Chapter 11

Chapter

Eleven

Jagger wasangry and stunned by Belinda's reaction to him finally being able to tell her the truth of what had happened. Fourteen years of wanting to find her and talk to her about all of this and she called him the liar. He'd known more agony was coming from the first moment he'd seen her walk off that plane. Right now, he was confused by her reaction and angry at her father. It was mind-boggling that she couldn't see the truth.

He shouldn't have been stunned. Even though Belinda had snuck around with him a little when they dated to avoid upsetting her dad, she was fiercely loyal to her parents. He could imagine the past fourteen years of him not being there and her parents being her support would only solidify that.

But couldn't she see reason and facts? She really thought he'd installed cameras in their barn and watched the feed during his nonexistent free time to catch her kissing Mike?

She was completely irrational.

He didn't even attempt to explain anything to Hays, who stood clinging to his phone and staring at him as if Jagger were fragile.

Jagger? Fragile? Never.

He hurried to his room, changed out of his wet, salty clothes, and headed straight for the weight room, lifting until he sort of calmed down. He was irate and admittedly apprehensive. If Belinda wouldn't listen to him, her parents would keep on lying, and they'd never be together.

He slept fitfully that night and was up early to lift weights again. He kept living heavy and at this point he was hurting his own strength gains by overworking specific muscles. He didn't care. The release of anxiety and frustration was all that mattered at this point. He headed for the ocean when his grip strength was shot and swam until he was certain Paul and Belinda had left for the day.

Nobody had ever called Jagger a wuss or a chicken, but he felt like one right now. He couldn't face her and see that anger in her eyes and have her call him a liar again. He might explode and say all the bitter things he'd thought about her, and especially her dad, for the past fourteen years. He was as stunned as she was that neither of her parents had even admitted to her that he'd come for her, let alone that he'd seen her kiss Mike and her dad had knocked him out.

He and Hays started their day, searching for Paul and Belinda. His heart wasn't in it, but he'd committed to Mercedes and Shawn to keep fighting for Mercedes. He'd finish this week if it killed him. It might. Belinda was so hardheaded. He wanted to shake some sense into her and then kiss her again. He was the irrational one, thinking Belinda would see reason about her conniving parents or want to kiss him again. Neither would ever happen. His false hope of being with Belinda, loving her, marrying her, had all been flattened, squashed, eradicated by her parents' lies.

Focusing on finding Paul and Belinda didn't take his mind off the anguish. He was chasing her, as he'd longed to do for fourteen years, but it was only for Mercedes, not because he and Belinda had a chance.

The chase was longer today. It might have helped Paul and Belinda not having the head cams to give them away. Paul and Hays had apparently rigged straps to mount the cameras in front of their right shoulder, still an identifier but at least not sticking up above any crowd with Paul's height.

By three in the afternoon, Jagger followed a tip from a pretty brunette at the Marriott's front desk and he had them. They were darting through the Marriott in Poipu on the south side of the island. When Belinda saw him coming after them in a back hallway near the fitness center, she jumped and screamed and then scowled at him.

Putting her hands on her hips, she said, "Well, shoot me then, you lying jerk."

He wanted to do a lot more than shoot her. Instead of pulling out his gun, he gave her a stare down. "I think I'll just let you keep running from the truth instead."

"Running? Argh! We'll see what the truth is," she hollered at him. "As soon as we get done with this week, I'll prove that you are biggest self-serving liar on the planet."

He gritted his teeth and forced himself to smirk at her and not rise to her bait. She was stinging him worse than any bee, but he didn't know if he'd ever taste sweet honey again.

"Come on." Paul tugged on her arm. With one last glare, she let Paul lead her down the hallway.

Jagger followed and called Hays, reporting where they were and that he was on their tail. Hays was close in his Jeep.

Jagger tailed them throughout the hotel and out onto the beach path. Belinda kept giving him dagger looks over her shoulder. He was half tempted to shoot her and get this over with, but it was kind of fun to tick her off.

