Bill hated that the helicopter pilot had dropped him at the nearest island. Sure he'd found a spot near the marina and he'd been able to rent a boat, but now it looked as though the storm was clearing the closer he moved to the island.



He could see the green dot of land before him but no signs if Delanie was safe or not. With little hope he picked up his phone but got no bars. He prayed that Sam had picked up the message he'd left for him earlier, but his radio had remained silent.



How the hell had this investigation gotten so out of control? The man he'd sent to watch over Delanie wasn't responding. He hadn't checked in with police headquarters. It bothered Bill that no one had heard from him.

The choppy sea smoothed out more. Gone was the huge thunderhead. The sun shined above and the wind was low. The radio crackled and Bill turned up the volume.



"Bill, you there?"



He grasped on to the mic and pressed to talk. "Sam, is Delanie with you?"



"No. I think she'd on a boat heading south from the island."



"South?" Bill's stomach dropped.



"Yeah, he got to her first."



"Did you see my guy on the island?"



"No, no one was there. I didn't look around either. Delanie's too important to waist time."



"I understand. Damn, I'm calling in the police to search for him."



"Do whatever you must. I need to get Delanie. Do you have any idea what this guy will do if he's left alone with her for too long."



"Unfortunately I do. If she's not in immediate danger wait for me once you see them."



"No way. I'm going to kill the bastard and if you're there you'll have to arrest me."



"Sam, don't do that." Shit, he didn't want Sam to ruin his chance of capturing this guy.



"He's dead."



"We can put him away for good."



"If you get a conviction."



"Sam, listen to me. You don't want his death on your hands."



"Don't tell me what I want."



"I'm not going to let you do this. I'm calling in a helicopter."



"I didn't think the police had a working unit."



"Damn, your right. Just don't do anything stupid."



Sam didn't speak again and Bill needed to switch to the emergency station and call for help. He wanted more information but doubted Sam knew exactly where Delanie was or the true heading he was chasing.



The other boater could change headings, leaving Sam wandering aimlessly in the Atlantic Ocean. Really, chasing Delanie without the help of a helicopter was foolish.



The Coast Guard was the only option. After placing a radio call to the Bahamian police he called for the Coast Guard. They were about an hour out but they would start searching the sea going south of the island when they arrived.



If he lost Delanie it would not only ruin his career but he would be crushed. The Amanda thing had crushed him. And then his wife acting so crazy had thrown him off big time.



He turned the boat south and raced after Sam. If luck was on his side he could pass Sam and catch the bastard wreaking havoc on the islands. Then, maybe his career wouldn't be in the tank and he could figure out a way to work out some sort of truce in her personal life.

Copyright Sara Thacker 2011