Jack Beale 00 - Dangerous Shoals

but remained standing as his knuckles turned white from the death-grip he had on the wheel.
    “You miserable fucker!” shouted Jack as he regained his balance. Then, quickly twisting around, he looked in the direction the boat was going and saw that it was beginning to make a wide sweeping arc as if to return. Then Jack turned back, facing forward, and looked at Max. Recovering her composure, she was picking up the binoculars from where they had fallen. Jack said, “Sorry. Are you okay?”
    A kind of wild look was on her face, half fear and half anger, and that look screamed at him, “What the hell was that all about?”
    “Are you okay?” he asked again.
    “Yes, but I’m not sure about the binoculars,” she said with a quiver in her voice. “Who is that asshole?”
    “I don’t know, but we’re about to find out. It looks like he’s turning back.” Jack pointed toward the boat.
    She spun around to look. “He’s coming back?” It was both a question and a statement, her voice betraying her fear.
    “It looks like it.” He had to work hard to keep his voice calm and steady as several different scenarios played out in his imagination, all of them ending badly.
    Max picked up the binoculars and raised them to look. She confirmed the obvious. “Jack. He’s coming back!”
    He could hear the panic and fear in the pitch of her voice. “Come here,” he said and motioned for her to join him.
    Still holding the binoculars, she clambered back to his side. As he put his arm around her, she looked up at him and said, “They’re okay.”
    “What?” he asked.
    “The binoculars. They’re okay.”
    He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze and looked at her. “Good.” He turned the wheel to port and returned Irrepressible to her original heading. “May I have them?”
    As she handed him the binoculars he motioned for her to take the wheel. He could see that the boat had completed its long sweeping turn and was heading straight at them again. Lowering the binoculars, and without taking his eyes off the returning boat, Jack said, “Max, go below and here, take these.” He handed her the binoculars. It was not a request. Max understood that part. What she didn’t understand was why.
    Before she could ask he added, “They aren’t going to hit us, but if there is any trouble I want you ready on the radio to call for help.”

CHAPTER 31
    HE GAVE HER A NUDGE . With each passing second, the sound of the boat’s engine got louder as it skimmed over the water. There was no further debate. Max left Jack’s side and headed for the companionway. Jack continued to study the mysterious boat while maintaining his course. The distance between the two boats was shrinking fast. Max paused and took one more look at the approaching boat.
    “Go!” said Jack.
    Max disappeared below.
    Jack’s eyes were locked on the oncoming boat. He held his course steady, engaging in a deliberate game of chicken. Seconds away from impact, two completely unexpected things happened. First, the approaching boat, at the last possible instant, turned and cut its engines. The silence was eerie as the boat came to an almost immediate stop only a few feet away from Irrepressible . Its wake hit both boats at the same time. Both rocked violently as Irrepressible continued forward, still in gear.
    Jack heard Max emit a short scream as she was tossed about in the cabin. Jack cut the throttle and shifted into neutral. The gap between the two boats tightened as Irrepressible lost headway and the other boat turned and idled forward, coming alongside. Not recognizing the driver of the other boat, Jack glared at him and shouted, “What the hell is your problem?” That’s when he received the second surprise.
    Grinning, the driver shrugged and said, “I have someone who wants to see you.”
    Jack had been so focused on the boat that he hadn’t noticed the second person sitting next to the driver. He looked over at the same moment that the passenger turned and faced him. At first all Jack saw was the shit-eating grin that stared at him. Then he realized that it was Daniel.
    The two men stared at each other in silence. It was Max who shattered the quiet. Jack hadn’t seen or heard her climb out of the cabin until she screamed, “Daniel?” It was as much a question as it was a statement. Three heads turned simultaneously and stared at her. Daniel spoke first. “Hi Max.” That was all he was able to say before she lit into him.
    Standing