At some point, she'd have to admit to the truth—unless her parents insisted on lying to her and she chose to believe them over him. How could he and Belinda ever have trust in their relationship? He didn't know that they could. He'd never wanted to tear her from her parents, but right now he wanted to slam his fist into her dad's smug face and have all of Belinda's anger directed where it should be, at Pastor Ralphs. Maybe the man could spend a few years without the spark Belinda brought into life and see how it felt.

Sadly, the only future Jagger saw was Belinda standing by her parents and him alone and unloved.

Belinda and Paul darted into the Sheraton. Jagger easily followed them.

As they exited and ran for a taxi out front, Hays pulled up, leaped from his Jeep, and shot Belinda's shirt.

"Jagger and Hays win the day," her shirt proclaimed.

Hays grinned and started chatting with Paul and Belinda.

Belinda glanced back at him. Jagger held her gaze, hoping for some sign of softening.

She tilted her chin with all the sass of a too-appealing spitfire, turned around, and ignored him.

Jagger was done. If he stayed close to her for one more second, he'd storm up to her, kiss her, and demand she listen to reason. He could only imagine Bee's stinging reaction to any of that.

He raised a hand to Hays. His friend waved him over. He shook his head and pivoted, heading back into the Sheraton. All he'd wanted the past fourteen years was to know why Belinda had cheated and to somehow have another chance with her.

He still didn't know why she'd cheated besides giving Mike a chance and appeasing her parents. She was putting all the blame for their separation on Jagger, claiming he was some liar. It was infuriating and honestly terrifying. Jagger didn't know how to fight through this one. He didn't know that she would listen to reason and believe him over her dad. Ever.

The rest of the afternoon and evening, he walked the beach, picked up some Thai food at the truck in the Ace parking lot, and did the Sleeping Giant hike by himself, amazed to find a couple of roosters at the very top. He watched two young ladies do yoga on the edge of the cliff, winking at him and obviously showing off.

What was going on in some people's minds?

Jagger grunted to himself. He couldn't even figure out the mind of the woman he loved. How could he figure out why these girls would risk their lives either thinking it was attractive to him or for video footage for social media?

"Please get away from the edge," he said to the girls, cracking his knuckles.

"Come over and make me," one of them taunted, winking and licking her lips.

"Think about how your parents will feel when they come identify your broken body," he said.

Their eyes widened.

Hurrying back down the trail, Jagger hoped they stopped being stupid. He had no problem risking his life for his country or to rescue someone in need, but to risk your life for stupidity was another matter entirely.

After a few more hours of driving around, he finally returned to the house, ignored the group in the living room who all turned and watched him walk past, and went up to his suite. He could feel the heat of Belinda's glare and was proud of himself for not rising to her bait and yelling some more or forcing her to talk to him.

He slept a little better, only because he hadn't slept the night before. The next morning, he lifted weights and swam in the ocean for hours again.

A little before nine, he was ready to go. Hays walked into the main room and stared at him. "I've never seen you this low, man. What can I do?"

Jagger shook his head. "You're a good friend, Hays. If I had any clue how to make this better, I'd beg you for help." He wanted to ask what Belinda had said about him last night, but he could only imagine. She was his feisty stinging Bee, but sadly she'd never be his. So he forced a smile. "Let's go hunt them down."

Hays nodded, and they walked into the garage together. Clapping him on the shoulder, Hays said, "I don't know if it will make you feel any better, but she looks as miserable as you do, and she hasn't said one word to me about what happened."

Jagger stared at his friend. He didn't know if it made him feel any better. It almost scared him. It had been fourteen years since he'd been close to Belinda, but he'd never known her to not speak her mind, or to look miserable. She was always sparkle, spice, and shine.

They headed out into a cloudy day that turned to a drizzle. It only added to the misery in Jagger's soul. He couldn't possibly get any lower.

