Dark Water: Lantern Beach Blackout, Book 1

by Barritt, Christy

“I suppose that was part of it.” Colton glanced back at Leonardo and lowered his voice. “But his actions got to the point where the rest of his platoon couldn’t rely on him or trust him. He blatantly disregarded orders on one mission. He was intoxicated, which is against the rules when you are on duty. His actions put his teammates’ lives at risk. That, when coupled with other things, led him to get booted from the team.”

  “After all that, he really thinks you guys are going to want to hire him?” Cassidy asked.

  “That’s the other part of his problem,” Ty said. “He’s cocky and doesn’t see the error of his ways.”

  Cassidy leaned closer. “You think he has anything to do with what’s going on with Elise?”

  Colton’s jaw hardened. “I think that’s the question we’re all thinking about right now.”

  More unease sloshed inside Elise. When the person coming after her was faceless, it made everyone seem suspect. She prayed they’d get some answers soon so she could put this behind her.

  They all ate for a few minutes in silence.

  Cassidy’s phone rang, and she put it to her ear. A moment later, she rose. “We have someone who is threatening to jump off the pier. He brought a gun as backup. I need to join Officer Dillinger and see if we can talk him down.”

  “Let me go with you.” Elise stood also.

  Cassidy froze and observed her. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

  “I’m not sure either.” Colton wiped his mouth. “It’s one thing to come to this restaurant where we can keep an eye on you in an enclosed space. It’s another thing to go to the pier where you’re out in the open.”

  “But I can help,” Elise said. “Trauma is my specialty.”

  Cassidy glanced at Ty then Colton before looking back at Elise.

  “You can come,” Cassidy finally said. “I could use some backup, just in case my tactics don’t work.”

  Elise nodded, grateful the chief was open to having her help. Finally, Elise felt like she could be of some use here. Though she didn’t want to put herself in danger, situations like these were what she handled best.

  She desperately needed to feel like she was doing something right.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Colton didn’t like the thought of this. But Elise was her own person, and he didn’t want to tell her what to do. Still, he was uneasy about how things might play out on the pier.

  Elise would be exposed. If anyone wanted to take a shot at her, they’d have their chance. His muscles hardened at the thought.

  He remained quiet and followed Cassidy’s police cruiser to the scene. He pulled into the parking lot near the pier, noting one other police car was already there.

  That still didn’t make him feel better.

  “You don’t have to do this,” Colton told Elise as he put his car in Park.

  “I want to.” Elise stared straight ahead, her gaze unwavering. “I want to help.”

  He opened his mouth to say more but then shut it again. There was no need to argue about this. Every minute mattered right now.

  As they climbed from his car, Colton glanced around the mostly empty beach in the distance. He didn’t see anything that screamed danger. But whoever these guys were, they were smarter than that, more subtle.

  He put a hand on Elise’s back as he led her up the steps and onto the pier. A small crowd had already gathered.

  As they got closer, Colton spotted a man perched on the pier railing near the end of the 400-foot-long structure that jutted out over the water. The ocean below was not only deep but ice cold.

  If the man went into the water and someone had to save him, the rescuer would also be putting his life on the line. The situation didn’t look good.

  Colton stayed close to Elise as they walked between those gathered. Mostly diehard fishermen were out here on this blustery day. Some hadn’t even bothered to reel in their lines, but their fishing poles remained in holders on the edge of the pier, even as the fishermen’s gazes focused on the scene in the distance.

  A police line had been set up, and Braden stood guard. When he saw Colton and Elise, he pulled it up to let them through. He nodded at Elise, obviously recognizing her, but remained professional.

  Colton and Elise stood in the background as Cassidy tried to talk to the man. The jumper appeared to be in his early forties. He had a fading hairline, evidence of severe acne, and, despite the cold weather, sweat covered his skin. As the man stared down into the ocean below, Colton saw the gun in one of his hands.

  If he was going to jump from the pier, why had he also brought a gun? Was it in case he changed his mind about the method of death? Colton supposed that it didn’t matter, but it just seemed odd.

  Cassidy stood a few feet away, her body language looking surprisingly relaxed. Colton knew that was probably purposeful. She was trying to put the guy at ease.

  “I’m the police chief here. My name is Cassidy. What’s yours?”

  “Henry. I’ve done enough talking.” The man’s voice trembled as he stared at Cassidy. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”

  “You don’t want to do what, Henry?” Cassidy’s voice sounded calm and even.

  “I don’t want to live. You are not going to change my mind. Just leave me alone. I didn’t want anyone to see me.”

  “We can’t leave you alone.”

  His nostrils flared, as if her response annoyed him. “I didn’t ask any of you to come here. I figured no one would be paying attention.”

  “Why don’t you at least give me the gun?” Cassidy reached an arm out. As she did, the wind tugged her hair from its neat bun. The weather was bitterly cold out here with nothing to block the wind.

  “I can’t.” Henry raised his weapon. “I need it.”

  Everyone nearby seemed to duck as the barrel swung around.

