Page 14 of Crash Over Us
“Base, we need law enforcement to take in five. Ready them at base. Over.”
“Coast Guard Cutter. Confirmed. Chopper will be in the air. Police are en route. Over.”
One of the first lessons we learned at the academy was star navigation. We used to joke about it. But after tonight, I’d never joke about using the stars to find my way back home. I looked up and located the Big Dipper. I saw the pink shimmer of Venus. I knew exactly which way to steer home. To steer toward Margot.
EIGHT
Margot
I heard Josie scream for me to stop running, but there was nothing short of a twenty-foot wall that was guarded by a pit of snakes that would keep me from running toward where I thought Caleb would come back to me.
She wasn’t the only one screaming my name. The poor security guard who knew her from high school was after me too.
I squeezed my body through the gap in the gate and sprinted toward his barracks. As I ran, I wondered if I should go to the docks instead. I took a sharp left, but then regretted it when I saw the silhouettes of several Coastguardsmen running toward me.
One held a flashlight pointed directly at my face, blinding me.
“Ouch.” I held my hands to shield my eyes. I tried to back up, but there was no way I could escape with a spotlight on me. Where was I going to go?
I heard radio static and a brief conversation. “We have her here. Threat has been contained.”
Threat? Who did they think I was? A prankster teenager, trying to complete a dare? I felt like I was fighting for my life out here. For Caleb’s.
“Please,” I begged. “Don’t make me leave. You can’t. I have to stay.”
They walked toward me.
“At least drop the flashlight. You’re burning my retinas,” I whined.
“Margot? Is that you?”
I recognized Fletcher as soon as he dropped the light. We had met at one of the bonfire parties the Coast Guard regularly through on the beach, unsanctioned, of course. The other sailor seemed stunned we knew each other.
“Fletcher? Thank God someone who knows me.”
“What the hell are you doing?” he asked.
“I’m here because of Caleb.” I glared at him.
“Right. Stupid question. I just didn’t expect the person to bust past Charlie at the gate to be you.” He scratched the back of his head.
His colleague glanced at him. “What do we do with her now?”
I had a chance to make my case with someone who knew Caleb and me. “I know they’re out there looking for Caleb. You’ve got to let me stay. I can’t sit at home while he’s…” I couldn’t finish the sentence.
Fletcher and the other guy exchanged a look. I couldn’t tell if it was one of sympathy or one to signal they thought I was insane.
“I have orders to take you back out to the main gate,” he stated.
“Isn’t there someone who can give me permission to stay?” I pressed. “I’ll stay out of the way. I swear. I can’t leave. I just can’t.” I knew even if they tried to kick me out, I’d stand in front of the gate until I saw Caleb. I would sleep on asphalt or a sand dune.
Fletcher nodded. “There is, but the base is in emergency mode. I can radio over and see if Guthrie will see you.”
I nodded. “Yes. Will you?”
“Hold on a minute.” He put a hand up. “But what he says goes. You understand? There’s nothing I can do if he says you have to be escorted off base. It is his decision.”
I had a twinge of hope. “Of course. I’ll be so quiet. No one will know I’m here.”
