Night Waves (15 page)

Cali found Mrs. Mayes’s cottage without getting lost, which amazed her, considering she had driven on ten different roads to get here. Prepared to convince Mrs. Mayes to seek shelter, Cali pulled into the drive.

She stepped out, and a wind gust blew sand into her eyes. She squinted, trying to see past the gritty, painful specks. She rushed to the porch and pounded on the door, waited a moment, and then knocked again.

Mrs. Mayes didn’t answer.

Cali stepped around to the back of the cottage, and her cell phone rang. “Hello?” She rubbed her achy eyes, trying to clear them.

“Hey. It’s me,” Nick’s voice sent a wave of warmth through her. She was struggling to hold onto her anger after his heartfelt apology earlier, but found it difficult as she heard the welcoming sound of his voice.

“Hey. Mrs. Mayes isn’t answering her door.”

“She just called. Her oldest son has already taken her off the island. Sorry I didn’t know before. I could’ve saved you a trip.”

Relieved Mrs. Mayes was safe, Cali blew out a breath. “It’s all right. I’m just glad she’s somewhere safe, and with someone who loves her.”

“That’s where I want you to be,” his voice softened close to a whisper.

“Where? Somewhere safe or with someone who loves me?” Her heartbeat intensified as she waited for an answer.

“Both. Come on in to the station Cali. I’ll be out on calls for most of the afternoon, but I’ll be there later.”

The warmth that had spread through her when she had first heard his voice returned in full force. “I’ll see you later then.”

“Drive safe,” he said, and then hung up.

Nick’s implied words echoed through Cali’s head, and she could not focus on the drive back across the island. He wanted her to be with someone who loved her. He wanted her to be with him. Did that mean that he loved her? The realization struck, leaving her reeling and lightheaded. She had arrived on the island looking for Serena, and had found love along the way. Or, had she? Only this morning, Nick had accused her of leaking information to the press. Yes, he had apologized for jumping to conclusions, but he obviously didn’t put much trust in her.

Cali bit her lower lip. Balancing her countless emotions had taken a toll on her. She was terrified she would never see Serena again, and afraid she would allow her feelings for Nick to interfere with her search. But, she loved him, and wanted him to love her back. She blew out a breath, trying to sort out her swirling emotions. Lord, please help. Please bring Serena back. Please let Nick love me.

As her thoughts scattered, so did her sense of direction. Cali was lost before she realized she had taken a wrong turn. She pulled into a gas station to study the directions Nick had given her. It didn’t help. She would have asked a gas station employee for directions, but the boarded windows and doors indicated the station was closed.

Picking up her cell phone, she dialed her dad’s number, needing direction in more ways than one.

“Stevens here.”

“Dad? It’s good to hear your voice.” Cali let the engine idle as she closed her eyes.

“Hey, hon’. Are you safe from the hurricane? Your mother’s threatening to come after you.”

“Tell her I’m fine. I have a safe place to stay.”

“What’s the update on Serena?”

She sighed as tears threatened. “Nothing new.”

“Are you sure you’re OK? Is the sheriff treating you right?”

“He’s looking after me,” she said with honesty, avoiding the earlier incident.

“Good to hear.”

Cali slowly opened her eyes. The wipers swished the rain away from her windshield in a fast, steady rhythm. “I’m lost, Dad.”

“Lost? Tell me the road you’re on and I’ll check the internet.”

“Harbor Road. But that’s not the only reason I called.”

Tapping sounded across the line. “H-a-r-b-o-r Road? Let’s see where you are.”

She smiled into the phone. “You and your computer. What would you do without it?”

“I’d be lost, too. So, what’s the other reason you called?”

I
’
m in love. But, he
’
s shown he doesn
’
t fully trust me. How do I put my heart on the line? The thoughts whirled through her mind, but she said, “I miss you.”

“I miss you, too. Ah. Here it is. Have a pen handy?”

Cali wrote the directions back to the main road on the notepad Nick had given her, and told her dad goodbye. She had chickened out. She hadn’t been able to tell him how involved she had become with Nick, or how conflicted she felt about it.

Another time, she promised herself. The churning mass of dark clouds overhead hid the sun, but the dimming light still indicated the late hour. She checked the time. One hour until nightfall. She promised Nick she would return before dark, and she intended to keep that promise.

It took Cali twenty minutes to arrive back at the main road. Traffic was light, but the wind gusts had picked up, and she drove with caution. She decided to drop by the cottage and pick up some clothes, just in case they couldn’t return for a few days. After another ten minutes, Cali arrived at Nick’s cottage. Thankfully, the rain had given her a reprieve, and had let up for a few minutes.

