CAYMAN SUMMER (Taken by Storm) (28 page)

Kimbo69 says:
That sounds peaceful. You did this in front of all the paying customers?

Leesie327 says:
No. We were up front. Michael was driving the boat.

Kimbo69 says:
He defended you. That’s romantic.

Leesie327 says:
I brokered a truce. By the time we got out to the dive site, they were all business as usual.

Kimbo69 says:
Flakes.

Leesie327 says:
I don’t know. Maybe Dani believes the lies about us. Lots of people do.

Kimbo69 says:
Then they should keep it to themselves.

Leesie327 says:
No way I can argue that. Our missionaries go all over the world NOT keeping it to themselves.

Kimbo69 says:
What are you going to do if she starts in on you again?

Leesie327 says:
Smile and thank her for her concern. I don’t want her angry and bugging Michael. He’s with these people all the time.

Kimbo69 says:
Get God to zap her. You’re tight with Him.

Leesie327 says:
He’d say I’m supposed to love her.

Kimbo69 says:
Hah! You are crazy.

Leesie327 says:
Certifiable—crap—there’s noise in the restaurant. Somebody’s in there.

Kimbo69 says:
Maybe Jaz came home.

Kimbo69 says:
Leesie? Where are you?

Kimbo69 says:
Are you okay?

Kimbo69 says:
You’re scaring the panties off me.

Kimbo69 says:
If you don’t come back and answer me, I’ll never chat with you again.

Leesie327 says:
There’s a massive black guy in there scrubbing the counters down. I think it’s Aunty Jaz’s son.

Kimbo69 says:
The criminal?

Leesie327 says:
No one said he’s a criminal.

Kimbo69 says:
Get out of there now!!!!

Leesie327 says:
What if Jaz comes home, and he hurts her?

Kimbo69 says:
What if he hurts you?

Leesie327 says:
I’m going to go out back and call Michael.

Kimbo69 says:
Can’t you call someone closer? Like the police?
Leesie327 says:
Oh, yeah. I wonder if 911 works here. I could try that. President Bodden. I’ll call him. Right after Michael.

Kimbo69 says:
Go hide.

Kimbo69 says:
Get help from the neighbors.

Kimbo69 says:
You’re gone aren’t you?

Kimbo69 says:
Crap. girl. You better phone me.

Kimbo69 says:
What’s happening? I’m sitting right here. I’m not going anywhere until you tell me you’re okay.

Kimbo69 says:
Don’t do anything stupid.

Kimbo69 says:
Geeze—now you’ve even got me praying.

MICHAEL’S DIVE LOG – VOLUME 10

Dive Buddy:
the whole gang

Date:
07/03

Dive #:
--

Location:
Grand Cayman

Dive Site:
Jaz’s shack

Weather Condition:
late, windy

Water Condition:
kicking up white caps

Depth:
wish I knew

Visibility:
zero

Water Temp:
weird, I’m cold

Bottom Time:
too, too long

Comments:

When I steer the boat close enough to shore to get cell coverage on our way back in from the afternoon trip, I pick up a text from Leesie.

J’s son in rstrnt calling Pres B

Jaz’s son? Do I know Jaz has a son? I think so. What did they say about him? Restraining order? That’s it. He can’t come near his mother. No one ever said why. That’s why I was nervous about Leesie staying there. I forgot all about it as soon as I met Jaz. She’s overpowering. Did he hurt her? Threaten her? Where has he been? Why is he there now? Freak. I think Leesie’s alone.

I dial Leesie. Her phone goes straight to voicemail. She always forgets to charge it. Way to go, babe.

Or maybe the dude turned it off.

I try Jaz’s land line. It’s busy. Off the hook? Cut? Freak. Freak. Freak.

I push the boat into high gear.

I’m working today with Gabriel and Cooper. Alex drove Leesie back to Jaz’s for me while we dove this afternoon.

Cooper yells, “What are you doing? This is a no wake zone.”

“I think Leesie’s in trouble.” I toss him my phone and explain.

Gabriel joins us at the front, catches the gist of the situation. He examines the text. “Who’s Pres B?”

I concentrate on the steering the speeding boat. “The guy from her church.”

Cooper puts his hand on my shoulder. “Calm down then. He’s handling it.”

I shrug him off. “What if he’s not? What if she didn’t call? Or he didn’t pick up? I gotta get over there.”

Gabriel hands back my phone. “We’ll go, too. You might need us.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course, dude.” Cooper slaps my back and yells, “Hang on tight! We’re coming in hot!”

The divers in the back sit down and grab something.

Cooper gets his phone out of his dry bag and starts dialing the guys. He gets a hold of Brock who promises to have Ethan and Seth ready to go as soon as the boat touches the dock.

Gabriel grabs hold of an overhead bar for balance as I slam the boat through the cut in the reef and speed across the flat lagoon to the dock.

Dani’s there to catch the ropes and offload the divers. “Go, go! I’ve got this.”

Gabriel, Cooper and I tear out of the boat and up to the parking lot. Ethan, Seth, Brock, and Alex wait by my car.

Gabriel greets Alex with a hug. “Don’t worry, mi cielo. I’m sure we’ll be fine. See you later.”

Alex glares at him. “Like hell you will.”

“You’re not going.”

“And who’s going to stop me?”

Apparently not Gabriel. All the guys cram into my car, and I take off—heading North. It’s a mile or two longer, but there’s no traffic and the road is open so we can speed. Gabriel and Alex follow in his sleek red Porsche. I wish this bucket I’m driving had that kind of speed.

Ethan’s in the front seat beside me. I chuck my phone at him. “Keep trying to call her.”

