Navy SEAL Survival (2 page)

Picking the United Kingdom passport, she stared at the image inside. The likeness was still valid: blond hair, blue eyes. And the woman in the photo looked like her with shorter hair. Hell, it was her, three years ago when she'd been active as an agent, sent all over the US and other countries to do what the CIA, FBI or Interpol either couldn't do or hadn't successfully managed to accomplish.

The passport would serve its purpose to get her past authorities and establish her as a young, single woman of limited assets and family connections on vacation in Cancun.

With the backing of her old team, she made hotel reservations for the same resort where Melody and her friends had stayed, using her UK alias, Natalia Scranton, age twenty-three.

Sleep had been impossible, but she'd tried anyway, keeping her cell phone on the pillow beside her in case, by some miracle, Melody was able to text her.

The next day she'd met Lance at the airport and climbed aboard the SOS private plane. Once the plane took off, Lance came at her with a loaded syringe.

Natalie held up her hand. “Stop.”

“You need to be tagged with a tracking device. Should whoever took the other girls manage to snag you, we'll need to follow you to wherever they've taken you and the others.”

“Yeah, but why the syringe? Can't I keep a tag in my pocket?”

“That would be fine if you were wearing clothing with pockets at all times. I suspect, since we'll be at a resort, you will be wearing a bathing suit.”

“I could sew the device into the suit.”

“Will you sew one into every item of clothing you could possibly wear?”

Natalie frowned. “Maybe. I've just never liked the idea of being tracked all the time, by anybody.”

“In this case, it's for your protection.”

“Okay, but put it somewhere I can dig it out if I decide I don't like it anymore.”

“Sure. Where would you like it?”

“Between my toes.” She lifted the hem of her sundress and held out her leg.

Lance injected the tracking microchip and sat back in his seat with a hand-held device. He hit the on switch and waited. “There.” He pointed to the dot on the screen. “There you are. Now, if you're swimming, scuba diving or taking a shower naked, we'll be able to find you.”

Natalie snorted. “Nice to know I'll have company in the shower.”

Lance grinned and opened an aluminum suitcase. From it, he selected what appeared to be a tiny hearing aid and handed it to her. “You remember how these work?”

“Yeah, yeah. Let's get to the good stuff.” She leaned toward the suitcase and plucked out an H&K .40-caliber pistol and several boxes of rounds. “I prefer the stopping power of a .45 caliber or 9 mm, but the smaller weapon will be easier to hide.”

“Exactly.” He handed her a set of throwing knives similar to the ones she had locked in her safe at home in New Orleans.

Natalie ran her hand over the handles, wishing she had time to practice throwing. These, too, she had given up when she'd decided to retire from SOS operations. How would she explain to Melody the need to have her own set of knives, especially when she was terrible in the kitchen?

Melody had no idea what Natalie had done before she'd returned home to New Orleans to be there for her after their parents died. Her sister thought she had given up the boring desk job in DC, the first job she'd taken when she'd finished college.

That seemed such a long time ago.

Loaded with all the equipment and weaponry she could easily hide in her suitcases, in the room or on her person, Natalie arrived at the hotel, smiling like a young single woman on vacation, ready to soak up the sun and play in the sand.

She greeted the desk clerk in an English accent she'd perfected when Royce had assigned her to a case in Oxford, England. Despite staying there, she was so busy working the case, she didn't have time to play tourist and get to know the area. She asked for a room on the same floor as the one her sister had shared with her three girlfriends from college. Hopefully she'd find out more by hanging out with them at the bar, if they hadn't already gone home, frightened by the loss of their roommate.

As soon as she unpacked her suitcase and stowed her weapons in the room's lockbox, she stripped out of her sundress and pulled on the sexy swimsuit her sister had insisted she buy. She had, against her better judgment. Whatever made Melody happy made Natalie happy.

In what little there was of the black suit, Natalie had to agree with Lance and the subcutaneous injection of the tracking device. Anything other than her body beneath the suit would have stood out.