With only a little daylight left, Cali planned to allow herself five minutes to gather her clothes into her duffle bag. The rough waves and strong winds sent sea spray high into the air, and the mist covered her as she climbed the steps to the second story. She tasted salt on her lips as she wiped the dampness from her face, and held back errant strands of hair as the wind whipped them across her eyes.

Cali paused when she reached the top step. Nick had engaged the hurricane protection, blocking access to the door. Determined not to let the barrier keep her from having a fresh set of clothes, she took an extra precious few minutes to crank the slatted material up.

Once she gained entrance, she slipped into the bathroom first, and then packed as fast as she could. By the time she walked back to the living room, darkness had fallen. She peered through the door, and her heart jammed in her chest. The water level had climbed to an alarming level.

Standing close to the sliding glass door, she felt the wind pouring through its cracks. Each crashing wave brought new fears to the surface. She would be trapped if the storm surge crested the sand dunes.

Fearing she had waited too late to leave, Cali paced, wondering what to do. She could head for the car, but would be swept away if the waves toppled the dunes. Was it more dangerous to leave than to stay? Nick had said the cottage had a solid foundation, and if the dunes held she would be safe. But what if the dunes crumbled?

Thunder cracked, making her jump. She had been on edge for so many hours, anxiety had become a constant companion and her head throbbed from the tension. The wind forced the cottage to sway, and Cali made her decision. She grabbed her duffle bag and her purse, heading for the sliding glass door.

Cali peered into the darkness as she neared the door. The furious ocean swells had increased. Her heart lurched in her chest. She fought for breath as a huge wave hurried toward the dunes. The speed of the mound of water both fascinated and terrified her. The dune wouldn’t hold much longer under the assault. It could not withstand the force of the wave. In the next instant, and in one sweeping motion, the wave swallowed the pile of sand and surged under the cottage. The cottage trembled upon impact. The stilts creaked under the attack, and the floor vibrated. The lights went out, and panic set in. Cali imagined herself trapped in a sinking ship, with no way out. Fear clutched her, and her breaths became quick and shallow as she slumped to the floor.

She peered out at the ocean as it poured over the molten dunes. Wave after wave now assaulted the cottage. Too late to drive to safety, she had only one thing left she could do.

She searched through her purse, found her cell phone, and dialed Nick’s number.

“Cali? Is that you?” His words sounded strained against the howling wind.

He was outside in the storm.

She raised her voice, hoping to get through to him. “The dunes gave away. The water’s breaking under your cottage. The foundation’s shaking.”

“Why are you at the cottage? I asked you to go to the station.”

“I came back for my clothes, in case we couldn’t get back for a few days.”

A muffled curse came through the speaker.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come back here,” Cali admitted.

“I’m on the southern shores. I can’t get to you fast enough to get you out of there.”

“What should I do?”

“Stay inside. The cottage is solid. It’ll hold for a while. I’ll send someone to get you out and bring you to the station.”

“OK.”

“Cali?”

“Yeah?”

“Hang in there. I’ll see you soon…” he hesitated as if he wanted to say more, but didn’t.

****

Shielding the phone from the driving wind the best he could, Nick dialed the station and asked Helen to send Deputy Owen to get Cali out of the swamped cottage. The connection was poor, but Helen repeated his instructions before the call was lost.

Slipping his phone into his pocket, Nick bent his head against the driving rain and concentrated on hauling the yellow barricade across the highway. He had discovered the washed out portion in the nature preserve, and had needed to warn anyone left on the streets not to come this way.

A gust of wind threatened to cast him aside, but he held fast to the warning sign and continued to tug it across the sand-covered asphalt. The waves crashed over the highway in the distance, completely covering it. The high tide wasn’t due in for another hour, which meant the storm surge had not reached its peak. Nick’s pulse quickened. The flooding would only become worse before getting better.

Lord, please keep everyone safe, he prayed as he worked, and help Deputy Owen get to Cali before it’s too late.

When Nick had secured the road barrier, he ran for his truck and climbed inside. The cab rocked from side to side, but still provided welcome relief from the forceful winds. He removed his hat and wiped the wet, gritty sand from his face, hoping anyone who may attempt to travel this way would use common sense and not try to go around the roadblock. Revving the engine, Nick headed to the station to meet Cali.

