“Does Tom have any weapons—guns, knives—or does he have access to anything like that in your house?”
“Absolutely not. There was a shotgun from my grandfather’s time. I gave that away years ago. Tom has suicidal tendencies. He’s tried it more than once. I’ve made sure there’s nothing around that would give him an easy exit.”
“He told me his friend Garr gave him a gun.”
“Garr is a fantasy friend. I don’t think he ever knew the man. But that’s all Tom has talked about since that horrible day. Tom has some kind of romantic fantasy about that whole incident.” She paused and looked at Sue, “What’s going to happen now?”
“We will try to locate the boat. Mr. McDaniel told us there was very little fuel onboard. So if Tom took it way out into the lake, he’s probably just sitting there. Or he might have landed somewhere and is off on foot.”
“I need to be close by when you find Tom. His big fear is going back to the hospital. If he sees me, he knows he’s alright.”
“We will do our best to make sure that happens. Give me your cell number, and we’ll stay in contact.”
“I’ll be back in a second, let me go write it down.” Lea disappeared into the kitchen, reappearing a few minutes later.
She handed Sue a slip of paper, “I went to an early morning yoga class today. I had Tom’s pillbox laid out with his breakfast,” she held up the blue, plastic container. “He didn’t take his meds this morning. This is not good.”
“I will call you when we find him. Please bring those with you.”
Ray handed Sue the binoculars. “You can see the boat just left of the island. That was probably his destination. He ran out of gas a few miles short and right smack in the shipping lane.”
“Any signs of life?”
“Not that I’ve seen. The pilot of the coast guard chopper says someone is sprawled on the floor.”
“That’s consistent with what his mother told me.” Sue quickly summarized her conversation with Alice Lea.
“So what’s our plan?” Sue asked.
“Brett’s on his way with the Zodiac. I thought we’d run out and tow him in. But given what you’ve just told me, that’s not a good idea.”
“There’s not a lot of daylight.”
“Two hours at best,” said Ray.
Hanna Jeffers joined them. “Are we paddling?”
“No, change of plans. I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you.” Ray explained the situation.
“How about the doc?” asked Sue, looking at Hanna.
“We can’t put her in that situation.”
“So what are you suggesting?” asked Hanna. “I paddle out there, check out the situation, and see if I can get him comfortable enough that you can tow him in without him jumping into deep water?”
“That’s the idea?” said Sue.
“We can’t put a civilian….”
“I’ve dealt with this kind of situation lots of time, especially in Iraq. Help me get my boat off the car.”
Hanna Jeffers dipped one paddle blade into the water, then the other, side to side, catch, pull, rotate. Connected acts, each contributing to the rhythm that propelled her long, slender kayak through the mirror-like surface. From the launch point, her destination was less than two miles out. The marine radio on her chest was switched off, as was the phone in the waterproof bag secured under the bungees on the deck in front of her.
Her target had been in view from the moment Ray pushed her kayak away from the shore. As she approached nearer, she could make out the lines of a speedboat sitting dead in the water. When she was twenty yards away, she stopped paddling and listened. A steady, pulsating sound came from the direction of the boat, deep breathing or perhaps snoring.
She closed the distance by half and shouted in the direction of the craft. “Hello, anyone on board?”
No response, just the sound again, louder. She paddled to the stern of the powerboat and secured her boat to the teak swim deck. She released her spray skirt and carefully climbed onto the deck. Then she peered into the boat. Tom was sprawled on the floor, eyes closed, chest gently rising and falling.
“Hello,” Hanna said. She repeated herself three more times, raising the volume of her voice each time. There was still no response. She moved closer, grabbing a shoeless foot and shaking it, first gently, and then more vigorously, her gaze fixed on Tom’s face.
One eye opened, closed, and opened again, this time wider, slowly moving in her direction.
Hanna tensed, surveying the boat for possible weapons and routes of escape. She had been in this situation before in the military, dealing with patients emerging from psychotic episodes, some quiet and spent, others physically and emotionally out of control.
“Are you okay?” she asked softly. She held her position beyond his grasp.
The other eye opened. “Bitch, you killed….”
“ I didn’t kill anyone. I’m here to help you.”
Tom crawled forward to the front of the boat, sprawled on the cushions and looked back at Hanna.
“Where did you come from?”
“My kayak, it’s tied up back there. I saw the boat dead in the water. I thought maybe the driver had a heart attack or something. I’m a doctor. I came onboard to see if someone needed help. What’s your name?”
“I don’t need any help.”
“It’s going to be dark soon. It’s already starting to cool off. Don’t you want to be on shore? Get a warm meal.”
“I’m good to go. I like sleeping under the stars.”
“Storm coming in later tonight. You’re going to get tossed around when it hits.”
“I’m thirsty. Got anything to drink?”
“Water. Want me to get you a bottle?”
“I need caffeine. How about Rock Star or Red Bull?”
“All I have is water. You want a bottle? I have to go back to my kayak.”
“Okay, water.”
Hanna moved toward the stern, her eyes fixed on Tom. She crawled onto the transom and pulled a plastic water bottle from under the bungees. Then she moved forward in the boat and rolled the bottle toward Tom.
“How do I know you didn’t put anything in this?”
“Check it out. It’s sealed. Just twist the top.”
“Are you a cop?”
“I told you, I’m a doctor.”
“Why are you wearing a knife on your life vest?”
Hanna looked down at knife. How could have I been so stupid? she thought.
“It’s a piece of safety equipment. It’s for emergencies.”
“Let me see it.”
“You want a power bar. You must be hungry.”
“I want to see your knife.”
Hanna pulled a bar from her vest and tossed it in his direction. “Double chocolate. Red Bull in a bar,” She moved back in the boat, getting into a defensive position. In a soft voice she instructed, “Eat the bar. It will make you feel better.” She switched on her radio.
“That water was poisoned, and now you’re trying to give something else. You cops are all alike. You killed Garr and now you’re after me.” He tossed the bar at her, then the water bottle. Pulling himself to his feet, he started toward her, finally lunging in her direction. Hanna moved to the side, tripping him with her hand as he went past her. He fell hard on the carpeted deck, his head striking the back of the boat.
Hanna scrambled toward the bow and waited for Tom’s next move. After a minute or two she cautiously crept closer. He appeared to be unconscious.
“I need help now,” she said, squeezing the transmit button on her radio. The Zodiac that had been lurking a half mile off the stern, roared to life. Soon Ray and Sue were at Hanna’s side as she checked Tom’s vitals.