Below the Surface

by Tim Shoemaker

  “He probably should have prayed that before he went down,” Gordy said.

  He said it like Cooper wasn’t there. And he wasn’t. He was still in that basement — wasn’t he? He closed his eyes. You’re at Lake Geneva. You’re on vacation.

  Cooper’s breathing evened out a little. His mask hung cockeyed around his neck. He didn’t remember it coming off.

  Hiro held his arm with both hands in a firm grip to keep him from slipping back into the water.

  He looked up at her.

  Tears formed in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Coop.”

  He shook his head. “It’s not your fault. It’s me.” It was true.

  “Ahoy, there.”

  Coop recognized that voice. Krypto Night had crept up to them. Kryptoski leaned over the side. “Trouble?”

  Cooper shook his head.

  “Looks like you saw a ghost,” Kryptoski said.

  Gordy waved him off. “He’s got a problem with water.”

  Thanks, Gordy. “I’m okay.” Cooper’s voice cracked — sounding as small and weak as he felt.

  “If you’re so afraid of the water,” Kryptoski said, “what are you doing out here?”

  “Great question,” Coop said. And one he wasn’t about to answer. He felt too drained. Embarrassed.

  Kryptoski eyed him, like he was trying to figure Cooper out. Did he guess what they were really doing? Impossible. Still, Cooper held his gaze.

  “Little raft like that . . .” Kryptoski pointed at the inflatable. “Way out here. And a nasty storm is moving in.” He checked the sky as if to make his point. “Some boater could clip you without even realizing it.”

  “Seems to me,” Hiro said, “that you’re an expert in that department.”

  Kryptoski flashed his teeth — but his eyes weren’t smiling. “All I’m saying is you should get back to shallow water.” He looked directly at Cooper. “You’re in way over your head out here.”

  Cooper watched Kryptoski ease his boat toward deeper water. He hadn’t gone more than ten yards before he gunned the engine and took off like a shot. His wake jerked the inflatable around, making Cooper clutch the raft even tighter to keep from slipping under the water again.

  Kryptoski was right; Cooper was in over his head. Drowning in his own fear. He shook it off. Tried to, anyway. He was better at burying it. But it was always there. Just below the surface.

  Cooper watched Krypto Night run through a quick series of turns and switchbacks. Stops and starts. Almost like what he’d been doing on Sunday night.

  “I feel it,” Hiro said. “I get a really bad vibe from this guy.”

  “Yeah,” Gordy said. “Because he’s an idiot.”

  “More than that,” Hiro said. “He’s a murderer.”

  Gordy didn’t argue that point. “We gotta get to the boat. Fast.”

  Hiro nodded. “Before he comes back.”

  Cooper totally agreed. Every natural instinct was signaling a warning.

  “Can you climb in?” Hiro scrunched her legs to make room in the middle.

  He’d totally weigh them down — if they didn’t capsize first. “No, we’ll get back faster if I swim.”

  Gordy grabbed his arm. “Keep your head above water.”

  Great advice. So helpful. So obvious. Cooper pulled his mask off and dropped it at Hiro’s feet. “Don’t worry. I’m okay now.”

  Gordy leaned back and paddled.

  Cooper kept to a fast breaststroke, careful to follow Gordy’s advice. Keep your head above water. That’s what he’d been trying to do, hadn’t he? Don’t look at the thing that’s scaring you half to death. Avoid it. Bury it. Pretend it isn’t there.

  He’d buried his fear. But that didn’t mean it was dead. It kept coming back to life. Resurrecting itself. Like a zombie. If he didn’t beat this — if he didn’t kill this fear and bury it for good — it would bury him.

  Gordy pulled ahead. Hiro paddled too, although it didn’t look like she was doing much good. She kept watching Cooper.

  Cooper rolled over into a backstroke. He could go faster this way — and he wanted to keep an eye on Kryptoski. Krypto Night sat dead still, two hundred yards out. The double hatch over the engine was open like giant fins, and Kryptoski was looking inside. Maybe he had motor trouble. Good. Whatever it was, Cooper hoped it kept him busy — at least until they reached The Getaway.

