10. Maya

Chapter ten

Maya

A fter a restless night, I give up on sleep and send a text out to all the team members to meet us at the center by 7:30 am instead of the boat. Next, I make a checklist of everything we need to discuss with Sarah and the team this morning.

The excitement from last night still courses through me as I get ready for the day. After a quick shower, I throw on my usual attire, my bathing suit under shorts and a tank top. I love this part of my job. Being on a boat all day, there's no agonizing over what to wear and no need to worry about how my hair looks or if my makeup is perfect. It doesn't get any better than this!

After a quick cup of coffee and a muffin, I grab my bag and double check that I have all my notes and head out the door, buzzing with anticipation.

When I arrive at the center, Sarah is already there, setting up the conference room. The whiteboard is clean, markers neatly arranged, and the projector ready for any visual aids we might need.

"Morning, Sarah," I greet her with a smile.

"Morning, Maya," she replies, looking up from her notes. "You seem in high spirits. I take it you have some good news?"

"You could say that," I reply with a grin. "But let's wait until everyone gets here. Levi and I uncovered some critical information last night."

One by one, the team trickles in. Jim arrives first, followed by Lori and Hank. They greet me with curious expressions, clearly intrigued by the change in meeting location and my upbeat demeanor.

Levi enters the room just as I'm taking my seat, his timing impeccable. He gives me a nod and takes a seat next to me.

"All right, everyone," I begin, once we're all settled around the table. "Thank you for meeting here on such short notice. Levi and I had quite an eventful night, and we have some important updates to share."

"So, what's the big news?" Jim asks, leaning forward in his chair.

"Last night," I start, glancing at Levi for support, "we met a local fisherman named Joe. He's been observing the poachers for a while now and shared some vital information with us, but I'll let Levi take over from here."

Levi takes over, his voice steady and clear. "Joe stumbled upon the poachers by accident while checking his crab traps one night. He noticed a faint light from a hidden cove and decided to investigate. That's when he saw the men loading crates and heard them talking about turtle eggs and capturing adult turtles."

Lori's eyes widen. "So, he's been keeping an eye on them?"

"Exactly," I confirm. "He heard we were looking into the poachers and decided to come forward. Thanks to him, we have a better idea of their operation and where their base might be."

Jim leans back, crossing his arms. "What's the plan then? Do we inform the authorities now, or gather more evidence?"

"We need to make sure our evidence is solid," I say. "But we can't wait too long."

Sarah stands up, her expression determined. "Alright, let's divide tasks. Jim and Lori, I need you to go over the evidence we've collected so far and make sure everything is documented properly before we turn it over to the authorities. I'll reach out to my contacts at the local wildlife authority and let them know what's happening and schedule a meeting so we can share our findings. Maya, Levi, and Hank why don't the three of you go do a little exploring around some of the other islands to see if there is anything suspicious we can add to our case."

Everyone nods, the room charged with a sense of urgency.

"Let's get to work," I say, feeling a renewed sense of determination.

***

After our meeting with Sarah and the team, we waste no time. The urgency of our mission presses on us like the weight of the humid morning air. Levi, Hank, and I gather our gear and head toward the dock where the Island Dreamer awaits.

As we walk, I turn to Levi. "Where do you think we should start?"

Levi looks thoughtful for a moment. "I was thinking of the smaller islands to the northeast. They're less trafficked and have potential nesting grounds for the sea turtles which would attract the poachers. And we may find more evidence about how and where the poachers are working to develop a pattern."

Hank nods in agreement. "Makes sense. Those islands are pretty secluded."

We reach the boat, and Levi begins preparing it for departure. I take a moment to double-check our equipment: cameras, notebooks, and a few snacks for the trip. Hank joins me, his usual calm demeanor reassuring.

"You ready for this?" he asks, a hint of a smile on his lips.

"Absolutely," I reply, smiling back."

Once everything is set, Levi starts the engine, and we head out to sea. The journey is smooth, the water glistening under the bright sun. We fall into a comfortable silence, each of us focused on the task ahead.

As we approach the first island, Levi slows the boat. "This is it," he says. "Let's see what we can find."

We disembark, the island's soft sand crunching beneath our feet. The dense vegetation looms ahead, a wall of green hiding whatever secrets the island might hold.

"Let's split up," Levi suggests. "Hank, you take the northern side. Maya and I will head south."

Hank nods and sets off, disappearing into the underbrush. Levi and I move in the opposite direction, our eyes scanning for any signs of human activity.

After about twenty minutes of searching, I spot something unusual. "Levi, over here," I call out, pointing to a set of footprints leading toward a small clearing.

Levi joins me, his eyes narrowing as he examines the tracks. "These are fresh," he says quietly. "Someone's been here recently."

