Adrift

by Kristine Williams

  "Man, the first thing I need when we get home is a shower." Blair rubbed his arm, trying to scratch through the sleeve of the sweatshirt. "All this dried sea salt is making my skin crawl." He looked up at Jim. "I don't know how you can stand it, Jim."

  "I can't. It's driving me crazy, Chief." Jim reached for the hatch that led to the pilot house. "I keep wanting to jump into the bay to wash off. And believe me, if that would help, I think I would." They stepped into the room and were greeted by the crackle of a radio distress call.

  "Gentlemen, I think we have another victim here." Captain Ellsworth handed Jim a set of binoculars and pointed out the port side window. "Just got a call from a boat going down three miles out. The boat that rammed them is sinking right along with them."

  Jim squinted through the window in the proper direction and had no trouble at all seeing the two boats floundering. Captain Ellsworth was standing farther ahead, with his back to them, so Jim handed Blair the binoculars and pointed.

  "Looks like they're going down fast." He could see at least three people in the water, a young woman and two very small children. The captain gave an order for full speed and all hands jumped to their positions. Sirens blared as the cruiser closed the gap between them and the two sinking vessels. Jim focused on the boats going down, searching the water for more signs of life. The young woman was clutching her children and shouting to someone Jim couldn't see as she struggled to stay afloat. The smaller of the two boats finally sank completely below the water, and a man with another child could be seen clutching a piece of flotsam.

  "Jim..?"

  "There's a young couple and three kids." Jim answered Blair, then turned and motioned for him to exit the pilot house so they could help the rescue effort from the deck. "I can't see anyone else, but that bigger boat is definitely the one that hit us." He'd seen enough to identify the few ID numbers, and the size fit. If there were survivors, one sentence from any of them would give Jim a positive ID of the partyers responsible for the sinking of the MarySue, and his and Blair's near drowning.

  Part 6

  * * *

  They reached the deck just as the cruiser's engines reversed, bringing them alongside the victims. Three Coast Guardsmen tossed life rings out, while one leapt into the water to assist the young children. Jim and Blair moved forward to stand at the bow, ready to help if needed. There was little evidence of two boats left floating. Clothing, bits and pieces of wood and fiberglass swirled and bobbed on the waves. The sun reflected sharply off the water, making it almost impossible to see through.

  "Jim, do you see anyone else?"

  "I can't see through the glare." Jim squinted, shaking his head even as he tried again.

  "Filter out the light, Jim. Look into the water, not on it."

  He strained once more, then suddenly his focus broke through the glaring surface and four figures swimming desperately to the surface became clear. "There! Four more!"

  More life rings were thrown over the side as the four survivors broke the surface, choking and gasping for air. One crewman jumped in to assist the new victims, but Jim could see they weren't going to make it. He quickly pulled off the sweatshirt.

  "Stay here and help them aboard." One glance at Blair to make sure he heard, and Jim dove over the side.

  "Help me!"

  He surfaced next to a woman who was going under. Her floor-length evening gown dragged her back down with more force than she could kick against. Jim grabbed her by the arm as she sank, pulling her back to the surface. A flotation ring was thrown to him and he hooked it with one arm, wrapping the other around her waist as they were pulled toward the cruiser. One other woman, as well as two men, were being pulled to safety. When Jim and the woman reached the side, they were the last ones pulled up.

  "Jim." Blair reached down after the woman was securely onboard and took Jim's hand, pulling him up and onto the ladder dangling down the side. "Are you okay?"

  "I'm fine." He climbed over the side, then accepted the blanket Blair wrapped over his shoulders. "Is that everyone?" The young couple and their three children were huddled next to each other, while crewmen wrapped them in blankets and checked them over.

  "Yeah, that's everyone. The young couple over there were out for a holiday with the kids. Their first time. They're okay, though." Blair handed him a towel, then pointed to the other four survivors. "Those are the same people who sank us, aren't they, Jim?"

  "I expect so." Captain Ellsworth stepped up to Jim. "Mr. Collins and company have been cited several times already this summer for recklessness."

  Jim looked from Collins, standing with one deck hand who was offering him another blanket, to the young man sitting with his wife and frightened children. The young man looked up at Captain Ellsworth.

