The guy on Badger Rock Island came back on the line. “A boat will arrive within the hour to pick you up.”

Before David could thank him, he’d hung up.

He and Sarah grabbed something to eat at a coffee shop and walked down to the pier together. “You’re moving very slowly, David,” she said worriedly. “Are you sure you can manage?”

“No problem.”

“Such bravado.” She smiled up at him. “It’s not a sign of weakness to say you’re in pain, you know.”

He gritted his teeth as he and Sarah headed down an incline. “I’m in pain.”

“The boat ride will be rough. Why don’t you just take one of your painkillers?”

“Can’t. They knock me out.”

“Well, then,” she said cheerfully, “I’ll just have to see if I can find a store open that sells aspirin. You’ll never make it at this rate, David. At least it will help with the swelling.”

“But—”

She grinned. “No buts. I’ll be back in five minutes.”

Trotting up the street, she turned and blew him a kiss. In spite of everything else, David laughed.

It was Andrew Balaton who eased up to the pier, in an ultrafast Chris-Craft racer. He wore a white cap and looked tanned and fit as he jumped lightly out of the boat and introduced himself. Climbing onto his crutches, David limped out to meet him. “That was quick,” he said. “I didn’t expect you so soon. Sarah’ll be here in a minute—”

Balaton went white. “Sarah?”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry. I forgot, you thought she’d be on her way to Houston.” He gave the older man a lopsided grin. “Well, guess she had ideas of her own.”

But her father looked truly pained, shaking his head, and he said softly, “I wish none of this had to touch her.”

“She just wants to help.”

“Where is she now?”

“Buying aspirin.”

“Then we can leave now, quickly, before she returns.”

“Hey—wait just a minute. I’m not running out on her.”

Balaton seemed to lose all his energy, and he looked at David with pleading eyes. “There’s so much to tell you. Your sister...”

David reeled. “Ash? Nothing’s happened to her—”

“She’s missing.”

Ash!

“Please...my daughter could be in danger, too. There’s no need—I can explain everything on our way? Perhaps this time Sarah will understand that I do what I do out of love, not because I underestimate her talents or her resolve. Must she be hurt, too?”

Never mind Sarah. Tell me about my sister!

As if reading his mind, Balaton said, “I believe I know what has happened to your sister.”

David leaned on his crutches. Damn, even his armpits hurt. “Okay. Let’s go.”

Moving quickly, Balaton helped him into the boat— although small and wiry, the Hungarian was surprisingly strong—and in minutes, they were pulling out into the bay. Sarah ran out onto the pier, and it was with a wrenching, aching guilt that David watched her drop her brown bag in anger. He couldn’t hear her cry above the roar of the engine, but he could read her lips. She was yelling, “Bastards. Bastards, bastards, bastards!”