Page 41 of Island Holiday

“Hold here,” she ordered.

“What?” Sonya demanded. “You can’t—”

“He doesn’t know we aren’t on his side,” Jess said, her voice low. She radioed the impromptu plan to the police boat.

Sonya gripped the edge of the seat, wishing she could do more than watch.

Between the current and his desperation, Zimmer made it to the water taxi and hauled himself up. Soaked through, he clung to the railing. “Help me, please. The crew on our boat attacked me.”

Connor extended a hand and helped him board. Then he punched him hard in the nose. “Don’t get up.”

Blood spurted, dripping down his chin and staining the river-drenched polo shirt. “What the hell is this?”

“You haven’t found a friend, but they have.” Connor shook out his hand. “Stay put until the police get here.”

He tried to clamber to his feet, but Sonya pushed him back down on his butt. “Stay put, Mr. Zimmer.”

His eyes bugged out as he recognized Sonya. “You again?” He jumped up and took a swing at her.

To her amazement, Sonya didn’t freeze. It was like watching herself, standing apart from her body as she blocked his initial attack and lifted her knee to cut short his follow-through. Then suddenly, he was flying backward.

Connor had yanked him by the collar and tossed him down on the deck.

Flat on his back, Zimmer groaned and wheezed.

Sonya glanced away for a moment to check on the police when Jess started shouting. “He’s as slippery as an eel!”

Sure enough, Zimmer had scrambled off the water taxi.

Connor followed him, diving into the river.

“Connor, no!” Sonya shouted, rushing to the railing. Her plea was too late. Connor was swimming after Zimmer with powerful strokes. Momentarily helpless, all Sonya could do was watch while Jess radioed the details to the rest of the team.

***

Cutting against the current, Connor was pissed he’d let Zimmer slip off the boat. He couldn’t let the bastard escape. Zimmer had victimized too many people, including Sonya.

When the bastard had touched her the well-ordered plan flew out of his head in a haze of red. But he refused to let anything happen to her.

Whatever Zimmer thought in his mad scramble for the riverbank, Connor wasn’t deterred. Slogging through the strong river current and the pluff mud, he pushed himself. It was like running through a nightmare when progress was impossible. Except this was broad daylight and Zimmer would not be allowed to slink away and start over again. Straining, willing his body to catch up, he finally caught the man’s belt and hauled him back into the river.

They twisted and fought, the water making it hard to get any power behind his punches.

“It’s over.”

Zimmer kicked out, his foot catching Connor’s thigh and stunning his leg. Connor only worked his arms harder, grabbing at anything he could reach. The men rolled and an elbow caught Connor in the jaw. He tasted blood, felt his lip split.

Voices shouted, but it was hard to discern any specific words. The water and the boat engines all blended into one static mass of sound. He saw a first responder wrap up Zimmer, and a moment later, felt someone behind him as well.

“Up you go,” the woman said, pointing toward the ladder at the stern of the charter boat.

“I’m—”

“One of the good guys, I know. Get moving.”

“Right.” His leg was already working better and he kicked over to the ladder. Logan reached down and helped him onto the boat, now under the control of local police and FBI agents.

The first responder followed and he realized she was a Charleston firefighter. “Thanks for the assist.”

---