  "He came out of nowhere. We were just having breakfast and he came out of nowhere, never turned or even acted like he saw us." He shook his head and glanced down at his children. "There was nothing we could have done to get out of his way."

  "Honey, it wasn't your fault. The kids are okay, that's what's important." The young woman hugged her children close, then shot Mr. Collins a quick look before turning back to her kids and husband. The children were crying and clinging to their mother, who was shaking so badly she was having trouble holding the blanket over her shoulders.

  "I'm sorry, folks, doesn't look like there's anything to salvage." Captain Ellsworth shook his head sadly as he addressed the young couple. "You have insurance, I hope?"

  "Yes, yes we do." The young man's face paled and he looked around, trying to find something that wasn't there.

  "Good. We'll get you all in to port and get you taken care of."

  "What about him?"

  The captain glanced at the rest of the survivors. "They'll be taken care of as well, I assure you. Now come on inside." He ushered the young couple and their kids into the ship with a passing nod to Jim.

  After they entered the hatchway, the other survivors began to file past. Jim watched them, each dressed in fancy evening clothes and still reeking of alcohol. Last to pass them was Mr. Collins, who stopped and wavered slightly as he looked at Blair and then Jim. He was a tall man, with thin lips and a pointed nose. The clothes he wore spoke of wealth, matching the gold bracelet and watch on his left wrist. Seaweed clung to his pant leg and there was something brown and slimy poking out from under his collar.

  "It wasn't my fault, you see." Mr. Collins' voice was thick and slurred, his brown eyes drooping.

  "How do you figure that, Mr. Collins?" Jim's voice was barely contained and his jaw flexed quickly.

  "I simply didn't see them, you understand." Mr. Collins pushed water from his forehead, then suddenly discovered the length of kelp in his shirt and pulled it out with a flourish.

  "And I suppose you didn't see us yesterday morning, either?" Jim had moved between Mr. Collins and the hatchway with one step and he glanced at Blair before looking for his answer.

  "I have no idea what you're talking about. Yesterday we were miles up the Strait. Had a lovely little party off the point the other night, actually." He sighed heavily and looked at Jim. "Honestly, I don't know what all the fuss is about. We're all insured, aren't we? No harm done."

  "No harm done?" Jim felt his anger rise. He'd seen this so many times before, but on the water, so many people thought drinking and driving didn't apply. "You nearly killed my partner and me yesterday morning. We'd have drowned by now if someone hadn't found us out there. Then you smash into this young family no more than a day later. You could have killed them. You could have killed yourself."

  "Nonsense." Mr. Collins shook his head, and nearly lost his balance. "I was in complete control of my vessel at all times." The slurring of his voice made that sentence very difficult. "Besides, if they can't get out of the way, they have no business being out here. The bigger boat has the right-of-way. That's what I've always felt."

  Jim shook his head and looked at Blair. His partner was watching Mr. Collins, a look of disgust cle
arly showing on his expressive face. He glanced up at Jim for a moment and shook his head, dismissing the man completely.

  "Now, if you'll kindly remove yourself from the doorway, I should like to go inside and get warm. My insurance agent will just love hearing from me, I'm sure." He huffed and brought his blanket farther up over both shoulders. "At least he respects me."

  "You know, Mr. Collins, I've always felt the best way to deal with a person like you is to use the direct approach." Jim handed Blair the blanket he'd left hanging over one shoulder.

  "Oh please, whoever you are, I'm in no mood for any lectures from the likes of you." Mr. Collins waved one hand in dismissal and turned away.

  It was over in an instant. One punch from Jim's right fist, connecting with Mr. Collins' left cheek, sent the man to the deck. He was unconscious even before he landed.

  "No lecture, Mr. Collins. I'm not the teacher here." Jim looked at Blair, who was holding the blanket.

  Blair's eyebrows arched for a moment as he looked down at the unconscious man. After a moment, he shook his head and looked back up at Jim. "Thanks, man. That felt pretty good."

  Jim smiled slightly. "Had to be done, Chief."

