Love Inspired Suspense December 2015, Box Set 2 of 2

by Margaret Daley

  “Then let’s talk to them separately. We can start with that tall—”

  “Lieutenant, the life raft is missing.”

  Jake watched the tall crew member’s reaction. Flinching, he ducked his head and stared at his lap.

  Jake lowered his voice and said, “I think the tall guy knows something.”

  “Then let’s see what he has to say.”

  Jake and the lieutenant escorted the tall crewman to the wheelhouse. Before the guy could sit, Jake was in his face. “Where is Rachel? In the life raft?”

  The crew member looked down at his feet.

  “Do you know how serious the trouble you are in? Kidnapping. Attempted murder. Drug smuggling. If she dies, murder. You will never get out of prison. I’ll personally see to that.” Jake paused and drew in a fortifying breath. “The first person who helps will get a deal.”

  The tall guy raised his head and stared at Jake. “Yes, the lady got into the life raft, but Beau shot at it and hit it several times. It has to be losing air.”

  “Was she injured?” It took all Jake’s willpower to refrain from grabbing the man’s shirt and yanking him close and shaking him.

  The guy shrugged.

  Jake started to come at the tall crewman, but the lieutenant grasped his arm and kept him still. “We’ll find her. I’ll call for a helicopter to help us look. It’ll be dark soon and that will make it harder.”

  Jake left out the side where the life raft would have been stored and gazed out to sea, rough whitecaps everywhere. Was she shot and in pain? Was the raft intact?

  Where are you, Rachel? I need you.

  *

  Freezing, Rachel peered out the opening in the protective canopy. The sun neared the horizon to the west. She looked around to see if she saw the Sundance or any boat. Nothing but the waves, which carried her farther away from the trawler, getting rougher and bigger.

  Hugging her arms to her chest, she sat near the opening, the wind pushing the life raft—toward land or farther out to sea? What did she know about the life raft? The ones the company bought were double-tubed and had an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. But the Sundance wasn’t part of the company’s fleet. Did it have an emergency system? She crept around the six-person raft looking for the EPIRB. When she found it, relief swept through her. She pulled it from its bracket and flipped the switch, praying a rescue vessel reached her before the Sundance did. And before her raft was compromised by the bullet holes in it.

  She huddled away from the opening with a flashlight she grabbed near the EPIRB to use when she needed it. Shivers attacked her body like when she’d been pushed into the ice-cold water. Panic quickly followed.

  God, anything is possible through You. Please send rescuers—send Jake. I have so much I need to say to him.

  Slowly, her rapid heartbeat calmed as she thought of the Lord watching over her. As she thought of Jake. She’d loved him for years but hadn’t realized the depth of her feelings. Could she bear a long-distance relationship?

  As all light vanished, the waves attacked the life raft, tossing it about even with the ballasts on the bottom of the craft to keep it as steady as possible. She crawled toward the opening and glanced out. The raft was perched at the top of a large wave, then plunged down, icy water splashing into her face.

  *

  Back on the cutter, Jake paced as the Coast Guard tried to figure out the best place to look for the raft. The three wounded kidnappers were being treated. Chance was with some Coast Guard crewmen, guarding the kidnappers.

  Darkness finally set in and increased the danger Rachel faced. If only he were with her…

  The commander of the cutter approached Jake in the pilothouse. “An emergency signal was received from a beacon in our general location. We are headed toward it and hope that it’s from the raft. My XO is talking to the captain of the vessel to see if they had an EPIRB on the life raft. A helicopter is also heading toward the coordinates from the beacon.”

  “Do you have a pair of infrared binoculars I could use? I’d like to go on deck and search. I’ve got to do something.”

  “I understand.” He gave him the pair around his neck. “Take this. It’s getting rougher, especially the farther away from land we go.”

  Jake descended to the lower deck, gripping the railing with one hand while holding the binoculars with the other. The wind cut right through him, even when he was heavily clothed. Was Rachel? Again he sent up a prayer for her to be rescued in time. The Bering Sea could be treacherous.

