9. Levi

Chapter nine

Levi

A fter dropping Maya off at her apartment, I walk back to the marina, the events of the day swirling in my mind. The evidence we've gathered so far is alarming, but it feels like just the tip of the iceberg.

As I head toward my boat I notice a figure lingering near the dock. He's an older man, weathered by years at sea, with a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes. He looks up as I approach, his gaze sharp and wary.

"Evening," I say, keeping my tone neutral. "Can I help you with something?"

The man glances around, making sure we're alone, then steps closer. "You Levi?" he asks, his voice a gravelly whisper.

I nod, a little taken aback. "Yeah, that's me."

He shifts his weight, clearly uncomfortable. "Name's Joe. Joe Collins. I hear you and that marine biologist are looking into the turtle poaching'."

My heart skips a beat. "Who told you that?"

Joe scratches the back of his neck. "Word gets around. Small town, you know? Plus, I seen you two poking around the island. Folks talk."

I cross my arms, studying him. "Alright, Joe. What do you know about it?"

He looks around again, then leans in, lowering his voice even more. "I been seeing' things. Suspicious folks coming and going, always late at night. They're using a spot on the north side of the island—hidden cove. Hard to get to unless you know the way."

"Why are you telling me this?" I ask, skepticism creeping into my voice.

Joe's eyes harden. "I've been fishing these waters since I was a boy. I ain't a fan of what they're doing. Those turtles been part of this place long before any of us. They deserve better. But I ain't stupid enough to go up against them by myself."

I nod slowly, appreciating his honesty. "You willing to show me this spot?"

Joe hesitates, then gives a curt nod. "The turtles come up on shore at night so are ya willing to go tonight?

"Absolutely."

"Meet me here at midnight. And bring that biologist friend of yours. We might need her expertise."

I watch as Joe turns and walks away, disappearing into the shadows. My mind races with the new information. This could be the break we need, but it's risky. I pull out my phone and call Maya, filling her in on the encounter.

"Do you believe him?" Maya asked.

"He seemed really disturbed by the threat to the turtles."

"We need to be careful," she says, her voice tense but determined. "If Joe's right, this could be big. Should we notify the authorities?"

"Yes, but at this hour I doubt we can pull a team together and still meet Joe on time. He was really nervous and might be scared off," I reply. "Meet me here at the dock at eleven-thirty and let's pray this doesn't go sideways."

As I hang up, a sense of determination settles over me. Tonight, we might finally get the answers we've been looking for. But with those answers comes danger, but saving the sea turtles is why we started this project in the first place, so we have to follow this lead.

***

I check my watch—11:25 PM. The marina is quiet, the usual hum of activity replaced by the soft lapping of water against the docks. I lean against my truck, scanning the empty street. Maya's apartment is only a couple of blocks away, so she should be here any minute.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, I see her walking toward me, her silhouette illuminated by the dim streetlights. She's wearing a light jacket, her expression focused and determined.

"Hey," she says softly as she approaches, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Ready?"

"Yeah," I reply, pushing off the truck. "Joe should be here soon."

We stand in companionable silence, the cool night air crisp and refreshing. The stars above are bright, reflecting off the calm water, creating a peaceful backdrop that contrasts sharply with the tension I feel.

Just then, we hear footsteps approaching from the opposite direction. Joe emerges from the shadows, his baseball cap pulled low over his eyes. He nods at us, a gruff greeting.

"You two ready?" he asks, his voice low and rough.

"Yeah," I say, stepping forward. "Lead the way."

Joe nods and starts walking toward the docks, his movements swift and purposeful. Maya and I follow closely behind. We reach a small, unassuming boat tied to the end of the dock. Joe gestures for us to get in, then unties the ropes and starts the engine. The boat putters to life, and we glide silently away from the marina.

The ride is quiet, the only sounds are the gentle splash of water against the hull and the occasional creak of the boat. Joe steers us expertly through the dark waters, his eyes focused on the path ahead. After a while, he slows the boat and points to a narrow passage hidden by overhanging trees and thick vegetation.

"We're close," he says, cutting the engine. "We'll go on foot from here."

We disembark, the small boat rocking gently as we step onto a narrow strip of sand. Joe leads us into the dense underbrush, the path barely visible in the dim light. Branches scrape against our arms and legs, and the air is thick with the scent of earth and salt.

