At the sound of the fight, Maddy camecrashing out from below deck. Dylan went to grab Maddy as ahostage, but he underestimated her swiftness, and she slipped outfrom his grasp and bashed the heel of her hand straight into hisnose.
As he grabbed for his bleeding nose, her kneecame straight up and nailed him in the groin.
Expletives streamed from Dylan’s mouth as hetried to recover. He stood up far enough to go for Maddy, but hedidn’t see Chase until it was too late.
Chase grabbed him and flung him to the backof the boat. Before he could stand, Chase was on him, pummeling himmercilessly.
Blood pouring out from his nose, Dylan wentlimp as he lost consciousness. Pulling himself away, Chase turnedback to Maddy, ensuring she was ok.
35
Blinking his eyes, Chase shook off the rage andlooked down at his bloodied knuckles. He glanced up at Maddy, hiseyes still crazed, jaw twitching. “Chase, it’s ok. I’m here.”
She watched his eyes warming as he realizedshe was unharmed. He stood a few feet away, wearing nothing but at-shirt and briefs, soaked to the skin, covered in goosebumps. Therain poured over him. He gradually released his tightly clenchedfists, a slow smile of relief building as he looked at Maddy.
Maddy smiled as relief flooded her senses.He’d come. He outswam a sailboat in a storm to get to her. Shepulled her handcuffs from her uniform and cuffed Dylan’s wristsbehind his back. She then rolled him onto his side and grabbed zipties from his back pocket. She secured zip ties tightly around hisfeet for good measure.
Area secure, she flung herself into Chase’swaiting arms. Looking up, she captured his gaze with her own,“Thanks for coming to get me.”
“It was a nice night for a cruise.” Hesmirked back at her, then leaned them together against thecaptain’s chair to steady them against the rocking of the boat.
His lips were as freezing as the rest of himat first, but quickly warmed as he kissed her. He gently exploredher mouth, pressing soft kisses along her lower lip, then held herclose again, resting his forehead against hers. “Maddy, I love youso much. I don’t ever want to be as scared again as I was tonight.”Maddy shuddered in his arms, letting the tears come. “I’m sosorry.” She allowed herself another minute to cry, clutched tightlyagainst the man she loved.
Within a minute, she shook away the fear, theanger, and pulled back, remembering where she was. “I love you too.Let’s get the hell out of here. I can’t spend another minute onthis boat.” She looked up and saw Aiden waiting alongside, as closeas he could without their boats colliding in the waves.
“Hey, sis. You ok?” His relief was evident ashe saw she was safe and unharmed.
“All good. Thanks for coming; I wasn’tfancying swimming back to shore in this storm At night,” she joked,eyes puffy from her brief crying jag. She was done crying becauseof Dylan. Ready to live her life.
Aiden shook his head in relief. “Let’s getthe hell home,” he glanced at the sailboat, debating what to do.“I’ll contact Andrea and let her know you’re ok. I’ll have her meetus at the dock. Why don’t you hop on over? Toss your prisoner inback here; we’ll make good time. The coast guard is about threeminutes out; they can take care of the sailboat.”
“Absolutely. Get me off this boat. I hatesailing.” Aiden got the boat as close as he could, and when thewaves brought the boats steady alongside for a moment, Maddy leapedacross into her father’s boat. Dylan’s limp, but still living bodylanded on the floor near her with a thud after Chase had thrown himover. She tried not to enjoy that so much, but it was tough. Just asmall revengeful moment.
Then, as the waves aligned just right again,Chase jumped the gap and landed next to her. “Let’s go home.” Heleaned over, picking up his dry clothes.
Maddy sat under the cover across from Aiden,but kept the pistol she’d nabbed trained on Dylan, not risking himcoming to anytime soon. Chase kicked open the cabin door, thenducked inside to get dressed, replacing the soakedunderclothes.
Aiden laughed as his friend surfaced in hisdry clothes. “You are totally nuts. How the hell did you swim likethat in the middle of a storm?”
Chase smiled, “The North Sea. The coast ofMaine in summer is downright balmy by comparison.”
When they finally pulled into the marina,Aiden pulled the boat smoothly into the slip. Andrea and a fewother officers were waiting at the dock. Maddy nodded at her bossas she tossed her the line.
Andrea smiled. “Nicely done Officer. Youok?”
Maddy smiled back, “Yeah, I’m good.” Dylanstirred at her feet, for the first time since Chase had knocked himout. “You guys want to take care of this thing, so I don’t have tolook at it any longer?” Maddy happily watched as the nearby medicspulled Dylan out of the boat and wheeled him to the ambulance, withtwo police officers running alongside, while reading him hisMiranda rights.
She smiled. “Be happy to.” Andrea holleredover the Mike, “Mind making a few calls? Let the Coast Guard knowit’s no longer a rescue op, but an impound?” She looked back toMaddy, “While you were out for a sail, we kept digging. Found anempty slip, recently registered to a Darren Mayhew. Mayberry’sparent’s sailboat is currently missing, not in its registeredslip.”
Chase nodded, “Reported stolen?”
“Actually, no. Said they’d loaned it to anold friend but refuse to disclose more.” Andrea nodded, mouth drawntight. “So, they may know about this whole situation more thanthey’re letting on.”
Chase hopped out of the boat and leaned downto Maddy to lend a hand. Exhausted, wrists and ankles aching fromher bindings, she gratefully accepted the hand. He pulled hertoward him as she stepped up to the dock. Before she could crumble,his strong arms wrapped around her. She relinquished and let himsupport them both.
She nodded at her boss. “I’d like to be donewith this whole thing. I know its late, but can we finish uptonight?”
Andrea nodded, “I need to get yourstatements, it can wait until morning…” she trailed off as Maddyshook her head, refusing to ruin her morning. Needing to be donewith it.