  As he scanned the vast darkness beyond the cutter, he felt as though he were looking for a white rabbit in a sea of snow. He’d been in search and rescues where they were too late to save the person. He couldn’t be this time.

  A yell went up toward the front. A crewman spotted something in the water. As he hurried toward the coast guarder, his heartbeat slammed against his rib cage, his breathing shallow gasps.

  “Did you find her?” Jake shouted over the roar of the wind and sea. “Where?”

  The man pointed to the southwest while relaying the news to his CO. Jake scoured the area and saw a small raft raise to the top of a wave, then disappear down the other side.

  “What’s next?” Jake asked the crewman who started for the back.

  “We’ll launch our rescue boat at the back when we get nearer. We’re closer than the helicopter.”

  At the back Jake turned to the XO and said, “I’d like to go with them. She needs to see a familiar face after all that has happened. Please.” He threw in the last sentences because he couldn’t have the man tell him no.

  “You’ll have to gear up and stay out of the way of the crewmen.”

  “I’ll do anything you say.” Just be alive, Rachel.

  Five minutes later Jake climbed into the craft that launched from the rear of the cutter. They bounced over the choppy sea toward the life raft. Using the infrared binoculars, Jake kept his eye on it, hoping to see Rachel. Nothing.

  What if she wasn’t on the raft?

  What if she’d been tossed into the rough sea?

  Those questions flittered through his mind as they came up beside the raft. A crewman jumped onto the raft through the opening in the canopy.

  An eternity passed before he emerged, carrying Rachel. As he gave her to another crewman, Jake made his way toward them.

  The man saw Jake and handed him Rachel, her parka soaking wet. In the dim lights from the boat, he looked into her face, her teeth chattering, her eyes barely opened. Hypothermia was setting in again, but at least she was alive and in his arms.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Jake held Rachel against his chest while she slept. The paramedic on the Coast Guard cutter checked her out and said she would be fine. Hypothermia hadn’t gotten a good grip on her yet. He kept the blankets covering her even when she stirred and pushed them off.

  Chance poked his head into the room. “We’re nearing the harbor. How’s she doing?”

  “Getting restless. That’s got to be a good sign. Did any of them talk?”

  “Not a word. But I think I can crack Captain Martin.”

  Jake clenched his jaws together, pain radiating down his neck. He hadn’t been able to keep her out of harm’s way. That was his job: to protect.

  “She’s safe. Don’t beat yourself up over this. As a police officer you know you can’t always anticipate every scenario. I’ll be back when we dock.”

  With Rachel in his arms, at least safe now, he leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. Thank You, Lord. You protected her. I don’t know what I would have done if she had died.

  Her eyelashes fluttered.

  “Rachel,” he whispered, stroking her face.

  She nestled closer, cushioning her cheek against his shoulder. Her eyes opened and locked with his. “I’m so tired.”

  He held her tighter, never wanting to let her go.

  “I think every inch of me hurts. I feel like I was put in a dryer and it was turned on high.”
<
br />   He grinned. “Are you telling me you are hot?”

  “No, but I’ve been bounced around so much, bruises must be covering me.”

  He combed his fingers through her still-wet hair. “But you’re alive. That’s the most important thing right now.”

  “Did we catch the drug-smuggling ring?”

  “Didn’t I tell you that there is no we in this?”

  She tried to sit up, but he didn’t want to let her go. “I didn’t go looking for trouble. I was sent to the Sundance on the pretext of my job. I think Mrs. Cohen is in on the drug ring.”

  “And she is in custody. She pulled a gun on me. I was faster.”

  “Is everyone in custody?” Worry coated each word.

  He assisted her until they both sat on the bunk, their backs against the wall. He grasped her hand between them. “Don’t know. It’ll probably be a crazy few days when we get back. And until the whole smuggling ring is rounded up, you are not safe.”

