Page 108 of Hidden Depths

“It doesn’t matter. We’ve got to get off the water.”

* * *

It had taken a long time to get back to land, but as they approached the shore, it became clear quickly that the only way Tom could dock the boat was to run it aground.

After a rough landing, with the waves battering the boat, the three struggled to climb off, and Sara fell into the water only half-conscious before Tom and Isla dragged her out and drove her to the hospital, dodging debris that littered the road.

* * *

“You did good back there,” Tom said to Isla once they were at the hospital, awaiting word about Sara. Everything they’d just been through felt like a piece of cake compared to this.

“You too.”

“I don’t know how you managed it with that head wound.”

“Probably the same way we did everything while we were out on the water. It was one giant miracle.”

* * *

Sara could hear the beeps of the monitors, but with so many images pressing for her attention, she couldn’t tell which way was up or what was even happening to her. She needed to open her eyes.

When she did, she saw a familiar face smiling down at her. “Peter?” She blinked “When did you—wait.” She rubbed her face and looked around the room. Her search stopped on Tom.

“Tom?”

“How’re you feeling?” he said, nearing the bed.

She pushed back a thread of some memory that said he was supposed to be dead. “What happened? Where am I?”

“You’re in the hospital. You got shot. You don’t remember?”

She closed her eyes again. “I’m not sure which of my memories are real and which I dreamed up.”

“Most of it is probably true.”

“How long have I been out?”

“Since yesterday. But you had a big day.”

“I remember a storm, I think?”

“Yeah. It’s over now. Peter got here as soon as he could.”

“It couldn’t all be true. I dreamed that Lansky was alive. He shot me, I think. It’s all so muddled. And I remember a woman.”

“Her name doesn’t happen to be Isla?” Isla said from the door.

“You’re real?”

“As real as they come.”

“But…does that mean it’s all real?”

“I’m afraid so,” Tom said softly.

“Lansky?”

“Him too.”

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