Night Waves

Cali stood in front of the door, with damp palms and a racing heart. Lightning flashed, illuminating the night, revealing the immense waves crashing over what was left of the dunes. Lord, keep this cottage strong. Please let it hold up in the storm. She closed her eyes, clutching her duffle bag and purse to her chest.

Several long minutes later, a knock sounded on the door. She looked up. A tall, broad-shouldered figure stood in front of the glass, sending the beam of a bright flashlight through the door. Light blinded her as it shined in her face. She winced, shielding her eyes from the assault.

The door cracked open. “Cali, I’m here to help you get out of here.”

She didn’t recognize the man’s voice. She strained to see who it was.

“I’m Chad Livingston. We met on the beach earlier this week.” He lowered the flashlight, allowing her to see his shadowed features.

Startled, she stepped back. She had expected Nick to send a deputy, not a lifeguard. Relief flooded through her anyway. She wasn’t alone anymore.

He stepped inside and slid the door shut, his clothes dripping puddles of ocean water on the tiled floor, and splattering across her shoes. “What do you say we get out of here?”

“The sooner the better.”

“What’s in the bag?”

“Clothes.”

“Leave them here. There’s no way to get yourself and them back to my truck.”

“All right,” she reluctantly agreed. “But I’m bringing my purse.”

“Fair enough. We’ll have to wade through the waves. I want you to link your arm in mine and hold on as tight as you can. Ready?”

She tucked her purse against her side. “Yes.”

He slid the door open. They had to lean against the wind and fight to stay on their feet. Frightened at the powerful gusts, Cali clung to Chad, leaning on him for support.

The water surge covered the bottom of the steps, submerging the carport by several feet. She prayed Chad would have the strength to carry them through to safety.

He jumped down the last of the steps, pulling her along beside him. Chills ran through her as the water enveloped them up to their waists.

“Look out!” he shouted as a wave barreled into them.

Cali held her purse up just in time to keep it from becoming saturated. They tumbled with the wave, as it carried them farther inland. When the wave receded, they were left in knee-deep water.

“Here comes another. Run!” Chad shouted above the roaring surf.

They scrambled toward the truck, but the wave caught them, tossing them forward, and scraping their exposed skin against the rough cement driveway. Cali swallowed a mouthful of water, and gagged on the cool, salty liquid.

Another wave struck before they stumbled out of the water, both gasping for breath. The scrapes on Cali’s knees and shins stung, and her eyes burned from the salt water. When she could speak again, she said, “Thank you. I wouldn’t have made it without you.”

“No problem. Saving people is what I do.”

Emergency lights flashed on top of his red truck, and two Jet Ski’s sat ready for action in the back. Chad helped her inside the cab, and then climbed into the driver’s seat. Shivers racked Cali’s body as her cold, soaked clothes clung to her skin.

Chad turned his green-eyed gaze toward her and flashed a triumphant smile. “You did great, Cali.”

“I thought I was going under a few times.”

“I wouldn’t have let you drown,” he said with confidence.

He carefully drove the truck to a wide, white building several blocks away. “This is the headquarters for the Coral Isle Lifeguard and Marine Rescue. Let’s go in and get warm. Sound good?”

“Yes, it does,” she answered through chattering teeth.

Chad opened the door to the headquarters and led Cali inside. The quiet surprised her. She expected to see the room bustling with activity. She was about to ask why it wasn’t, when the phone rang and captured Chad’s attention.

He looked completely at ease, as he rested his hip on the desk, talking on the phone. Other than his wet clothes, he showed no indication he had just rescued her from a drowning cottage. Chad’s solid voice should have comforted her. But it didn’t. Cali needed to hear Nick’s voice. She needed to be near him.

Chad hung up and disappeared into an office for a moment. He returned, carrying a white T-shirt. “You need to get into dry clothes. This may be big on you, but it’s dry. There’s a restroom in my office. You can change there.” He pointed to the office he had just been in.

“Thank you.”

Cali slipped past him, relieved to have a moment alone to calm her rattled nerves. She found the bathroom and shut the door, but found no lock on it. She leaned against the door, just in case, and switched shirts. Chad’s oversized T-shirt stuck to her damp skin, and she pulled at it, trying to keep the cotton from clinging. The faint scent of limes drifted up from the shirt, reminding her of the lime-scented lotion both Chad and Trey had worn at the beach.

She warmed her hands under the faucet and closed her eyes, saying a quick, silent prayer, Lord, thank you for keeping me safe, and please keep Serena safe, too. Cold chills ran down her body again, this time with the thought of Serena restrained inside a cottage threatened by the stormy sea.

