Wild Honor

by Tripp Ellis

  I peeled my eyes away from her gorgeous body, pretending to be disinterested. I should have gotten an Academy Award™ for my performance. I glanced around at the sea of revelers enjoying life at its finest.

  I did a double take at what I saw.

  9

  The tall, thin man with long hair stood out in a crowd. Brad Porter already had a good sunburn working.

  I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists.

  It was a rare occasion that I wasn't armed. The only thing I had was a mostly empty beer and my swim trunks.

  I plowed through the water, heading toward the scumbag. He was with Brandi. The two of them were wasted.

  Brad just happened to catch sight of me. His eyes widened, and he took off, sloshing through the crowd.

  You can only run so fast in 3 feet of water.

  I chased after him, my legs driving me forward.

  Brad pulled a man from a SeaCycle and climbed aboard. He cranked the engine up, twisted the throttle, and plowed forward. The exhaust rattled, and water sprayed from the back-end. He tried to weave through the crowd, but mowed over a few partygoers along the way.

  The man's girlfriend sat on her cycle in shock at what had just happened. A stream of expletives flew from the man's mouth as Brad sped away.

  "County Sheriff," I shouted. "I need to borrow your watercraft."

  The girl climbed off, and I hopped on. I cranked the engine up and twisted the throttle.

  By this point in time, the horde of revelers had parted. People attended to those who’d been run over by Brad. Mostly bruises, abrasions, and lacerations.

  The wind whistled my ears as I raced across the surface on the SeaCycle. Mists of saltwater sprayed into the air.

  The 300 hp, supercharged engine propelled me forward at a blistering pace. It had a 0 to 60 time of 3.8 seconds, every bit as fast as Jack’s Porsche. It had a closed-loop cooling system to keep corrosion and debris at bay. It had a V-shaped hall that allowed it to carve around corners, making it quick and nimble. With an active braking system, the craft could stop considerably faster than most vessels.

  Engineered to perfection, these SeaCycles weren’t cheap.

  The swells were small, but occasionally acted like a ramp and launched the craft into the air. The engine howled during the hang time before crashing back against the water. I followed the frothy white trail ahead of me, chasing after Brad.

  I don't think he had a destination in mind. Anywhere but here.

  With the throttle pegged, the watercraft skimmed across the surface.

  The sandbar became a distant memory.

  Salt water sprayed me in the face. I ducked low behind the windscreen and tried to extract every ounce of power out of the watercraft. The two vehicles were evenly matched, and I wasn't narrowing the gap.

  Then the unthinkable happened.

  The engine coughed and sputtered, then conked out.

  The SeaCycle sloshed against the swells, drifting with the current.

  An explosion of unsavory words spewed from my lips, and I

  pounded my fist against the handlebars.

  Brad’s trail of white water dissipated amidst the swells, and soon, the watercraft disappeared on the horizon. The whine of its engine faded in the distance.

  I looked back to the sandbar. I had traveled farther than I realized. The swarm of revelers looked like tiny specks in the water. I could barely hear the echo of the music, and the snap of the snare drum, across the sea.

  My cell phone was back on the Vivere.

  The swim back to shore was doable, but I didn't want to leave the watercraft unattended. I floated amidst the swells for a few moments to see what developed.

  I guess Jordyn had told JD what happened. Before long, they were heading my way in the tender. I watched the little inflatable bounce across the water, the electric outboard humming.

  JD pulled alongside the SeaCycle.

  "Call Sheriff Daniels,” I said. “Let him know we saw Porter. And Brandi is still roaming around the crowd somewhere."

  We hooked a line to the SeaCycle and towed it back to the sandbar. The owner was relieved to get it back, but still disturbed about the loss of the other watercraft. I told them they could file a police report when Sheriff Daniels arrived.

  Someone had taken the injured people back toward Coconut Key for treatment. The event had caused a lull in the party, but things had returned to normal by the time we made it back. For most people, there was still plenty of daylight and drinking to do.

