“What gives?” Rob asked.
“Penelope’s in trouble. I need you to show me the fastest way there. Are there any reefs I’ve got to watch out for?”
“Just here.” He pointed to the map. “Follow this channel and you’ll be fine.”
Sam had never pushed his boat so hard. The engines roared and his passengers held on as he crashed over the waves.
He had to get to Penelope. If those bastards hurt her, nothing would stop him from hunting them down. He should have gone after them yesterday.
The boat crashed over another wave and the radio squawked again. “Mayday, mayday. Parks and Wildlife boat Victor Sierra Foxtrot. My boat is sinking. Request immediate assistance from any vessel nearby.”
She was alive.
Good. She could swim, and she’d have a life vest on. The bastards must have just damaged her boat.
Then the words from her first mayday sank in.
Whale carcass.
There’d be dozens of sharks around the body, and she’d be in the water with them when her boat went under.
He accelerated as fast as he dared.
Murray and Grant. He’d kill them.
He scanned the water, searching for the boat, and spotted the birds circling about a kilometre away.
Sam grabbed the binoculars and handed the wheel over to Rob. There had to be more boats out here, closer than he was.
Nothing.
If the police had launched into action, they would still be getting to the marina. They couldn’t help her.
But maybe Jasmine could give him eyes.
He snatched the radio and called, “Jasmine, are you still flying?”
“Just doing the last sunset flight of the day,” she replied.
“I need your help. PAWS called in a mayday. I’m heading there now, but still some distance away. Can you fly north and report on the situation? You should be able to see the birds flying over a whale carcass.”
“Roger that. I’ve been avoiding the birds, but I’m nearby.”
Sam clutched the radio, waiting for her report.
“Boat is going under. One person is in the water. Looks like they’ve made a raft of life jackets. A couple of sharks are circling.”
Nothing he could do except pray. “Roger.”
“I’ll stay overhead until they make it to the raft.”
He jolted. “She’s not on the raft?”
“No, she’s swimming to it.”
And the sharks were circling her. Fuck.
“I’ll have to slow when I get to her,” Rob said. “If there’s space, I’ll go between her and the whale. It should be enough to scare the sharks away while we get her on board.”
