Page 22 of Wild Tempest

I shoveled the last bite of an omelette in my mouth, then hustled down the steps to the salon to see who our new guest was. I didn't think she was selling something, but she could make a hell of a salesperson.

She stood there wearing a white tank top and cut-off jean shorts. Her petite figure and wholesome features weren’t hard to look at. With a face that could launch a thousand ships, she’d no doubt broken many hearts.

She clasped a leather-bound notebook in her hand.

I slid open the salon door and held Buddy back.

The stunner greeted me with hopeful blue eyes. "Are you Deputy Wild?”

"In the flesh. How can I help you?”

"I'm Tempest Stockton. I'm hoping you can help me find my father.”

14

Tempest knelt down and loved on the excitable Jack Russell.

Buddy ate it up. He settled down after a few minutes, and I escorted her up to the sky deck and introduced her to Jack.

“I’m sorry to interrupt your breakfast,” the blonde beauty said.

“Oh, no. Not a problem at all.”

“I’ll just get down to it. I have my father’s journal,” Tempest said, brandishing the book. “What I tell you stays between us, right?”

“If it becomes evidence in a case, we will need to report it,” I said.

“People would kill for the information contained in this book,” she said. “It has detailed notes about the Almaz Morya and its location.”

I shared a doubtful look with Jack.

“I want someone to take me out there and help me look for my father.”

“Why do you think we’ll be able to find your father when the Coast Guard didn’t?” I asked.

“Because the Coast Guard didn’t have this,” she said, brandishing the book.

“Didn’t your mother give that information to the Coast Guard?”

Tempest hesitated, and her face tightened. “I don’t think she did.”

My eyes narrowed with confusion.

"My mom and my dad haven’t gotten along for years," Tempest said. "She just filed for divorce. For her, my father’s disappearance was a happy accident.”

That hung there for a moment.

"You think she gave the Coast Guard the wrong coordinates on purpose?”

Tempest bit her lip, then nodded. "I don't want to think that way about my mother. But…”

She opened the book and handed it to me. Her delicate fingers pointed to a line in her father's handwriting. "That's where the Almaz Morya is located.”

"That's deep in the Devil’s Tide. That’s not where the SAR operation took place.”

"I know. I can't find anybody willing to take me out there." She paused. "I’ve seen you guys on the news a few times. I know you’ve rescued people from more dangerous places.”

"They've been missing for a few weeks now. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but the odds aren't in their favor.”