  “Let’s not point that thing at anyone,” Cassidy said, tension stringing through her voice. “Why do you need it?”

  Henry lowered the gun back to the weathered wooden railing, but his finger remained on the trigger. “You wouldn’t understand.”

  “Try me.”

  He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head with more force than necessary. “It’s not supposed to be like this.”

  “How is it supposed to be then?” Cassidy stepped closer, her actions purposeful and calm.

  “Alice was never supposed to leave me.” His voice cracked again, and his face started to contort into a frown.

  “Who is Alice?” Cassidy asked.

  “My wife.” The man glanced below. As he shifted, the action caused him to sway backward, teetering on the railing.

  The crowds gasped as Henry nearly lost his balance and toppled into the ocean. He caught himself just in time. The man’s face looked even more tense as he glanced at Cassidy.

  Something in his gaze seemed to scream for help, to speak desperation. He didn’t really want to do this, did he?

  “Where is Alice now?” Cassidy continued.

  “I don’t know. She left me. I came here hoping to start over. But now I realize I don’t want to go on without her.” Sobs escaped between his words.

  Colton glanced behind him at the crowd, looking for any more signs of trouble. A familiar face appeared. The homeless man that they’d run into last night—Jason, if he remembered correctly. He’d joined the fishermen and everyone else who gazed at the scene before them.

  But Jason’s gaze appeared to be on Elise.

  Colton’s muscles tightened. What if there was more to this man than he was letting on? He’d only shown up here three days ago. If the wrong person had caught wind that certain information had been discovered, they may have sent someone here to keep an eye on the former SEAL team.

  As the homeless man wove through the crowd closer to the police tape, Colton braced himself to act.

  * * *

  Elise pulled her gaze away from the man on the pier long enough to glance at Colton. But Colton wasn’t paying attention to what was going on righ
t now. His gaze was focused on someone else instead—the homeless man they’d run into last night.

  What was Jason doing here? Had he come to start trouble? Or was the man just loitering on the pier to pass time?

  Elise turned her gaze away from him in time to hear Henry say, “Life isn’t worth it anymore.”

  He started to stand—on the railing.

  “You don’t want to do that,” Cassidy said.

  “I don’t know what I want,” he said. “I guess I need to get help. Serious help. I just wish there was someone who understood . . .”

  Cassidy glanced at Elise and nodded. That was her invitation to step in. The situation had escalated.

  Elise wiped her hands on her jeans and paced closer. “Henry, my name is Elise. I want to help you.”

  “It’s too late for that.” The man managed to stand, gun still in hand, and he wobbled as he tried to find his balance. “I don’t want to go on anymore.”

  “I don’t think you’re telling yourself the truth.”

  He glanced at her, his eyes narrowed, as if Elise’s words surprised him. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean that if you had wanted to jump, you would have already. There’s a part of you deep down inside that wants someone to talk you out of this. That wants someone else to help, to let you know there’s still hope.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He shook his head rapidly and stared down at the water below.

  Elise stepped closer. “I lost my husband too, you know.”

  He glanced back at her again, something registering in his eyes. “Is that right?”

  “It is.” Her head spun as she looked at the vast nothingness behind the man. Spray from the waves occasionally reached them, and the water felt icy. A strong wind made the situation even worse.

  “When did he leave you?” Henry asked.

  “It was worse than that. We were going to separate. Before we could, he died.”

  Henry’s gaze latched onto hers for a moment. “I’m sorry to hear that. But that doesn’t change what I need to do. I don’t want to live like this anymore.”

  “I know you’re going through some dark days, but I’m here to let you know that it’s going to get better.” Elise meant the words. Even with what she was going through now, hope pushed her onward.

  “That’s what people say. But I feel like I’ve been living in this darkness for too long.”

  “That’s how it’s going to feel for a while,” Elise said. “But we can get help. It’s not going to happen overnight, but it can happen.”

  “I’ve given up hope that I can be helped.” His lips pulled down, as if fighting back a sob.

  “That’s because you’re not thinking straight right now. You’re letting your heart and your grief do all the talking and decision-making in your life. Don’t let your emotions win. There are other parts of you that are stronger than this. If you quiet yourself for a minute and silence the other voices, you can hear the part of you that still believes in hope.”

  The man didn’t say anything for a moment.

  Colton touched Elise’s arm, but she didn’t turn to him. She didn’t want to break this moment. She was close to making a breakthrough.

  “Henry, you have value,” she continued.

  “I used to love life.” A sob escaped the man. “The future seemed so bright.”

  “It can seem bright again.”

  He turned and his eyes met hers. “Do you mean it?”

  “I do. Will you give the police your gun? I’m afraid somebody else may get hurt.”

  He remained silent for another moment. Finally, he raised his gun. Barrel out.

  Pointed at Elise.

  She held her breath as she waited to see what would happen next.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Colton tensed as he watched Henry turn and raise his gun. Colton’s muscles poised for action, ready to tackle Elise if he needed to. Whatever it took to protect her.

  What was the man thinking? Was he going to pull the trigger? On Elise?

