Page 95 of Perfume Girl

“Oh, I forgot.” Garcia rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. “Astor told me to give these to you if you would rather make your way back to South Beach. We’ll drive him home later.”

I stared at him, stunned and confused. “Garcia, what happened? I mean, how did Astor seem to you?”

Garcia looked surprised. “He looked good to go.”

“Go where?”

“He didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“The coastguard just got a distress signal. A tourist reported her friend is drifting out to sea in a canoe. She needs rescuing.”

“And they can’t go?”

“The coastguard’s dealing with an upturned yacht a few miles out. So we’ve answered the call. We’re sending out theAllure, she’s the fastest boat out there. Our team’s about to head in the opposite direction. We could bail on returning Ruben, but Astor has stepped up to go get the girl.”

“Alone?”

“It’s all hands on deck with Ruben.” Garcia gestured for me to follow him. “Wanna go with him?”

“With Astor?”

“Yeah, why not?”

ISECURED THE ANCHOR INSIDEthe boat and turned on the engine. It thrummed to life, hiding its horsepower beneath its purr. Now this…this was a speedboat. It would be like being behind the wheel of a racecar.

The alert had gone out for any free boats in the area to answer a rescue call. Since we were located closest to where the young lady had last been seen canoeing, our team was the most logical choice for finding her.

A local would know about the tides, so this tourist was facing double the danger. Apparently, she and her friends had hired canoes for the day and then crossed the safety zone. Throw in the impending storm and the threat was raised, along with the risk of hypothermia. With my concern growing for her, I readied to head out to sea.

Then I saw them…

Raquel and Garcia were on the dock, walking quickly toward me. It made me wonder if the girl had been found.

“Everything okay?” I called over.

“Raquel’s coming with you,” said Garcia.

I straightened my back and gave him a look that told him this was a bad idea.

Raquel went to climb aboard. “I’ll help you.”

“I’m handling this,” I shot back.

“Astor,” she replied firmly, “you need to steer and I need to help the canoeist.”

“It’s choppy out there,” said Garcia. “She has a point…two is better.”

“Where’s the first-aid kit and blanket?” She climbed in. “I’m a boater. I’m more than capable.”

Garcia looked amused and I shot him an annoyed glare. “I’m the captain, you do what I say.”

“Yes, sir.” Raquel threw off a salute.

“All the best with our dolphin,” I said to Garcia, waving goodbye.

With Raquel seated beside me we navigated out of the harbor, and then I opened up the throttle taking us fast out to sea.