After a few minutes of hiking, we reach a small clearing. Joe stops and points to a cluster of rocks partially hidden by foliage.

"Through there," he whispers. "There's a cave. That's where they meet."

Maya and I exchange a glance, then nod. Joe pushes aside the branches, revealing a narrow entrance. We slip through one by one, the darkness swallowing us.

Inside, the cave is cool and damp, the air heavy with the smell of moss and wet stone. We move cautiously, our footsteps echoing softly. As we venture deeper, a faint light becomes visible ahead, flickering shadows dancing on the walls.

We creep closer, the sound of hushed voices reaching our ears. Peeking around a bend, I see a group of men huddled around a lantern, their faces obscured by shadows. They're discussing something intently, their tones urgent and conspiratorial.

Maya nudges me and whispers, "We need to get closer, capture what they're saying."

I nod, signaling for her to follow me. We inch forward, careful not to make any noise. The voices become clearer, snippets of conversation drifting toward us.

"...next shipment... double the usual... authorities sniffing around..."

"...secure the eggs... adults too... lucrative market..."

I glance at Maya, her eyes wide with realization. We've hit the jackpot. This is the proof we need to take them down.

Just then, one of the men looks up, his eyes narrowing as he scans the cave. My heart races as we duck back into the shadows, holding our breath.

"Did you hear something?" the man asks, his voice tense.

One of his companions shakes his head. "Probably just the wind. Relax."

The man doesn't seem convinced but returns to the discussion. We wait a few more moments, ensuring they're fully engrossed in their plans, then slowly retreat the way we came.

Once we're safely outside the cave, I exhale a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Maya looks at me, her expression a mix of relief and determination.

"We got them," she says, her voice barely a whisper but filled with resolve. "Now we just need to get this information to the authorities."

Joe nods, his gruff demeanor softening slightly. "You two did good. Now let's get outta here before they realize we were listening."

"Joe, how on earth did you ever find them way back in the cave?"

"I first found the poachers by accident one night when I was checking my crab traps. The moon was high, with just enough light for me to see a strange glow coming from the hidden cove. Curiosity got the best of me, so I decided to investigate."

"Keeping my distance, I saw a group of men loading crates onto a boat. I could hear pieces of their conversation—talk about turtle eggs and capturing adult turtles. It didn't take long to piece together what they were up to."

"I knew I couldn't confront them on my own, so I started keeping an eye on the area, gathering information whenever I could. I figured one day I'd come across someone who could help put an end to their operation. That's when I heard about you guys looking into turtle poaching. Seemed like fate, if you ask me."

We make our way back to the boat, the adrenaline still pumping through our veins. As we glide into the marina, the weight of what we've discovered settles over us. This is far from over, but I feel a glimmer of hope. We're not just fighting a losing battle—we're making progress.

"He's one of a kind," Maya murmurs, breaking the silence.

"Yeah," I agree softly. "We owe him a lot."

As Joe disappears into the night, I turn to Maya, suddenly aware of the late hour. "I should walk you home," I say, my voice low but determined.

Maya nods, a grateful smile playing on her lips. "Thank you, Levi."

We make our way through the quiet streets, the occasional streetlamp casting pools of light on the pavement. The air is still, filled only with the distant sound of waves lapping against the shore.

At Maya's apartment building entrance, we pause. "We should gather the team at the center first thing in the morning," I suggest, breaking the comfortable silence. "Update Sarah on everything that happened tonight."

Maya nods in agreement. "That's a good idea. We need to get all our ducks in a row before we make our next move."

"Definitely," I say, feeling a surge of gratitude for her calm, decisive nature in moments like these.

We stand there for a moment, the night's events hanging between us. Finally, I break the silence. "Good night, Maya," I say softly, searching her eyes for any sign of what she might be feeling.

"Good night, Levi," she replies, her voice equally soft. There's a hint of something more in her gaze, a warmth that sends a shiver down my spine.

As I walk back to the marina alone, the streets eerily quiet, my mind races with thoughts of Maya. The way she handles herself with grace and determination, how she's so deeply passionate about protecting these turtles. And there's something else—a connection between us that feels undeniable as if fate has brought us back together for a reason.

I find myself smiling despite the seriousness of the situation. Maybe there's more to this reunion than solving the mystery of the poachers. Maybe it's a chance for us to rediscover what we once had, to explore what could be.