Free Terminus by Joshua Graham Page B

piece it all together, she leapt from the bridge.
     

21
     
    THE BODY.  THAT WAS YURI’S FIRST THOUGHT as he peered past the wall at the Coast Guard ship whose officers were eyeing Jonas’s boat through binoculars.  If they were to come around, they’d find his body hanging from the deck.  That would only complicate things.
    Making sure he was out of their sight, Yuri pulled the knife from the sheath strapped to his ankle and began to saw away at the thick rope.  He wasn’t making much progress and now he heard the roar of the Coast Guard ship’s engine as it began to move.
    Yuri let out a grunt and slashed at the rope even more feverishly.
    The ship was coming to the front of Jonas’s boat and about to turn to the side where his body hung.  The rope sliding in his grip as he cut it stung Yuri’s fingers.  Just before the Coast Guard ship rounded the corner, the line broke. 
    A heavy splash below.  Yuri shoved the knife overboard, rolled over on his back, and laughed.  Just in time.
    Five minutes later, a pair of Coast Guardsmen boarded.  Yuri remained on his back as if barely conscious.
    “Sir?”  the male officer said, crouching down at Yuri’s side.  “Sir, are you all right?”
    Yuri groaned, slowly reached for his neck and rubbed it. 
    “Hmmm?”
    The female officer zipped open a bag, presumably containing first aid equipment. 
    “Looks dehydrated.”
    Yuri sat up and gazed into her face with his best desperate look.
    “Thank God you came!”
    “I’m Chief Petty Officer Renard,” she said, then nodded to her partner.  “This is Seaman Apprentice Grant.  Sir, are you all right?”
    “It was terrible.  A huge storm—you would not believe how big!  I hit head...” He rubbed the back of his skull where he’d gotten bumped.  “My friend Jonas...he…”   Yuri moaned as he touched his neck again.  He didn’t have to pretend, the pain was real.
    “Jonas?”  Renard said, looking around.
    “He was up here during storm.” Yuri stood up, very slowly. 
    “How long were you here?” Grant said.
    “I don’t know.  Last I remember, ship was going to sink!”  Yuri peered over his shoulder and hollered, “Jonas!” 
    “Have you checked below?” Renard pointed to the cargo hold.
    Yuri’s face went cold.  “Of course.”
    “Mind if we look?”
    Dammit!  
    “Is slippery and dark.  Come with me.”  He led them down the steps, grabbed the flashlight on the counter and waved its beam around in a cursory scan. 
    “See?  Not here.”  He started back to the steps. 
    “We need to have a thorough look,” Renard said.
    “I looked everywhere,” Yuri said.  “I think Jonas maybe fell overboard during storm!”
    “I think he could be down here, injured.” Grant pulled out his own flashlight.  “Let’s make sure.”
    Better create a diversion.
    As the other two started off to search the hold, Yuri made a gurgling noise, started to convulse, then fell on the floor with a loud thud.
    “He’s having a seizure,” Grant said. 
    Renard, who had walked off a little ways, rejoined them. “Yeah, I don’t think so.”
    She was holding the suitcase and not buying Yuri’s act.
    “What’s inside, Sir?” 
    The suitcase was quite heavy with the key component he’d fully assemble with other parts in the States. Yuri opened one eye and glanced at it with concern. 
    “I don’t know.”
    “Where’s your friend...Jonas?”
    “I don’t know.  Like I said, maybe he fell overboard!”
    Renard huffed and spun the suitcase’s combination cam lock. 
    “Or maybe you’re a murder suspect.” 
    “That’s crazy!”  Yuri said.
    “Save us all the time and trouble,” Renard said.  “Open the case.”

22
     
    “I HOPE THIS ISN’T AWKWARD FOR YOU.”  Maria hugged her arms and leaned back into the chair. 
    “Awkward?”  Jon shook his head.  “This isn’t the first time I’ve been alone with a woman—I mean...” A burning heat washed over his face and