Page 51 of April 5

"Let's think positive that he'll show up." She swallowed hard. "It's not the first time he's taken off."

Cora hugged Katrina. With her arms trapped to her sides, she let her aunt show her affection in her own way.

"Kat?"

"Coming." She pulled back. "I'll talk to you later."

"Call if you find him."

"I will." She walked to the door, threw the peace sign to the others, and stepped out onto the sidewalk with Jagger. "Where are we going?"

"For a ride." He stepped off the sidewalk, grabbed the extra helmet on the back of his Harley, and handed it to Katrina.

"Where?"

"Does it matter?" He put on his skull bucket and straddled the motorcycle.

She studied him as she got ready to ride. He was in a mood.

Her mood had already plummeted the more she searched and talked about her dad. Maybe a ride would help them both.

She climbed behind him and hugged his waist. It was a gray day with low clouds. She wore jeans and a T-shirt. From her time in Seaglass Cove, she knew the nights could get cold.

"Do I need a jacket?" she asked.

"Nah, you're good."

Jagger rode away from the coffee shop. Gazing over his right shoulder, she let the wind relax her. Despite growing up in a motorcycle club, she never had any desire to ride a motorcycle herself. She liked being Jagger's backpack—a term he hated. He was old-fashioned and called it riding two-up.

He rode across the highway and toward the water. Less than five miles from the clubhouse, he pulled onto another road, followed a channel inland, and stopped at a boat dock.

She hopped off the Harley and removed her helmet. Jagger took her hand and led her to the water. There were at least twenty boats tied to the six-finger dock.

"Watch your step." He led her onto the floating pier.

She held on tightly to his hand. Once she got used to the boards moving under her feet and the rocking of the current, she raised her gaze to the boats and the water. The sun was on its way down. The light reflected on the choppy water, making her squint.

The cry of a seagull overhead had her looking up. The bird swooped down in front of them before skimming the water.

Jagger took her to the end of the pier. "Let's sit."

She lowered herself to the dock and let her feet hang off the side. The water was still a good foot or more below her toes.

Jagger sat beside her, dropping his booted feet over the side.

"It's beautiful here." She pointed. "Does the channel go out to the ocean?"

He moved his hand to the right. "It follows the route through there and keeps going until you reach town, where it meets the Pacific Ocean."

"This reminds me of the Columbia River back home." She scooted closer to him.

Jagger put his arm around her. "I brought you out here because I'm going to take off in the morning and visit Beaverton."

"Oh, I'm glad." She exhaled in relief. "I was thinking I'd wait until the end of the week and go back home to see if I could find my dad, but tomorrow is even better—"

"You're not going, Kat."

Her spine straightened. "Why can't I go?"

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