I’ve seriously ticked someone off. I punch the panic button on my watch and take off, using long fast strokes that pull me quickly through the water. Unfortunately, the divers are no slouches. I do a quick glance over my shoulder. The man in the middle motions the others to fan out.
This isn’t good. Even if I outswim them, and I should be able to, there are now three swimmers that have seen me swimming underwater without scuba equipment. And they, along with Rick Sabatini, know what I look like. Thank goodness for my nerd disguise.
Where do I go? I can’t lead them to my home. Instead of heading inland, I switch directions, not going out to sea but swimming horizontal to the coast, still several miles out.
I glance upward. If I can hold on till Gramps gets here with the boat, hopefully, I can make my escape. Kicking hard, I pull ahead, but not far enough. I continue to swim and they continue to trail behind me in a V, almost as if herding me.
My lungs are screaming for oxygen. I need to break the surface and chuff, but they’re close enough they might see what I’m doing. Plus, it would give them time to catch up. I can’t let them see the blowhole. If they do, they’ll track me mercilessly and I’ll end up dead or a lab rat.
I’m starting to flag. It’s harder and harder to breathe. They’re closing in. I’m beginning to feel disoriented. The water is cold. Even swimming, I’m shivering.
Suddenly, another diver appears in front of me. His tawny hair ripples up from his head, creating a halo effect. It must be the lack of oxygen. He points to the surface. I’m confused. He swims closer. Tyler!
Another diver drops down near me. Gramps! He too motions to the surface. I push upward and break the surface. My lungs on fire, I gasp for air. I pull myself onto the ladder of Gramps’ boat and chuff. Now that I’m not in immediate danger of drowning I need to go back and check on Gramps and Tyler. They might need my help. I’m lowering myself off the ladder as their heads surface. Relief washes over me.
“Get on the boat, girl.” The urgency in Gramps voice propels me up the side and over. Gramps follows with Tyler at his heels. “Take the wheel, while I get out of this rubber suit will you?” He stands, dripping, a few feet away. I hurry to obey.
Tyler follows me, his fins slapping the wooden deck. “Are you all right?” He grabs me to him and hugs me, his wet suit cold and clammy.
“Yes. I need to steer the boat.” My voice is muffled against his chest.
He drops his arms and I hurry toward the wheel and throttle up. The boat’s motor breaks the quiet of the night. Stars shine down, lighting a path. I leave the running lights off in case anyone is following us. My hands on the wheel, I ask, “What happened down there? Are they following us? Did they try to hurt you?” Nerves make my teeth chatter, I tighten my grip on the wheel.
“They apparently weren’t expecting anyone but a lone girl. When they saw us, they took off.”
I wonder what the divers would have done if they’d realized they’d been up against a dolph-girl, a boy, and an old man. Thank goodness we didn’t have to find out.
“What are you doing here, Tyler?”
“More to the point, what are you?” He drops to the bench and pulls off a flipper, then the other.
“I asked first.”
“Let me get out of this suit, and then we’ll talk.” He disappears down the steps but is back moments later. I take a quick glance in his direction. He’s wearing khaki shorts and a plain white T-shirt. I’d like to scoop him up with a spoon, he looks so yummy.
“I came to visit you. About the time I got to the door, your grandpa came rushing out saying he got a distress call from you. By the way, how did you give him a distress call in the middle of the ocean?” he interrupts himself.
I point proudly to my new watch.
He comes over and checks it out. Like any male, he’s distracted by a new gadget. “I gotta get one of these.” He moves my wrist this way and that.
Gramps comes up behind us. In the light of the moon, his face looks gray.
“Are you okay, Gramps?”
“Fine, why wouldn’t I be?”
Why indeed? Another male trait, they never want to appear less than firm, fit, and macho.
“The watch worked like a charm.”
“It did, didn’t it?” He grins wide, his teeth white in the dark.
“Is it safe to head home?”
“Yeah, I think so. Go straight to the town dock. We’ll blend.”
I look at the boat’s GPS and turn the wheel a bit to the right. “You made good time.”
Tyler chimes in. “He drove like a maniac. No disrespect, Mr. Dunn.”
Gramps chuckles.
“Does someone want to tell me what’s going on?” Tyler looks from me to Gramps and back.
Gramps nudges me away and takes the wheel. “Why don’t you two talk. I’ll navigate.”
“Thanks, Gramps.” I shoot him a look. He winks at me.
Tyler holds out his hand. I clasp it and we walk to the stern. The night is beautiful. The moon is out, its light reflected on the small lapping waves of the ocean. The stars shine like twinkling diamonds in the heavens. Very romantic. But at the moment, I’m afraid romance is the last thing on Tyler’s mind. He wants answers. Answers I’m not prepared to give.