Chapter 31
Beckett barged in. “I think this is the last of the boxes? I want to run down and meet Luna on shore. We’ll come back in a bit to get our things.”
Sarah put down the pen. “Oh Beckett, I didn’t think about that. This is momentous isn’t it, you and Luna on shore together? That’s really great.” She came around the counter to hug him.
Rebecca walked in. “Are we hugging goodbye already?”
Beckett said, “Not really, I’ll be back for my things, but yeah, I guess we are hugging goodbye.”
Sarah was misty-eyed. “Beckett’s sea maiden is beckoning from the shore, and his hot self with his tattooed arms and dimpled smile plans to rush into her arms and leave us for good.”
Rebecca pretended to sob. “Beckett’s leaving us?” She shook her head solemnly and held his shoulders. “You were the kind of hot that was epically good to have around, Beckett.”
He rolled his eyes, “Guys, you’re objectifying me again.”
Rebecca said, “I will never have as good looking an army guy to carry my test tubes.” She sighed deeply. “You take care of yourself, if you need an ocean biologist to . . . I don’t know, explain the cycle of fish life, give me a call.”
“Definitely Rebecca, It’s been really good getting to know you all—”
Behind them Jeffrey, then Dr Mags entered the lab and joined the circle hugging Beckett goodbye when Dan shoved through the door. “The police are talking to your girl.”
They rushed to the railing. A police boat was at the end of the dock, two police officers stood in the shadows of the ship with Luna between them. Beckett called down, “What’s going on?”
The police officer on the left glanced up, then ignored him.
Beckett climbed down the ladder as Luna’s voice rose. “— It’s mine, it belongs to me!”
On the bottom rung Beckett leapt to the submerged rooftop and splashed across in a run. One of the police officers yanked Luna’s paddle from her grip.
Beckett yelled, “Give that back, it belongs to her! What’s your name, your badge number?” He leapt to the dock as a police officer moved to block his way.
“I’m officer Capstone, what business have you got here?”
“She’s with me.”
The policeman shoved him backwards. “She’s not with you. She’s a Nomad, and she’s unregistered.”
Beckett stepped to the left. Officer Capstone blocked him, stepping close, his chest bowed out, eyes locked on Beckett’s face.
Behind Beckett Luna begged, “Please don’t, please.” The other police officer brought his heel down on Luna’s paddle with force, breaking the handle in half.
Beckett shoved officer Capstone in the chest, hard, and rushed the officer holding the broken paddle. “That’s hers, you give it back.”
Two more police officers stepped onto the dock, causing Beckett’s attention to shift, and without warning Officer Capstone punched Beckett in the stomach.
Luna screamed as Beckett doubled over. He hadn’t seen that punch coming. He should have known better.
Officer Capstone swung again, an uppercut aimed for Beckett’s nose. When it connected, Beckett’s head jerked back with a blinding blast of pain. Blood rushed down the front of his face.
“Beckett!”
Beckett stumbled back three steps. A club swung down on his back, knocking him forward to his knees, and a boot shoved him face down to the wooden planks. His cheek smacked the ground with a thud. His arms were yanked behind and up, and his wrists were bound.
Luna pleaded, “Please, you’re hurting him! You’re hurting him!”
Beckett was facing right, Luna was on his left. He couldn’t see her. He was contorted, pressed face down. She sounded scared. She was begging, and he didn’t understand what was going on. None of this made sense. Plus the pain. Shooting pain blasted around his eyes. His forehead ached. His nose stabbed, full, his breathing labored — it all made him feel like he couldn’t calm down.
He yelled, “Luna! You okay?” His lips rubbed on the rough hewn wood of the dock, smeared in his blood. “Are you okay?”
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