The Sweetest Summer(151)

            They raced down the dock, peering behind every trash can and piling and bench. She was nowhere. They headed toward the boat slips, where a crowd of vacationers were gathered.

            “Anyone seen a little girl?”

            “She just ran over there!” A woman gestured with her cocktail toward the shack otherwise known as Sully’s Marine Repair..

            Clancy heard Evie mumbling to herself. “Why did I stay here? Oh, God, what have I done?”

            Suddenly, two helicopters hovered overhead, news cameras and blinding spotlights trained on their every move. Duncan was suddenly at his side.

            “She went toward Sully’s,” Clancy told him.

            “That’s where the FBI left their speedboat.”

            As soon as Evie heard that, she raced away so fast that Clancy and Duncan remained a good three seconds behind her. They slowed down when they saw the shine of Evie’s white dress at the edge of the dock. She was leaning over the railing, calling out to Christina.

            Oh, God, no. Jellybean was in the water again?

            Suddenly, a speedboat sputtered away from the boatyard, dragging its lines behind. It looked like no one was on board.

            “What the hell?” They arrived at Evie’s side just in time to see the boat increase its speed in a sudden jerk and head out toward open water. But it wasn’t empty. A little mermaid with a red buzz cut was in the captain’s chair, staring up at the dock as she moved away, then shielding her eyes from the searchlights.

            “Dad’s boat,” Duncan said.

            The brothers and Evie turned back, nearly running over the FBI agents still following them. They raced toward the emergency-only docking area, and Clancy thanked God the rules didn’t apply to his brother. He kept glancing out to sea, seeing the speedboat’s running lights get farther and farther away. Duncan jumped into the boat first and immediately flipped on the engine. Evie boarded next, while Clancy pulled up the fenders. As soon as he got inside, Evie yelled, “Go!”

            Duncan turned on the boat’s nighttime running lights and its single searchlight. They picked up speed, heading in the direction they’d last seen Christina.

            With the helicopters and engine noise, all conversation on the boat had to be done with shouting.

            “The FBI must have left the keys in the boat. They didn’t even know how to tie a cleat hitch! How stupid can you get?” Duncan kept his eyes forward.

            “What does she know about boats, Evie?”

            She scanned the black water, her face frozen in concentration. “Pop-Pop has a power boat on Moose Lake. He’s let her drive on his lap a couple times, turn it on and off, and steer.”

            “Great.”

            “Well, this ain’t Moose Lake,” Duncan said.

            The news helicopters decided to follow along, making it even harder to see and whipping the water into a frenzy all around them. The sea spray drenched them.

            “Can you get those fucking things out of here?”

            Clancy grabbed his police radio and reached Chip.

            “Tell Agent Apodaca to order all media back. Order media helicopters back! They’re endangering the child!”

            “10-4, Chief! Be safe!”

            “We have to have a plan,” Duncan said. “Clancy? You want to captain or board?”

            “I’ll board. She knows me well and won’t be as afraid.”