We follow the footprints, our pace quickening. As we reach the clearing, we find remnants of a campfire and several empty crates.

This looks like it could be a drop-off point," I say, taking out my camera to document the scene.

Levi nods, his jaw set in determination. "We need to report this. Let's head back and meet up with Hank."

We make our way back to the boat, where Hank is already waiting. "Find anything?" he asks.

"Yeah," Levi replies, his voice tense. "We found evidence of recent activity. Empty crates, and a campfire. This is definitely a spot the poachers have been using."

Hank's expression hardens. "Then we need to keep looking. If they're using this island, there's a good chance they're using others nearby."

We set off for the next island, the sea is calm, a stark contrast to the turbulence I feel inside. Levi steers the boat with practiced ease, and Hank stands next to him, scanning the horizon. I sit on the bow, my eyes on the distant island we're heading toward, my mind racing with the possibilities of what we might find.

"We should reach the island in about ten minutes," Levi calls out, glancing back at me with a reassuring smile. "Keep your eyes peeled for anything unusual as we get closer."

I nod, my heart pounding with anticipation. The salt-laden breeze carries a sense of adventure, but also a heavy burden of responsibility. We have to find something that will help us stop these poachers for good.

As we near the island, the water around us becomes clearer, revealing vibrant coral reefs below. I grab my binoculars and scan the shoreline and reef area for any signs of activity. Suddenly, something catches my eye—a dark shape thrashing in the water near the reef.

"Levi, slow down," I say urgently, pointing toward the disturbance. "There's something in the water over there."

Levi reduces the throttle, and we glide closer to the reef. As we approach, my heart sinks. It's a green sea turtle, its flippers tangled in a net, struggling to free itself.

"Oh no," I whisper, leaning over the side of the boat. "It's trapped."

Levi and Hank spring into action, grabbing a long pole with a hook on the end to try and reach the net. I slip on my snorkel mask and fins, ready to jump in if needed.

"We need to be careful not to hurt it more," Levi says, his voice tense as he maneuvers the boat closer.

Hank reaches out with the pole, trying to snag the net. "Got it," he grunts, pulling the net towards us.

I can't wait any longer. "I'm going in," I say, slipping into the water. The cool sea envelops me as I swim toward the struggling turtle. I reach the net and gently run my fingers over the turtle's shell, trying to calm it.

"It's okay, we're here to help," I want to say, though I know the turtle can't understand me. Still, it seems to calm slightly at my touch.

Levi tosses me a knife, and I carefully begin cutting through the net. The turtle's eyes are wide with fear, but it remains still, sensing we're trying to help.

"Just a little more," I mumble, trying to reassure the entangled turtle, sawing through the final strand. The net falls away, and the turtle, freed from its bonds, swims a small circle around me before heading off into the open water.

I swim back to the boat, breathing heavily but grinning. "It's free!"

Levi and Hank cheer, and I climb back into the boat, feeling a surge of triumph and relief. We watch as the turtle disappears into the depths, grateful we could make a difference, even if just for one life.

"That was incredible, Maya," Levi says, his eyes shining with admiration. "You saved it."

I blush, shaking my head. "It was a team effort."

Hank nods, his face serious. "Time's a wasting, we need to get going."

I agree, my resolve hardening. "Let's get to that island and see what else we can uncover."

We glide in toward the island, careful not to make much noise, the mood on the boat a mix of conviction and tension. The encounter with the turtle has reignited our commitment to our mission, and we're ready for whatever comes next.

We secure the boat and head inland, careful to move quietly and keep a lookout for any signs of the poachers. The dense foliage and unfamiliar terrain make progress slow, but we remain focused.

Suddenly, we hear voices up ahead. Levi motions for us to stop, and we crouch behind some bushes, peering through the leaves. A group of men are unloading crates from a hidden boat docked on the other side of the island. They're speaking in hushed tones, their movements quick and practiced.

"We need to get out of here," Levi whispers. "If they see us, we're in big trouble."

We begin to back away slowly, but a twig snaps under Hank's foot. The men stop talking and look in our direction.

"Who's there?" one of them shouts, drawing a gun from his waistband.

My heart races as we turn and run, trying to put as much distance between us and the poachers as possible. Shots ring out, the bullets whizzing past us as we weave through the trees. Levi grabs my hand, pulling me along, his grip tight and reassuring.

We reach the boat and scramble aboard, Levi starting the engine as Hank unties the ropes. Just as we pull away from the shore, the poachers burst through the trees, firing their guns.

"Get down!" Levi yells, shielding me with his body as he steers us to safety.

We speed away, the sound of gunfire fading behind us. My heart is pounding, my breath coming in gasps, but we're safe—for now.

"We need to report this to the authorities," Levi says, his voice steady but urgent. "This is not just about poachers now; this is attempted murder."