Destiny Undone: The Complete Series Box Set (51 page)

The sky was pitch black and the clouds looked ominous. It hadn’t rained yet but I could see it was on the way, I could feel it in the air. I turned on the weather radio and immediately heard the computer-synthesized voice delivering an announcement that made my heart race.

“This is an urgent marine weather message from the National Weather Service, Destiny Beach.

The National Weather Service in Destiny Beach has issued a gale warning for the waters from Destiny Beach to Sand Island and westward 60 NM. This warning is in effect from 4 PM Thursday to 6 PM Friday.

Winds...southwest winds will increase to 15 to 20 knots with frequent gusts to 30 knots Thursday evening and continue through Thursday night. The winds will then shift to northwest and increase through Friday morning. Northwest winds 20 to 25 knots with frequent gusts between 35 and 45 knots will develop early Friday morning and continue into Friday afternoon. The winds will begin to diminish late Friday night.

Seas...short-period and steep hazardous seas between 10 and 12 feet will develop Thursday evening...then build to between 15 and 20 feet Thursday night into Friday.

Precautionary and preparedness actions...

A gale warning means winds of 34 to 47 knots are imminent or occurring and these winds are expected to produce hazardous wave conditions to small craft. Operating a vessel in gale conditions requires experience and properly equipped vessels and crew. It is highly recommended that mariners without the proper experience, especially those operating smaller vessels, seek safe harbor prior to the onset of gale conditions.”

I got goose bumps just listening to it. “Shit! This isn’t supposed to happen!” I made my way to the captain’s station, reached for the VHF radio and hit the red button for channel sixteen.

“Destiny Coast Guard, this is Dolphin Girl, do you read?”

“Dolphin Girl, this is Destiny Coast Guard. Reply zero nine, sir.”

I frantically changed channels, established contact with them again and gave them our latitude and longitude, just in case the worse happened. I hoped it wouldn’t—no, prayed it wouldn’t—but with that weather warning, who knew what could happen. At least I knew Pepper was a strong swimmer but no way did I want to contemplate us both ending up in the water with the ferocious height of the waves.

“This is US Coast Guard cutter, Sidewinder. Read you loud and clear, Dolphin Girl and we can see you from here. We’re on patrol due east of you, about half a mile off your starboard bow. We’ll be monitoring channel sixteen if you need us but you should go back to port, sir. This is no place for a vessel your size with what’s coming in. Over.”

“Will do. Thank you, Captain. I appreciate that. This is Dolphin Girl, out.”

I hung up the handset while the weather radio continued to send out its automated warnings in a continuous loop. I dialed down the volume and stared off into the night, wondering what was out there. If a water spout dropped down from the sky now, there wouldn’t be a damn thing I could do about it and they popped up all the time in the Gulf of Mexico.

I started the engines, pressed the button to weigh the anchor and turned all our navigation lights on so we’d easily be spotted by other boats. I manned the wheel, opened the throttles a little and set a course for home, but the constant battering of the waves made her hard to control. Without warning, a huge crest came from out of the darkness, washed over the rear deck and I wondered if we’d make it back without capsizing if they were going to get any bigger. I’d been in several squalls before but this was definitely stronger, more powerful than anything I’d ever experienced and I had to admit, I was getting worried—not for the boat—that was insured—or myself… but for Pepper. I’d brought her out here and I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to her. I wondered how she was doing below and was surprised to see her smiling face as it appeared at the top of the steps that led down from the wheelhouse to the saloon. “Anderson reporting for duty, sir. You got trouble, Captain?” she grinned.

She had a way of lightening the mood like no other girl I’d known and I couldn’t help cracking a huge smile. “What are you doing up here? Your ankle could be broken!”

“Oh, I’m fine, Gabe. It’s just a sprain. I heard the weather warning from down there and had to come up and make sure you were okay.”

God, she was so stubborn, but gorgeous and I was glad of her company… and her help. Having her by my side, I felt much more confident that, between the two of us, we could work together and come out of this alive.

“Take my place and sit in the helmsman’s seat here, babe, so you can take the weight off that ankle. The sea’s way too rough for the autopilot to cope with so you’ll have to steer and keep us on course, okay?”

