Detective Collins radioed for the police boat, and Ben called the Coast Guard. Cementing Ben’s fear, Avery West had said that Vine had taken Lainie aboard his boat and planned to dump her out in the ocean.
“He don’t have anything left to lose,” West said. “He says that she ruined his life. He wants revenge. I tried to talk him out of it, but he’s set.”
“Has he been living on your boat?”
West nodded. “He came to me a couple of weeks ago, said Crystal had betrayed him, and he had nowhere else to go. I owed him.”
“Why do you owe him?”
West said nothing.
“Don’t you talk, Uncle. Don’t say anything without a lawyer.”
Ben turned to see Callen West jogging toward them.
“What do you have to do with this?” Ben stepped between Avery and Callen.
“I’m protecting my uncle.”
“Your uncle is protecting a murderer.”
“Dallas Vine is not a murderer. He’s helped my family my whole life. He’s a good man, and you people are trying to frame him. You guys have him cornered. He’s reacting, but he’s not a killer.”
“Callen, Dallas Vine kidnapped a police officer. If you know something that will help us rescue her, now is the time.”
“What? You’re crazy, he would—”
“He would.” Avery stood. “It’s time for all the lies to stop.”
“Uncle, don’t talk.”
“Quiet, I need to talk. I should have talked a long time ago. He’s gonna take her far out, somewhere between here and Catalina, and dump her. It’s a fast boat. You need to hurry if you’re going to stop him.”
Just then the police boat zoomed into the marina.
Ben knew that their jurisdiction ended where the harbor ended. They needed the Coast Guard, but would they get to Lainie in time?
He turned to Shea. “Your boat can’t leave the harbor because of jurisdiction issues, but can it get me to the Coast Guard boat before it leaves the harbor?”
“I’ll ask.” Shea pulled out his radio. After a short conversation, Shea apprised them of the situation. “They’ll take you on board.”
Ben then turned to Avery. “Is there more you want to tell me?”
West began to talk.
Ben listened, amazed at what he was hearing, soaking it all in until the police boat arrived and took him on board.
The Coast Guard Base Los Angeles/Long Beach was located at Terminal Island, so the guard did not have far to go. When the police boat reached the harbor mouth, the Coast Guard cutter waited. The 175-foot ship was impressive, and the sight invigorated Ben with hope. In a few minutes he was on the deck, bracing against the wind, and they motored into open ocean.
He was glad to be on the ship and moving forward, but he felt useless. Yeah, Catalina was only twenty-six miles away as the crow flew, but finding Vine and his craft between here and there could prove difficult in the open sea.
There was nothing he could do but pray that they found Vine’s boat in time.
CHAPTER 67
The yacht picked up speed quickly. As it bounced over the swells, Lainie fought her rising fear. She’d been through every square inch of the closet, and there was nothing she could use for a weapon. The only thing she had working in her favor was the element of surprise. They would not be expecting her to be free.
She picked up the rope she’d dropped. When they came to the door, she’d have her hands behind her back like she was still tied up. She hoped they didn’t have the Taser with them. That was something she could not fight against.