  The storm clouds were advancing like an invading army bent on conquering. Destroying. The wind picked up, still blowing out of the northwest. Fortunately, the waves were pushing them toward The Getaway.

  Lunk was reaching for them when they made it to the swim platform. He helped Hiro out of the boat, then held the inflatable as Gordy climbed out. Cooper picked up his mask and looked out over the lake.

  Krypto Night was still drifting — engine hatch up. Kryptoski was standing midship, hand to his ear. Calling somebody. Maybe he wanted Fat Elvis to bail him out of another mess.

  Lunk climbed over the transom rail, following Gordy and Hiro. “So what happened out there?” Lunk let the question hang in the air for anyone to scoop up.

  “We were out there just minding our own business,” Gordy said, “when Kryptoski pulled up next to us.”

  Cooper tuned him out. At least Gordy didn’t start the story with his panic attack — or whatever it was. He sat on the edge of the swim platform, letting his legs dangle in the darkening waters. Would he ever be right again?

  He looked at his mask and thought about Dad going under with him. Promising he’d work with him this weekend. What fun.

  He had done it with his dad, hadn’t he? He’d gone under. He was scared but not out of control. But then, Cooper hadn’t been alone. That had made all the difference, hadn’t it?

  “Coop — you coming?” Hiro leaned over the transom rail. She smiled kind of a sad smile.

  “Just need to think through some things,” he said.

  She nodded.

  “Sorry I didn’t find the camera,” he said.

  She shook her head. “I never believed we’d find it.”

  Honestly? Cooper never did either. He’d been going through the motions out there. He did it for Hiro, really. But she didn’t think he’d find it either? Terrific. She had no more confidence in him than he had in himself. Sometimes he pushed himself to try to be the person she thought he could be.

  It was bad enough that this panic thing had robbed him of his confidence. But now it was stealing her confidence in him as well.

  “You tried — and I know you did it for me. That means a lot.”

  This fear was all in his mind, wasn’t it? He wished he could find the panic switch inside his head and just turn it off. Permanently.

  “Coop!” Gordy’s face showed up at the rail. “Kryptoski is on his way back. He’s heading right for us.”

  Now what? Hiro watched Tommy Kryptoski pull his boat alongside The Getaway. Coop stood on the swim deck, his mask still in hand. Gordy and Lunk moved to the side of the boat closest to Krypto Night. She wasn’t sure if the guys wanted to keep the boats from bumping or provide a human barrier between her and the cold-blooded murderer. Lunk grabbed the pike pole lying on the deck and pushed it against Krypto Night.

  “Hey, I’ve got a problem,” Kryptoski said. “There’s something wrong with the engine.”

  Hiro stepped up between Gordy and Lunk. What was he up to? None of them said anything.

  “I called Gage Marine.” He waved his phone. “But they suggested I check for seaweed around the prop before I have them tow the boat in for a look-see.”

  So why are you telling us this? Hiro wanted to ask the question, but she didn’t really want to engage him in conversation. If he was a murderer, then she wanted nothing to do with him.

  If he was a murderer? If? She knew he was. It made her sick. And he was getting away with it. She wanted to vomit all over his pretty boat. For an instant, she was glad Coop and Gordy had planted the fish there. She’d like to put a hole in the hull and send it straight t
o the bottom of the lake.

  Kryptoski pointed at Coop. “I was wondering if you’d take a look at it for me.”

  No. No. Don’t ask Coop to do that.

  Coop swallowed. “I, uh . . .”

  “You’ve got a mask,” Kryptoski said. “It’s just a quick look.” A slight smile. Like he was challenging Coop. A bully tactic.

  You know Coop is afraid. You animal. You monster. Hiro wished she’d gone with her mom to Kenosha. Then Coop wouldn’t have tried looking for the camera to please her. And Coop wouldn’t be in this spot right now.

  “Sure,” Coop said. “Why not?”

  Hiro could hear the strain in his voice. She wanted to tell him not to do it. He didn’t have to prove anything. Not to her — and definitely not to Kryptoski. But she would hurt him if she said it. She’d be the mom again, treating Coop like a little kid. Hiro couldn’t do that to him.

  Coop dipped his mask in the water, rinsed it, and seated it on his face. “You going to turn off the engine?”

