“But you shot Denver,” I snap.
He freezes. Maybe he’s not as smart as he thinks he is. Then he tightens the straps on his rebreather, not even sparing me another glance. “You shouldn’t have been digging into things that weren’t yours to find. Just like Nathan.” He looks to the sky. “I hope you can see this, old friend. And I hope it hurts like hell.”
He’s delusional. And I’m not sure if he really cares if he lives or dies anymore.
Panic claws at my chest, threatening to consume me. There must be a way out, some way to stall him, to escape. My mind races, but every thought is drowned out by the sheer terror coursing through me. I finish suiting up, trying to be as prepared as possible for what awaits me below. But I don’t have all the gear I’ll need to survive long enough.
Mark yanks me to my feet, his grip iron, as he pulls me toward the edge of the boat. “Let’s go.” His voice is devoid of emotion.
I look down.
The blue hole is waiting for me.
Scott, please find me.
Chapter 36
Scott
Ms. Connor puts a throw over Crystal’s shoulder and sits beside her with her hand on her back.
“Scott, Crystal believes Mark has taken Maddie to Carter’s Drop to harm her.” Her forehead wrinkles with worry.
My first reaction is to storm to the docks. It’s Wes’s too because he pulls out his phone and walks into the kitchen, making calls. But, we need to know as much as possible before we go. I take a breath and crouch in front of Crystal.
“This is my fault. I didn’t know what Mark did to Nathan. If I had, I would have never…” Her voice cracks.
“It’s okay. None of us knew. Just breathe and start from the beginning. Anything might help.”
“Mark, Nathan, and I were college friends. We did everything together. Nathan was like a beacon, so brilliant. When he moved to Maverick Key, we followed him. Mark got a job with the Coast Guard, and I landed one at City Hall.” She takes a breath. “Mark and I dated for a little while. We were friends and he was so attentive. I thought I’d try.”
She takes the tissue she’d been holding and dabs her eyes. “But I never felt more than friendship with Mark. It was Nathan and I who grew closer. And we admitted to ourselves we were in love.” Her chin quivers. She takes a sip of water from the glass Ms. Connor offers her. “We told Mark right away. At first, he took it in stride. We hadn’t been intimate or agreed to a commitment, so it seemed we could still be friends. But then he distanced himself from me, saying it was too painful to be near me.” She squeezes her eyes. “He stayed friends with Nathan and helped him with the trips to the blue hole.” She grimaces and puts her hands on her stomach. “Nathan asked me to marry him, we…” She turns her gaze away as if she’s saying too much. “Then, I got pregnant. We kept that to ourselves. Nathan wanted to wait to share our relationship because he was concerned that someone dangerous was trying to sabotage his work. He didn’t want anyone to know I was important to him. No one knew, but Mark. Less than four weeks after I found out I was pregnant, Nathan was gone.” She stops. Quiet tears pour down her face. Taking another tissue from Ms. Connor, she blows her nose.
Ms. Connor rubs her back. “Crystal, dear, when you’re ready, please go on.”
“I was so lost, I couldn’t pay my bills, and I was heartbroken. There were complications with the pregnancy. Mark offered to marry me and take care of us. To be a father to another man’s baby. I said yes and thought we could make it work for Natalie. After Mark realized I would never love him in the way he wanted me to, he changed. He became controlling, and sometimes he would—” She sobs, the tears now falling in heavy streams down her face. Ms. Connor hugs her.
She takes a few moments to compose herself, then she continues. “When Maddie came to the island, I wanted to meet her and have that connection with Nathan’s sister. But then I noticed how much Mark was keeping an eye on what Maddiewas up to. It seemed so strange since he also kept avoiding her when she tried to see him. He was furious when he found out I approached her at the general store and—” She touches her cheek. “It clicked. I just knew. Mark had hurt Nathan. My guess is he sabotaged his dive equipment. Mark was Nathan’s boat captain. He must have killed him and hid his body. Nathan would have never left us.” She cries harder. “A few days ago, I told Mark I was going to leave him. He called me about an hour ago. He was on a boat. I think he’s taking her to Carter’s Drop to hurt her. I’m so sorry I didn’t say something sooner.”
I hold her and rub her back. “It’s okay. None of this is your fault. We’re going to get her back and we’ll try to get him help.”
I stand. “Thank you, Crystal.” I look at Ms. Connor. “Take care of her.”
I nod to Wes. “Let’s get to the pier.”
My cell rings. It’s Margaret.
“Scott, theAdelineis gone.”
Waves beat against Wes’s boat like the second hand of a clock, counting down the time Maddie has left. We’re pushing the boat to the limits of how fast it can go. We don’t know how long they’ve been in the water, only that it’s been too long to feel good about her chances. Maddie’s life depends on us. On me. Wes and I already have our gear on and we’re just minutes away from the Drop.
Jamie hunches over the boat’s tracking equipment, his face illuminated by the faint glow of the screen. “Adelineis anchored right over Carter’s Drop. The Coast Guard’s en route right now, ready to assist us with surface rescue.”
“Jamie, Liam, board and take back theAdeline. Margaret will stay on Wes’s boat here for underwater and Coast Guard communication. Wes and I dive.”
Margaret adjusts her headset. “We’ve got eyes on everything up here. Just get her back. When you find her, let her know we love her and we’re waiting for her.”
I scan their faces, reading the same determination mirrored in my own. “Let’s move.”
