“What’s the point of having a boat if you don’t take it out?” Harper asked, sounding more hostile than she’d meant to.

“The point is that I get to have a roof over my head. Gas is expensive, and I don’t really have anywhere I wanna go.” He turned the key, and the motor finally purred into life. “There she goes!”

When they pulled away from the dock, moving toward the cove, Harper relaxed a little bit. Not completely, but she felt better knowing that they were doing something, that they were moving toward something.

“Thank you.” She smiled gratefully at Daniel as he steered the boat.

“You’re welcome. And thanks to you for waking me up all the time, I’m learning to live without sleep.” He smiled at her, and she lowered her eyes.

“I’m sorry for always bothering you, and I really owe you. But I didn’t know where else to go.”

“Hey, I know.” He reached out, touching her arm gently. “It’s okay.”

“I just hope we find her.” Harper breathed in deeply and looked back out at the water.

“The water’s pretty choppy,” Daniel commented as the boat bobbed erratically. Alex gripped the railing tightly to avoid sliding on the deck.

“The boat can handle it, though, right?” Harper asked.

“Yeah, yeah, but it’s just so windy.” He bit his lip and watched Harper from the corner of his eye. “It’s a cold night for swimming. Are you sure Gemma went out to the bay tonight?”

“Yeah.” She nodded. “I know I seem crazy and overzealous, and maybe I am. But I just know something’s wrong.” She put her hand over her stomach, pressing against it. “I can feel it. Gemma’s in trouble, and she needs me.”

“If you say she’s in trouble, then I believe you.”

“Thank you.” Harper stepped forward, straining her eyes to see in the dark as they got closer to the cove. “Can this thing go any faster?”

“I’m pushing her as fast as she goes,” Daniel said. “I knew any slower than that wouldn’t be good enough for you.”

When they finally got close enough to the cove to really see it, Daniel turned on the boat’s spotlight, shining it inside. He had to slow the boat way down to keep it from crashing into the rocks, but even from that distance they could see it was empty.

“No, she has to be there,” Harper insisted, shaking her head. “She has to.”

“Do you want me to pull in closer, so you can check it out?” Daniel asked.

“Yes. Please.”