Page 305 of Hidden Depths

“I’m letting them know we’re friendly.”

“They know we’re the ones who called.”

“You can never be too clear.”

Despite everything...

I smiled.

A Coast Guard response boat arrived minutes later.

The crew circled the reef while another vessel moved alongside Sea Whisper.

A uniformed officer boarded.

He introduced himself as Lieutenant Daniel Akana.

His eyes swept over the shattered windshield and bullet holes.

“Everyone aboard accounted for?”

“Yes,” Ward answered.

“Any injuries?”

“No.”

Lieutenant Akana examined the damaged helm.

“You were fortunate.”

“It wasn’t luck,” Frank said.

Everyone looked at him.

He pointed toward Calle and me.

“These women know the ocean better than anyone I’ve ever met. They led that boat straight onto the reef.”

Rose patted his arm.

“That almost sounded complimentary.”

“It was complimentary.”

“I wanted to make sure.”

Lieutenant Akana questioned Ward, Ben, Calle, and me.

We told him about the chase.

The gunfire.

The shooter.

The second vessel that had extracted the men.

We gave him copies of Ivy’s photographs.