  Kryptoski banged his forehead with the heel of his hand. “What an idiot.”

  Got that right.

  Kryptoski turned off the ignition and walked to the side of the boat to watch.

  Coop eased himself into the water slowly enough that his head didn’t dip below the surface. He swam to the side of Kryptoski’s boat.

  “Still enough light,” Kryptoski said. “You should be able to see without going under the boat.”

  Lunk held up the pike pole like a giant staff. He leaned in close and whispered, “If he makes a move toward that ignition switch, I’ll skewer him.”

  Hiro nodded. She felt better already.

  Gordy hopped over the transom rail and down onto the swim platform to wait. Maybe he wanted to be close if Coop had any trouble.

  Coop lowered his face in the water for an instant — then raised his chin high like he’d changed his mind. He took a couple of deep breaths. His lips moved — but no words came out.

  He’s praying. Good. Hiro breathed a silent prayer for him too.

  Kryptoski leaned over the side. “Want me to hold your hand or something?” There was no mistaking the jab in his tone.

  Coop shook his head.

  Lunk aimed the pike pole directly at Kryptoski. His jaw muscles were working hard.

  “Easy, Lunk,” Hiro whispered. “Coop’s okay.”

  Coop placed his hands on the side of Kryptoski’s boat and ducked under it.

  Hiro held her breath as if she were underwater with him.

  His hands dropped lower on the side of the boat. Clenched. Unclenched — and disappeared below the waterline.

  “I should have gone under,” Hiro whispered. “Why didn’t I go under?” No, Coop had to do it. It was part of being a guy. And being Coop.

  Coop broke the surface, gasping. He thrashed at the water. Even through the mask, Hiro could see that he had a wild look in his eyes. “Oh, God, help!”

  Lunk was right there with the pike pole. He held it in front of Coop. “Grab it — I’ll pull you in!”

  Coop clung to the pole like he would have climbed it if he could. Lunk steered him to the swim platform, and Gordy reached out to help him onto it.

  “Whoa.” Kryptoski snickered. “I guess he really is afraid of water. Him and the Wicked Witch of the West, eh?”

  Hiro sucked in her breath. She couldn’t speak. She wished a horde of flying monkeys would carry Kryptoski off.

  Coop sat on the platform and ripped off his mask. His chest was heaving. “I’m okay,” he said. “I’m okay.”

  “Oh yeah.” Kryptoski sneered. “I can see that.”

  Coop stood and squared his shoulders like nothing was wrong. “I checked the prop and rudder,” Coop said. “There’s not even a s-strand of seaweed.”

  “Thanks,” Kryptoski said. “That’s what I thought.” He dialed his phone and talked with someone on the other end.

  Lunk used the pole to push Krypto Night farther away from The Getaway. The wind caught it and sent it adrift.

  Coop’s knees were shaking. He leaned against the transom and rubbed them into submission. He looked up at Hiro.

  “They’ll be here to tow her in thirty minutes,” Kryptoski shouted. “Just ahead of the storm, if I’m lucky.” He fired up the engine. “Thanks for your help.”

  Coop didn’t answer.

  Kryptoski looked right at Coop. “And the way you are around the water, you might want to copy the big guy.” He pointed two fingers at Lunk. “Keep your lifejacket on.”

  Hiro glared at Kryptoski. She wanted him to feel the fury rising inside her.

  He grinned, spun the wheel, and headed for his mooring. She hoped Gage Marine towed him away with the boat — if the flying monkeys didn’t show up first.

  Lunk stowed the pike pole. “I don’t mind if I never see that moron again.”

  “I wouldn’t mind seeing him,” Hiro said, “behind bars.”

  “Maybe you’ll get your chance,” Coop said.

  He practically vaulted over the transom rail. Gordy looked a little surprised, but quickly followed. Coop knelt low on the teak deck and frantically motioned them closer.

  Gordy stood over him. “You okay?”

  Hiro sat down. “Coop?”

  His eyes were blazing. “I found it. I found it.”

  Lunk squatted down in front of them. “Found what?”

  Coop looked at Hiro and smiled. “The camera.”

