Free Dawn Patrol by Jeff Ross Page A

could tell he didn’t want to go. It was easier for him to believe his parents were on another island, sipping mango juice and soaking up the sun, than it was to discover Delgado was lying.

chapter eighteen
    We waited until it was dark. It would be dangerous, but we didn’t want to tip off Delgado. Before we left, we checked Delgado’s house again. No one was around. We hooked the trailer to Alana’s Jet Ski and pushed it into the water. I loaded our boards onto the trailer and got on behind Alana. Kevin lay on top of the boards.
    We moved along the shoreline until we had passed the reef. Alana cut straight out into deeper waters. The waves had calmed down, and we could hear people partying at the Purple Parrot.
    Once we were out past the reef, the only sounds were of the Jet Ski pushing through the waves. Luckily, it was loud enough that talking was virtually impossible. I glanced back at Kevin a couple of times. It took about half an hour to reach the island. It was impossible to bring the Jet Ski in close to the rocky shoreline. If Delgado and Jose were here, they must have landed on a different beach.
    Alana cut the engine, and we drifted across the surface. “I can’t get any closer,” she said. “You’ll have to paddle in.”
    â€œLook,” Kevin said, pointing to the shore. “There’s a light.”
    â€œWhere?” I asked.
    â€œTo the right.”
    I squinted at where he was pointing and thought I could make out a tiny glow in the jungle. “Okay,” I said. “Let’s go.”
    Alana grabbed my arm and kissed me. “I’ll wait out here.”
    â€œThat would be great,” I said.
    â€œFor you, anything.” She gave me a crooked smile as I rolled off the Jet Ski and into the water.
    Kevin already had the boards off the trailer. “Let’s try to go in on the side here,” he said, pointing. “Try to end up over there.” He pointed at a spot at the far edge of the beach. “We’ll have to dump our boards and keep low. They might be watching for us.”
    â€œKevin, you know everything Delgado told you might not be true?”
    â€œI’m not ready to accept that,” Kevin said. “But I still think it’s best if no one sees us come ashore.”
    â€œWho is Jose anyway? I mean, what’s his role in all of this?”
    â€œI don’t know,” Kevin said. “He works with Delgado around the hotel. That’s all I know.” He looked over his shoulder at the approaching waves. “Paddle when the waves are high, okay? We should be able to make it over the reef that way.”
    The first wave came in, and we paddled hard, staying on top as long as possible until it passed. In the lull between waves, we were stuck on the top of the reef. I kept my arms and legs out of the water, not wanting to get cut any more than I already was. I wasn’t all that concerned with what the reef would do to the bottom of Delgado’s board.
    It took awhile, but eventually we made it in to the shore. I looked back out where we’d left Alana and couldn’t see her. It was a dark night. The bit of moonlight on the water illuminated fish scooting around the reef. I picked my board up and kept low. The sand had already cooled after the hot day. I carried my board toward the rocks Kevin had pointed out. He was kneeling behind one of the larger rocks, his surfboard on the ground beside him. I dropped my board next to his and crouched down.
    â€œI think I saw something move over there,” Kevin said.
    â€œWhen?” I whispered.
    â€œJust as you walked up.”
    We waited, staring into the darkness. As my eyes adjusted to the night landscape, I too thought I could see something at the edge of the jungle. Something, or someone, moving around.
    â€œRight there?” I whispered.
    Kevin tapped my arm. A sign to be quiet. I tried not to move. The cool air chilled my damp skin. The