He and Hays each had a few leads on Paul and Belinda's location, but nothing turned out. It was almost eleven thirty in the morning when Hays called. "I just talked to a woman at the base of the Na Pali Coastline Trail. She and her friend had permits and planned to camp in Kalalau Valley tonight and tomorrow night, but they were getting discouraged by the rain and the wind, afraid the trail would be too dangerous, and they turned around at mile four. She claims Paul and Belinda bought their backpacks and permits off of them maybe a mile past Hanakapi'ai Beach."

"Seriously?" Jagger was by Hanalei Bay heading east. He immediately pulled to the side of the road, waiting for an opening. Hanakapi'ai Beach was the two-mile mark of the famous Na Pali Coastline Trail.

"It's a crazy move, but I think he's going to try to do the eleven-mile hike into Kalalau and camp there tonight. With the timing the girls shared, Paul and Belinda should be at least to mile five. If we can't reach them by six, they've won."

"Not such a crazy move, then." Jagger flipped around and drove toward Ha'ena State Park, the start of the trail. "How long did that hike take us?"

"About eight hours each way."

"That's a slow eleven miles." Jagger and Hays had been stationed in Oahu for eighteen months and traveled to each of the islands to have different adventures. They'd been at a decent pace the entire time they did the famed hike. It was a hard eleven miles with a lot of elevation gain and loss and treacherous sections. The rain would make it more difficult and dangerous.

Jagger's heart sped up in anticipation of the challenge. He wanted to catch them and win. He only had a little over six hours. "You think it's really them? Why wouldn't they have told the girls not to rat them out?"

"They thought I was hot," Hays admitted, his voice tinged with embarrassment.

Jagger smiled. Women went nuts over Hays's handsome face, tough body, and the almost shyness he had about him. They could probably sense how deep-down kind and good his best friend was. Hays was the perfect contrast to Jagger.

"Nice," he said. "Those good looks of yours finally benefit us."

Hays laughed. "Also, the backpacks the girls had on were the same black Cotopaxi backpacks Paul and Belinda had on."

Cotopaxi backpacks were common, especially with female hikers, but usually they preferred the brightly colored bags.

Jagger turned on his wipers. The drizzle was annoying, but not a downpour at least.

"Hey, man." Jagger cleared his throat, knowing he was wrong to ask this. "You okay if I head after them alone? You keep searching the rest of the island. They could be throwing us off with a plant."

"For sure they could, but I'm already heading up that first mile of incline."

"I … well, I really want to be the one to find her. I mean, them."

Jagger knew it wasn't a smart move. His friend was every bit as fit as him and could catch them easier if he was already on their trail. Was it just Jagger's pride, or was it his longing for Belinda that he'd tried to bury the past couple days? No, he'd tried to bury that longing for the past fourteen years.

"Please," he added.

"Um … sure, Jag. You catch them if they came this way, and if not, I'll find them somewhere on the island. It's a great plan. You'll be the one sleeping on the ground tonight."

Jagger laughed. What did either of them care about sleeping on the ground? They'd done it plenty. He sobered. "Thanks, man. Talk soon." He hung up.

Parking his Jeep in the crowded Ha'ena State Park parking lot, he grabbed the backpack and shoved some more water bottles, jerky, and protein bars in. If they weren't here, he would be in for a very miserable night. He was in for a miserable night either way, but being close to Belinda could make it less miserable. Or more miserable if she continued to call him a liar and give him dagger glares.

Jogging to the trailhead, he skirted around roosters and children and started up the steep incline. The first two miles took a multitude of tourists to Hanakapi'ai Beach. Some turned around there. Most people headed inland at that point, two miles up to Hanakapi'ai Waterfall. He and Hays had done that hike. The powerful waterfall and scenery were incredible. He'd thought of taking Belinda up there if they caught them early one of these days. Apparently, she and Paul had other plans.