  “Take your finger off the trigger.” Cassidy stepped forward, pushing Elise back some.

  Colton held his breath, waiting to see what the man would do.

  Henry looked at his gun. Looked at Elise. Finally, the man lowered his arm and handed his weapon to Cassidy.

  Colton released his breath.

  Thank God. Things could have turned out so much differently.

  There was still so much that could go wrong here.

  As a freezing wind blew over the pier, Colton looked back at the crowd again, scanning them for any signs of trouble as he listened to Elise continue to coach the man. She definitely had a way with people. But that was something Colton would have to admire later, when they were someplace safe.

  His gaze went to Jason again. He watched as the man glanced over at someone else.

  Colton’s gaze followed his. Another man had joined them at the pier. The new guy didn’t fit in with the rest of the crowd. He was dressed too nicely, looking more like he should be at a business meeting than at the beach.

  That said, something about the man reminded Colton of a shark. Maybe it was the tuft of light brown hair that the man had styled in somewhat of a mohawk on top of his head. Maybe it was the matching goatee that was long and pointed.

  Colton’s muscles tightened as he saw the two exchange looks and mutter something to each other. What was that about?

  Colton looked back at Elise. She spoke in low tones to Henry. Colton felt certain the man was on the verge of getting down from the railing.

  “Let us help you,” Elise continued, pulling her sweater closer as the wind continued to freeze everything in its path.

  “I want help.” The man’s voice quivered. He crouched now, as if he might get down.

  “Then take it.”

  Henry froze for a minute and then nodded.

  The man started to turn. Just as he did, a bang sounded in the distance.

  Duck hunters, Colton assumed. The sound echoed all over the island during this season.

  Colton’s gaze swerved back to the jumper. Henry’s eyes widened.

  The next instant, his arms flailed as he began to slip.

  Cassidy lunged toward him.

  Before she could catch him, he plummeted from the pier.

  Colton’s stomach clenched as he rushed toward the railing.

  “The Coast Guard is still ten minutes out,” Cassidy said.

  “I can get him. I was always the top swimmer in BUD/S.” Colton paused for only a second to kick off his shoes. “Keep an eye on Elise.”

  Before anybody could stop him, Colton climbed the railing and dove into the water.

  Icy tentacles burrowed into his skin. The sheer frigidness of the water took his breath away as his body was submerged in the frosty depths of the ocean.

  He pushed himself to the surface and sucked a deep breath of cold air. He glanced around, looking for Henry.

  The man was nowhere to be seen.

  Taking another deep breath, Colton dove back beneath the surface. The water was too murky to see much, but he had no choice. He knew in these conditions, the man didn’t have long. No one could survive out here for an extended period of time.

  Colton stayed under for as long as he could before breaking the surface again. He glanced around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Henry. His limbs were already starting to feel numb, and the waves were pulling him out farther into the ocean.

  He knew the truth about being in water this cold. His surface blood vessels were constricting as his body tried to protect vital organs. His blood pressure and heart rate were increasing. The first thing he would lose were his motor skills.

  The average person had fifteen minutes until they lost consciousness.

  Colton had to find the man. Soon.

  Or they would both be goners.

  * * *

  Elise gripped the railing, her lungs tight. She squeezed her eyes shut and lifted up a prayer
for both Colton and Henry.

  They had been so close to everything turning out okay. Then someone had to fire that gun. The timing couldn’t have been worse.

  She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Cassidy. The chief put her phone back into her pocket. “I just called for backup. Ty’s on his way to the beach right now to assist also.”

  “I’m afraid neither of them will survive those conditions out there.” She stared down at tumultuous water and felt her head spin.

  “Colton was a SEAL. If anybody can do this, he can.”

  Elise forced herself to nod, though numbness started to spread through her. The outlook seemed bleak and the task impossible.

  “We need to get down to the beach,” Cassidy said. “I can’t leave you here alone. Come with me. Braden, you too. Keep an eye out for trouble.”

  They followed Cassidy as she strode through the crowd.

  Maybe they shouldn’t have come out here. If Elise hadn’t insisted then Colton’s life wouldn’t be on the line right now. She pushed away the self-reprimand, knowing it would get her nowhere. She’d have to address it later.

  As she hurried behind Cassidy, Elise glanced back down into the tumultuous ocean. Colton popped back up out of the water. By himself.

  Nausea rumbled inside her.

  He still hadn’t found Henry. Knowing Colton, he wouldn’t leave until he did.

  On the one hand, Elise admired his tenacity. On the other hand, she feared for his safety. He’d always been a protector.

  But who would protect him?

  At the end of the pier, they hurried down the steps and rushed onto the sand. Another sharp gust of wind coming off the water hit them. If it was that cold on land, she could only imagine how cold it was in the water.

  Please, Lord. Protect them. Keep them safe.

  “Paramedics are on their way,” Cassidy said as they paused by the shore.

  Ty sprinted from a shack in the distance, a flotation device in his hands. He must have just gotten here in time to see what happened. “I’m going out there. Colton is going to need some help getting in, and we don’t have time to wait.”