Free Stranded by Dani Pettrey

?” She could barely sit still as they drove through the town of Eagle Cove, along the coast toward the northwestern tip of Aukaneck Island. The main village was quaint and would no doubt make a nice destination for the passengers opting not to join one of the excursions.
    Landon cleared his throat as he banked right, heading away from the central village.
    â€œTurns out a woman was brought in to Kodiak Hospital late last night.”
    Hope welled inside her. “Abby?”
    â€œThat’s the name that was given. . . .”
    â€œBut . . . ?” Her eyes narrowed.
    Landon’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. “She was gone, apparently left rather abruptly soon after being brought in.”
    â€œHow abruptly?”
    â€œThe triage nurse spoke with her briefly. She identified herself as Abby Walsh, told the nurse she was fine, and took off before she could even be registered, let alone assessed by the doctor.”
    â€œSo that explains why the day shift didn’t know about her.”
    â€œRight.”
    She shifted, the seat belt pinning her uncomfortably. “If it was Abby, then why hasn’t she sent word?”
    â€œI don’t know, but the entire thing seems odd.”
    â€œBecause she left the hospital so quickly?” If it was Abby, she was probably hoping to get back to the ship or at least to get word to her.
    â€œThat’s one thing.” Landon tapped the steering wheel as she slackened the belt cutting across her midsection. “You said you heard the alarm go off around ten thirty?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œThe woman wasn’t brought in to Kodiak Hospital until nearly one o’clock.”
    â€œI don’t understand.” She frowned as noise swelled in the rear of the van. “Why so long of a time gap?”
    Landon glanced in his rearview mirror at the commotion. “I don’t know.”
    â€œWe’ve got an instigator back here,” Gage said, leaning forward.
    â€œWhat?” Darcy turned with a start. “How so?”
    â€œHeath thinks he’s the life of the party. We’ll have to keep an eye on him.”
    Landon smiled at Darcy’s confusion. “What Gage means is when you have a show-off, they are likely to make stupid choices out on the water.”
    â€œOr prod others to do so,” Gage added.
    â€œLike the popular kids in high school, always egging one another on?” she said.
    Gage tapped the back of her seat. “Exactly.” He turned back to the commotion, and she redirected her thoughts to Abby.
    â€œSo do you think it was Abby?”
    â€œThere’s no way to be certain. A man dropped her off, saying he had to hurry back to the ship before it was too far gone, but after nearly three hours, he’d have to meet up with it at the next port.”
    â€œI don’t like it.”
    â€œNeither do I.”
    â€œWe need to show the nurse Abby’s picture and see if she can confirm whether or not it was in fact her.”
    â€œI already did. I pulled Abby’s driver’s license photo after you left the station.”
    â€œAnd?”
    â€œThe nurse said the ER was hectic that night. The woman had the same hair color, same basic build, but she couldn’t be certain one way or another.”
    â€œWhy such a long time delay? What were they doing for three hours?”
    â€œI don’t know. Their decision to take the woman to Kodiak rather than back on the ship indicates they were close to the island.”
    â€œAnd I could see the town lights in the distance when I finally made it out on deck.”
    â€œThe hospital sits barely a block from shore. They should have reached it in well under an hour.”
    â€œSo why did it take so long?”
    Landon pulled the van to a stop. “I don’t know.”

11
    Gage watched Darcy climb from the van, frustration etched on her beautiful face. Whatever news Landon held, it