Page 82 of The Library on Plum Island
“I want to save my friend, and there’s no way I’m letting you get on that boat with that crazed narcissistic psychopath that’s kidnapped my lifelong friend!” Harriet exclaimed, her voice softening. “Or put my new best friend in danger because of some crazy person.”
Harriet’s words washed over Daniella, filling her with a new burst of courage and purpose.
“How are you going to swim after a superyacht?” Daniella asked.
“I’m not.” Harriet reached down into the hatch and pulled out a rope. “This is called a safety line. Sailors use it to anchor themselves onto the deck so they don’t get washed overboard.” She showed Daniella the clip on her lifejacket where the latch on the rope went. “These lifejackets are also safety harnesses. Once you’re on the ladder, I’m going to throw the line at you, and you will attach it to the ladder. I will then aim the rescue boat away from the yacht and dive off with the other end of the rope attached to the ladder.”
“And then DIE!” Daniella hissed. “You are crazy!”
“Do you have a better idea?” Harriet asked.
“Yes, let’s follow the boat and wait for backup,” Daniella advised.
“Fine!” Harriet rolled her eyes. “Here, call Harley and tell him where we are.”
Daniella took the phone while Harriet retook the wheel and followed the yacht at a safe distance. With shaky hands, Daniella found Harley’s number and dialed it. He answered on the second ring.
“Daniella!” Harley’s voice sounded panicked. “Where the heck are you and Harriet?” He barely paused for a breath. “And why did Finn call me to tell me you’d stolen his pickup? What is going on…” A pause. “Can I hear a boat engine?”
“Uh…” Daniella swallowed, and she glanced at Harriet, who looked at her questioningly.
“Here, take the wheel,” Harriet said. “I’ll speak to Harley.”
“I don’t know how to drive this thing?” Daniella said wide-eyed.
“Then put the phone on speaker,” Harriet suggested. “Quickly before we lose the signal.”
“Daniella, what is going on?” Harley’s voice boomed through the speakerphone. “Is Harriet driving?”
“No!” Harriet denied. “I’m sailing.” She glanced at Daniella, who looked back at her. “Daniella and I are trying to save Alex, who’s been kidnapped by that crazy person Ron Jackson who has boatjacked… is that what it is?” She looked at Daniella, who shrugged. “Well, after blowing up Alex’s house, the crazy man is now sailing Alex out into the middle of the ocean, and I don’t think Ron Jackson is taking him for a quick cruise to the Caribbean.”
“Alex has been kidnapped?” Harley hissed.
Daniella suddenly found her voice and explained what happened with Harriet filling him in on having contacted Alex’s captain on a secret phone that was installed in all their transport vehicles.
“And you two thought what?” Harley stated angrily. “That you were going to stop a superyacht?” He paused, and his voice changed to one of suspicion. “What boat are you on?”
Before they could answer, Harley had to put them on hold as a call came in from his friend from the FBI.
“They’re onto us!” Daniella’s voice filled with panic.
“Who?” Harriet’s eyes widened, and her head shot around toward the superyacht.
“Not them, the FBI!” Daniella’s mind suddenly acknowledged all the crimes they’d committed to get them to where they were. “We broke at least three or four laws.”
“While the FBI would most certainly find stealing a rescue boat a crime,” Harley’s voice made them jump, “I’m afraid they have bigger problems to deal with.”
Daniella didn’t like the catch in Harley’s voice.
“Like who killed Ron Jackson, whose body has just been found in a hotel room in Newbury Port.” Harley’s words made Daniella’s breath catch, and her eyes turned toward Alex’s yacht. “I informed my friend at the FBI of what you and Harriet reported and was surprised to hear that the Blackwells had gotten a message from an unknown number about twenty minutes ago letting them know they had Alex and would contact them with their demands.”
“What about Rons’ father?” Daniella asked. “He could be out for revenge?”
“No, it’s not him,” Harley told them. “Although the FBI is not ruling it out, and the man is in their custody.”
“If it’s not the Jacksons,” Harriet said, her eyes meeting Daniella’s, mirroring her shock and worry, “then who has him?”
CHAPTER 16
