“Gemma’s gone.” She leaned over the dock as far as she could, hanging on to the railing of the boat to keep from falling in the water. “She ran away, we think she’s out in the bay. I need your help.”

“She ran away?” Daniel ran a hand through his hair and shook his head, trying to shake off the sleep. “Why?”

“We don’t know, but something’s really wrong.” She looked up at Daniel, her eyes pleading with him. “Please, Daniel. I need you.”

Without missing a beat, he asked, “How can I help?”

“The bay is the only place she really loves. She couldn’t have gotten far yet, and with your boat, we could find her.”

“The Gull isn’t as fast as it used to be, but I’ll do what I can.” He reached over the side of the boat and grabbed Harper to pull her up. “Who’s that?”

“What?” Harper asked when Daniel put her down. She glanced back to see Daniel pointing to Alex. “Oh, that’s Alex. He’s Gemma’s boyfriend.”

“Oh.” Daniel extended his hand to Alex. “Nice to meet you.”

“Uh, likewise.” He took Daniel’s hand uncertainly, and Daniel helped pull him up on the boat. He didn’t quite embrace him the way he’d lifted Harper, but he got Alex onto the deck.

“Can you help me unhook the boat?” Daniel asked Alex, gesturing to the ropes that tied it to the dock.

“Yeah, sure.” Alex hurried to help Daniel.

Harper went around to the front of the boat. A cold wind whipped over the water, and she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to stay warm against it. She stared out at the bay, hoping against hope that her sister was safe.

“Do you want me to take a pass around the bay?” Daniel asked, coming over to where Harper stood. He’d done up his pants and put on a shirt since untying the boat.

“Maybe.” She glanced back at him, then stared out at the water.

“What about the cove?” Alex suggested and pointed to it. “She’s running away, which means she needs a place to camp out. The cove would give her shelter but still keep her near the bay.”

Daniel looked to Harper for confirmation, and she nodded. Daniel went around to the back of the boat to drive it while Alex went to the very edge, hanging on to the railing, staring out at the night sea. Harper thought about staying with him, but she felt more in control staying with Daniel, telling him where to go.

When Daniel turned the key, the boat chugged but didn’t immediately start. Harper cast him a look, and he gave her an apologetic smile.

“I haven’t taken her out in a while.”