13. Levi

Chapter thirteen

Levi

" T hey cut our fuel line?" Maya says in disbelief.

Maya's eyes widen, and she steps back, covering her nose. "What do we do now?"

I crouch down, examining the damage. "We need to get this fixed, but we also need to report it. Someone is trying to stop us."

Hank's face hardens. "Do you think it's one of the poachers?"

"Most likely," I say, standing up. "Let's head back to the center and call the authorities. We can't let them get away with this."

As we walk back, Jim shakes his head in disbelief. "I can't believe this is happening. First, they shoot at us, and now this?"

Lori nods. "They're getting desperate. We must be close to something big."

We reach the center, and Sarah greets us with a concerned look. "What happened?"

"Our fuel line was cut," I explain. "Someone doesn't want us going back out there."

Sarah's expression darkens. "I'll call Fish and Wildlife and let them know. We can't let this slide."

While Sarah makes the call, I gather the team. "We can't let them intimidate us."

Maya steps forward, determination in her eyes. "We should consider installing cameras around the boat and the dock. If they're watching us, we need to catch them in the act."

Jim nods. "I can help with that. I've got some surveillance equipment we can set up."

"Good idea," I say. "Let's also think about where they might be watching us from. If we can find their vantage point, we might be able to get some evidence of our own."

As we brainstorm, Sarah returns. "Fish and Wildlife are sending an officer over to take a look at the damage. They want us to stay put for now."

Hank sighs. "Staying put isn't exactly our strong suit."

I laugh, trying to lighten the mood. "No, but it might be our best option for now. Let's use this time to prepare. We need to be ready for whatever comes next.

***

We wait anxiously in the center's conference room, the tension mounting. When the Wildlife officer arrives, Sarah quickly ushers him in.

Officer Ryan, a tall man with a stern face, carries a small evidence bag.

"Thanks for coming so quickly," Sarah says, offering him a seat.

Ryan nods. "We checked out your boat. The fuel line was definitely cut, and it looks like it was done with a sharp knife. We also found this nearby."

Officer Ryan holds up the piece of cloth, a small frown tugging at the corner of his mouth. "We found this near the damaged fuel line. Any of you recognize it?"

I lean in, studying the fabric. "Doesn't look familiar to me. What do you think, Maya?"

She shakes her head, frowning. "No, but it's pretty distinctive. Looks like it's from some kind of work shirt."

Officer Ryan nods. "That's what we were thinking. We'll have it analyzed for any distinctive fibers or traces. It might help us narrow down who's been hanging around your boat."

Jim looks frustrated. "This just keeps getting more intense. What should we be doing while you guys are investigating?"

"Keep doing your research, but stay vigilant," Officer Ryan advises. "We've increased patrols in the area, and we're setting up more surveillance. If you notice anything suspicious, let us know immediately."

Hank lets out a sigh. "I just want to catch these guys and put an end to this."

"We all do," I say, placing a hand on his shoulder. "But we need to be smart about it. We don't want anyone getting hurt."

"Hank, can you handle the boat repairs?" I ask. "We need to make sure it's ready for when we go out again."

Hank nods, I'm on it. I'll get started right away. Shouldn't take me too long to fix the fuel line and check for any other damage."

"Thanks, Hank," I say appreciating his reliability. "Let me know if you need any help."

The conversation wraps up, and as we walk back toward the dock, Maya and I lag behind a bit. I can sense the tension in her face.

"You okay?" I ask, keeping my voice low.

She glances at me, her expression softening. "Yeah, just a lot to process. I hate feeling like we're always one step behind."

"We'll get there," I assure her. "We're doing everything we can."

She nods, and we continue in silence for a moment. I find myself thinking about the high school days when things were simpler.

"So," I say, breaking the quiet, "you reminded me the other day how much you used to love exploring the beach when you were a kid. Want to take a walk and clear our heads?"

Maya smiles, the tension easing from her face. "That sounds perfect."

As we walk down the path leading to the beach, the sound of the waves is relaxing, mixing with the rustle of palm fronds swaying in the gentle breeze.

"I can't believe they cut the fuel lines," Maya says, breaking the silence. "It's like they're taunting us, letting us know how easily they can get to us."

"Yeah," I agree, kicking a small pebble out of the way. "It's definitely a warning. They want us to back off, but it's only making me more determined to see this through."

Maya stops, turning to face me. "We can't afford to be reckless."

"I know," I say, looking out at the horizon. "Hank and Jim can set up some cameras around the boat. We need to catch these guys in the act."

"Good idea," she says, starting to walk again. "I just hope the authorities can do something before things get worse."

We walk in silence for a few moments, listening to the waves rippling along the shore. The beach is nearly empty, with only a few seagulls picking at the sand and the occasional jogger passing by.

"So," I say, trying to lighten the mood, "how does it feel being back in Key Largo?" You always seemed so happy and carefree here ."

Maya smiles, a wistful look in her eyes. "Those were the best years. I'd spend hours exploring the beach, collecting shells, and pretending I was a mermaid or an adventurer. And then there was you."

I chuckle. "Yeah, we had some good times, didn't we? Remember that time we built that massive sandcastle and then had a water fight when the tide came in?"

She laughs, the sound light and musical. "I do. We were soaked, but it was so much fun. I think we even got a lecture from your mom about tracking sand into the house."

"Worth it," I say with a grin. "Those were simpler times."

"Things were definitely less complicated," she agrees, her smile fading slightly. "But now…everything feels so uncertain."

I reach out, taking her hand. "We'll get through this, Maya. We're a good team. We just have to stay focused and trust each other."

She looks down at our joined hands, then back up at me, her eyes searching mine. "Do you ever wonder what might have happened if we'd stayed in touch? If I hadn't gone off to college but stayed here?"

"All the time," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. "But life had other plans for us. Maybe now we have a chance to figure things out."

Maya steps closer, and I can feel the warmth of her body, the scent of her hair. "Maybe we do," she says softly.

For a moment, we just stand there, suspended in time. I lean in, my heart pounding, but just before our lips meet, she pulls back slightly, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

"Levi, I…"

"I know," I say, stepping back. "We have a lot to figure out. But whatever happens, I'm here for you."

She nods, squeezing my hand. "Thanks, Levi. That means a lot."

We continue our walk, the moment lingering between us, filled with possibilities and unspoken words. As we make our way back to the boat, I can't help but feel a renewed sense of determination—not just to catch the poachers, but to see where this newfound connection with Maya might lead.

When we arrive, Hank is already hard at work on the repairs, tools spread out on the dock beside him. He looks up as we approach, wiping sweat from his brow.

"How's it going?" I ask, kneeling down to inspect the progress.

"Not too bad," he says. "I've got the new fuel line installed. Just need to test it and make sure everything's running smoothly."

"Great," I say. "We were thinking about setting up some cameras around the boat, maybe some motion sensors too. Jim said he had some equipment we could use so I'll give him a call and see if he can come and the two of you work on it when you finish up with the boat."

Maya joins in, "We'll need to coordinate with the authorities, let them know what we're planning."

Hank nods. "I'll get on it as soon as I'm done here. We'll make sure they can't sneak up on us again."

As Hank continues his work, Maya and I sit on the edge of the dock, our legs dangling over the water. For a moment, everything feels peaceful.

"We'll get through this," I say, my voice filled with conviction.

Maya leans her head on my shoulder, and we sit in silence, watching the calm movement of the water and drawing strength from each other.