by Chris Niles
She scanned the horizon and compared it to the image on the small screen in front of her, then pointed. “There.”
The Island Hopper Too was motoring north, heading to a point roughly two miles west of the ancient ship. Kate pointed the binoculars back toward the Andromeda. “Unchanged. Four men on deck.”
“Copy.”
“Wait a second. One more just came up in the middle of the foredeck. Big guy. Heading inside.”
“Okay, five.” Tony replied. “I’m still a couple minutes out, depth at fifteen and holding. Keep me current.”
“You got it.”
She paused, then William hailed Steve. “Hopper Too, Hopper Too, do you copy?”
Steve’s voice crackled back in response to William’s call “Loud and clear, whirlybird. What do you see?”
“We’ve caught their attention. You guys stay over the horizon, okay?”
“Sure thing, just keep us posted.”
As William made another pass around the Andromeda, Kate watched three more figures emerge on the main deck. The lead figure stumbled at the shove of the larger one behind.
“Tony, can you hear me?”
“Go, Kate.”
“Rain is clearing and three more people just came out on deck. What’s your ETA?”
“I’m just surfacing under the starboard bow. Give me ninety seconds to set the hook and switch my gear.”
“Okay. From the looks of it, it’s Gloria Rojas and her cousin, and they’re shoving Keane— Wait. It looks like they’re heading down into the hold. Watch your back.”
“Do you see anyone up on the bridge?”
“No, thermal’s not picking anyone up.”
William interjected, “But if it’s got insulated windows, you might not pick up the heat signatures.”
“Not a chance.” Kate replied. “This might be our first lucky break.”
“‘Luck is a goddess not to be coerced and forcibly wooed by those who seek her favors.’ P.G. Wodehouse.”
Kate laughed. “Look at you. A door-kicker quoting British literary legends!”
“I might be a knuckle dragger, but it don’t mean I ain’t educated, missy.” Kate could almost hear Tony’s wink.
William sighed. “Focus up, y’all. Like Tony said, we’ve got one shot at this.”
A moment later, Kate watched as Tony’s faint heat signature appeared on the surface of the water near the ship’s stern and he positioned a rigid extendable hook over the starboard gunwale.
“Ready, William? We’re on.”
As Tony began to climb, William replied by banking the chopper, diving, then zooming across the stern.
Kate spun around, ignoring the pain in her ribs. “Bingo. Mid-ship men are heading for the stern. William watch—”
Kate’s stomach dropped when William pulled the bird up hard then began to weave and dodge as the men at the ship’s transom opened fire.
Then Tony’s soft lilt reported in. “One down. I’m heading forward.”
William spun around to give Kate a clear view of the deck. She gasped. “Tony, be advised you’ve got a sentry moving forward along the starboard rail.”
“Copy that.”
“Tony, get inside.”
“Negative. My mission is in that cargo hold.”
“He’s almost on you!”
Through her headset, Kate heard two sharp pops along with a hail of machine gun fire. Her breath caught in her throat and all she could hear was the thwap of the helicopter’s rotors.
Finally, after what felt like an hour, but could only have been a few seconds, Tony’s voice crackled in her ears. “Sentry down, but they sure as hell know I’m here now. Making for the cargo hold.”
Tony began to make his way forward. As he reached the hatch for the cargo hold, Kate watched in horror as three more men swarmed onto the deck and surrounded him.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Kate jammed the rifle’s stock against her shoulder and screamed into her microphone. “William, we’ve gotta get in here. Get me close, I’ll pick them off one by one.
“No, Kate. You pop the first one, and they kill everyone. They’ll kill Tony. Kate, they’ll kill Eddie. You can’t live with that. None of us can. Tony’s a professional. He’ll figure something out.”
Then she heard Tony’s whisper through the comms. “Sit tight, Kate. They’re amateurs. I’ll work the problem.”
The helicopter continued to dodge and weave as the sentries on deck shot burst after burst into the sky until a deep voice hissed from the radio.
