by Lexi Post
Tyler grinned. “Of course. Yes, there are. I’ve never had to review the footage, but there is a first time for everything.”
“Unless the DoD already took it.” Ryan gave him an apologetic look.
“They’ve reviewed Drew’s and they might have finished looking at Steve’s so that would mean the footage is back in the hangar. Let’s go.”
* * * * *
Meghan took the bag with the sea breeze scented candle off the counter and thanked the cashier. After talking to Tyler earlier in the week and visiting the Air Station with the Gulf breezes filling the air, she had a new yearning for the beach. It might be Saturday, but she still had errands to run and notes to finish, but with any luck, she planned to visit the beach tomorrow. She’d even worn her pale pink and white sundress to keep her goal in mind.
Walking out of the store, she lifted her glasses to look at her list. Two more items and she could go home. Both were on the second level of the Crystal Waters Mall. She headed for the escalator.
It was a pretty busy place on Saturdays, since it was the only mall in twenty miles. It was also air-conditioned and with the heat outside, it was clear many people were enjoying that particular luxury as there were very few children. Mostly teen-agers and elders.
As she approached the escalator, a funny feeling like she was being watched caused her to hesitate. Scanning the crowd, she discovered why. Standing in a pair of army boots, jeans and sleeveless aqua t-shirt with Crystal Waters, Florida emblazoned across his wide chest was Tyler Adams.
He gave her a crooked smile when she met his gaze. Okay, don’t hyperventilate just because his biceps are bigger than your head. She returned his smile, but couldn’t get her feet to move. It had been hard enough being next to him in the helicopter earlier this week. Then when he’d slipped her shoes on her feet, she thought she would fall over. Luckily, having his friend Ryan there had helped her find her balance.
Tyler strode around the escalator toward her. He didn’t seem as confidant as he did at the Air Station, but his good-boy turns biker look had her heart racing.
“Dr. Haskell, I’m guessing you have the day off too.”
She glanced at her dress, hoping he liked it. She was rarely so casual. “Yes, just running a few errands. How about you? It’s the perfect day for the beach, but I don’t think those jeans would be that comfortable out there today.” Sure, Meg, criticize what he’s wearing. Hypocrite. The minute he turns his back, you know you’re going to look at his ass.
He shrugged, his massive shoulders catching and holding her attention. “I wear my jeans when I’m on my bike.”
Her heart started doing a tap-dance. “Do you mean like a ten-speed?” He was, after all, into keeping fit. And my, how fit.
He chuckled. “No, my Harley.”
Her mouth dried up at the knowledge he really did ride a motorcycle. It wasn’t as if he was from the wrong side of the tracks or anything, but the fluttering in her stomach told her she was in big trouble anyway.
She swallowed, hoping to get her voice to work. “Oh, I didn’t realize you rode. I was just heading upstairs to buy some loose-leaf tea. They have a little coffee bar right there. Would you like to join me?” So much for letting the guy make the first move. She was pathetic.
“I could use something to drink.” He glanced at the escalator before moving his gaze up to the top floor, the edge of which had half-walls made of glass. He swallowed hard then looked back at her. “You like tea a lot, don’t you?”
“It’s my biggest vice.”
He laughed, the sound vibrating right into her heart. “Dr. Haskell, I’m not sure tea qualifies as a vice.”
She felt her cheeks heat. “Please, call me Meghan. I guess you’re right about my ‘vice’. There are some great health benefits to some teas. Some have anti-oxidants while others can help your mind stay sharp. Some can be comforting like chai or English breakfast.” Her glasses made his facial features a little blurry standing this close, but he must be bored already. “Why don’t we head up. I’m sure you don’t need to know everything about tea.”
He moved to the side, to let her precede him. Always the gentleman. “Since I don’t know anything about tea, it’s all new to me.”
She stepped onto the escalator and turned around to face him.