  *

  Rachel stared out the window as the sun came up on Wednesday morning. In thirty-six hours so much had changed. The drug smugglers were being arrested. If all went well today, Jake and Lawrence would return to their house for the rest of the time that Jake would be here. The thought saddened her. She’d loved having Jake back in Port Aurora. If he hadn’t been here, she’d probably be dead right now.

  A shudder zipped down her body when she remembered the men who would have thrown her into the Bering Sea to disappear forever. She’d seen the concrete block and chain they were going to use to weigh her down so there was no chance she’d be found.

  All yesterday Jake and Chance had been investigating into who else had been in the drug-smuggling ring. Lawrence and a police officer had been guarding her when Jake wasn’t there. They’ve not had any time really alone, and there was something she wanted to find out.

  She’d missed Jake being around but understood why he wanted to be involved in the criminals being rounded up. He wanted to make sure she was safe before he left. Then they needed to talk. She just wasn’t sure what she should say. She loved him, but she didn’t want to live in Anchorage. It was bad enough being a police officer in a small town, but in a city like Anchorage, would she ever see him? He had admitted his work was his life, and because of that, she couldn’t take him away from it.

  She saw Jake walking with Mitch across the yard after visiting his grandfather’s house. They were both expected in town at the police station before she went to work later. Brad had insisted she take Wednesday off, too. Her employer would be recovering at home himself for a few days. But she had the payroll to get out. The people who worked for the Port Aurora Fishery were depending on those checks, especially with it being right before Christmas.

  Jake noticed her and waved. She smiled and watched him trudge through the new snow that fell the night before. It left a pristine white blanket over the terrain and reminded her how the Lord could change anything—the landscape, a bad situation into a good one, people’s hearts.

  As Jake stomped up the steps to the porch, Rachel made her way into the arctic entryway. He came into the house, shaking off the snow that clung to his clothes. Mitch did the same, then wanted her attention while Jake hung up his coat.

  “I’m not sure why I’m even bothering. We need to leave for town soon. There’s been a change in plan—they want you there for the meeting with the DEA. They also want you in the room when I interrogate Captain Martin. Do you think you can handle that?”

  Rachel swallowed hard and nodded. She’d do anything that would help put this case to rest.

  “Where are Gramps and Linda?”

  “In the kitchen playing dominoes.”

  “When did they start that?”

  “About a year ago. Lawrence taught Aunt Linda how to play dominoes, and she showed him how to play chess. He has yet to win a game, though.”

  Jake grinned. “So that’s why he’s been reading that book about chess. Are they going into town with us?”

  “No. Lawrence wants to go cut down a tree for Christmas. She’s going with him since he helped us with ours.”

  “When he came for the holidays in Anchorage, by the second day I’d come home from work to find a tree standing in my living room, ready to decorate.”

  “You wouldn’t have it otherwise, I’m sure.”

  “Nope. If Gramps hadn’t been there, I would have worked extra to give some of the guys with families time off during Christmas. I’ve never taken longer than a week for a vacation, so these past few months have been hard on me.”

  “And the last couple of weeks?”

  “I have mixed feelings about that time. It was good to return to Port Aurora, and I can’t say that I’ve been idle much. Of course, nearly dying isn’t a great way to spend a holiday. But if I hadn’t been here, I hate to think of what could have happened to you and Linda.”

  Visions of the burning house paraded across Rachel’s mind. “It all started because Aunt Betty asked for help. It’s mind-boggling to think how one incident had such a rippling effect.”

  Jake covered the small space between them and clasped her arms. “We’re going to the police station, but when we leave, I’d like to put the drug-smuggling ring behind us at least for the last two weeks of my vacation. Randall and Chance have been interviewing the employees of the fishery while I covered every inch of it with Mitch. They think they have everyone. A couple of them are talking.”

  “Yes, let’s wrap this up so you can actually have a vacation, and I’ll stop looking over my shoulder.”

  “I like that.”

