Page 97 of Ensnaring the Siren

“Thought you might say that.” Perez called back to the dropmaster. “Get the hoist ready.”

Reid geared up as Perez brought them in close. Clipping into the hoist, he was lowered on deck, where Lorelei was waiting.

“You get around.” She grinned, as he touched down, pulling him in for a hug.

“You good?”

“Yeah. They sedated us, but mine wore off first.” She gestured to the tied-up crew. “Figured I’d make myself useful waiting for the rescue to arrive.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “A little siren song goes a long way.”

“Where’s Dr. Branson?”

Lorelei waved for him to follow. “Had to carry her up.”

A dirty-blond-haired white man and an older Black gentleman he recognized from his sister’s wedding photos were crouched across the deck with Dr. Branson. She was conscious and sitting up on her own, but barely, her head lolling back and forth with a deeply dazed expression.

He began heading their way. “Is she okay?”

“Whatever tranquilizer they used is taking a while to wear off.”

Crouching down, he quickly introduced himself to the men caring for Dr. Branson and learned they were her husband and father, both members of Killian’s crew, while he checked her vital signs.

“She’s going to be fine,” he assured her family. “Just really groggy. But to play it safe, we’re going to fly her back to shore and to a hospital, okay?”

“Can one of us go with her?” Dr. Branson’s husband asked, cradling her head to keep it steady.

“Afraid not, but she’s in good hands, I promise.”

He updated the helicopter team and got Dr. Branson situated inside the basket lift, all while worry gnawed at his insides. Where was Nireed? Why wasn’t she on deck with everyone else?

“Did Nireed make it onboard?”

Lorelei’s face fell, unsettlingly grim. “She did.”

“Why are you giving me that look? Is she all right?” If any one of those fishermen laid a hand on her…well, let’s just say he was about to lose his job. And probably go to jail.

“As much as one can be. She saw some rough things below deck, black market kind of stuff. I was just about to take our friend Jackie down there to film some b-roll and document the operation Nautic had going on here.” When he blinked at her blankly, she continued, “She’s a reporter. Covers the local fishing industry for the Haven Cove Daily.”

“What’s her name again?”

“Jackie Gaten.”

That rang a bell. He’d seen the name before, and recently. Filtering through the last few weeks’ memories, he snagged on the elusive thread. Jackie Gaten was the reporter who wrote the special interest piece on The Merry Mariner’s deceased crew.

“Legal cases take time, but there’s plenty onboard she can use to eviscerate Nautic in the court of public opinion. We’ve got them, Reid.”

They finally had enough to pin the corporation to the wall, but Reid only nodded dimly, distracted by his worry for Nireed. Whatever she’d seen must’ve been really bad. His gaze swept across the deck again, looking for his brave mermaid.

“She’s up in the pilothouse, guarding the captain, but before you go up there”—Lorelei laid a hand on his arm— “I think you need to go below decks first. See it firsthand. So you can understand.”

The radio crackled in his ear. “Your sister needs to come too,” Perez said. “Protocol and all. But if you want to stay, I’m sure I can come up with a reasonable excuse.”

“She’s right.” Lorelei sighed, hands on her hips. “It would look weird if I didn’t go. Raise too many questions. But do consider what I said. And be careful. Nireed is angry and grieving.”

And with that, his sister turned away, wasting no time in saying her goodbyes. Once she’d finished, he helped her get clipped into the hoist.

Watching Lorelei’s ascent into the helicopter, he said to Perez, “I’m staying.”

“Figured. Our second helicopter is on the way. Should be here to replace us in about ten minutes.”

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