Tyler’s jaw was shut tight and he stared at her as if he couldn’t take his eyes off her. The fluttering in her stomach increased. “I decided to take your advice and go to the beach. Not today of course, because I have a few more notes to take care of, but tomorrow. I hope it’s going to be nice. I haven’t had a chance to check the weather. Do you know what the weather will be like tomorrow?” And maybe ask if you can join me?
Tyler didn’t say anything, just kept staring at her. Maybe she should take her glasses off so she could be sure. She moved her glasses to the top of her head, effectively pushing her hair away from her face at the same time.
The first thing she noticed was that Tyler’s gray eyes seemed to have lightened and looked a bit glazed. The next thing she noticed was perspiration beading on his forehead and just a bit above his upper lip. “Tyler, are you okay?”
She laid her hand on his arm and his other hand grabbed hers and held tight. He shook his head but didn’t say anything. Something was not right here. As soon as they stepped off the escalator, she led him to the nearest bench and had him sit down. She crouched down in front of him and with her free hand touched his cheek. “Tyler?”
He blinked and took a deep breath, releasing her hand from his death grip. “Sorry. Got a muscle cramp in my back. They can get pretty nasty. Must have overdone my work out this morning.”
“Do you need something?” It was hard to imagine this man, who was so strong and fit, almost paralyzed by a cramp, but it made sense in a way.
He shook his head. “No, it’s going away. I forget to take deep breaths.” He paused and took a long one. “That can really help clear it up, but sometimes the pain is so intense it makes it hard to breath at all.
“I hope this never happens when you are rescuing someone.”
“What? No, because those days I don’t work out. If I end up battling high seas, I get plenty of exercise. Like you just saw, I don’t want to freeze up on the job.” He gave her a small smile.
That more than anything calmed her concern. She rose, but he grasped her hand.
“Sit for a minute?”
“Of course.” She sat next to him. That he wanted her there while he was hurting, made her feel closer to him.
Tyler took a deep breath as he focused on not squeezing Meghan’s hand too tightly. He’d come to the mall to fulfill his assignment, determined to scare the fear right out of him, but when Meghan showed up, he couldn’t resist having her with him. What a wuss.
What the fuck was he going to do next week if his fear didn’t leave when he discovered who had caused his accident and he had to go up in the helo? He glanced at Meghan’s profile, her attention taken by three puppies playing in the window of the pet store.
She was smart. He got lucky this time by playing up the muscle cramp story. He assumed she wasn’t as in tune with workout problems as she was with a person’s psyche. He seriously had been ready to throw up. If she hadn’t been there…
If you were to go out with her, you might be able to learn something that would help us figure out who it might be. Ryan’s words echoed in his brain. Did she know what was happening at the Station? She’d counselled three of the crew members already. That could be a big help.
But that’s not why he wanted to date her. He really liked her, but if she figured out he was afraid of heights, he’d be screwed. He’d have to go down the escalator without her. She was too smart to be fooled twice. He glanced at the yawning opening of the atrium and quickly turned his head, but not before his stomach started to roll over again. “I think I’m ready for some of that tea now.”
She looked at him, startled, her wide aqua eyes breath-taking. This close, he could see sh
e had long lashes, but wasn’t wearing any make up. With her blonde hair loose, just brushing her bare shoulders, she looked more approachable.
“Tyler, you don’t have to have tea. They serve other drinks too.”
He grinned. “I thought you could recommend a type of tea that helps relax me so I don’t get any more cramps today.” If it worked, he might just drink it by the gallon so he could get down the escalator in one piece.
She cocked her head. “I think there are a few different ones. I know chamomile is good for before bed, but I’m sure Celia will be able point us in the right direction.”
“Celia?”
Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of rose. “Like I said. It’s a vice. I come here so often I know who works what day.”
“I still don’t think it’s a vice.” He stood, and she rose too. “Let’s go see what Celia has for us.” He still hadn’t let go of her hand and since she didn’t try to pull away, he held on. It had been a long time since he’d had a girlfriend. Moving every two to three years wasn’t for every woman.