  JD and I searched the crowd for Brandi, but came up empty-handed.

  We waited for the sheriff to arrive. He took statements from witnesses, and the couple that had experienced the theft filled out a report.

  Daniels had already alerted the Coast Guard to the situation, and they sent a patrol boat to scour the area for Brad.

  After another look around the sandbar for Brandi, Daniels decided to join the Coast Guard in the search for Porter.

  At this point, there wasn’t much more we could do.

  I wasn't much in the mood to party after that. What Porter had done to Warren Russell just burned me up inside. All the memories of my parents’ murder came flooding back. I had complete and utter disdain for anyone who would abuse the elderly. My parents weren't near the age of Warren when they were murdered, but the old war hero's death hit close to home.

  "Should we go back to the Vivere and join the search?" I suggested.

  "Look, this whole thing chaps my ass as much as it does yours, but they'll find him,” JD assured. “He won't get very far. Besides, you’re going to burn out if you keep going like this. You need to let off some steam. It's not always your fight."

  I sighed and frowned for a moment. JD was right. It was hard for me to separate from the job. These weren’t just random cases. They all somehow became personal. Each crime was a way to redeem myself for the sins of my past. But I didn't really know how the game worked, or who was keeping score? I just knew I'd been given a second chance at life, and I somehow needed to make it count.

  JD grabbed an ice cold beer from the chest. Compressed air hissed as he twisted the top and handed the sweaty bottle to me.

  Jordyn started massaging my neck, squeezing my traps with her svelte fingers. It felt heavenly. "Relax a little. You deserve it."

  Denise's jealous eyes narrowed.

  "I'll give you a real massage when we get back to the boat," Jordyn said.

  She squeezed my traps again, then grabbed my ass before sauntering to the tender and grabbing another beer from the ice chest.

  "Grab me one, would you?" Denise asked.

  Jordyn snatched another beer, then moved through the water to join Denise.

  Two tanned guys who looked like they spent a lot of time in the gym walked by, and Denise pretended to stumble into them. "Whoops, I'm sorry."

  "No trouble at all," the blond guy said.

  "I'm Denise. And this is Jordyn."

  I knew exactly what she was doing.

  "I'm Nick, and this is Cooper."

  Cooper had dark hair, blue eyes, chiseled features, and a day's worth of stubble. "We’ve got Jell-O shots on the boat. You girls should join us."

  "We'd love to," Denise said.

  She grabbed Jordyn's hand and pulled her along, strolling away with the guys that had perfect teeth and rippled abs. With her other arm, Denise clung onto Cooper's bicep. She casually glanced over her shoulder at me and gave me a two can play at that game look.

  I went from getting a sensual back rub to being empty-handed in the blink of an eye.

  "Dude, you're fucking up," JD said.

  "How am I fucking up? I didn't do anything."

  He pointed to Jordyn. "That one is a night of fun." Then he pointed to Denise. "That one is a lifetime of fun. Figure it out."

  I sneered at him. "Like you’re one to give relationship advice."

  "Just saying… I know a keeper when I see one."

  "Said the man with six ex-wives."
>
  10

  The girls had been gone for a long time, and I decided to go looking for them. I waded through the water while JD held down the fort at the tender.

  The blistering sun was high overhead, and by this time of day, several unlucky partygoers were roasted red.

  The band had taken a break, and a DJ was spinning EDM tunes. It was like a giant rave. People undulated in rhythm to the beat. I'm sure there were more than a few illicit substances going around. The sweet smell of marijuana wafted through the air.

  I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about the girls.

  These parties were pretty tame for the most part, and everyone usually behaved themselves. But occasionally, things got out of hand. Sometimes passed out girls got taken advantage of. Occasionally, you'd hear about someone who got roofied. It didn't happen often, but it was something that stuck in the back of my mind.

  Denise was a sharp girl. She could take care of herself. But sometimes a situation can turn bad quickly.

