Rock Harbor Series - 03 - Into the Deep

  She didn’t trust the kidnapper to release her dad. It might be up to her to track him and find her father. She watched her bubbles and debated. No, she was going in. It was perfectly safe.

  26

  Cassie paused and shone her light around the room. Looked like a hold for cargo. Wooden boxes drifted past her line of sight, and several kegs played bumper cars in the corner.

  A thump outside startled her. She heard another sound like something sliding across the hull. If this were the ocean, she’d be worried about a shark or barracuda, but there was nothing that predatory in Lake Superior. Another fifteen minutes and she’d go. She still had forty-five minutes of air time left.

  Then the door shut behind her, and she heard the dragging sound again. She swam to the door and shoved at it. It didn’t budge. She gave a gasp, and bubbles burst from her regulator. Her knife was still in her hand. She used the handle to thump on the door.

  Pressing her ear against the door, she listened. There was no sound on the other side. Panic clawed at the edges of her consciousness, but she pushed it away. She’d get out of this. Glancing at her watch, she saw she had forty minutes of life left. Forty minutes to figure out how to get out of here.

  Bree glanced at her watch. Nearly three o’clock. Charley nosed her hand as if he sensed her agitation. Cassie had been gone an hour. Bree had done the only thing she could think of and had called Salome to have her meet at the lighthouse. At least they’d be close to the water and ready to go after Cassie.

  “Think, Salome. Where is a diving spot she would have recognized when the kidnapper mentioned it? We have to find her.”

  Salome was tugging on her wet suit. “She knows better than to go out alone.” Salome glanced at her watch and frowned. “Do you have binoculars?”

  “Upstairs in the light-tower room.” She followed Salome up the steps. “I was on the phone with Mason for several minutes, and her car was nowhere in sight when I went out.”

  “She should have called me. All kinds of things can happen underwater.”

  They reached the light tower, and Salome grabbed the binoculars. Scanning the horizon, she bit her lip in concentration. “Nothing,” she said. “Let’s go out in the boat.”

  Bree called to Charley while Salome grabbed her diving gear. Driving down the access road to Lake Superior, Bree prayed silently.

  Her boat wasn’t fancy, but it got them around in its seventy-horse-power motor. Bree fired up the engine, and they putted out into the lake. The water was calm today with only mild swells of white-capped waves.

  “Which way?” Bree shouted.

  “I’d guess south.” Salome said.

  Bree pushed the engine as fast as she dared and stayed close to the sheer walls to her left. The boat bounced as it hit the swells, and she fought with the wheel. Cold spray hit her in the face. She didn’t often drive this fast. Superior could be capricious, and it was best to treat her with respect.

  “There’s her boat!” Salome pointed it out. The powerboat rocked in its mooring with the swells. “She’s got to be just about out of air. If she had two tanks on, she’d only have two hours, and she’s been gone an hour an a half. Even allowing for boat time, there can’t be much left.”

  Bree cut the engine and tossed the anchor overboard. “Now what? You shouldn’t go down there alone.”

  “I have a spare set of equipment in my bag if you’re game.”

  “I went down once in Hawaii with an instructor. Remind me what to do.” She listened closely as Salome explained how to breathe and how to manipulate the weights.

  “I’ve only got one wet suit though,” Salome said, beginning to pull it on. “You’ll only be able to stay under a few minutes before hypothermia sets in.”

  “If I get too cold, I’ll come up.” Bree put on the tank and swim fins.

  Salome shook her head. “No, if you start getting confused, come up right away. Confusion is the first symptom. In fact, keep an eye on your watch and come up in ten minutes.”

  “Got it.” She turned to Charley. “Stay, boy.” Knowing the dog, he’d jump right in and come along for the swim. He whined but lay on the bottom of the boat.

  “Ready?”

  Bree nodded and adjusted her regulator. She sat on the edge of the boat and tipped backward into the water like she’d been taught. The shock of freezing water made her gasp and then expel an explosion of bubbles. The cold settled deep into her bones like an ache. Trying to ignore it, she turned and followed Salome into the deep.

