Today's Reading
I glanced out again toward the woman, who was now sitting on the ground. When I'd first spotted her, she'd been shaking from wails or cries for help, but now it appeared that she was just crying, maybe with relief that someone was coming to help.
As I watched, a surprised expression lifted her eyebrows. Suddenly, she was on her feet. She glanced around into the woods and then back at the ship again, her expression now sheer panic. She screamed and started running for the water. I squinted at the tree line that started about thirty feet up the beach. Was someone or something coming for her?
I couldn't spot anything—not even a suspicious shadow. Nevertheless, it sure seemed like something had frightened her. I gripped the railing again, hoping she'd make it and wondering what in the world might be coming after her.
Once she was fully submerged in the water, she swam with a speed that must have come from fear and adrenaline. She moved quickly, like a pro.
I hadn't noticed the three rescuers jump into the water, too, but I saw them now, all headed toward the woman, who would meet them much closer to the ship than the shore at the rate she was moving.
I muttered, "Be careful, Tex."
My disaster thinking wasn't triggered again, though. The ship was close enough to the landmass that the water wasn't deep. It was almost as if there were too many people in the water, considering the scenario.
I could hear the woman's screams now as two of the rescuers took hold of her, one on each arm, and made their short way back to the boat.
Still, nothing came from the trees. I couldn't see as deeply into them as I would have liked, but whatever she'd seen, it must have decided to explore a different direction.
I watched as they easily got the woman aboard using a plank that had been extended from the boat's hull. Tex was the last one to come out of the water. The captain and the two others guided the woman inside and out of view, but Tex took a moment to look out toward the island.
He turned and looked up, spotting me quickly. I shrugged; so did he, just before he followed the others out of sight.
The captain and Tex had said to stay put, but no murderous animals or humans had emerged from the woods. The woman was safely aboard, and I still didn't think she'd been mortally wounded.
It wouldn't hurt if I made my way to the lower deck now. Would it?
Since most of the ship's passengers were, indeed, staying in place or lining up at the snack bar again, there wasn't a mad rush of curious onlookers. No one else seemed to wonder about the woman who'd just been rescued. One person wouldn't get in the way.
Without impediment, I took the stairs down to the lower level and paused outside a door to the room I assumed everyone had gone into. I could hear voices on the other side, but I couldn't make out any words. I was pretty sure I'd found the right place. No one gave me a second look as I took the seat nearest the door and hoped to be extended an invitation to go inside the room soon.
CHAPTER TWO
I didn't have to wait long. Tex, his hair a little wet though he was already out of the wet suit, came through about fifteen minutes later.
"Hey," he said grimly when his eyes landed on me.
I stood to greet him. "Hey. Are you okay? Is she okay?"
Tex nodded. "I'm fine. I think she is, too, but...well, I think... This is an unusual situation, but I think we could use your help, Beth."
"Okay."
He looked around and guided us back outside to a spot away from the seating area, near the railing. He looked around again, but no one was close enough to eavesdrop on us.
"What's up?" I asked.
"She was a kidnap victim, Beth. Someone took her from her house in Juneau, brought her out here. She claims that her kidnapper was...killed by a bear—and she thought she saw it coming for her as we were conducting the rescue."
"Oh. That's... Who took her?" I swallowed hard. "Where is his body?" "She doesn't know who he was, but she claims his body is probably still there, in the woods. She wasn't aware she was on an island until she ran and came upon the shore."
...