Once a hiker passed Hanakapi'ai Beach, he needed a permit to hike the Na Pali Coast the nine additional demanding miles to Kalalau Beach. Hopefully Jagger didn't run into an authority who wanted to see his permit. Maybe he'd get lucky and someone else would be discouraged by the rain and he could buy their backpack and permit off them.

He had to dodge around a lot of slow-moving tourists. Most were coming back down the trail, moving slowly through the slick mud, while Jagger was racing up the path like he was in a mud-run competition. This steep incline might be considered a tough climb and dangerous to some, but he'd traversed much worse wearing full battle gear and on alert to be exposed or attacked at any time. This was a piece of cake, and his Merrill hiking shoes gave him good grip as he ran.

"Hey." Hays was just ahead. They stopped as they reached each other. "Do you need any of these supplies?" Hays started swinging off his backpack.

"I think I'll be good. I've got water, some food, a satellite phone, and some weapons. Let me know if you hear anything or find them."

"For sure." Hays gave him a quick hug. "Godspeed. I'll be praying for you."

"Thanks, man." Jagger didn't say a lot about his aversion to heaven's intervention, but Hays knew it was strong. Occasionally Hays, Mercedes, or Julie prayed for him or blessed him. It was fine. With anybody else, Jagger would probably flare up, but Hays was far too patient with him and loyal to him and the ladies were far too sweet, when they weren't scheming. Shawn was a believer but he'd never said much about it to Jagger.

Right now, Jagger could use some heavenly speed and prayers. He didn't know why he felt such a strong urge to get to Belinda, but it was as strong as any feeling he'd had throughout his career. Was heaven breaking their armistice and giving him some direction?

"See you soon." He saluted his friend and took off at a run.

Reaching the top, he raced down the next mile the best he could. He slipped and caught himself a few times on trees, bushes, or roots. He got cursed at more than he slipped for startling people or racing around them. That made him smile as he murmured, ‘excuse me,' to every group he passed. There hadn't been much to smile about the past two days.

He crossed the stream, noticed it was running high with the rain, and made it to Hanakapi'ai Beach. There were a lot of boulders, cairns, and some children playing at the edge of the stream. Thankfully, nobody was in the ocean. For anyone with less swimming prowess than him and Hays, this was not a get-in-the-water spot.

He started up the next steep incline and any traffic disappeared. He smiled grimly. He might be alone for a while. Checking his watch, he saw it was twelve-twenty-five. Five and a half more hours to find Belinda.

Why did he have this nagging feeling it wasn't about the contest at all, but something more important? Could this be his chance to reconnect with Belinda? He frowned. They'd tried that, and despite the best kissing session of the century, she was now convinced he was a liar and choosing to believe her fraud of a father over him.

Jagger would be the first one to defend his mom or dad to anyone. He understood family loyalty, especially as an only and beloved child, but Belinda had to listen to reason.

He almost smiled. Belinda wasn't always reasonable.

What a mess he was in. A scary mess with no solution and no way to fight through it.

Jagger stopped for a drink of water and forced himself to eat a few bites of a protein bar and wash it down. He carefully traversed a particularly washed-out part of the trail with some game-ending drops to the ocean hundreds of feet below.

His phone rang.

Right now was not the time to get his phone out.

Anything could be happening, though. Hays might have found Belinda and Paul somewhere else on the island. Hays might have information about the rain and wind increasing, maybe a tropical storm coming through. Mercedes might have passed. His heart seized at that thought. He was still upset that Mercedes would blindside him and push him and Belinda together this week.

Two nights ago, with his Bee in his arms, he had a brief moment where he would've been singing her praises. It wasn't Mercedes's fault that Belinda wouldn't believe him. None of them were ready to let their angelic friend go, and he'd been so obsessed with Belinda he hadn't even called to check on Mercedes, Shawn, Franz, or Julie.