  Cooper couldn’t have asked for a better reaction from Hiro. Her eyes went wide. “What?” She reached over and hugged him so hard that he couldn’t breathe. He pried her arms off him. “Tell me you’re not teasing me,” she said.

  “Where is it?” Gordy looked behind Cooper as though it might be tucked in the back of his swim shorts.

  “The lanyard is wrapped around Krypto Night’s prop and shaft.”

  Hiro’s smile faded. She popped her head above the transom rail. “He’s in the boat. And he’s going to stay there until Gage Marine tows it away.”

  She didn’t have to say any more. If Gage Marine pulled the boat out of the water, they’d find the camera and Kryptoski would get it back. Or maybe it would break loose while the boat was being towed to the other end of the lake. It would drop to the bottom for sure. Either way, the evidence would disappear forever if they didn’t do something before Gage Marine arrived.

  Lunk whistled. “And the idiot did it to himself by asking you to check for seaweed.”

  Cooper nodded. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

  Hiro already had her phone out. “I’m calling Officer Tarpy. Once he hears about the camera, he’ll come roaring down that hill.” She put the phone to her ear and paced.

  “Is it all busted up?” Gordy said. “The camera.”

  Cooper shook his head. “It looked perfect. But the lanyard was wrapped around the shaft so tight that I couldn’t budge it.”

  Lunk stood and faced Krypto Night. “I’d love to see his face when he sees that camera. And it was under his boat the whole time.”

  Hiro pocketed her phone. She looked worried. “Officer Tarpy is working an accident scene. I talked to a dispatcher on the phone, and he said they’ll send the next available officer.”

  “So what’s the problem?” Lunk said.

  “Nobody is available now,” she said. “It could be forty-five minutes — maybe an hour before someone gets here.”

  “Which means,” Cooper said, “we’ll have to go after that camera ourselves. Now.”

  Gordy stared at him. “How are we going to do that?”

  Cooper joined Lunk at the transom rail. Krypto Night bobbed at the buoy. Kryptoski was talking on his phone again.

  Lunk glanced Cooper’s way. “Got a plan?”

  “Maybe.” Cooper’s stomach twisted. “Give me a minute.” He stared out over the water, letting the details of the plan fall into place with amazing ease. Executing the plan would be the real challenge. It meant going underwater. Facing his fears.

  God
help me. God help me. He didn’t know what else to say. He’d been fighting his fear with a shovel. Burying it. What he really needed was a sword. Something to attack it with. And in that instant, he knew it had something to do with what his dad had said. You’re not alone.

  “Coop?” Hiro studied his face.

  “Let’s get my dad’s dive gear.”

  Gordy didn’t look all that confident. “The tank?”

  Cooper nodded. “Weights. Fins. Compass. All of it.”

  “You can’t be serious.” Gordy looked back toward Krypto Night . “His boat is anchored fifty yards away. How are you going to do that?”

  Gordy didn’t say any more. He didn’t need to. Cooper knew exactly what he wasn’t saying. How was he supposed to go fifty yards when he could hardly put his head underwater?

  “I will do it. I have to do it,” Cooper said. If wanting it bad enough was all he needed, then he’d be fine. But he needed more than that — and he knew it.

  He couldn’t do it alone. But he wouldn’t be alone. God was real — and powerful — and loving. He believed that, didn’t he? Yes, Cooper would never be alone. God was with him — and God was big enough to handle whatever lay below the surface.

  “Help me get the gear.” He ducked inside the cabin and lifted the seat off the storage compartment. Lunk joined him and hauled gear to the teak deck as fast as Cooper pulled it out.

  When Cooper put his head under Kryptoski’s boat, he’d been okay. No panic attack. Just total shock at seeing the camera — but that was it. And he was going to do it again. He had to.

  Gordy was trying to put a dive mask on when Coop stepped back on deck. Hiro stood with her hands on her hips, looking worried. Gordy winced. The seal of the mask crossed over the stitches.

  Cooper stepped in front of Gordy. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going for the camera,” Gordy said.

  “If you seal that mask to your face, you’ll bust your stitches wide open.”

  “Then I won’t seal it.”

  “And it will fill with water, and you won’t be able to see a thing.” Cooper waited for Gordy to grasp the reality of what he was saying. “I can do this.”