“R-44 climb to a thousand and hold your position.”
Kate strained to hear the thick Russian accent as she watched a hulking matte black aircraft swoop around the ship’s superstructure and settle into a hover just above Tony and his captors.
Bursts of fire came from both sides of the chopper, and Kate watched through the infrared as the three bodies dropped to the deck. She counted three snipers dressed in solid black tactical gear leaning from the copter’s skids, picking off Rojas’ men as they continued to pour onto the deck. Then three lines dropped from the Bell, and all three men rappelled in unison to the deck below. They were followed by two more sets of men before the Bell rose and peeled away.
The Andromeda’s deck flooded with light. Kate dropped the infrared and scanned the deck. But as William flew the chopper closer, she realized one figure was missing.
Tony.
“Tony, do you copy? Where are you? Tony!”
The radio crackled, then went silent.
Below them, the soldiers from the Bell scurried across the ship’s deck, securing prisoners and pulling bodies into a pile. Finally, Tony replied.
“I copy. Got a little crazy down here for a minute, and we lost Rojas in the shuffle. Your Russian friends are securing the deck now, then we’ll start a search.”
Then Shelby’s frantic voice cut him off. “Where’s Eddie?”
“Keane says Eddie is in one of the cargo holds, but we don’t know where yet. Don’t worry, Shelby. We’ll find him.”
William cut in. “Steve, can you—”
In the middle of the chaos, Gloria climbed from the cargo hold pulling Eddie by his collar. She held a pistol against his ear.
William keyed the radio, his voice quivering. “Steve, situation is fluid up here. I need you to pull the Hopper further away and change to thirty-seven, okay? I’ll let you know when it’s safe to approach.”
“Copy that, whirlybird. Moving to three seven.”
Kate could hear the Hopper’s engine revving in the background through her headphones, while her eyes were glued on the Andromeda’s deck. “William, can you spin around and get a little closer?”
“Kate, no.”
“I have to, William. Just do it.”
As her friend pivoted the bird and dropped even with the deck, Kate hoisted the sniper rifle to her shoulder, wincing as she twisted and eased its barrel out the starboard window. She dropped her cheek against the cold stock and peered at the bouncing green figures through its infrared sight.
She shifted from figure to figure until the scope landed on a pair, pressed tightly together, Eddie’s head just reaching past Rojas’ waist. An unbidden image pressed at the edge of her memory. Another barrel. Another crack. She closed her mind and steeled herself for what she had to do.
“Lower, William.”
Kate watched her angle improve as William guided the helicopter around and down. She sucked in a deep breath and held it as she steadied the weapon, slowly exhaled, then squeezed.
Chapter Fifty-Four
Kate climbed from the chopper then steadied her crutches on the Andromeda’s rolling deck as Tony raced across to meet her. When he swept her into his arms and spun her around, her crutches rattled to the deck. Then Eddie raced to her side and flung his arms around her thighs.
After their reunion, she hobbled across the deck while watching the Russian team bustle about. They were gathering and packing up the equipment they’d
salvaged from the ship and the men they had captured or killed. They’d load what they could on the Bell and onto Rojas’s speedboat before taking the ancient research vessel into the deep water in the middle of the Gulf and scuttling it.
As the storm moved off to the west and the full moon lit up the glittering sea, Kate heard the familiar hum of the Hopper Too approaching. Steve rafted up then Shelby scrambled aboard, racing to scoop Eddie into her arms. Keane joined them, then led the tearful mom and her son down to his boat.
Kate and Tony met Vova at the starboard rail.
“Thank you.” Kate’s voice shook.
“Was my pleasure.”
“Pleasure is not what I would call this.”
The Russian’s lips tightened. “We find pleasure in different things.”
“Yes, but this was not your battle to fight. You were very clear on that.”