“Here it is.” Meghan pointed to a small shop that boasted a sign that read Tea Room and Coffee Bar.
“Why isn’t it Tea Bar and Coffee Room?”
She laughed, a low, full sound that made him want to make her laugh again. “I have no idea. Maybe we should ask Celia.”
He gestured toward the shop with his free arm. “After you.” Letting go of her hand, he rested his on her lower back. The pale pink sundress didn’t hide any of her curves. In fact, it made her look so delicate, it revved his protective instincts up a notch.
As she smiled at the older woman behind the counter, he tried to refocus. He had less than three days to find the traitor before he went back in the air. It was time to get the lovely doctor to talk.
* * * * *
Tyler glanced at the clock on his computer for the fifteenth time in fifteen minutes. It wasn’t that he wanted his shift to be over, it was that he didn’t. After tonight, he only had two more days before going back to regular duty.
His crew knew something was up and he let them think it was because he was anxious to get back to his job, but he was more anxious about who might kill him. He’d reviewed hours of camera footage but he’d found nothing. The cameras were mounted in the right places, but it appeared that they might have moved, which considering the vibration the hangar took, wasn’t surprising.
He was sure someone probably checked them periodically, but he couldn’t ask without arousing suspicions. Whatever the reason, there were spaces in the hangar that weren’t covered and those places were just enough room for someone to set something up.
Ryan was more sure than ever that someone was causing the accidents. Though he hadn’t been able to look at Alix’s Dolphin, he’d gone to see her and had a really good hypothesis on what happened.
His need to do something had Tyler standing and looking out the inside window of the room into the hangar. He stayed far enough away from the actual window for him to handle the view without sweating.
Sam, Drew, Kolbe and Emilio were on duty. Emilio, the other rescue swimmer, wasn’t on Tyler’s helo the night of his accident, but he was on Alix’s. There was no way he’d sabotage his own ride, so Tyler didn’t even consider him in his search for the traitor.
All four were busy in separate areas as they had just finished dinner and were settling into their assigned duties. If there was no call, it would be quiet with only the five of them. But rain had already started beating on the metal roof of the hangar portending the severe thunderstorm they expected.
It was typical for this area of Florida, as he’d learned after being assigned to Crystal Waters less than two months. A beautiful day followed by clouds rolling in with the sunset. Today had been a perfect beach day.
Had Meghan gone to the beach like she planned? The memory of her asking him to tag along had him straightening his shoulders. She was definitely interested. Unfortunately, nothing in their conversation gave him even a hint about what his fellow crew members had talked to her about.
A strike of lightning hit close by, flashing the inside of the hangar like a strobe light. Thunder followed. Quickly, he moved to the panel and checked the weather. It was going to be a nasty storm, but was moving fast.
Footsteps on the metal stairs to the second floor let him know he may soon have company. The training room was down the open walkway, but there was no reason to go in there.
Emilio appeared in the doorway, his broad frame taking up most of it. “Hey, is this storm a big one?”
He shook his head. “No, it’s a smash and grab.”
“I’ll let them know. You don’t have any ibuprofen in your locker, do you? I just ran out.”
“I do. Go ahead, help yourself.”
Another couple flashes followed closely by thunder stopped their conversation.
“Jesus, is this thing going out or heading in?” Emilio pointed to the panel.
“It’s moving in.” Tyler looked at the panel more closely. “We’ve already got twelve-foot seas in the Gulf, but the weather should calm down once this moves farther inland. I’m not seeing anything but some light showers after this cell goes by.”
“Good. I don’t mind if—”
“MAYDAY! MAYDAY! This is the Daydreamer I’ve lost both my engines and the bilge pump isn’t working. We’re getting beaten up out here. I think we’re going down.”
Tyler grabbed the radio. “This is Sector Crystal Waters. What is your location? Out.”
There was no response and he looked at Emilio. “Get everyone ready to go. I’ll contact the surface crew and see if I can’t get more info.”