  Two Coast Guardsmen rushed out on deck to assist the recovering Mr. Collins. Neither man said a word, but Jim was sure they'd seen what happened.

  "Come on, let's go see if we can get anything out of Captain Ellsworth about Simon before we get back to Cascade."

  Blair laughed, then followed Jim through the hatchway and up the stairs to the pilot house. "Hey Jim, maybe if we just hide behind him, Simon won't see us."

  * * *

  Blair knew they'd have to face Simon. He also knew the MarySue's sinking was in no way his or Jim's fault, and that Jim would handle the captain and anything that came from this little weekend fiasco. But the sight of Simon Banks storming down the dock, cigar in hand and wearing one of his sternest expressions, sent Blair a half-step back and ever so slightly behind Jim.

  "Ellison! What the hell happened out there?!" Simon's hard pace down the dock sent the planks bouncing over the shallow water.

  Jim stopped so Blair did likewise, keeping himself just slightly hidden behind his partner. Their reply had to wait while the other rescued boaters were led from the cruiser. They were followed by four very well dressed, slightly damp individuals, one of whom stepped wide around Jim as he passed.

  When they had all reached shore, Jim turned his attention back to Simon. "We're fine, thanks for asking." Blair nodded slightly, trying his best to keep a look of scared relief on his face. "The boat was rammed by a drunk driver, Simon. We barely got out with our lives."

  "That was yesterday morning, Jim. Captain Ellsworth radioed me after picking you two up." Simon looked from Jim to Blair and back again. "What happened between the accident and you being picked up? Where were you?"

  "In the water, Simon." Jim reached around and put a hand on Blair's shoulder, then ushered him down the pier toward shore. "We were picked up by a couple in a sailboat late last night."

  "Just in time, too," Blair added as they passed the captain.

  The afternoon sun baked down on them as they made their way to the Coast Guard offices. Once inside, Jim was offered dry clothes and a shower, which he accepted gratefully. Not wanting to be left in the office alone with Simon, Blair decided a shower to remove the dried salt and sweat was a good idea. He took his time, scrubbing the seawater from every inch of his skin and hair, twice. The jellyfish burn on his left palm had been reduced to a thin red line that only hurt when hot water hit it. The stiffness in legs, arms, shoulders and back were slowly working out. When he stepped out of the shower and toweled off, he hoped enough time had passed. Not that he should be hiding in here, letting Jim explain what happened without backup. No, that wasn't right.

  Guilt forced Blair to dress quickly, back into the borrowed Coast Guard sweats, then hurry out to the offices where Jim was explaining to Simon what had happened. When he approached Jim, Simon was shoving a cigar back into his mouth. He gave Blair a quick nod, then turned to look through the office window to the waiting area beyond it.

  "Well, Jim, I'm just glad the two of you are all right. I'll handle this from here. At least my uncle had that old MarySue insured."

  "I'm really sorry she sank, Simon." Blair shook his head sadly, recalling the old wooden vessel. "That boat was a classic."

  Simon shook his head with a chuckle and removed his unlit cigar. "Classic? That old tub? The MarySue's been around longer than I have. Between you and me, I'd been hoping old Uncle Joe would trade her in for something sleeker."

  "Oh, come on, Simon. People would kill for an old classic like that. They just don't make them anymore."

  "Yeah, Sandburg, and there's a reason for that."

  Blair shook his head in defeat. Sometimes he was sure if his words had been spoken by Jim, the captain would agree without hesitation. But that was okay, Blair was getting used to it.

  "Listen, Simon, I'm pretty exhausted. I think Blair and I will head on home. We'll see you in the morning, and I'll be happy to talk to your uncle if you need me to." Jim put a hand on Blair's shoulder and gave him a gentle shove toward the door.

  "Fine, Jim. I'll handle Joe. He's insured, anyway. And with the Coast Guard's report to back him up, I can't see anything coming up that the insurance can't take care of. Are you sure you two are okay?"

  "Sure, Simon, we're fine. Just tired, and a little stiff."

  "Yeah." Blair led the way out of the office and into the larger waiting area. A little stiff still felt like an understatement, but he was beginning to think with a good night's sleep and maybe some BenGay, he'd feel better.