  She was going to die.

  There was no way out. The portholes were too small to get out of even if she was able to break them or pry them open. She’d broken her knife trying. The door refused to budge no matter how Cassie struggled with it.

  No one knew she was down here. She’d told Bree she was going diving, but Bree would just assume time got away from her sister. If Salome got home in time, she might raise an alarm, but it would come too late for her. They’d find her dead body floating among the kegs and boxes.

  Tears blurred her vision. She didn’t want to die. There was so much left to do with her life. Who would take care of her father? And with her gone, the research would fall apart. Even more than that, she knew she wasn’t ready to face God.

  Was God really in this deep place with her? Bree said he was everywhere, that his ear was tuned to listen even to a sinner’s prayer, but Cassie didn’t know how to pray. And she couldn’t speak, not here with the cold seeping through her wet suit and the fish swimming around her as though they knew a meal was only a few minutes away.

  Her eyes never strayed from the air gauge. If she stayed very quiet, she might last another five minutes. Then it was all over. Best not to think about that though—it would just make her respiration go up. She grabbed a box and pulled it to the floor, then sat on it.

  She was cold, so cold. And alone.

  But was she alone? She reached out with her spirit.

  God, are you there? Could you help me? I’m so cold. I’m sorry, God. Sorry for not believing in you. Is it too late? Can you hear me down here? Can you forgive me?

  She tried to remember the prayer she’d seen in the back of Bree’s Bible one night when she couldn’t sleep. A sinner’s prayer, the title said.

  Lord, I know I’m a sinner. Forgive me if you can.

  Her eyes flooded with tears again. She’d be seeing whether it worked in a few minutes. Some people didn’t believe in deathbed conversions, but now, with death staring her in the face, Cassie knew she didn’t want to live without God for all eternity. It had nothing to do with hell, really. It was all about knowing she wanted to be clean.

  She wished she had a chance to live life as a Christian. She sat on the box with her head bowed forward and gradually became aware of another presence with her. It wasn’t the fish. It was something warm and approving that spread from her heart outward, warming her hands, her toes.

  Is that you, God?

  She was afraid to hope. But if this was death, she would welcome it. Gladness radiated through her, a joy that warmed her even more. Her only regret was for Bree and her dad. Without her pushing, she doubted Bree would ever go see their father.

  It was getting harder to suck the air from her tank. How would death come? Would she claw at the tank, maybe even rip it off? Or would her vision just grow darker until she blanked out? She tried to take shallow breaths, conserve the air. Speckles danced in her vision like tiny, brightly colored fish.

  She dragged desperately at her mouthpiece. This was it. God was waiting for her.

  Salome tugged at Bree’s arm and pointed to the bubbles coming from below. There weren’t many, but she could see them. They both began to swim down to where they seemed to be coming from the ground. Only as they drew nearer did Bree realize it was a sunken ship, half buried in the silt.

  Three minutes now. Another seven and she’d have to go up. The cold numbed her, making it hard to think, to move. They paused above the deck of the ship, and Bree pointed t
o the door. It was blocked by two heavy rocks. She moved forward and Salome followed. Between the two of them, they managed to shove the rocks away from the door.

  Bree couldn’t see the bubbles anymore. Were they too late? Dragging hard on her regulator, she wrenched at the door. It finally opened, but it was too dark to see clearly inside. Salome flipped on her flashlight and shone it inside. The beam illuminated Cassie’s face, eyes closed behind her mask. She floated freely inside, moving with the eddies created when the door opened.

  Bree darted in, moving her flippers as fast as she could. She pulled the regulator from Cassie’s mouth. Bree grabbed the octopus regulator on her tank and pressed the purge button, then thrust it into Cassie’s mouth. She shook her sister.

  Breathe! Breathe!

  Cassie’s eyes opened groggily. She inhaled, and her bleary gaze found Bree’s. Her eyes closed again.