Vova shrugged. “But as it turns out, it was. Rumor came to us that with the inevitable regime change, the Rojas were beginning to establish supply lines into our territory. They were no longer trading only in gems. It was in our best interest to assist you. And we certainly were unexpected.”
Kate nodded. “That’s the truth. How did you find us?”
He looked down at his feet, then up into the starry sky. “Your friend Kara can be quite persuasive when she chooses to be. I’ve known many women, but none like her. Perhaps you will all come visit again?”
“What will you do next?”
Vova shrugged. “What we always do. Fight another day.”
Kate watched his men carefully stage the bodies throughout the ship.
“In the event someone finds the wreck, this must look normal. Accidental. All the bodies in one cargo hold would raise questions we never want asked.”
Kate’s throat twitched. “Remind me to stay on your good side.”
Vova grinned and winked at her. “Do not worry little one. You will always be on my good side.”
Chapter Fifty-Five
The mid-day summer sun glinted off the brand new white crushed coral covering the marina’s parking lot. Kate dropped her Wayfarers onto the bridge of her nose then crutched across the lot as Whiskey raced ahead.
At the first table on the deck, Jodi and Shelby sat in the shade of a wide umbrella with a pitcher of iced tea. Colton and Eddie were riding bikes together up and down the lane.
Kate stopped beside the tiny flight attendant who had instigated such huge problems. “You guys heading out soon?”
Shelby leaned back in her chair and turned her face to the sun. “Yeah. Tim’s been closing up the house, and he’s rented a truck. We’ll pick up what’s left of my stuff from my apartment as we pass through Miami, and then head north.”
“Where are you gonna land?”
“I’m not sure. He says he knows somewhere safe, and your friend Fish pulled a few strings to get us connected with an identity protection program. We’ll figure it out.”
Jodi refilled her glass. “It’s nice that Tim is helping you guys.”
Shelby nodded. “He never had kids or grandkids of his own, and with Elaine essentially gone now, I think he’s happy to have Eddie to dote on. He would have made a great Grandpa, and I’m so grateful he’s taken us in, especially after all the trouble I caused.”
Kate leaned on one crutch. “What about Kelsey and Brian?”
“We’ll keep in touch, but for now, they have too much keeping them here. Kelsey’s dad lives just down the block from them, and they need to care for him. But maybe someday…”
“And Jodi, how are you holding up?”
Her neighbor grinned. “Now that Corey is behind bars for a while, I’m starting to relax. I’m really sorry about Tony’s trailer, but I’m glad they finally got him on something he couldn’t wriggle his way out of.”
“Yeah, well, at least Tony hadn’t gotten too deep into the work.”
Kate felt a strong arm wrap around her shoulders and Tony’s hot breath warmed her neck. She started to pull away, but then he whispered in her ear, “Babette made a key lime cheesecake…”
Kate whirled on her good leg and threw herself into his arms. “That’s the sexiest thing I’ve heard in I don’t know how long. Take me to the kitchen or lose me forever!”
Tony scooped her up, letting her crutches clatter to the deck, then carried her up to the bar. He planted her on a stool beside Steve as Kara sashayed out of the kitchen with three chilled plates supporting huge slices of the thickest, richest cheesecake Kate had ever tasted.
Babette followed along behind her carrying a tray full of treats. As she passed, she leaned over Kate’s shoulder. “Girl, you’ve earned cheesecake for life. You tell me what flavors you want, and I’ll keep baking. You’ll be as big as me by New Year.”
“I’ll have to run twice as much as soon as this thing heals,” Kate groaned as Tony started singing “Fat Bottomed Girls” under his breath.
Halfway through the tart, creamy slice, Tim Keane meandered up from the east dock, Chuck on his heels. Tim spun around and pressed a key float into Chuck’s hand.
“I can’t take your boat.”
“Yes, you can,” the Irishman insisted. “Keep it. Sell it. Do whatever you want with it. It’s a part of a life that’s no longer mine.”