Dressed for the beach and hanging out with young people, Natalie grabbed a beach towel and sunglasses and headed down to the lobby. She passed through the lobby and out to the pool area, checking out all of the people she passed, wondering if one of them was behind her sister's disappearance. None of the young women looked anything like those in Melody's selfies.

Once out on the beach, she noted someone changing the yellow flag to red, indicating it was dangerous to swim.

Mothers herded children out of the shallows and teens frowned and complained as they slogged through the water to shore. A group of young women in colorful bikinis stood in water up to their waists, taking pictures of each other. The man hoisting the red flag, waved for them to return to shore, yelling something about riptides.

Natalie glanced farther down the shoreline, thankful for her sunglasses. The white sand was bright behind her lenses, but without the glasses the beach would be blinding.

Sand crunched beside her and a shadow crossed over her face.

Natalie tensed.

“Looking for someone?” a deep male voice asked.

She turned toward the man wearing nothing but black swim trunks and a smile. And, good Lord, he didn't need anything else. Suntanned and tattooed, his body was magnificent, his white teeth shining in his tanned cheeks. Dark hair, dark eyes and a friendly face topped him off.

“Not particularly,” she answered, remembering to use the proper British accent before promptly turning the other way.

“Name's Sawyer,” he said. “Me and my buddies just got here today.”

“That's lovely.” As handsome and well-muscled as the man was, he wasn't in Natalie's plan. She was there for her sister, not to flirt with muscle-bound men in sexy black swim trunks.

“Bug off, Sawyer,” another voice said from behind Natalie and she spun to face an even taller man with jet-black hair and a jaw that looked hard enough to crack walnuts.

She tipped her sunglasses down, curious about the true color of his eyes. Her heart fluttered as the deep green orbs stared down into hers and took her breath away.

No.
She didn't have time for the sudden tug of attraction. If she knew for certain where her sister was and that she was all right, Natalie might consider flirting with this incredibly handsome man with the tribal tattoos on his shoulders.

“Excuse us,” he said. “It's been a while since we've been around a beautiful woman.”

“No need to explain.”
Just leave.

A shout rose up, drawing those startlingly green eyes away from Natalie and to a couple of splashing figures farther out than was safe. Both figures appeared to be women, one closer in than the other. The woman furthest out seemed to be moving out to sea despite her attempt to swim ashore.

Mr. Green Eyes left her and jogged toward the water, the one called Sawyer on his heels.

Natalie hurried after the two.

“Looks like the current is dragging them out,” Sawyer said.

The man with the green eyes didn't respond; he raced toward the water without slowing. He charged in up to his knees and dived into the surf.

His friend dived in after him. Soon both men cleaved through the water.

No matter how strong they could swim, the current had a way of doing its own thing.

Sawyer stopped at the first woman, while Mr. Green Eyes continued out to the other.

A teen stood at the water's edge, watching the event unfold, a surfboard clutched under one arm. Natalie altered her direction and ran toward him. “Mind if I borrow this?”

He passed it to her without question.

Natalie ran toward the water.

By the time she slid onto the board, Sawyer was on his way back to shore with the first girl. Green Eyes had reached the other.

The poor woman was so frightened she clung to him, climbing up his body to get farther out of the water.

They were so far out, Natalie wasn't certain she'd get there before the two went under, but she had to try. The lifeguard wasn't far behind her. Between the three of them, they should be able to help the woman.

As she neared, Green Eyes was attempting to untangle the woman's arms from around his neck. The more he tried, the more desperate the woman became.

Then Green Eyes went under.

The woman clinging to him went down with him, but immediately let go and struggled to the surface.

Natalie paddled faster, searching the water for the man who'd disappeared.
Come up, Green Eyes
, she prayed.
Come up!

Chapter Two

Duff should have stayed at the pool with the kids. Now he was in over his head in the ocean, with a dangerous riptide and a panicked woman climbing all over him.

