Page 7 of Beaches

“She made it,” whispered Calvin. They cheered for her, screaming and waving. Finally able to sit up, she waved at them, gripping the oars.

“How in the hell did we miss a lifeboat floating out there?” asked Vic.

“It must have broken loose from something in that storm. Go, kid. Go as far as you can,” whispered Calvin. Damon looked at the other two men.

“At least one of us can die off this fucking island.”

“It’s like something from a damn movie,” said Whiskey. “That young woman swam from some island, seeing the boat in the distance. She climbed aboard and just started rowing. She said it was three weeks before that ship found her.”

“What the fuck is happening?” muttered Nine. “Could it be connected?”

“I don’t know, but I think we need to try and speak with her. They air-lifted her to a hospital in San Francisco, then moved her to the Naval hospital in San Diego.”

“Get the jet ready,” said Gaspar. Whiskey nodded.

“It’s already done. Evie’s waiting for you at the strip.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Getting into the naval hospital in San Diego was easy. Getting to the woman in question was not. They had her guarded like she was the president. With some carefully orchestrated distractions and a few minutes of begging and pleading, Wilson, Ghost, and Nine entered the room while Ian and Gaspar kept the guards chatting.

“Good morning,” smiled Wilson.

“H-hi. Are you a new nurse?” she asked, looking frightened.

“I am a nurse, but I don’t work here,” he said softly. He picked up the tablet at the end of the bed and quickly got into the medical record. Jane Doe. “You don’t have a name?”

“I-I didn’t. The men gave me one. They named me April.”

“The men?” asked Nine.

“Who are you?” she whispered with tears in her eyes. Wilson lowered himself to her level, pulling the chair a little closer while Nine and Ghost took their seats.

“We’re not going to hurt you, sweetie. We saw the story on the news and think you might be able to help us. My name is Wilson. This is Ghost and Nine.” She frowned at the men. “Weird names, we know. We own an investigation company. The best in the world.”

“Okay.”

“You were pretty fucking brave to be out there in the ocean for that long in that boat. They said the lifeboat belonged to a yacht they think sank recently.” She stared at him a moment, then nodded.

“Honey, where were you?” asked Ghost.

“I-I don’t know. The man who owned me brought me to an island where there were three older men.”

“Owned you?” frowned Wilson. “Honey, no man owns another man or woman.”

“He does. He owns lots of people. He owned my mother. He owned me.” Wilson stared at the tablet, finding the photos of her back. He showed them to Nine and Ghost, who immediately had the deadliest of stares on their faces.

“Who is he?” she asked, pointing behind them. Wilson, Nine, and Ghost turned, gripping their chests as the expletives flew from their mouth.

“Fucking asshole! How the hell did you get in here?” asked Ghost.

“You are getting old. I came in behind you,” grinned Trak. “Hello, little one. My name is Trak, and I am here to ensure that no one ever touches you again.” She stared at him for a moment, then a slow smile creeped across her face.

“I believe you.”

“You said the man who owned you brought you to an island, and there were three other men,” said Nine. “Were they wearing these?” He pulled his dog tags from beneath his shirt, and the girl nodded.

“There were lots of those hanging in the cave.”

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