“Right.”
After letting the boat crew know there would be a SAR, Search and Rescue, he got back on the radio. “Daydreamer, what is your location? Repeat. We need your location. Out.”
Again, silence greeted him. Where the hell were they?
“Daydreamer, what was your last known location? Out.”
“We are definitely going down. I’ve got three passengers. Fuck, this is a forty-foot boat.”
“Daydreamer, tell me your last known location. Out.”
“Right. Uh, I’m not sure. We left Seminole Island after dinner. Wanted to beat the storm. We were trying to get to Crescent Cove. I had her going full steam until we came down hard and we flooded.”
“Listen to me. We’re going to find you. Do you have EPIRBs and life jackets? Out.”
“We have life jackets, but no EPIRBs.”
Shit. With no Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons, it was going to be tough to find these people. “Okay, if the boat is definitely sinking, you need to jump off before it’s completely submerged. Out.”
“Fuck. We gotta go now. You gotta find us.”
“We will. We have a helicopter in the air and a cutter on the way. Out.”
There was no response. He stood at the sound of the hangar doors opening. Wind and rain whipped into the hangar as the Dolphin MH-65 was pulled out by the mule. In no time, Sam had the rotator blades going.
Emilio and Drew closed the doors and Tyler heard the helo take off in the storm. Now all he could do was wait. Everything the Daydreamer had said was patched through to Sam, so she’d know where to head.
He moved back to his computer and did some calculations and relayed the estimated coordinates, give or take a few miles depending on how bad the storm had thrown the boat off course.
If any other calls came in now, he’d have to call their sister station. He listened to the radio communications between Kolbe and the cutter called the Apalachee. He wanted to be out there. After more than four months away, he yearned for the challenge. To be in the helo with—Shit.
Suddenly, his concern moved from the people in the water to the crew of the Dolphin. Would they all make it back in one piece? He stood again and started to pace.
CHAPTER SIX
It was twenty-two minutes before the Daydreamer casualties were sighted. His relief wa
s only partial as he listened to the communications. It was decided that the helo would hover and the boat would make the rescue.
Once the boat arrived, Sam remained above until every boater had been brought aboard the Apalachee. Then she radioed they were heading back. He acknowledged and sat down again.
The lightning had stopped and the thunder could be heard in the distance. The patter of rain on the roof was back to a bearable volume, but he couldn’t sit still. Until every member of the crew came back alive and unhurt, he’d wonder.
Finally, the sound of the rotors of the Dolphin announced its arrival. He was near the window of the glass radio room when the hangar doors opened. As the helo was pulled inside, he stepped to the doorway.
Emilio and Drew closed the hangar doors. Kolbe jumped off the Dolphin and Tyler could clearly see Sam doing her final shut down. He breathed deeply. Rescue accomplished and everyone back safe.
But what about later in the shift? What about tomorrow? What about Wednesday when he had to go up in the helo for a patrol? He and Ryan needed to work faster.
Emilio bounded up the steps to see him. They had a friendly competition going.
“Tyler, you lucked out. I almost had four. That would have put me ahead of you by two.”
He chuckled and moved back into the room, not comfortable so close to the top of the metal stairs. “It just wasn’t your night.” He sat in his chair again, more relaxed now that all were back safe. “How were the seas?”
“Rough. But Gonzalez had no problems. No one panicked.”
“Too bad it’s not always that way.”
Emilio shrugged. “When people fear for their lives, they are bound to go a little loco. All part of the job.”
He nodded. “Yeah. Glad it went well for everyone.”
Emilio nodded. “Still made me hungry as a dogfish. You want anything from downstairs?”
“Sure.”
“You got it.” Emilio turned and exited the room.
Tyler turned back to his computer, listening to Emilio’s footsteps head down the stairs. Then a loud noise broke in followed by shout and a loud clanging. A female scream echoed in the hangar, and he ran to the door.