So much for relaxing.

When he'd had his fill of water up the nose, he dived down. The woman who'd clung to him despite all his reassurances that she'd be all right, let go and fought her way to the surface.

Duff stayed down long enough to circle the woman and come up beneath her. She slapped at the water, her strength waning.

Grabbing the woman by the ankles, Duff yanked her down, climbed up her back and secured an arm over her shoulder and diagonally down to her waist. Then he surfaced, leaning her back so that she faced the sky, her arms and legs batting at the water like a puppy learning to swim.

“Damn it, woman. Stop struggling,” Duff bellowed.

“Way to make a frightened victim less scared,” a female voice said from behind him.

He glanced over his shoulder into the blue eyes of the woman in the black swimsuit he and Sawyer had been talking to before they'd gone for a swim. “What are you doing out here?” Duff demanded. “Didn't you see the red flag?”

“I did. But I thought you might need something more than your muscles to get the woman to shore. The current is too strong to get her back on your own.”

Duff treaded water with his one arm, his other clamped tightly around the woman, holding her head above water.

“What's your name?” the woman on the surfboard asked the one in the water.

“Lisa,” she responded weakly.

“I'll bet you're tired.”

The woman in Duff's arms nodded.

“My name is Natalia,” the blonde said. “And this is...?” She raised her brows, giving Duff a pointed look.

“Duff,” he said.

“And the lifeguard is here, as well,” Natalia said.

Duff glanced behind Natalia at a young man barely out of his teens paddling toward them on a surfboard.

“Lisa, do you want to go back with me, or the lifeguard?”

Lisa gulped and answered, “You.”

Natalia nodded. “Good. I think Duff can help you climb up on this board. Would you like that?”

Lisa nodded though her hands tightened on Duff's arm.

Natalia held out a hand and smiled encouragingly. “Take my hand, Lisa. The man behind you will help you onto the board and stay right beside you all the way back to shore. Won't you?” Natalia prompted Duff.

“I will.” Between them, they hoisted the woman onto the board.

Duff took a moment to breathe normally before starting back to shore.

Natalia had Lisa lie on her stomach and then she did the same, lying over the woman's back. She started paddling. “Paddle, Lisa. The more you paddle, the faster we get to shore.”

Lisa paddled, weakly flailing her arms, her face turned toward the shore.

Duff circled behind them and pushed the surfboard. With all three of them working it and cutting at an angle, they eventually made it to the beach, the lifeguard following. A group of young women met them, helped Lisa out of the water and enveloped her in a half dozen hugs.

Duff stood beside Natalia, propping the surfboard in the sand. “Thanks.”

She responded in her pretty English accent without looking up. “You're quite welcome.”

Duff held out a hand. “Name's Duff.”

Natalia glanced at his hand and hesitated. Finally she shook it. “I'm Natalia. Lisa was lucky you were on the beach today.”

He shrugged. “I'm glad I could help. Look, we didn't get much of a start back there. Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”

She didn't even bat an eyelash before responding. “No, thank you.”

“Duff!” Sawyer approached, his arm around a woman wrapped in a beach towel. “Glad you made it back to shore. Wouldn't be the same diving without you tomorrow.”

Duff snorted. “Nice to know you missed me.”

Lisa broke free of her group of friends and wrapped her arms around Duff's neck. “Thank you so much for saving my life. I hate to think what would have happened if you hadn't gotten to me when you did.”

“I'm sure someone else would have helped.”

Lisa turned to Natalia and hugged her, too. “You two are my heroes. After the horrible past two days, I needed you.”

Natalia hugged the woman. “Horrible? Did you get caught in the current yesterday?”

Lisa shook her head, her eyes tearing. “No, I lost one of my sisters.” The rest of the young women gathered around her, all hugging each other.

“What do you mean?” Natalia asked.

Lisa sniffed. “We were on a diving excursion. She was my dive buddy. I turned away for a moment to see a moray eel in the coral. When I turned back, she was gone.”

