Suspicion At Sea - Amie Nichols
Suspicion at Sea
By
Amie Nichols
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
All rights reserved,
Copyright© 2014, Amie Nichols
Prologue
According to Maritime law, any and all vessels that are able to provide assistance on receiving a signal from any source that persons are in distress at sea, is bound to proceed with all speed to their aid.
Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Maine.
“Max, Sam, we need to head back before this storm hits,” I yell at my two brothers pulling up lines. The water is starting to get choppy and there's a nasty squall headed straight for us on the radar. Max holds up his hand indicating just a few more minutes.
“No, now!” I yell from the helm. We are already starting to toss. If we don't head back now, I don't think we will be ahead of the storm.
“Jesus, Jade, relax,” Sam says, coming into the cabin. “We don't want to lose today's catch.”
“Just hurry, I don't want to be out in the storm. The hull has a small crack, remember? Do you really want to chance it getting bigger in this squall?” I have to shout over the sound of the wind coming in the bay windows. “You've got until I go down and check the seal. If you're not done by then, too bad.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Sam shakes his head, returning to Max to help bring up the cages.
Seeing that the seal is holding, I return to the helm. Looking out the bow of the boat, I don't see my brothers.
“Sam...Max...” I yell, but still don't see them. I run out and see there is a cage half up, pounding against the stern. Leaning over the railing, I scan the water. It has started to rain and the deck is slippery. I run below deck searching the cabins. “Sam, Max, come on guys; this is not funny.” The boat is tossing and I hear the creak of the hull, an eerie sound, as darkness falls on us from the storm.
“Sam,” I yell, frantically running back on deck. “Max.” My voice is drowned out by a loud clap of thunder. I'm standing on the bow alone in a storm as a swell lifts the boat up fiercely and back down. I slide, hitting the railing. Where the fuck are my brothers...
Chapter 1
“Agent Ellie Marks,” I answer my phone, seeing that the call is from a Bureau land line.
“Now where in the world did you say you were heading?” my partner, Cody Reed, says into the phone.
“Bailey Island, Maine.” Deputy Director Carl said it is a great place to unwind and just what the doctor ordered before coming back.
“And you are going to be there how long?” I can hear the concern in his voice. We have been partners for seven years, and after I was shot last year he's been a mother hen.
“A few weeks, I just want to relax and put the past few years behind me.” I turn my rental car onto Harpswell Island Road that will take me over Orr's Bridge into the small town of Bailey Island.
“You and me both, sister,” he sighs in the phone. We were in deep cover for two years before I got shot. Although Cody was undercover with me, I had the hardest job. “What are you going to do for three weeks all by yourself?” I am used to being by myself. I have never had a serious relationship. And with what I had to do while undercover, infiltrating one of the worst syndicated crime gangs in the world, Los Diablos Rojos, having a relationship of any kind was the last thing on my to-do list.
“I'm going to lie on the beach, read some books, eat lots of seafood, and just relax.” I've spent the last year recovering and spending a lot of time on my psychiatrist’s couch. Not having to think about anything sounds like heaven. I've always been the type to be able to turn my emotions on and off. Having to relive moments over and over and how they made me feel was becoming more torture than actually being there.
“Be safe and keep in touch,” he orders over the phone, trying to sound authoritative.
“Yes sir.” I can't help but laugh at his attempt.
“Shut up.” He laughs with me, knowing that