  Where was the door? Bree found it hard to think, to move. Movement wavered in her vision. Salome grabbed her arm and pointed. They swam out of the sunken vessel. Bree stopped swimming and tried to clear her head. Which way was up? The cold had settled into her bones. She couldn’t concentrate.

  With Salome on one side of Cassie and Bree on the other, Salome pointed and Bree followed her directions, swimming slowly to the surface.

  Bree’s head broke the wave. Her limbs felt like cold lumps of clay, but she forced herself to swim toward the boat. Cassie. She had to get Cassie to safety.

  “You can do it,” Salome panted. “Keep your legs moving.”

  “Sleepy,” Bree mumbled. She just wanted to close her eyes for a few minutes.

  “Move, Bree. Kick!”

  Salome was shouting in her ear, and Bree just wanted her to be quiet and let her rest. She could swim in a minute. But with Salome screaming at her, she kicked out weakly. And again. Finally she was at the boat’s side.

  Salome looped Cassie’s arm through the ladder. “Hold her!” She scrambled up the ladder and grabbed Cassie’s arms. “Help me, Bree.”

  Bree forced herself to focus. She had to help her sister. As if from a distance, she gathered every ounce of strength and shoved Cassie. With a final tug, Salome got Cassie aboard the boat. She turned and held out her hand to Bree.

  Bree couldn’t hold on to the ladder anymore. Her muscles wouldn’t respond to her commands. She tried to kick, but it was as if she were paralyzed. Drifting away from the boat, she swallowed a mouthful of water. Her head submerged. She’d just sleep awhile. Dimly, she heard Salome shouting at her. Why did she shout so much? It was getting tiresome.

  Just when she was beginning to feel warm, she heard a splash. She felt something on her face. Charley. He licked her again, then his teeth clamped on the shoulder strap of her swimsuit and he struck out confidently toward the boat. She tried to put her arms around him. Good dog, good boy. She’d use him as a pillow.

  Her head touched the boat, then Salome grabbed her by the hair. Bree winced and fought weakly.

  “Grab the ladder,” Salome panted.

  Bree reached out and grabbed the ladder.

  “Now put your foot on the step and push up. You’ve got to help me.”

  The pain in her hair helped sharpen her senses. She couldn’t feel her foot, but when she tried to stand, she found herself going up, so she must have found the step somehow. Seconds later she was lying on the bottom of the boat with the warm sun beating down on her face. Cassie lay gasping beside her, her face white.

  “Samson,” Bree muttered. But it wasn’t Samson, was it? Her dog was missing.

  “I’ve got him.” Salome hauled the wet dog into the boat.

  He shook himself, then whined. He licked her face. Bree wrapped her arms around Charley and pulled him on top of her. “You saved my life, boy.” He whined again and nuzzled her face.

  “I’ll get blankets.” Salome stumbled past her to the storage compartments under the wheel. She pulled out a blanket. “There’s only one. Both of you curl up together. We’ve got to get you warm.”

  Bree still couldn’t feel her body, but she managed to scoot over beside her sister. Cassie turned her head and looked at Bree.

  “I thought I was dead,” she whispered.

  “I thought you were too,” Bree admitted.

  “I met God down there,” Cassie murmured. “You’re right. He goes into the deep with us. He saved me.”

  Was she hallucinating? Bree smoothed her sister’s hair back from her face as Cassie’s lips turned in a beatific smile. “What are you saying, sweetie?”

  “God was there. I felt him. And he answered my prayer. He saved me.”

  “I’m sure he sent us,” Bree agreed.

  “No, you don’t understand. He saved me. I wasn’t afraid to die anymore. You were right, Bree. About everything. He was what I was searching for all along.”

  “He’d been searching for you,” Bree corrected. “You were finally ready to be found.”

  Bree stood out under the stars and watched the lake. Inside, Anu hovered over Cassie with hot tea and cookies. There was still no sign of their father, though the folder had been retrieved. She needed to think about things, figure this out. Their father—no, her father—was depending on her. So was Samson.

