Steve tossed his officer-in-charge the handheld transceiver, and with thumbs up all the way around, the five divers expertly deflated their buoyance compensators and exhaled. Inclining their bodies, they went into a controlled descent.
The woman heading the team led them directly to the initial crate, where the first set of floats were attached, inflated, and the bundle sent up.
The team repeated that action four more times, with Buck catching it all on video so there would be no doubt exactly where the contraband had come from.
In that regard, after locating and sending the last crate skyward, the five took the requisite safety stops on the way up, broke the surface, then went straight to the ladder of the cutter, beckoning Buck to follow.
He got it. More footage would be needed as the crates were opened.
While they’d been under, Steve, Bobbie, and even Tabitha and Spencer had switched locations over to the cutter, and they were all standing on deck, along with a few more people who were clearly border patrol and Canadian authorities.
Luckily, Drew and Jeff were nowhere to be seen, which was a good thing. Buck didn’t want either one of those miscreants anywhere near Bobbie.
“This looks like it could be quite a haul,” Steve emoted, clearly enjoying himself.
One of the border patrol people agreed. “It sure seems like it. But now it’s time to seeexactlywhat’s been being sent across our boundaries illegally.”
Buck watched Bobbie chewing on her bottom lip, but she had to know she wasn’t in any kind of trouble.
“It’s okay,” he mouthed to her, and she nodded.
Everyone knew she’d been used by her siblings, and with the way things had unfolded, there was no need, now, to even take her intoboguscustody. The authorities had their perps, and Bobbie was in the clear for being key to taking them down because they’d made it look like a routine customs stop.
One of the border agents procured a crow bar and was prying open the first case.
“Beer,” he said as he peered in. “But it looks like it’s only one layer deep. The bottles are sitting on shredded cardboard.” He began handing the brew to other hands who were standing by, then removed the soggy packing material, throwing it to the deck.
Underneath, were…
“We’ve got it,” the man’s voice rose triumphantly while Buck filmed the whole thing.
Beneath the single layer of bottles, were row upon row of neat plastic packaging filled with off-white powder. Even not having proof of what kind of drugs they contained, it was enough to get the rest of the ball rolling.
Steve made a call as the other cases were pried open, then turned to everyone as he hung up.
“Warrants are being procured as we speak, and this whole thing should be wrapped up within the next hour or two. Good job, everyone.”
Cheers went up from the various crews, then the Border Patrol agents—with the help of several Coasties—transferred the contraband from the cutter to their ship. They’d be in charge of the investigation from here on out.
Good riddance.
Buck never wanted to see those crates or Bobbie’s brothers again, but… He couldn’t have all his wishes come true. There’d be a trial and Bobbie would inevitably have to testify. Which meant Buck would have to suck it up, because nothing would stop him from being by her side while the two Follsters got put away.
Bobbie came over and snugged up close to his side. “It’s all over then?” she asked.
“Pretty much,” he agreed.
She squinted up at him in the sun. “Does that mean we can leave?”
“I don’t see why not,” he returned.
“Good. Because I’ve already talked to Tabitha. She and Spencer are going to take the sub back to home base, which means…” She batted her eyelashes.
“…it’s just you and me on the Small Dream,” Buck finished.
“Mmm, hmm,” she confirmed, leaning closer. “And someone promised me that if I was patient, a little ‘something’ might be on the table.”
“Alittlesomething?” Buck quipped, kissing her on her neck and inhaling the fresh, ocean scent that clung to her skin. “I think we can do better than that, and… on the table, on the deck, in the bed…we can manage things anyplace you like. If you think you’re up to it.” He glanced worriedly down at her leg.