  "Jim, are you going to need a ride home?"

  Blair stopped beside his friend, only then realizing they had lost everything they'd come onboard with themselves. Jim was holding their jeans, presumably retrieved from the Coast Guard, although Blair didn't remember seeing them again after Mrs. Warder had insisted he get out of the soggy pants and into the sweats she was offering.

  "Got 'em." Jim produced a set of keys from the pocket of his jeans. "I didn't come onboard with more than my wallet and a change of clothes. What about you, Chief?"

  Blair reached out for his pants, then felt the wallet there. "Got lucky. Not that there's much there to lose."

  Simon chuckled and Jim shook his head. "Come on, Sandburg. I have a sudden urge to get away from the water. Far away."

  "Yeah." Blair followed Jim out of the office complex toward the car waiting to take them back to the marina where Jim had left the truck. "But hey, look at the bright side."

  "The bright side, Chief?" Jim got in the back of the waiting sedan and slid over, making room for Blair. "What would that be?"

  "I don't know, Jim." Blair got in and shut the door. "I was hoping you would."

  * * *

  The rain woke him. It was blowing in through the open window, along with a breeze that sent chills up Blair's spine. When he came fully awake, the temperature of the room hit him like a slap on the face. They'd gotten home late that afternoon, and after eating dinner, both he and Jim had gone straight to bed, exhausted from their watery ordeal. But it had been hot when he took off all but his boxers and plopped tiredly onto the bed, shoving all the blankets off. Now, Blair was freezing.

  He forced himself off the bed, trying not to exclaim too loudly when his aching muscles protested the movement. The hardwood floor was ice to his bare feet, and there was cold rain covering the windowsill and the floor directly below. Blair shoved the window down, grimacing as it slammed shut with a loud thud. He paused for a moment, listening for the inevitable shout to keep quiet, but it didn't come. Jim must have been sound asleep, or just too tired to yell. Even that short time at the window gave Blair enough of a chill to set his teeth chattering.

  "Oh, man." He searched the floor for the sweats he'd discarded before getting into bed. They were nowhere to be found. Great, Jim. He must have snatched them up and stuffed them
into the hamper while Blair was in the bathroom. A quick run to the dresser was rewarded by a pair of unmatched socks and Jim's old Cascade PD sweatshirt that Blair kept meaning to return. He donned the shirt and socks, then hooked a finger around the blankets and pulled them up as he hurried back into bed. The sheets had taken on the chill of the night air, and the sudden rain outside had dampened the air, dropping the temperature of the entire room.

  Blair scrambled under the covers and pulled them up to his chin, then tucked both legs up close and pushed his face into the pillow. This was a far cry from just the other night, sleeping in nothing but his shorts, dreaming of a nice, cooling waterfall. The weather had done what the Northwest weather was famous for, changed overnight without warning. Blair sighed deeply, exhaling into the blankets in an effort to warm the end of his nose. All thoughts of air-conditioning the loft, cool green moss, and clear, inviting ponds were banished from his mind. Even the sound of the rain outside was giving him chills. And adding to the sensation of still being out on the water.

  Blair's mind and body were at odds, each trying to convince the other that they weren't where they thought they were. Every time he closed his eyes, his body told him they were still on the water, still moving back and forth, up and down. But his mind had other thoughts. His mind was convinced they were on solid ground once again. That Blair was in his bed, in the loft, and they simply couldn't be rocking back and forth no matter who said what.

  His body wasn't convinced. When he opened his eyes, Blair's mind got the upper hand. But when he closed his eyes, his body started making a valid point. The addition of the cold air and water splashing around on the balcony outside wasn't helping. He shivered again, wishing his body heat would catch up and warm the spot he was occupying. For a fleeting moment, Blair thought he might have a fever, and was experiencing the beginning chills of illness. But that wasn't too likely. He didn't feel ill, and a quick hand to his forehead proved nothing amiss. He sighed and shoved his hand back under the blankets. At least if he was getting sick, he no longer lived alone. It helped to know there was someone you could send to the store or pharmacy for you. Someone to complain that if you gave them what you had, they'd hate you forever.