Her eyes twinkled and she gave me a big smile. “So I’m the captain, now? You’re going to take orders from me, Mr. Gregory?” she smiled. “Sounds cool! Well, your first job is to kiss me then you can tell me what I’ve got to do. Now, jump to it, sailor!”

We were getting bounced all over the place by the waves and there was no doubt about it, we were in a seriously bad spot, but she had a way of making me feel so much calmer with her funny quips and I couldn’t help bursting out laughing at her humor.

“Yes, ma’am,” I saluted.

I held onto a grab rail, slid out of my seat at the helm and kissed her briefly on the lips as she squeezed her warm body against mine while we swapped places. I wanted to take her again, but we had work to do.

Once she’d settled herself at the wheel, I pointed out the lighthouse at Destiny Beach, appearing then disappearing on the horizon as the boat pitched between the waves.

“Okay, just head towards the light for now as best you can. These waves are going to knock you off course but don’t snatch at the wheel if that happens. Just let it settle back on its own and make gentle adjustments if you need to. I don’t want you to worry, but first I’m going to get us some life vests and make sure the locator beacon is armed... just in case.”

She snapped her head round at me for a second, a little startled, as perhaps the realization of the danger we were faced with had suddenly sunk in. I gave her a reassuring smile as I opened the life vest locker and helped her put hers on while she focused between the lighthouse and the compass then I donned my own and was happy to see the LED on the locator beacon glowing a steady green to show it was operational, should we end up in the water.

I checked the radar and saw that Pepper was doing a great job of keeping us on track, despite the mounting seas, and the helm was the best place for her and her swollen ankle while I did the navigation and the radios. I punched the buttons on the weather fax to get an update and the thermal printer spat out an ugly-looking chart.

“Look at that!” I shouted, pointing at the strip of paper. It clearly showed a depression heading towards us that looked massive and unforgiving.

“What is it?”

“Those tight circles on the chart are one mother of a storm.”

“What do we do, Gabe?”

I tried to keep my voice calm, but my insides were churning. “Trust me, babe. It’s going to be okay, I promise. Stay with me, Pepper.”

“I will... and I love you, Gabe… but all this water splashing about is making me want to pee!”

“Okay, I’ve got the wheel. You slide out and I’ll take over until you get back”

She steadied herself then went below and was back a few minutes later. She was saying something to me, but it was hard to hear over the waves, the engines and the radios. I turned to look at her and got ready to swap positions again, but before I could move away from the helm, a huge wave slammed against the side of the boat and made it roll so violently that it knocked us both off-balance. I managed to hold on to the wheel but Pepper was thrown to the deck, the water engulfed her and when it receded over the side of the boat, she wasn’t there anymore.

“Fuck!”

I immediately yanked the throttles back to neutral and my heart leapt into my throat. I ran to the side of the boat, but she wasn’t there.

“PEPPER! I shouted at the top of my voice as I leaned over the rail and looked for her in the darkness. ”Pepper! Where are you?” I ran back to the helm to flick on the searchlight then held on to the rails, stumbled to the back of the boat and picked up the powerful, portable light. I scanned the water over and over, searching for any sign of her. “Pepper! Pepperrrr!”

Suddenly, another violent wave hit the boat and knocked me to my knees. I felt excruciating pain in my left knee but I had to ignore it. I had to find Pepper and get her out of the water. She wouldn’t make it out there!

“PEPPER! Please, baby. Where are you?” Tears welled in my eyes, but I had to stay strong. I had to find her. My heart pounded like a fucking freight train in my chest. I prayed to God above then reached for the radio and desperately made the call.

“Mayday Mayday Mayday.

This is Dolphin Girl. Dolphin Girl. Dolphin Girl. Delta bravo seven five three one. Mayday this is Dolphin Girl.

Destiny Beach lighthouse bears two nine five degrees magnetic. Distance five miles

Man overboard.

Need immediate assistance.

One adult male onboard.

One adult female overboard.

Dolphin Girl is fifty two foot cabin cruiser-white hull-white deck house. Over.”

“This Coast Guard cutter, Sidewinder. Roger that, Dolphin Girl. Send us your coordinates.”

My mind raced, but I rambled off the current coordinates from the GPS.

“I can’t see her. Will continue to search for her. Please send help!”