He'd lost both of his parents and several friends throughout the years in the military. He'd heard too many times that God was in charge and would take people when He wanted to. That stirred anger in his chest. He was sick of heaven messing with his life. Pastor Ralphs had thought Jagger coming at the right time to see Belinda kissing Mike was ‘heavenly intervention.' The hypocritical pastor had lied to his daughter for fourteen years. The Ralphs must truly loathe Jagger and think he was the most awful man on earth to keep the truth from Belinda.

Washe bad for Belinda? He'd told her what her dad had said about him making her angry or making her cry, and she hadn't said anything to dispute those claims.

Finally, he made it to a level part of the trail. Though it was mud-slick, it was fine and he wouldn't die with a misstep. He pulled out the satellite phone from the backpack just as it rang again.

"What's up?" he answered Hays.

"Jag, where are you?"

He glanced at his watch. "Almost to mile five."

"Have you seen Paul and Belinda?"

"No. I haven't seen another soul since I left Hanakapi'ai Beach."

Hays cursed.

Jagger's eyebrows lifted. "What's wrong?"

"I've had no sightings of them anywhere on the rest of the island. About half an hour ago everybody I talked to was buzzing about rumors of a boat of convicts from Oahu headed straight for the Na Pali Coast. I got in touch with the police. When I explained who I was and where I think Paul and Belinda are headed to win the reality show, they admitted that the convicts landed on Kalalau Beach a few minutes ago."

"Didn't you call Paul to turn around?"

"He isn't answering. I don't know if it's the weather and his remote location, or maybe …" Hays didn't finish.

Jagger quickened his pace. Was Belinda walking right into a nightmare? Were they already in trouble, or was Paul not answering so he wouldn't give away his location to Hays?

"The police have boats offshore, but the convicts are shooting at them. With the stormy seas, it would be a death sentence to navigate into that beach right now, even if nobody was taking potshots at you. The storm is supposed to get worse, so their helicopters are grounded."

Now it was Jagger's turn to curse. He had a pocketknife and his Sig P226. "How many convicts?"

"Five."

"Any idea how heavily they're armed?" He skirted down a slick portion of the trail. He had to move faster. No wonder he'd felt so uneasy.

Bee! His heart thudded out of control. No matter what, he had to keep her safe.

"No one knows, but the questioning they've done so far at the prison has led them to believe they've been planning this for a while and had a weapons, clothing, and equipment cache ready."

"Paul was armed?"

"Yeah. A pocketknife and a 1911 were in his backpack. Hopefully he transferred them when he bought the larger camping backpacks off the girls."

"He would have." Jagger upped his pace, clinging to the phone. "Hays. I don't how to ask this."

"You don't have to. I'm already headed up the first mile of the trail."

Relief rushed through him. Hays would never let him down. His buddy might not get there in time, but he would get there. If the convicts didn't find Paul's weapons—and if Jagger could reach them before the convicts tried to touch Belinda—he, Paul, and Hays could keep Belinda, and whoever else was camping at Kalalau, safe.

"I don't tell you near enough." He almost got choked up. "But I love you."

"I love you too." The surprise was evident in Hays's voice. Jagger actually wondered if he'd ever told his friend, or anyone besides his parents and Bee, that he loved them. He'd learned to tell Mercedes he loved her because she sweetly demanded it of him, and he did love her like the sister he'd never had. He'd gotten in trouble about that with Bee. He almost smiled, but he was too agitated.

"Pray for us," Jagger said, shocking even himself. But he'd had premonitions like the one today when he was in the military, and it had saved him or his teammates. Would his premonition to come this way save Belinda and Paul? He might have to humble himself and pray.

"I already am. Chat soon."

"Thanks." Jagger hung up, turned off the ringer, and slid the phone into a pocket. He'd feel it buzz, but it wouldn't ring and give him away.

He upped his pace to a near sprint, slipping and sliding and maybe even praying.

Bee. She was all that mattered.

He had to keep her safe.