“I suppose Tony needs a place to lay his head.”
“Perfect. I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather see it docked than Shark Key.”
As Chuck slid behind the bar, Tim crossed the deck. He sat down with the women while William and Michelle climbed the steps, Whiskey’s leash folded in Michelle’s hand. Whiskey ran to Kate, licked the cheesecake crumbs from her hand, then sat, clearly hoping for a piece of his own.
“Oh, good, everyone’s here.” Tim stood in the center of the deck. “My beloved Elaine was raised in the Keys, and she always told me wild tales of the adventures she had out on the flats. The rugged Conchs who made this place the home she loved. I have to admit, I didn’t believe her. Until I met all of you.”
He took a sip of his tea. “Now, I’m not one for dramatic speeches. But I feel like I’ll be leaving a little piece of myself here when we go tomorrow. I want you to all know that your efforts are appreciated, and your sacrifices are precious. Chuck, you stepped in and cared for Eddie without any thought to what it would cost you. Kate, you risked life and limb to find Shelby and reunite Eddie with his mother. Tony, you infiltrated my worst enemy’s vessel and helped me destroy her. I can’t thank any of you enough.
“When I arrived in Colombia, I learned of the legend of Fura and Tena. Of how their love made them immortal, and how the precious stones that provide for my villagers were formed from the tears shed for her loss. I know that there have been many losses since then. Mine is just the most recent in a long string of them. But I also know that from loss comes opportunity for new life, and new beauty, and new love, whether that be the beauty of a partner you were meant to find,” he winked at Kate and Tony, “the love of a family you thought you could never have,” he picked up Shelby’s hand and squeezed it, “or a new life of adventure and wonder.” He nodded toward Steve.
“I’ve made arrangements to transfer the ownership of my mine to the miners who work it. They’ve proven themselves to be a close community who will care for each other, and they deserve to keep the benefits of their hard work. And thanks to Fisher, I’ll be able to give Shelby and Eddie a fresh start. None of this would be possible without all of you. So, here’s to the family of Shark Key. As we say back in Ireland, “May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields, and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.’”
Kate looked around at her little family and knew that they were already there.
THE END
Thank you for reading LOST GEMS. I hope you enjoyed joining Kate and the Shark Key family on this adventure.
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Author’s Note
So this was the 2020 book.
‘Nuff said, right?
I started outlining this book in late April. Australia was on fire. America (and much of the world) was locked down. Coronavirus was blazing through New York. And I was tucked away in my office, Franklin by my side, just typing away. Researching drug running and emerald mining and the secret habits of sloths. (And I readily admit, I watched the video of Kristen Bell learning that there would be a sloth at her birthday party more than once. A lot more than once.)
Then the end of May struck. Protests arrived in my hometown. Not just on TV in the Big Scary City, but right here. People I know were injured. People I know were trying to keep the peace. Neighbor fought neighbor. And I found it difficult to concentrate.
I changed the story. I shuffled things around. My ideas for the bad guys changed as bigger, badder people popped up in reality. And as I came to understand my villains’ motivations, their behavior changed.
I finally started writing the first draft on July Fourth. Celebrating our country and keeping the dog distracted as neighbors blew off thousands of dollars in fireworks. Our case rates were down, restaurants and stores were opening back up, and it kind of felt like normal was just around the corner. Then we got exposed to the virus. Tested negative. Quarantined anyway. Bought a rental property. Took a vacation. Renovated said property. In other words, life happened.
I even started working on a completely different book in a completely different genre, just to try to get the words flowing again.
But Kate and her crew still nagged at me. At that point, Shelby was still missing, and Eddie needed her back. Kate needed to figure out where she and Tony stood. And Gloria Rojas needed to establish her rightful place with her father (or die trying). So I got back to it. Until, just a few days before the hard-and-fast deadline, I realized that in all the fussing and fighting to get this story on the page, I had accidentally pulled out nearly everything that happened on or under the water.
