Page 63 of Spotted at Lighthouse Bay
They got back in the car and drove to the launch site. The sun had started to set, and the sky was kissed with pinks and reds, darkness quickly falling. Rick shone a flashlight on the steep, wooden stairs down to the beach, fighting the urge to hold Addy’s hand on the way down.
There were four other people going on the tour, plus the guide. They stood on the beach, sinking into the rocks, and listened to the guide talk about safety, then the wonder of the sea.
After getting dressed in the kayak spray-skirts and life vests, Rick helped drag all the kayaks to the edge of the water. He and Addy were assigned a two-person kayak. He held it steady as she stepped in.
“I don’t want you to hurt your shoulder,” Rick said. “So I forbid you from paddling.”
“I have to paddle!” she said. “I have to pull my weight!”
He pushed the kayak out slightly, hopping in once they were clear. The icy water was above his knees. “You can pull your weight by taking pictures.”
“I don’t know why, but I’m nervous,” she said, a giggle escaping her as they took off. “Is it cold? It feels cold.”
Rick’s arms were already warm from paddling. He should’ve worn short sleeves. “It’s cold.”
He followed the guide as best as he could, avoiding any prolonged gazes at the endless dark sea. The fact that anything or anyone could be hiding in the darkness made his skin tingle.
Within minutes, the water lit up around them. At first it was a few glimmers of light, but soon every stroke of the paddle glowed a bright, electric blue.
The kayaks around them cut through the water, splashing and thrashing, a stunning dance in the stark black night.
“This is incredible!” Addy whispered. She plunged her paddle into the water, ripping it back and forth in a bright blue blast.
Rick laughed. He splashed his paddle forward, the blue arch of water gracefully collapsing beside her. Her face was lit for the briefest of moments, her smile wide and laughing.
Maybe Addy would never leave the island. The trial could drag on for years. They could live here where no one else could find them. Rick could settle for this paradise.
A call early the next morning cut his dream short. It was his boss at IronClad Elite.
“Morning,” Rick said, toothbrush hanging from his mouth.
“Hey, Rick. Good news. Your contract is up. You can go home.”
“What?” He shifted the phone to his other ear. He must’ve misheard. “It can’t be up. I asked for more resources, not to be released. There are issues here. Safety and –”
“You don’t need anything else. We’ve determined the threat is over. You can return the car by the end of the week, and you’ll be paid for the rest of the month.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. Is the trial over?”
“I don’t ask questions, man. I just carry out the orders, and you should do the same.”
Rick spit into the sink. “I’m the one on the ground here. I know what’s going on, and the threat isn’t over.”
“This isn’t a negotiation. End of the week.”
Click.
Sweat sprung on his forehead. Rick looked at himself in the mirror. His skin was pale, drained of blood.
He turned on the water to warm his hands. Who was going to look out for Addy if they sent him away? Why were they doing this? Were they trying to punish him for speaking up?
His chest heaved with breaths, each one more difficult than the last.
“Oh Rick!” Addy called through the door. “Did I catch you still snoozing, sleepy head?”
He cleared his throat. “No, I’m up. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“I’m going to head downstairs.”