  She relished his hands rubbing up and down her upper arms as though trying to warm her. “The new year is going to bring a lot of changes around town, but I want to wait until then to worry about what will happen to the fishery now that we know about the involvement with the Russian mafia.”

  “I told you about my friends who own Outdoor Alaska. This afternoon we’re going to talk about opening a store here and investing in the fishery. Brad approved the meeting.”

  “I’m going to refill my coffee, then I’m ready to go.” Rachel walked into the kitchen as Lawrence pulled out the chessboard. “We’re leaving. Do you need anything from town?”

  He shook his head while her aunt said, “Lawrence says he needs more ornaments for his tree.”

  “I’ll have Jake pick some out at the general store.”

  “I personally don’t want him leaving your side until you are assured by Chief Quay everyone has been rounded up.” Lawrence set his pieces up. “And I’m going on record that I think we should stay until we know one hundred percent you two will be all right.”

  “Know one hundred percent we’re safe? That will never be, Lawrence. You know that. There comes a time we simply have to put our trust in the Lord.” Aunt Linda moved a pawn.

  He harrumphed as he stared at the board.

  Rachel hurried and filled her travel mug, then escaped before they started arguing. Lawrence knew how independent her aunt was, but it frustrated him because he’d been good friends with her aunt’s husband. He once told Aunt Linda that it was his duty to watch out for them. He made a promise to her husband. But it was much more than that. Rachel was sure he loved her aunt, but she wouldn’t marry again.

  “Let’s get out of here before the fighting starts over the game.” Rachel headed for the arctic entry. “My aunt threatened him the last time with bringing out her timer.”

  “That’s the way he is with dominoes. He carefully considers every move and its consequences.”

  “Not really a bad trait.” Rachel donned her heavy coat, gloves and hat, then tossed the keys to Jake. “You drive. I’m going to enjoy this coffee.”

  On the ride to town, Rachel brought up a subject she’d wondered about since he had returned. “Are you happy in Anchorage? With your job?”

  “Why are you asking?”

  “With Officer Bates arrested, there will be an opening at the Port Aurora Police Department. I know
we don’t have the same type of crime as in—”

  “With the past couple of weeks, that has changed.”

  “And it will continue to as more people come to live here. I don’t know what will happen with the fishery, but the business was successful this past year. The drug money didn’t go to pay people’s salaries. It went to fatten a few criminals’ pockets. The expansion was needed to compete with other ports and fisheries. Everything has been done except the additional processing center.” Rachel rubbed her sweaty palms on her jeans. “Chief Quay will be retiring in a few years. You could take over his job easily. I know he would recommend you to the city council.”

  He slowed and glanced at her. “Why do you want me to stay?”

  “Lawrence is lonely. He has missed you. I’ve missed you.”

  Jake stopped in the middle of the road leading into town. “You have?”

  “Well, of course. I think that’s obvious the last couple of weeks. We’ve picked right up where we left off.”

  “Not exactly. We’re eight years older. A lot has happened in that time.”

  Rachel thought about her life, and up until recently, it had been the same old thing. “Speak for yourself. You had a near-death experience a few months ago.”

  “And you don’t call getting trapped in a burning house a near-death experience? Or being hauled out to sea to be dumped?”

  “Those things just happened. It hasn’t shaped me yet. Your experiences have changed you, as well as your job. Again, I’m asking you, are you happy in Anchorage?” She held her breath, waiting for his answer. She wanted to tell him how she really felt, that she loved him, but didn’t want to pressure him. He had to want to stay, or it wouldn’t work.

  “I have my job, my friends and I volunteer with Northern Frontier Search and Rescue, which has been fulfilling.” Jake resumed the drive to town.

  “We have our share of search and rescues here, especially during tourist season. The big, bad world has intruded on Port Aurora. I want someone like you protecting this town.” That was the last she would say about it. He had to make up his own mind.

  He pulled into a parking space in front of the police station. “I will think about it. I always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.”