Chapter 24
Jack pulled the limo up next to the rental just as he saw Saskia go over the edge of the dock.
“What the hell?”
He noticed the red lights on the back of the boat as it headed north up the Thames. They must have already made the exchange. Maybe? Something was off. He didn’t see Jonny.
The gears grinded as Jack abruptly threw the limo into park and opened the door at the same time. Pulling off his coat and shedding that in his wake, he raced over the lumpy snow-capped field and to the end of the dock. No other cars were in the area. But Marks would have the ECU on his arse soon enough. Hell, they could find him now that he’d been rechipped.
Bending over the end of the dock, he nearly slipped into the drink when his palm crushed the rotting wood and the plank gave way. Leaning onto his side, he saw the situation. Saskia was in the water struggling with the heavy ropes wrapped around his brother’s body. Jonny had been hung on the pier post and the water sloshed up over his chin. He was out, but his shivers were evident. As was Saskia’s failing strength.
Jack pulled out the bowie knife and thought to hand it to Saskia but she didn’t see him. And the winds would make calling to her difficult. He slipped over the wood planks, grasping the edge of the dock. The icy water shocked his system, and soaked through his clothing. He cursed seven ways to Sunday.
Saskia sputtered water and shouted something that sounded like his brother’s name. She reached for him. Her fingers clasped, stretching, but not connecting. A sudden wave washed her out of Jack’s reach and away from him.
“Grab the dock piling!” he shouted.
Another wave banged him up against his brother. Jack grabbed the slippery rope wrapped about Jonny’s chest. He hadn’t much time before the icy water numbed his extremities and made holding the knife impossible.
He sawed the Bowie over the thick ropes that must be used for shipping. They were as thick as the ropes that had hung in the Helsinki warehouse. Thankfully, it took but a minute for the rope to sever and loosen. Jonny’s body slumped against his, yet the waves sloshed him away to hit against the piling. His head banged the rusted hook. Jack struggled to stay above water with the heavy weight against him.
And where was Saskia? Had the current pulled her out into the river? No, it would generally smash a body against the shore, which was sandy and pocked with head-sized stones. He couldn’t see for the blur of snow and wind.
Gulping in air, Jack then dropped under water and clutched his brother about the legs. With one forceful kick he pushed upward, propelling Jonny into the air. His chest hit the dock and just when he hoped he’d stay, Jonny slipped back onto Jack’s shoulder. Kicking furiously, he swallowed water and choked. Jack’s head went under. Bubbles burned in his nostrils.
He could close his eyes and the struggle would end…
Saskia. Where was she? He couldn’t let it end without giving her his all.
A wave of determination tightened in Jack’s gut. Another breath, and with a kick of his feet, another propulsion. As Jonny’s body rose out of the water he heard his brother yell. Jonny slapped his arms across the dock and hung there, his legs dangling in the water. The weathered dock cracked sharply. Jonny’s body shifted downward.
“Climb on!” Jack yelled. “Before you fall in again.”
“Jack?”
He pushed up his brother’s legs. They folded and Jonny was able to pull himself completely onto the dock. He rolled over, tucking up his legs until he curled into a helpless ball.
The cold water filled Jack’s throat and iced his lungs. Blinking, he went under and again the water shrouded him warmly, beckoning him to stop kicking. And he did.…
It could be love. I don’t really know what that is. No one has ever said it to me before.
Yeah, it probably was love. And he hadn’t said the like to her. So he wasn’t about to go out without making sure she heard it from him.
Kicking his legs, Jack aimed away from the dock and allowed the gentle current to whisk him along the shore. He kicked and swam. It had been ages since he’d swam in the Thames, purposely, and as a kid he’d always been the first to dive in and then come up to a float.
That’s what he had to do to stay alive. Turning onto his back, Jack floated and kicked and backstroked until he bumped up against something solid. Hair slipped over his face. He turned and the movement swept Saskia’s body under his. He wrapped an arm about her and kicked toward shore. It wasn’t far, and he could reach out for the stones and crawl up to push her body onto them.
Dragging himself out of the water, he struggled to stand half upright. His wet clothing weighed him down, but he shook so much it seemed to keep his adrenaline pumping. Tugging Saskia by the arms, he moved her toward a strip of soaked cardboard that might have once served as a homeless man’s bed and rolled her onto it.
A glance toward the dock spied Jonny lying there, motionless. And the swinging beams from two flashlights. The ECU had arrived.
Jack bowed his head over Saskia’s. He pressed his shaking fingers to her neck. Heartbeats pumped. Still alive. But for how long? He pressed her chest, not knowing how the CPR thing worked but thinking he needed her to choke up the water she might have swallowed. Turning her onto her side, she did suddenly choke and spit up water.
“Yes.” He clutched her head with both hands—his fingers were numb—and bowed his forehead to hers.
One of the bobbling flashlight beams approached them.
“I love you, Saskia. Don’t forget that.”
“Jack…”
“You’re my family now. I’ll never stop looking for you. Promise.”
“Jack, don’t leave me. I…your brother…”
“He’s good. Safe. Alive. Thanks to you.”
“Jack Angelo,” the voice behind the flashlight beam said. “Stand and put up your hands.”
And with a quick kiss to Saskia’s brow, he pushed up from the ground and turned to face the light, lifting his sodden arms and splaying his hands.