Page 22 of Falling for the Enemy

“Hold on,” Robyn said. She looked at Matteo. “I just need a few more pictures.”

The photo session had even emboldened Norm. He’d unrolled from the bracing position about fifteen minutes into the ride. There was too much to see, even for him. Now he’d growneven bolder, leaning far over the edge of the raft to catch some pictures of a howler monkey sunning himself on a rock.

“I can’t believe it. A monkey, and I’m not at the zoo,” he said. Just then, the raft coasted into a dip. The boat swooped down and then popped up fast, causing Norm to drop his phone into the river. And since all of us thought we’d fall down dead without our phones, Norm reacted the way most people would. He lurched out over the edge of the raft in a futile attempt to grab it before it sank below the surface. In that instant, far more of Norman was outside the raft than inside it. Gravity reared her predictable head and pulled Norm head over heels into the water.

Pam and Robyn gasped, and Evan moved quickly into action at the side of the raft. Ava leaned over, too.

“He’ll be fine. We’re in calm waters,” Matteo said with a chuckle. “Not the first time we’ve had someone go overboard, and certainly not the last. Tell the young man just to swim to the side and then two of you can help pull him back inside.” The directions were simple, and panic in the raft was minimal; in fact, nonexistent. That was how calm the waters were around us. Outside the raft was another matter.

Ava and Evan reached their hands out, but rather than reach for their outstretched hands, Norm began to flap his arms wildly. As he created a big splash around him, the raft continued its journey downstream.

Ava leaned forward more. “Norm, kick your legs out and catch up.”

Norman was wearing a thick life jacket, but he was flailing around like a person with no safety gear drowning in the middle of a storm surge.

“Stop struggling and swim toward us,” Evan pleaded.

Norm was in full panic mode.

“You do know how to swim, don’t you?” Ava asked. “Just put your legs out behind you and kick.”

Norman ignored all requests.

“I believe he just answered your question,” I said. The raft kept moving away from him. “Do you want me to jump in after him?”

Ava groaned in irritation. “No, I’ll go.”

As she threw her leg over, Matteo tossed out an ominous warning in a very cheery tone. “Tell him to stop splashing, or he’ll wake up those crocs on the shore.”

All of us looked toward the shore. Matteo had not been exaggerating. There were at least three big ones, still as rocks, on the bank.

“My foot is stuck!” Norm screamed. “I’m stuck!”

Ava dropped into the water and swam over to Norman. Matteo and Joe worked to keep the raft from moving too far away, but we’d ended up in a current that badly wanted to move the raft along, and the river bottom was farther down than the paddles could reach. Evan and Ian picked up paddles to also work against the current. The boat started turning in circles, but at least we weren’t drifting farther away from the two people in the water.

Ava reached Norm. His panicked fist immediately swung out and smacked her face. “Damnit, Norm, just stop moving. The vest will hold you above the water.” She touched her face.

“Professor Lovely,” I called across the water. “Do you need help?”

“No, we’re fine. His shoe is caught on something. I’m going to have to take off my vest.”

“That’s against the rules,” Matteo said. “Have him kick off his shoe. He’ll have to leave it behind.”

Suddenly, it seemed there was a lot more adrenaline on the boat and in my body. “Seriously, Lo, I’m coming in.”

She waved off the notion. “We’ll be right there.”

Norm had stopped flailing, and we could hear him arguing with her about leaving his shoe behind.

“The crocs are moving,” Joe said calmly at the rear of the boat.

“Not surprising,” Matteo said. He looked at me. “They need to get back to the boat.”

I leaned over the side. “Ava, get his shoe off. Hurry.”

Norman grunted. “I tied it too tightly.

Robyn gasped. “The crocs are in the water.”

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