Thankful to have her wet shirt off, she wrung it out in the sink, then carried it with her back into the main area, and hung it on the back of a chair. Looking across the room, Cali searched for something tangible to focus on, something simple to calm her mounting anxieties.

She studied the layout as Chad picked up another phone call. Three desks occupied the main area, and a few doors led to offices. The faint aroma of coffee permeated the air, probably left over from earlier in the day. A large dry-erase board covered a portion of the white cinderblock wall and she walked over to it. She read the various notes posted on the board. The high temperature was listed as ninety-seven degrees, with the ocean water in the lower eighties. She studied a tidal chart posted in the far right corner.

Chad disconnected the call. After a moment, he stepped near as she studied the information. He pointed to a row of squares. “Each of these squares represents the lifeguard stands. The name written inside the square is the person assigned to that particular stand for the day.”

“Anna told me about the rotating shifts.” Nick had too, but she wasn’t about to let Chad know he and his staff had been investigated. She felt Chad watching her and lifted her gaze.

“I like Anna. She’s young and eager to please me. She does what I tell her to do without question.” His gaze roamed over Cali’s face and his voice softened. “I like that in a woman.”

Her skin crawled. She took a step back, returning her focus to the board.

The phone rang again and he turned to answer it. She listened as Chad explained the shelters remained open, but all emergency services had been shut down and the caller had to wait out the storm. She shivered at the thought of people in the hurricane needing help, and not having access to it. And yet, Nick was still out there, doing what he could to help anyone in need.

Cali’s gaze roamed the board, for no other reason than to keep her mind focused. Then, her gaze landed on the top right corner. It listed the date as Tuesday’s date, not today’s. She had met Anna, Trey and Chad on that day.

According to the schedule, Anna was assigned to station three. But, Cali had met her at station number five. Trey had been assigned to station one. But, Cali had met him at station six.

Something was wrong.

As she studied the chart, the door opened and Trey walked in. The blustery wind scattered papers and the rain pelted through the door. After shutting the storm out, he looked from Cali to Chad and asked, “What are you still doing here? They’ve ordered an evacuation of the island.” He pulled a raincoat off, shaking it before hanging it up. “Everyone else has left.”

“Just tying up loose ends,” Chad said as he held his hand over the phone’s mouthpiece.

Trey strode over to Cali. “You’re drenched. Are you OK?”

“Yes. Chad rescued me from Sheriff Justice’s cottage. The sand dune gave way and the tide swept under the cottage. We had to wade through several feet of waves. I was terrified the entire structure was going to fall into the ocean.”

“It’s dangerous out there. That’s why I’m surprised you’re still on the island.”

“I didn’t want to leave Serena.”

“Serena?”

Cali tensed. Trey knew exactly who she was referring to. She had shown Serena’s picture to him, and he had been at the press conference. So why act as if he couldn’t place her?

“Serena Taylor.”

“Oh. That’s right. She’s the friend of yours that went missing. She hasn’t turned up yet?”

Cali shook her head as wariness crept over her. “Not yet.” She glanced away and pointed to the board. “Chad was explaining that these squares represent the lifeguard stands, and the names of the lifeguards are posted here for each shift. Right?” Cali asked as if she hadn’t understood Chad’s explanation.

“That’s right. But, the names don’t mean much since we switch so many times.”

“Switch?”

“Yeah.” He ran a hand through his dripping, red hair. “We start out at our assigned locations, but we don’t stay there all day.”

“What do you mean?”

“We switch stations every so often. Just…you know, to keep from getting bored.”

Cali’s muscles tensed. “Are these changes recorded?”

“Nah.” Trey shrugged. “Why?”

“No reason. Just wondering.” Cali attempted to hide the wave of fear Trey’s information had slammed into her.

Nick had cleared the lifeguards as suspects because their shifts hadn’t corresponded with where the women had been located on the island. But what if he hadn’t known about the multiple, unrecorded shift changes?

As doubts filled her, a memory stilled her movements. Nancy Chandler had mentioned smelling Margaritas. Chad’s suntan lotion smelled like limes, and so did his T-shirt. Which very well could have been the source of Nancy’s memory. But then, Trey also wore the lotion.

It can
’
t be.

Margaritas and lime. The lifeguard rotation shifts Nick had checked out were bogus. Cali’s fear turned into full-blown terror. She was trapped in a storm with two men. One of whom could be a serial rapist.

Night Waves