  I finally found them aboard a small 25 foot double-hull. Nick's tongue was down Jordyn's throat, and I can't say I was too surprised. She was looking to have a little fun, and I don't think she was too particular about who it was with.

  Denise seemed relieved to see me. Her eyes connected with mine, and I could tell she was uncomfortable.

  "We're about ready to get out of here," I said. "Are you staying, or are you going?"

  "We're going!" Denise stated.

  "They're staying," Cooper said. He looked to Denise and begged. "Come on. The party is just getting started. You don't want to leave now?"

  Jordyn was still sucking face with Nick.

  Denise tugged her arm. "Come on. We're going."

  "I don't want to go," Jordyn said.

  "I'll make sure she gets back to the island," Nick said.

  Denise forced a smile. "I am not leaving her alone with you guys. Sorry."

  "Aw, come on. We're trustworthy. I'm not going to do anything she doesn't want to do."

  "There's nothing I don't want to do," Jordyn slurred.

  Denise pulled her hand. "Come on. I think you’ve had a little too much to drink."

  “Pfft! Nonsense. I'm perfectly sober."

  Jordyn was anything but sober.

  "You go,” Jordyn urged. “I'll be fine."

  "Sorry. I never leave anyone behind."

  Cooper grabbed Denise’s arm. "You don't really want to go. Do you?"

  "Yes. I do." She jerked free.

  "Fine. Get the fuck off my boat, bitch!"

  Denise arched an eyebrow at him. It was the wrong thing to say to a feisty red-head. "Excuse me? What did you just call me?"

  "You heard me. Get off my boat, you little prick tease."

  Rage boiled on Denise's face.

  I was about two seconds away from losing my temper. "Denise, ignore this douchebag. Come on."

  "Yo, what the fuck did you just say?" Cooper growled, puffing up.

  "I called you a douchebag. I’m sure you’re very familiar with the term."

  Cooper clenched his jaw and stormed to the gunwale. He jumped off the boat and into the water, bowing up to me. In a flash, two of his buddies joined him. They quickly surrounded me in the waist deep water.

  "I think you just made a big mistake, dick-head," Cooper snarled.

  I sighed. "Get back on your boat. Save yourself the trouble."

  "Who the fuck do you think you are?" Cooper barked.

  "Deputy Sheriff. I don't think you boys want to start shit."

  "I don't see a fucking badge," Cooper said, sneering at me.

  "Last warning. Get back on the boat. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon."

  "Or what? What are you going to do?" Cooper mouthed off.

  "Put you in the hospital," I said, blazing into his eyes.

  I stared him down, watching his two comrades out of the corner of my eye. I didn't think the guy was smart enough to back down, but to my surprise, he took a step back. "Fuck it. Not worth my time.”

  Jordyn’s cheeks bulged, and her eyes rounded. She leaned over the gunwale and hurled into the water.

  A collective groan filled the air.

  "Dude, that could have been in my mouth," Nick muttered, backing away from the floating mass of vomit.

  "Yeah, get these bitches off my boat," Cooper said, trying to act tough again.

  I helped Jordyn and Denise off the boat. I gave the douche-crew a dirty look, then left with the girls. Denise helped Jordyn through the water. She could barely walk. Jordyn heaved again, and I quickly got out of the way of the floating sludge.

  We made it back to the tender, and I lifted her aboard. She sprawled out, leaning against the inflatable sides, moaning.

  We climbed aboard, and JD cranked up the electric Barracuda motor and we headed back to the Vivere.

  The hydraulic swim platform was submerged, and we pulled the tender to the stern and tied off. I climbed out and raised the swim platform, then scooped Jordyn in my arms and carried her up the steps to the aft deck and into the salon. I set her down on the sofa, then found a trashcan and set it beside her in case she needed to make an emergency deposit.

  Denise sat beside her, trying to comfort her.

  JD moved to the helm, cranked up the engines, weighed anchor, and headed us back toward Coconut Key.

