Page 82 of Lost Truth
“You good man,” the woman said. “My baby alive because of you.”
“It’s nothing any one of us wouldn’t have done.”
He might be right, but Hayden still basked in the joyful moment of a positive outcome.
“Besides,” Gabe said. “My team got him breathing again. They’re the real heroes.”
“We need help!” Abby called from the water.
Hayden bolted to the side of the boat to find her holding a young girl, maybe six or seven years old, above the water. He leaned down to pull the little girl out of the icy cold. Jude was right behind her with another woman, so Hayden handed the child to Reece. “Get her bundled up.”
Reece gave a nod as Abby hefted herself into the boat and trudged over to Reece and the child. Abby was in good hands with Reece, leaving Hayden free to extend his arms to the next woman who was crying and muttering under her breath in a language he didn’t understand.
She reached out to him and grabbed tightly to his arms as if her life depended on it, and it did. She was heavy and soaking wet, and Hayden struggled to ease her over the edge of the boat.
Jude dragged himself into the boat, but collapsed just inside. Hayden tossed a blanket to him. Jude fumbled the packaging with icy cold fingers, so Hayden took it back, ripped the cellophane, and draped the blanket over him.
“Hey, thanks, man.” Jude shuddered. “We rescue everyone?”
“Not sure.”
Sawyer swung the light around, the beam skating across rough waters. “Looks like it’s clear between us and the sheriff. No one needing rescue.”
“Are you certain?” Jude asked.
Hayden gave his buddy a piercing stare. “Don’t even think about going back in the water right now.”
“I can if you need me to.” Jude’s whole body shivered under the blanket.
“We have to find out if our help is still needed and get everyone warm and dry as soon as possible.” Hayden turned to Sawyer. “Does it look clear to pull up next to the sheriff’s boat? We need to determine if everyone is accounted for.”
“Roger that.” Sawyer turned off the spotlight and shifted out of autopilot to start them moving forward.
It felt like they were just inching ahead again, when Hayden wanted to roar up to the boat, jump aboard, and find out from Mina if everyone had been rescued.
He moved over to the woman who spoke English. “Can you please tell the others we’ll be hooking up with the sheriff’s boat to find out who else was rescued?”
“Yes.” She turned to the others.
The young boy jumped up and ran over to Hayden, clutching onto his arm, speaking frantically. “Mama. Mama.”
“His mother was on the ship with him,” the woman said. “They were separated in the water. Her name is Fen.”
Hayden peered down at the boy and smoothed his hand over his blanketed head. “Tell him I’ll check the minute I’m on board the other boat.”
The woman took the boy’s hand and drew him close to her. The young girl escaped from the arms of one of the women and ran forward too.
“She also is looking for her mother, Ming.”
“I’ll ask about her too.” Hayden’s voice cracked. His heart had climbed into his throat, and he had to fight to find the strength to leave the terrified children behind and move to the starboard side of the boat.
He sucked in big gulps of air to release his tension as they neared Mina’s boat. Once a sightseeing vessel, it had been refitted for law enforcement use. The pilothouse was enclosed with a covered section extending behind it and an open deck at the rear. The rescued victims huddled in the covered area, all wrapped in blankets like the ones Sawyer had brought aboard. They were seated close together, so he couldn’t tell how many people had been saved.
Once they reached a deputy who was within shouting range, Hayden leaned over the edge of the boat. “Ahoy! Permission to come alongside.”
Mina jetted out from under the covered area and skidded on the slippery deck to the back of the boat. Rainwater had plastered her hair and clothing to her body, and a pair of binoculars hung around her neck. “Come on. Hurry. Give me a report.”
Hayden threw her a rope, and she pulled Sawyer’s boat next to hers, then passed the rope to the deputy to tie off. She held out a hand to Hayden.
