Rip Tide (A Ripple Effect Cozy Mystery, Book 2) by Jeanne Glidewell Read Free Book Online

well, we—"
    "Never mind, son. I'm pretty certain the USCG doesn't allow boats to tie up to any offshore platform, but that's neither here nor there right now. Go on with what you were saying." Rip's tone was sharp and disapproving.
    "All right. Cooper's pretty careless at times," Milo began. "Still, it's crazy for him to not keep a closer eye on the tide, his boat, and, for that matter, his entire surroundings. I'm afraid something more ominous may have happened to him. He's been drinking so much recently, there's always the chance he fell overboard. And, to answer your question, Rip, no, I'm not sure what's happened, but this is not normal."
    "In that case, shouldn't we alert the Coast Guard?" Rip asked.
    "Not quite yet. I guarantee you he doesn't want the Coast Guard alerted unless absolutely necessary. Keep scanning the surface of the water, Rip. It's possible he might be treading water and in immediate need of rescuing," Milo instructed. With a great deal of trepidation in his voice, he added, "Rapella, why don't you try to focus on the shore line. He's got to be out here somewhere."
    Even though I was wearing my eyeglasses, I was way past due for a new prescription. I hadn't felt as if I'd gotten my four-hundred dollars' worth out of my current pair yet. I could barely make out the shore line, the east bank of St. Jo Island, so I doubted I could distinguish between a man waving desperately for help and a palm tree swaying in the breeze. But I squinted and concentrated as best I could, anxious to help any way I could.
    We cruised around in circles for over two hours. My eyes watered profusely from not blinking enough in the increasing wind. Rip and I were becoming as concerned for Milo's friend as he was. Darkness came early in mid-November, and the dwindling light would become an issue before much more time had passed. Despite the fact we'd spent a big chunk of my Social Security check on fuel, I was relieved we'd filled the tank up. We'd crossed the Intercoastal Waterway, gone around the island, and sailed a significant distance out into the Gulf. There was the chance we might have been adrift soon too had we not had sufficient fuel on board.
    Gravely concerned now, Milo asked us to keep searching while he contacted the Coast Guard with his marine radio. It didn't take long before we spotted two Coast Guard vessels trolling about, skimming the water's surface with a high-powered spotlight. Soon we heard the familiar sound of a chopper circling overhead. We were accustomed to the sound because helicopters frequently flew out to oil rigs and back in to the small Aransas County Airport. As the sun slipped below the horizon, the Coast Guard radioed us, forty-five minutes into their search, to let us know they would have to call off the search soon and resume at first light. They advised us to do the same before total darkness overtook us. I knew that meant the "search and rescue" mission had most likely just transformed into a "search and recover "operation to be conducted the following day. The realization was sobering.
    This fact was not lost on Milo, either, and naturally he was hesitant to stop trying to locate his friend and business partner. But he was an experienced mariner and knew that within minutes, he'd have no other choice but to turn and head for home.
    Milo claimed that with money tight, he'd been putting off buying a GPS system for his boat. He didn't even have a rudimentary flashlight on board to assist us back to Key Allegro, much less a spotlight that would enhance our view of obstacles in front of us. Without GPS we had no way of knowing where the channel markers, gas wells, or other odds and ends protruding from the water were located. Even the barges proceeded so quietly down the ship channel they could be hard to detect in the dark over the din of one's own boat's motor.
    These factors meant waiting too long to head home could be risky. As desperately as he wanted to bring his friend home safely,