Natalia's face paled.

“Are you telling me she wasn't found?” Duff asked.

Lisa and her friends all shook their heads as one.

Natalia reached for Lisa's hands, her own shaking slightly. “What a horrible experience.”

“If we could have a do-over, we never would have gone diving.” Lisa dashed away a tear. “Melody was one of the nicest people I know.”

“Didn't the dive master look for her?” Natalia asked.

A brunette in a pale pink bikini nodded. “He spent the next two hours searching.”

A sandy-blonde added, “They radioed to shore and the shore patrol came out and helped in the search.”

“Nothing.” Lisa sniffed again. “I don't know why we came out to the beach today. I don't think I'll ever go in the water again.”

The young lady wrapped in the towel, standing in the circle of Sawyer's arm, stepped away from him and slipped an arm around Lisa. “We can't leave Cancun until our scheduled flights. Lisa and I thought we'd look around in the water, even though Melody disappeared a long way from here. We kind of hoped the current would have carried her back this way. That's why we were out so far.”

“It was stupid,” Lisa said.

“At least you two are okay,” Duff said.

Natalia nodded. “You should go back to your rooms and rest.”

Lisa and her friends thanked them again and left the beach to return to the resort hotel.

“Wow, what rotten luck,” Sawyer said. “To lose your friend and almost lose your life all in the space of two days. Not my idea of a great vacation.”

“If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go lie down, as well,” Natalia said.

“If you won't have dinner with me,” Duff persisted, “will you let me buy you a drink later?”

She gave him a half smile. “We'll see.”

He watched as the gorgeous blonde left, walking up the beach in her sexy black swimsuit, her long hair drying in soft curls around her shoulders. Beautiful and strong. What other woman would have jumped in to help in such a dangerous situation?

Sawyer made a diving motion with his hand followed by the sound of an explosion. “Turned you down, did she?”

Duff nodded, his gaze on the sway of Natalia's hips. “The battle's not over.”

His friend clapped his hand onto Duff's shoulder. “That's my man. We're on vacation here. What's a vacation without a beautiful woman to keep you company?”

Indeed. And Natalia had captured his interest in more ways than one.

He headed back to the hotel, Sawyer walking alongside him. “Didn't you say Quentin and Montana were looking into a diving excursion?”

Sawyer nodded. “I hope it wasn't with the crew who lost the girl yesterday.”

Duff almost hoped they went with the same crew and to the same spot where the girl disappeared. Something wasn't right about losing a diver and not finding anything to indicate what had happened.

* * *

N
ATALIE
HURRIED
BACK
to the hotel, grateful she and the two muscular men had been there to help save Lisa and her friend from the strong current. Not only was she glad the girls were still alive, she was also happy it had served as an introduction to hang out with them without arousing suspicion. She'd make it a point to find them at dinner or at the bar that evening. Perhaps someone had seen something they didn't realize might be a clue to what had happened to Melody.

Deep inside, Natalie believed her sister was alive. Finding her would be the challenge.

She stopped at the excursion planner's desk and asked about dive trips for the next day. She let the planner, Maria Sanchez, go through the different options and dive companies. When Maria didn't mention Scuba Cancun, Natalie made it a point to ask.

“Friends of mine came last month and went on a dive with Scuba Cancun. They said if I came to Cancun, I had to book with them. Do you book trips with them?” Natalie blinked her eyes, trying for young, sweet and innocent, when all she wanted to do was to jerk the binder out of the lovely Maria's hands and make her own arrangements.

“Yes, we do book Scuba Cancun, but the last time I looked, they were full for tomorrow. Let me check and see if they've had any cancellations.” She clicked her keyboard and stared at the screen, her brows puckered. Then they smoothed and she smiled up at Natalie. “You're in luck. They have one space available for tomorrow morning. Would you like me to book it?”

Natalie let go of the breath she'd been holding and nodded. “Yes, please.”

