny the overwhelming feeling that she would know somewhere deep in her heart if Ashlyn was dead. But that could just be her mind’s defense mechanisms.
Within the hour, Clara set foot on the rocky island. She’d been told on the boat ride over that the island was four miles wide and two miles long. It was heavy with rocks and palm trees, making it difficult to traverse.
Daniel had given her a protein bar to eat to keep up her strength and she’d barely managed to get it down. The skies were gorgeous blue and the water crystal clear but her heart thumped so loudly in her chest it rang in her ears and all she could think about was finding Ashlyn.
The island was just as described and Clara had a difficult time getting off the small boat and onto the rocky incline.
“Take my hand.” Daniel stood on the island, anchored in between two large rocks.
She did and he pulled her onto the rocky coastline. She stumbled a few steps before his strong arms righted her.
Daniel pulled out a massive-looking knife and started hacking branches. An hour passed as Clara waded through underbrush and pushed past trees. Daniel walked in front, whacking branches out of their way with his KA-BAR.
And then two hours had gone by.
Three.
Four.
“We should stop off and refuel our bodies.” Daniel pulled a bandana from his back pocket and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He dropped his backpack and pulled out a bottle of water. Clara took the offering.
Sweat dripped from almost everywhere; her nose, her chin. Her shirt was soaked with perspiration.
The chop-chop rhythm was noticeably absent. The heavy air was filled with the sounds of insects. She prayed for a breeze but they were too far inland and in too thick of trees.
And then she heard a noise, like an animal sound. Before she could ask Daniel if he heard it too, he was moving in the direction at a fast clip.
Clara took off behind him but he moved so fast she couldn’t keep up.
He stopped.
Cursed.
The moment of hope billowing in her chest sank to her toes.
He dropped down to his knees and bent forward.
The news came as she sprinted toward him. “She’s alive. But she’s weak.”
Daniel instructed Clara to radio the others as he scooped Ashlyn into his arms. Her blond hair was the color of mud. Filth covered her bony frame. Red, angry bites covered her arms and neck.
But she was alive.
Clara got one look at Ashlyn and couldn’t stem the flow of tears as she radioed for help.
“It’s okay, baby. We found you,” Clara said as Daniel secured the teen’s body in his arms.
“She’s too weak to answer. We have to go now.” Daniel bolted out of the area with Clara on his heels.
A sea of gratitude flooded her but it was a little too early for much relief.
Daniel made it to a small clearing in record time. “Check our coordinates using the app on my phone.”
“Got ’em,” she said.
“Good. Send them to Rafe.” She remembered being introduced to him briefly on the ride over. Clara sent their location.
A text came back almost immediately.
Help is on the way.
Ashlyn’s eyes fluttered. It looked as though she was trying to open them.
“Save your energy, sweet girl,” Clara soothed. She swallowed the sob trying to burst free. “You’re going to be okay. We found you.”
And then a chopper was hovering overhead. Men bounded down and an emergency team went straight to work, giving her life-giving hydration through an IV and oxygen through a mask. Her bites could be assessed once they got her to the hospital.
Ashlyn didn’t cry, most likely because she was severely dehydrated. She still couldn’t open her eyes but she squeezed Clara’s finger.
Clara held Ashlyn’s hand, reassuring her. She was about to get everything she needed for survival; fluids, nutrition and medical assistance.
“It’s okay. You’re safe. We’re going home,” Clara quietly repeated over and over.
“Rafe,” Daniel called out. A few seconds later, Rafe stood was almost eye-to-eye with Daniel. His friend had a similar build. His hair would be called dirty blond and his eyes the color of steel.
“Follow them.” He motioned toward the chopper. “Take Clara.”
Rafe nodded.
Clara took a few seconds to comprehend what Daniel said. Had he just turned her over to his friend for transport? Would she ever see Daniel again? Or was goodbye too much to ask? She owed him for finding Ashlyn. And Clara’s heart wished that Daniel would want to stick around.
One look at him said she expected too much.
His jaw was set and his eyes distant.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” he promised her.
And she wondered if this was the one promise he would break.
Chapter 17
Daniel examined the body of the boy who would never grow to be a man. There was no doubt in his mind this was Javel, and Daniel’s heart was heavy at the task ahead.
Daniel had made a promise. He would keep it.
Besides, he wouldn’t feel right celebrating Ashlyn’s return while Javel’s family waited for news. The family deserved the peace that came with answers.
By bringing their boy home to them in a box their lives would be ruined in countless ways. Daniel knew what it was like to lose a child. Life changed. No parent should ever have to face the horror of something so unnatural. But not knowing what happened to a child was a whole new depth of hell that he didn’t wish on anyone.
The weight on Daniel’s shoulders was heavy as he walked up the trail to the small hut—a trail that h
e had walked days ago—carrying the box with Javel’s remains.
Word had preceded this journey because Javel’s mother and uncle were already standing outside along the path, waiting. A man stood beside them and Daniel assumed he was Javel’s father, Rhashan.
Every father deserved to know what happened to his child. Every mother deserved to know what happened to her baby. But that did not make this task any easier.
Daniel had amassed a small crew to aid in this duty. His friend, Rafe, was there. Another good man, Lincoln, was beside Daniel. The three had served together and then taken jobs at ManTech. It only seemed right to have them with him. He’d shut out his friends for too long.
Javel’s mother’s knees gave as she watched the procession of men, bringing her son’s body to her, bringing him home. Her husband and brother held her up physically.
They knew what this meant.
They had their child.
Their boy was home.
Daniel caught a ride to Miami and then to Miami General Hospital after spending a few days with Javel’s family and another with his buddies.
Miami, a town full of color, vibrancy and life where horns honked and scooters zipped around on busy streets.
Stella came walking outside as Daniel located the entrance to the art deco style building. Music thumped from a few blocks over.
Daniel locked onto Stella’s gaze and held.
“Everything okay in there?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“We had a fight. My sister and I,” she reported. “I should’ve known this day would come sooner or later.”
“What are you talking about?” Hers wasn’t the reaction he expected.
Stella looked at him, eyebrows pinched together, dumfounded.
“I know we had a rule but, honestly, I just thought with everything that’s happened…” She paused a beat. “She really didn’t tell you?”
He remembered that Clara had mentioned the rule a few times but he couldn’t see what giving her professional opinion about Stella and her daughter’s relationship had to do with Ashlyn’s recovery.
