Page 6 of Vacation Friends

Her strength waned as the ocean sucked away all her energy.

Even if she reached the man, she wasn’t sure she could make it back to shore with him.

The man’s face bobbed from the dark water again.

“Help . . .” he gasped, his voice barely discernable over the waves.

Maddie lunged through the water trying to grab him, but a wave pulled him farther away.

If only she could get closer . . .

His head dipped up again, and his eyes widened as he saw her. Was that recognition that flickered in his gaze?

“You . . .” he croaked.

Was this the man she was supposed to meet?

“Someone . . . murder . . .”

Her blood went icy cold at the word “murder.” Was he trying to tell her someone had attempted to murder him? That his current state of distress wasn’t an accident?

She reached for him, but he disappeared beneath the water again.

A cry escaped from deep inside her as another wave engulfed her.

She had to get out of the ocean. Maddie was no match for its strength. She wasn’t sure why she’d ever thought she could rescue this man.

Now they were both going to die.

As she tried to stand, the water knocked her down again. The waves tossed her around like a ragdoll.

Tears of despair pressed at her eyes.

She couldn’t give up. She wasn’t helpless. She had to keep trying.

Using all her remaining energy, she stood once more. Just as she took a step back to shore, another wave pounded her.

She toppled forward.

Before she could gain her footing, an invisible force began to drag her under, drag her deeper into the ocean.

She was caught in a riptide.

Paradise, she realized, might become her grave . . . just like that woman at the airport had warned.

CHAPTER

THREE

Maddie’s arms flailed as she tried to fight the ocean and get back to the surface.

But it was no use. She was no match for the mighty Pacific.

She would become another vacation statistic.

No, don’t think like that. Keep trying. You’re stronger than this.

That was right. She couldn’t give up. She couldn’t give in without a fight.

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