The car is silent except for the sound of muted dialing and the obnoxious engine. I grow more and more tense. Grip the steering wheel so hard my knuckles turn white. My arms ache.

“Freak!” A slow car ahead blocks my progress. I pull into the oncoming lane and zoom around it. An approaching car lays on its horn and brakes hard.

“Watch it.” Seth yells as I whip back into my lane and the car I passed starts to honk.

I ignore him and press down on the gas, check the rearview mirror. Gabriel aims his Porsche at the gap in the middle of the road between the slow car and second car coming the other direction. He pulls up close behind me.

I focus on the road ahead. This piece of junk I’m driving shakes too much at 90 mph, so I ease it back to 85—keep it there the whole way.

I screech up to Jaz’s, bail out and sprint around back.

“Leesie?” I yell. “Are you here? Leesie!”

The porch is empty.

The living quarters, too.

I hear noise in the restaurant.

I burst through the door screaming, “Leesie!” with all the guys and Alex at my back.

Leesie and Aunty Jaz sit at a table eating fish.

I turn from them to find a massive black guy with a head full of dreds barreling down on us wielding a fish cleaver.

“No! No!” Leesie leaps up, gets between us. “It’s okay.” She backs hard into me and holds her hands up to ward off the guy. “Didn’t you get my text?”

“That’s why we’re here!” I hold my arms out to keep the guys back.

The fish guy backs off.

Leesie turns around. “Why didn’t you call?”

I grab her shoulders. “I did.” I shake her. “A thousand times.”

“Oh, no.” She sticks her hand in her pocket and pulls out her cell phone. It’s dead. “I didn’t realize. I’m sorry.”

I’m shaking I’m so upset. “I tried the landline, too.” I get a hold of myself, stop shaking her.

“Jaz has been using it.” She grabs my sweaty hands. “I thought you were still on the water.” She peaks around me at all the guys and Alex—fists clenched, panting—ready to defend her. Her face goes crimson. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“Well,” Aunty Jaz pipes up from her table, “now that you’re here, you can help celebrate. Junior’s come back to me—and he’ll make fish for you all.”

Junior smiles like Aunty Jaz. “Of course. Of course. Come in. We’re re-opening the shack tomorrow. You’re our first customers.”

I collapse at a table in the back and slump down on it. Hide my face in my hands. Leesie introduces everyone to Aunty Jaz and Junior.

A few minutes later, Leesie scoots a chair close to mine. She strokes my back. “I can’t believe I put you through that.”

“Freak, babe. It was hell.”

She combs my hair with her fingers. “I didn’t know my phone was dead.”

“You could have sent another text. Or left a phone message.”

“You’re right. I’m so stupid.” Her voice shakes.

I look up. She’s gone really pale. “Are you okay?”

“I am now.” She squirms close.

My arms encircle her. “Were you scared?”

Her head bobs up and down, bangs my chin. “I heard him in the kitchen, got a look—hid out back. Sent you the text. Called President Bodden. He was concerned and told me to stay put until he got here. He was fast—twenty minutes—but it seemed like forever.”

“He showed up by himself?” I rest my cheek on her head. It’s sweaty. Poor, babe.

“One of the members is a cop. He came, too. They told Aunty Jaz to stay put, but she got here about the same time.” Leesie puts her hand on my neck.

I cover it with mine. “They confronted him?”

She shrugs. “They made me stay in the cop car until it was safe.”

“Thank God, you’re okay.”

“They all left like five minutes ago. I should have called you, though. I wasn’t thinking. Will you forgive me?”

I kiss her forehead. “Uh-huh. I would have come anyway.”

“But not with the posse. I feel like a fool.”

“Are you kidding? They’re getting the best fish on the island. Look at them.” I loosen my grip on her so she can peak over my shoulder. “They’re loving it.”

“Where’s Dani?”

“She offloaded the boat, so we could leave right away.”

Her forehead wrinkles up. “Isn’t there a night dive scheduled?”

“Dani can guide it. They’ll find somebody to drive.” I squeeze her hand. “No big deal.”

She snuggles close to me. “It is a big deal. You should be really mad.”

“I know.” I release her hand and tip her head back so I can see her face. “I’m just glad you’re safe.”

She kisses me. “Thank you.”

“I love you.”

“I know.” She kisses me again.

Junior puts a plate of steaming fried fish on the table in front of me. “You want more, Sister Leesie?” He waits beside the table.

She lets me go and sits up. “I’m stuffed. Thanks.”

I bend over the plate, inhale the spices, suddenly starving. “Thanks, man.”

Junior grins. “You know my mum’s fish?”

I nod while I load up my fork and shove it in my mouth. I close my eyes and chew in bliss while the sweet, tender fish and crisp spicy coating party in my mouth.

Junior’s off frying more fish by the time I open my eyes and start digging for another bite.

“Oh, crap!” Leesie jumps up, knocking over her chair. “Kim!” She runs through the door into Jaz’s living quarters. I follow with my plate of fish.

Leesie’s laptop is dead, too. I plug it in for her and watch over her shoulder. Kim’s frantic. Steamed at first like I was, but calms down when the whole story comes out.

She wants to know Junior’s story. I do, too. Leesie let’s me eavesdrop.

The gist of it is he took his dad’s death hard. I can relate. Junior got mixed up with drugs, stole from Jaz, threatened her. She turned him in. The judge imposed a restraining order. He got probation and community service—left the island, ashamed, as soon as he could. Poor, Jaz. That must have killed her. He got a job frying fish in the Bahamas, cleaned up, worked hard. Came home when he heard about Jaz’s foot. He called his sister—homesick for news.

I bend over and kiss Leesie’s cheek. That could have been me if it wasn’t for her. I took my parent’s death hard. But she was there.