Silence.
Then I spot him. His head is tilted to the side, and his body has drifted toward the ceiling. His fins are still. The light in his hand points aimlessly as his arms move in slow, erratic reaching motions. His leg is wrapped around a line, the only thing keeping him from crashing into the limestone.
He’s completely disoriented, but he’s alive. We’ve got to get out of here, or we’re going to die.
Approaching him with caution, I catch his harness and yank him back into position. After I flush his suit, I try to talk to him. His eyes are still open, but he’s listless. Adjusting his torso to move his body parallel to the guideline, I push his light to point ahead and adjust his wing inflation and position.
Keeping my grip on his harness strap, I haul him back through the offshoot into the tunnel where Margaret is waiting.
My head is pounding, my fingers growing weaker, and it takes everything I have to keep my hold on Finn. Margaret grabs onto him, and together we drag him into the main tunnel. As we swim toward the exit, the water cools fast with the fresh flow. My breathing finally evens out. Margaret’s does too. Finn is conscious, but he’s out of it, mumbling incoherently.
He’s lucky to be here. We all are, I think darkly.
We cross paths with Scott a few meters from reaching the main cavern.
“Is he?” Scott asks.
“He’s alive,” I say.
“Great. Because I’m killing him when we reach the surface.”
CHAPTER 21
The Widow
Parking behind Scott’s truck, I turn off the engine and sit with my thoughts.
As an orphan, I learned early on not to let my emotions control me. Anger. Fear. Sadness. Controlling them has been my key to survival. Nothing good ever comes from committing to an action while you’re emotional. Expectations are also dangerous.
People will always disappoint you.
Hyperthermia.
As soon as I’d gotten the call from Maddie, I’d rushed to the inn.
Finn almost got everyone killed.
I’d given him the benefit of the doubt and trusted his initial kindness. The arrogant piece of shit nearly got the man I love killed—again.
Natalie has her father back. And Nathan and I have spent some of the best nights of our lives together. Not only are our nightly photo sessions bringing his memories back, piece by piece, but we’re also discovering a connection that’s even deeper.
There’s nothing like knowing—really knowing—what you have to lose and how quickly you can lose it to put things in perspective.
If there’s anything left of Finn when I get inside…
My phone rings. My boss.
He’s pausing our daily sample captures and all other diving activity. Fourteen more residents were admitted to the hospital for toxin exposure and jellyfish stings. He’s handing the reins over to the Feds. Consultation and analysis for us only.
NOAA has escalated this as an environmental emergency.
A cold fear brushes over my skin. The Navy and DARPA are involved now. It’s that serious. I respect authority, but I’m worried.
“Do you have any idea where Finn is?” my boss asks. “The mayor’s team has been trying to get him on the phone all day.”
They don’t know that Finn’s been at the hospital all afternoon, along with Nathan and Margaret, being treated for hyperthermia.
“He’s here at the Driftwood,” I say and leave it at that. I’ll let Finn explain his own shit to them.