If she thought it would do any good, she'd run around asking questions and demanding answers. But if there was a chance Melody had been kidnapped in some elaborate scheme to smuggle women into the sex trade, the people she wanted answers from would be highly unlikely to talk about anything to do with the missing college coed.

No, she'd have to keep her connection with Melody under wraps. Perhaps her blond hair and English accent would help set her up as the next target. The quickest way to find the kidnap victims might be to become one herself.

On her way through the lobby to the elevator, she made it a point to say hello to the front desk clerk, the bellboys and the concierge. If any one of them was involved in whatever might be going on, she wanted them to consider her as their next target.

On the way up to her room she noted the camera in the top corner of the elevator car. As she stepped out of the elevator onto her floor, she spotted one of the girls from the beach sliding her card into the door lock and hurried toward her. “I'm so very glad I caught you. I'm Natalia, from the beach.” She held out her hand.

“Oh, yes. Thank you for saving my friends.” She took Natalie's hand. “I'm Kylie.”

“Are Lisa and her friend doing all right?” Natalie asked.

The pretty blonde smiled and nodded. “Lisa and Jodie are sleeping. Their parents were able to book them on a flight back to the States tomorrow morning. I wish the rest of us could have gotten on board, but the flight was full.”

“I hope they have a safe flight back. Are you all going to dinner later? My roommate was supposed to come with me on this holiday, but her aunt died and she had to cancel at the last minute. I would love to have someone to eat with.”

Kylie's brows rose. “You mean you're not with the hunky guys?”

Natalie smiled. “I only wish. They are kind of dreamy, don't you think?”

“Oh, yeah.” The younger woman sighed. “They're just what I imagined finding here. If only things had worked out differently. Since Melody disappeared, none of us can think of anything else. The vacation is ruined and we're all ready to be home with our families.”

“I can imagine. Nothing's worse than losing someone you're that close to.” Natalie bit down on her tongue to keep from adding “Especially when she's your only living relative whom you love dearly.”

“As for dinner...we will probably go down around eight. Since it's Lisa and Jodie's last night here, we'll end up at the bar for one last round before the group disperses. You're welcome to join us. I'm sure the others will agree.”

“Thank you. I'm glad I won't have to sit awkwardly by myself.” Natalie waved her hand. “See you around eight, then.” She turned and walked toward the door next to Kylie's and let herself into her room.

First thing, she checked the disposable cell phone she'd purchased at the airport for any messages from Lance. She'd texted him as soon as she'd pulled it from the plastic packaging so he'd have her number.

Since her eventful walk on the beach, he'd had time to arrive and text her with his bungalow number.

With a couple hours to spare, Natalie figured she might as well check in with the agent.

Slipping a long, flowing skirt over her swimsuit, she plunked a floppy hat onto her head and left her room. Rather than take the elevator, she opted for the stairs, checking the locations of all the security cameras. She wondered if Lance could get into the security system and review footage from the night before last to see if it showed them potential suspects that could have been stalking the young women.

Lance had rented a bungalow on the resort property, giving him a little more privacy than a hotel room. He could set up his equipment and not worry too much about being bothered.

Natalie took a roundabout route, looking for security cameras strategically placed. Outside the hotel, the cameras were directed toward common areas and the hotel itself. The bungalows seemed to be more private.

Strolling along a pebbled concrete path as if she hadn't a care in the world, Natalie eventually arrived at the correct bungalow with its Do Not Disturb sign hanging on the door handle. A quick glance around assured her she was alone. She knocked softly.

A moment later Lance opened the door. “I was wondering when you'd stop by. I see you've already been in the water based on where the tracker located you.” He jerked his head and stepped to the side. “Come in.”

Natalie slipped inside. “Have you hacked into the police data files?”

“I'd love to say yes but, one, I just set up my system. And two, the local authorities' system isn't that sophisticated. I'm not even certain they keep data on computers.”