A little after ten, Hunter radioed to Avarua, requesting permission to enter the harbor and arrange for a dock. Before docking, we went over drawers and found some of Hunter’s identification documents and money he had stashed away for a rainy day. Liam and Bambi gave us a ride to the local police station. Avarua welcomed us with the wharf sidebars, shops, and open-air markets where folks bargained for handmade jewelry, art, and souvenirs. Some people wore a flamboyant headeimade out of flowers, and all of it against the vivid rainforest background.
At the station, still wearing bloodstained and torn clothes, we reported Tom’s attack. We learned that Tom, Garry, and Jack were wanted for racketeering and burglarizing a dozen boats and marinas in Samoa, Tonga, and the Cook Islands. The night Tom stole theNauti Guyand someone else’s boat, he and his crew left a security guard and a dispatched police officer in critical condition during the robbery.
Hunter provided the island’s location and warned that the men were armed. I notified the police about the black rock snakes in case Garry was still there. We also mentioned the discovery of the Treasure of Lima. There wasn’t any reason to hide it because when police arrived, they would see the loot on the beach.
It must have been a slow day because the chief of police asked us to wait while they gathered a team with a K9 crew to Teaku to make the arrest. This morning, when we were on our way to Avarua, I had suspected I would be back on Teaku soon, I was just not thinking it would happen on the same day.
While Hunter finished filling in the paperwork, I borrowed an iPhone from a detective and video called Tina on WhatsApp. When her excitement, punctuated by cursing, subsided, I gave her a short version of what had happened to me, and I promised I would provide more details soon. She complained that involving local authorities and Interpol in a missing person case in international waters was more complicated than filing taxes. I felt guilty for making Tina lose her mind with worry, so to make her feel better, I flipped the phone camera to Hunter and she instantly asked if he had a single brother.
Later, Bambi brought us a lunch of fish sandwich and fries, and a change of clothing, and took us to the hospital.
“You should go with Bambi to Liam’s place and wait for me there,” Hunter said, lacing up his shoes he had taken from theNauti Guy.
“We agreed that we don’t get separated.” I dried my hair with a towel after showering.
“Aren’t you a bit sick and tired of me by now?” he asked, his finger tugging on the new elastic bandages around his hand.
“Never.” I threw the towel on the bench.
In the afternoon, two boats with armed officers and three German shepherds raced to Teaku. We followed them on theNauti Guy. They instructed Hunter and me to remain on board until we were granted clearance to go to the island.
When we arrived, the dinghy was beached on the sand, and the island appeared to be deserted, minus Garry. The first thing I noticed as we entered the bay was the red scuba diving logo on Garry’s shirt against black rocks. He was there, probably afraid to make a move in the snake trap. It didn’t take much time for the dogs to find Tom and Jack, hiding in the shed. They gave up without a fight, and police escorted them off the island. When everyone had left, Hunter and I stayed in Teaku bay because we couldn’t just leave the loot on the beach for anyone to grab.Feck Orfewith Liam and Bambi bobbled near us. They came to help keep an eye on the Treasure of Lima.
Under the night sky, theNauti Guyswayed in the water, lullabying us. Hunter held me close, his hand on the curve of my waist, my head tucked against his shoulder. I wanted to live my new dream of exploring the still-vast ocean. Only this time, I wouldn’t venture out unprepared. And I wouldn’t be alone—Hunter would be by my side.
Someone once said that love could be found in unexpected places. Sometimes we went out searching for what we thought we wanted and ended up with what we were supposed to have. Only in my case, I got caught in a crazy storm and nearly died before plunging onto an island and straight into Hunter’s life. And now we were bound for life by blood, sweat, saltwater, and a touch of bat poop. What the future held for us was a puzzle, but together, Hunter and I would overcome challenges as deep as the ocean and perplexing as endless caves.
Epilogue
THREE YEARS LATER
The Caribbean morning sun warmed my skin through a tinted window of theTreasure Hunters. I blinked several times, staring at Hunter’s face, edged with hope and excitement. I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard his proposal. We talked about it many times, but I didn’t think he was seriously considering it. His eyes searched mine, and I was afraid the longer I didn’t give him the answer, the more he would think I was against it. I wasn’t. I was just surprised. And a bit scared, too. And a whole lot excited.
We were in St. Thomas Bay with a beautiful sliver of white sand lined with dozens of palm trees. The waters were always calm, providing the perfect spot for swimming and wading. The beach had a Shore Thing bar, and Just For Fun, a small place that rented umbrellas and chairs, SUPs and kayaks, and snorkeling gear.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked, leaning over the table in the gallery and taking his hands in mine. “This is a huge commitment.”
“Of course.” The corners of Hunter’s lips turned up. “I think it will be great for us.”
“Well, yeah.” I laughed. “Let’s do it.”
I slid from the booth, careful not to bump my five-month pregnant belly on the table corner, and circled to Hunter’s side, where I climbed on his lap to kiss him but stopped.
“Wait a minute, why are you suggesting it now?” I peered into his eyes, my hands loosely looped around his neck.
After Hunter and I had placed the Treasure of Lima discovery into motion with officials and found a good lawyer to represent us, we left the Cook Islands. He sold Edward’s business, and I sold my parents’ house, and we bought a new home—a sixty-five-foot sailboat, theTreasure Hunters, and explored the world. By the way, three years ago, I knew diddly squat about sailing, and now I was an exceptional captain.
As soon as news broke about the discovery of the Treasure of Lima, Hunter received numerous offers to buy Teaku. Per the original purchase agreement, he couldn’t sell it for another few decades, so he leased the island for a handsome sum of money for the next ten years to a treasure enthusiast who built a small eco-friendly adventure camp with an option to renew it. A third of the profit it brought us, we donated to several ocean cleanup nonprofits.
My phone vibrated on the table, its screen filled with Tina’s smiling face, wearing sunglasses and a large beach hat. With some regret (because it was rude to disregard friends), I pushed the ignore button because Hunter and I were having a vital conversation that could and would change the course of our lives.
“So tell me why we are talking about this now?” I asked, looking back at Hunter’s handsome face.
My phone came back to life again. Tina. The universal rule of calling twice in a row in case of emergency applied to our friendship.
“Go ahead, answer it.” Hunter smiled and tilted his head at my iPhone, relaxing against the seat’s cushioned back as if we were discussing a grocery list and not our future.
“Hey, are you okay?” I answered the call.
