Page 85 of The Summer Inn on Plum Island
“No,” Liam said, his voice stilted. “I thought they were with you.”
“We’re on our way to the hotel,” Betty’s voice was laced with concern. “Where could they be? They were on their way to inviteyou and Dawn to a picnic. I was about to call you as there was a huge explosion, and I thought the worst…” She paused. “That’s when Sam said he thought it came from out at sea.”
“Explosion?” Liam’s brow creased. “When was this Aunt Betty?”
“Didn’t you hear it?” Betty paused. “I’m not sure. A while ago?”
“Did you say out at sea?” Liam’s chest felt like someone was sitting on it, constricting his breathing.
“That’s what Sam thinks,” Betty told him.
“Aunt Betty, I’d better go. I have another call coming through.” Liam lied. “I’ll call as soon as I have news.”
He hung up and turned to see three pairs of fear-filled eyes staring at him, having overheard his conversation.
“The girls aren’t with her.” Liam felt his lips move and hoped the words were coming out as there was a roaring in his ears. “Aunt Betty said there was an explosion out at sea.”
The color drained from Scott’s face as Tracy put a hand over her mouth, horror reflecting in her eyes. Everything around Liam felt like it started to throb. His ears wooshed, and he saw Scott’s lips move but could hardly hear him as the ringing got louder.It wasn’t until he saw Scott on his phone that the world came crashing back, and he heard Scott barking orders at someone on the other end of the line.
“We need a search started yesterday!” Scott’s voice boomed with both authority and desperation. Liam realized Scott was talking to the Coast Guard. “We have a missing yacht with my daughter, Harper, Liam Gain’s daughter, Lila, and my sister, Dawn, on it.”
Liam, Tracy, and Wade, with Hicks sitting faithfully by his side, stood watching Scott. Wade’s hand, still clutching Dawn’s journal, fell to his side, and as it did, all their attention was caught when Hicks started to whine and sniff at the journal.
“It’s okay, boy, we’re going to find them,” Wade assured him.
But Hicks latched his teeth into the book and ripped it out of Wade’s hand. The dog rushed off the jetty and started to violently shake it. To everyone’s amazement, a flat thumb drive flew out that must’ve been hidden in the book’s jacket. Liam was the first to get to it and scooped it up as Hicks dumped the journal on the ground and sat beside it.
“Dawn’s going to be mad with you,” Wade warned Hicks. Bending to scratch his ears. “You’ve ripped her journal apart.” He frowned as he reached down and picked up the book when he saw a piece of paper sticking out of the jacket cover. “What’s this?”
Liam, Scott, and Tracy watched as Wade looked at the note and read:
Your book is fantastic. It just needed a few amendments. I hope you don’t mind. Your number one fan.
Scott scooped the note from Wade’s hand. “What book?”
“Maybe it’s on here?” Liam said, waving the thumb drive.
A boat zoomed toward them, grabbing their attention when they saw it was a Coast Guard speed boat. The four of them watched as the commanding officer on the boat jumped off as it neared the jetty.
He introduced himself, and Scott took charge of introducing each of them.
“When your call came, we were already on our way to investigate an explosion that had been heard by a few of the residents that live near the coast,” the officer explained. His eyes never gave anything away. They remained cool and calm. “We’ve been to the scene, and I’m sorry, but our team reports that they doubt anyone survived that blast.”
The words struck like a physical blow, leaving them staggered in silence as they fell upon the group like a cold, unyielding hammer, sending shockwaves of despair through them. Liam’sknees felt weak, a deep sense of loss gripping him as the implication of the officer’s report sank in. He struggled to breathe, the air around him thick with grief and disbelief.
Scott’s face drained of color, his stoic demeanor cracking under the weight of the news. He placed a hand against the jetty’s railing for support, his eyes searching the officer’s face for any sign of hope, any possibility that the conclusion might be premature.
Tracy covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes brimming with tears as she turned to lean into Scott, seeking comfort in his unsteady embrace. The faint hope that had fueled their rush to the scene was extinguished, replaced by a numbing dread.
Wade, who was normally composed, showed a rare crack in his armor. His jaw clenched tightly, and his eyes narrowed as he processed the news. The muscles in his neck tensed visibly. He shook his head slightly, refusing to accept the finality of the officer’s statement.
Together, they stood in a somber huddle, the harsh truth settling around them like a thick fog, each feeling the sting of potential loss yet clinging to a sliver of hope that against all odds, something might have been missed, that somehow their loved ones had survived the unthinkable.
“I can take you out to the site,” the officer offered. “We do have a few boats scouting the area looking for survivors in case theymanaged to escape into the water or on a dinghy.” He glanced at the four of them.
“Yes, please, take us to the boat,” Liam said, feeling like he was moving through a dream.
“But we can only take two of you.” The captain’s eyes were filled with apology.