  After a day in the sun, I was sufficiently baked. Even with plenty of sunscreen, I felt like I'd been cooked.

  Jordyn groaned as the boat undulated across the water. The motion wasn’t doing anything for her spinning head. She heaved a few more times into the trashcan and passed out somewhere along the way.

  "I'm sorry," Denise said to me. "She can get out of hand sometimes."

  "I see that."

  "She can be a lot of fun, that's why I brought her. I thought you two might get along."

  "I didn't think you liked the idea of us getting along?"

  "I thought it would be a good idea, then it turned into a bad idea. Then I acted like a jealous high school girl. Which created a mess. Sorry."

  I shrugged it off. "No big deal. All's well that ends well."

  “Those guys were real dicks."

  "You think?"

  Denise paused for a long moment. "I like you, Tyson. I just can't get involved with you."

  I didn't say anything.

  "I don't want to be another ex-girlfriend." Her cheeks flushed. "And I’m certainly not going to be your rebound from Reagan.”

  “What rebound? That’s ancient history.”

  Denise rolled her eyes. “Maybe I shouldn't be having this conversation with you right now. I've had a little too much to drink, and I think I'm about to be painfully honest.”

  There was another long, awkward pause.

  “Can we just pretend today never happened?"

  "I don't remember a thing." I smiled.

  "Good." Then she frowned. "I think maybe we shouldn't hang out in social settings anymore. It's probably not good for either one of us. We should just stick to keeping our relationship professional."

  My throat tightened. "Professional. Right."

  "Besides. We both know you are not the girlfriend type."

  I couldn't really argue with her, but I could certainly make an exception for someone like Denise. She was smart, funny, sexy, and she had this wholesome quality about her. She would always shoot it to you straight, and she would never go behind your back. If she was mad, she would tell you, and tell you why—and find a way to work through it. I couldn't help but feel like we were closing the door on something that had potential.

  11

  We made it back to the marina, and I helped Denise escort Jordyn from the couch, down the dock, to the parking lot. She slurred something as she climbed into the Uber, but it was indecipherable.

  Denise gave me a hug and kissed me on the cheek before she slipped into the car. She pulled the door shut, and the car whisked them away. I strolled back down the dock as the sun was hanging low over the horizon. The s
ky was a beautiful array of colors—pink, blue, and purple. I crossed the gangway to the aft deck and took a seat in the lounge with JD in the dining area.

  "Daniels called. Came up empty-handed. Porter got away."

  I groaned.

  "I thought for sure they’d catch that little bastard." Jack could see the distress in my face. "Don't worry. A nitwit like that won't be able to evade capture for long."

  We sat in the cockpit, sipping beer, watching the sunset. Seagulls hung in the air.

  "What are you up to this evening?" Jack asked.

  I shrugged. "I don't know. I think I'm just going to chill. What about you?"

  "I think I'm going to try to orchestrate a repeat of last night." He pulled out his phone and clacked around the keyboard, sending a text message. He set the phone atop the carbon fiber table and waited for a reply.

  "That good, huh?"

  "You have no idea." He took a sip of beer, then changed subjects. "So, Tuesday’s the big day?"

  "Yup."

  "Scarlett says she's all packed and ready." He exhaled a worried breath. "This is crazy. Am I insane to let her do this?”

  "I don't think you really have a choice, do you?"

  JD's face crinkled. "Well, I've been taking a hands-off approach. I am trying not to influence her one way or another."

  "I think that's a good thing. She needs to make her own decisions. Find her own way in life."

  "You and I both know she has a habit of finding the wrong way."

  "It's part of life. Bad choices become life lessons."

  Jack rolled his eyes.

  "Why don't you just take her out there?”

  "Nope. That's all you. You’ve got a better handle on that place than I do, and I'm not into the long goodbye. I told her I’d pay for the apartment and send her a little money until she got on her feet, but I'm cutting off the gravy train after three months. That ought to be enough time to find a job and get an affordable apartment."

  "Affordable? In Los Angeles?"