  She felt like wailing herself—just sitting down in this patch of moonlight and howling like a three-year-old. Samson had always been her comforter. She wanted to bury her face in his fur and smell his doggy scent. To hear the sound of his bark and run her fingers through his curly hair. She’d never complain about the dog hair on the furniture again.

  If she could just get him back.

  And her father wanted to leave his legacy with her, to share what was left of his life. How could she find him, and without Samson’s help?

  She heard a sound and turned to see Kade coming across the yard. He pulled her against his chest, and she burrowed close.

  “You need to get some rest,” he said.

  “I’ll rest when my dad is home,” Bree said. “The rest of the team should be here, and we’ll search for him.”

  “Wait until morning. I’m sure he’s inside and safe.”

  “We don’t know that.”

  The back door opened, and Mason stepped under the porch light. “You out here, Bree?”

  “I’m here. Anything on Samson?”

  “Nope. I just heard from Montgomery. His sector is clear. He’s been to every house he can find. Nothing. I’m sure you’ll understand—I had to pull him off Samson’s trail to help with Bernard’s case. No new leads there either, though.”

  Bree nodded, squeezed her eyes shut, and pinched the bridge of her nose. “What’s next?”

  “It’s hard to say,” Mason said staunchly. “It’s been several weeks, Bree. Samson may not even be in this area anymore.”

  “What if they’ve killed him?” Bree could hardly bear to voice her anguish and fear.

  “Stop it, Bree!” Kade took her by the arms and shook her. “Have some faith. God will help us here.”

  “God doesn’t always stop bad things from happening,” she whispered. “I don’t think I can go through this again. Looking, always looking. First Samson, and now my dad.” She finally gave in to the tears, rubbing her eyes like Davy did when he cried.

  Kade hugged her close. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “I think we’ll find them both, Bree. Don’t give up now.”

  Bree pulled away. “I’ll never give up—never!” she cried.

  “I know,” Kade soothed. “Let’s keep looking.”

  Bree sat on a chair and rubbed her throbbing head. She had to think this through. Emotion wouldn’t find her dad or Samson. It was going to take some sleuthing. “I still think Dad’s disappearance—and maybe even Samson’s—is connected to the lab somehow.”

  Kade sat beside her. “How could it be?”

  “I don’t know. It’s just all these strange things started happening when the lab came to town. I know it makes no sense, but let’s detail what we know.” Any action was better than sittin
g around waiting for results. Bree grabbed a pen and pad from her backpack. “Okay, someone killed Phil Taylor. Samson was taken. He was definitely a target, since it took more than one attempt to snag him. Cassie’s prescription was tampered with, and someone broke into her house. The intruder came back a second time when Cassie was home, and this time shot at her and chased her into the woods. Now my dad is missing, and some file containing the scribbles of a half-delusional man is the only ransom the kidnapper has demanded.”

  “Is it possible Samson was stolen to get you off of Phil’s case?” Mason put in. “Maybe that was a distraction.”

  “Maybe,” Bree conceded. “I’d like to believe whoever has him isn’t mistreating him. But if that’s the case, then who took those other dogs? And why?”

  Silence. It seemed impossible to try to connect Samson and the violence against the scientists together. “Let’s get back to searching,” she sighed, putting her pen and paper away. “This is getting us nowhere.”

  “No more tonight, Bree. The deputies are exhausted and so are you. We’ll hit it first thing in the morning. Nothing makes sense when you’re tired.”

  Have some tea,” Anu said, holding out a cup.

  “Is everyone else asleep?” Bree asked. “You shouldn’t have waited up.” She’d stayed out under the stars with Kade for several hours. He’d prayed with her, and she felt enough peace to rest for a few hours.

  “I couldn’t sleep. All day I have prayed for you, your father, and for our Samson. I’ve struggled to find peace in this, kulta. I have been filled with a sense of urgency. You must find Samson. Soon. My heart feels he is in grave danger.”

  Bree’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m trying, Anu. Keep praying. What about my father?”