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

“Continue, sir. We’ll be there in three minutes. Sidewinder, out.”

I scanned the water again, praying the light would flash on the reflectors attached to her life vest. “Fuck I gotta do something—” I muttered under my breath, and then called out again, “Pepper! Baby! Pepperrrr!!”

Adrenaline pounded through me faster and faster and with each passing second, fear and dread tried to take over. But I wasn’t going to let it. I’d find her. If it took me the rest of my life, I’d find her. “Pepper! Pepperrr!”

Finally, I saw something in the water. “Oh my God! Pepper?” She was floating on her back about a hundred yards out—and she wasn’t moving.

I grabbed a rope that was tethered to the boat and quickly tied it around my waist then I pointed the spotlight in the direction of her body and dove into the water.
God help me please. I have to get to her.

After what seemed like forever fighting the waves, I reached her side and gripped my fingers tightly in the straps of her vest. I couldn’t risk losing her again.

“PEPPER! Can you hear me?” She didn’t move at all. “Pepper? I’m here, it’s Gabe. It’ll be all right, baby.” My tears mixed with the salt water slapping my face. I looked at her lifeless body and realized I may have been too late.

I held her tight with one hand and started swimming back towards the boat. That was increasingly difficult as I tried to pull on the rope that anchored us to it and keep a firm grip on Pepper at the same time, when every wave threatened to pull her away and swallow her up.

I prayed to God, and I cried like a baby, begging him to help me save her.

“Please don’t let her die God. Please don’t take her away from me.”

I kept fighting the waves as they knocked me back time and again and I made little progress in my attempts to get us back to the boat. I was growing tired and all I could do was hold onto her.

“Pepper, Pepper! It’s me, Gabe,” I yelled at her, hoping she’d regain consciousness before it was too late. There was a large cut on her head and I figured she’d probably hit it on the side of the boat when the wave had taken her over. It was hard to see in the few slivers of light, but it looked pretty bad. I touched the wound and my fingers were covered with blood. “Pepper, baby, please. Wake up!” I grabbed her arm and squeezed it. “Baby, please! Wake up!”

After a few moments, her eyes fluttered open. “Gabe? Gabe?” She looked around but another wave hit her in the face and she choked and sputtered out the water. “Owww, I fell.”

I nodded, feeling a small victory that she’d remembered. That was a good sign. “Pepper, listen to me!” I shouted over the waves. I held on to her life jacket and refused to let it go. “The Coast Guard is on the way. I’ve got you and I’m not going to let go. Just hold onto me and don’t let go.”

She nodded and I felt her fingers lightly grasp my arm. She obviously didn’t have much strength. “Gabe, I’m scared.”

“It’s okay, baby. I promise I won’t leave you. No matter what, I won’t leave you.”

Out of the darkness, I heard the horn and saw the lights of the cutter then suddenly, the Coast Guard inflatable drew alongside us and a voice said, “We’ve got to hurry. We’re going to lift her out first then you, okay?.”

In less than a minute, they’d hauled Pepper out of the crashing waves and into their boat then another Coastie said, “Quickly, sir. We need to get you out of here. With all this blood in the water, we can’t linger too long and risk attracting sharks.”

“Yes, Sir!” With all that had happened, I hadn’t even thought about sharks. He grabbed the straps on my life vest and pulled me half out of the water onto the side of the boat when suddenly, I felt something sharp sink into my thigh and I cried out in pain. The crewman lost his grip on me as I was tugged under and salt water rushed into my mouth.
Is this it? The end of my life?
The excruciating pain was unbearable, and all I could think about was Pepper. Oh God, Pepper. I was terrified, fighting for my life but I had to stay strong for her. She needed me. We surfaced again and I gulped fresh air as I thrashed in the water with my other leg, hoping to scare it off.

The rescuer reached for me. “Shark! Get me a shock stick now!” he shouted to one of the crew.

My foot struck something solid and the pressure released from my leg—but the pain was sharp and shot all the way up my leg and torso. I clenched my jaw to keep from screaming out.

I looked up and tried to focus on Pepper’s face. She was safe now. I focused my brain on that thought as I struggled to get into the rescue harness. I felt the warmth of my own blood rush around me and the next few minutes were the longest of my life.