Jack Beale 00 - Dangerous Shoals

suddenly visible. Houses that in the daylight were merely large boxes began to glow with life.
    Jack stared at all the lights, searching for the flashing white light of the Rye Harbor buoy that everyone called the mile buoy. He heard it groaning before he finally saw it, hidden from view by being in plain sight among all of the many lights that now shone from the shore. Next, he looked beyond that one small white light for the flashing, red light that marked the harbor entrance. He spotted it and adjusted his course.
    He turned and looked back at the Isles of Shoals. There were no lights to be seen. So few people lived there, their presence had no impact on the encroaching darkness and any light would have been a surprise.
    He shivered and looked at Max. She was sitting with her back against the cabin bulkhead facing him and the darkness behind. She had pulled her knees up tight to her chest and her arms were wrapped tightly around them as she fought off the increasing cold and damp.
    “Why don’t you go below and put something warm on?” Jack asked softly, as he saw her shiver.
    “You want anything?”
    “My sweatshirt. Thanks.”
    Max unfolded her legs, stretched, shivered and then climbed down into the cabin. Jack’s gaze followed as she disappeared from his view. “She doesn’t deserve this.” He thought to himself.
    A light below was turned on and the rich mahogany interior glowed warm and inviting. He wished that he could freeze the moment, go below into the security of Irrepressible ’s womb and take Max in his arms, pull her tight against his body, and make everything all right. He watched as her shadow moved about as she searched for warm clothes. The light went out and it took a few moments for his eyes to readjust to the night.
    Max joined him at the helm and handed him his sweatshirt then took hold of the wheel so he could pull it on. Sweatshirt on, Jack made no move to retake the wheel. “You see the harbor?”
    Max studied the dark mass that was the land and all of the lights that covered it. “Yes, I see it,” and she pointed at the flashing, red light.
    “Good.”
    And so, Jack leaned back against the pushpit rail and watched as Max guided Irrepressible past the mile buoy toward home. Its mournful groan gave depth to his thoughts. They drifted from what had happened out there, out of sight of land, to what Daniel had told them and he worried. He looked at Max and could only imagine what terrible thoughts must be going through her head.
    “Jack, can you take the wheel”
    “Sure,” he replied. He knew that as competent as she was at steering the boat, she didn’t like close situations, especially at night. He took the wheel and guided Irrepressible through the harbor entrance, past the moored fishing boats and back to the dock where she was secured for the night. Neither had any idea that a pair of eyes hidden in the shadows watched their every move.

CHAPTER 35
    “MROW.” CAT’S VOICE greeted them as they opened the door to Jack’s place. She dashed down the stairs and out the open door before either of them could get inside. Max went up the stairs first while Jack called Cat. She was hungry so she dashed back in, scolding Jack all the way up the stairs. “Okay, okay. I’ll feed you. Give me a second here.”
    Cat continued to pace frantically about his feet, talking and otherwise being obnoxious. She was hungry and upset that they had returned so late and had no intention of leaving him alone until she got what she wanted.
    “There. Are you happy now?” Jack asked as he placed her dish on the floor. She stuck her head in the dish and began snarfing up her dinner. Her reply was muffled by a mouthful of food. He marveled at how she could purr, talk, and eat all at the same time. Cat taken care of, he turned his attention to Max.
    She was standing in front of the window looking out into the night. Courtney wasn’t home. Her cottage was a large, dark shadow. Beyond was the harbor.
    “What’cha thinking about?” asked Jack as he came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her.
    As she leaned back into him, she sighed. “What’s happening? Why?”
    “I don’t know, but I won’t let anything happen to you.”
    “It’s not fair. He was supposed to be dead. How dare he …” her words tailed off.
    Jack didn’t have an answer, so he just continued to hold her. A childlike feeling of safety and security washed over them as they stared out the window into the night,