Shipwrecked-Chapter 13

The following morning dawned without a trace of clouds. Perry and Della had spent the night in their beach shelter. Awakening first, Perry stretched, then extricated himself from the blanket and Della's arms and left the makeshift tent.

Paul, if you're out there, Pal, today would be a good day to find us. He was headed to the water's edge when the sun glinted off the boat in the distance. It was still a few miles offshore but headed straight for their beach.

It might have been his suspicious nature or his protective instinct toward Della, but Perry knew in his gut this was not a rescue boat. Quickly going back inside the tent, he shook Della awake as gently as he could.

"Sweetheart, wake up."

She moaned and attempted to pull him into her embrace. "Morning."

Perry shook her again, this time making sure she was awake. "Della, you have to wake up."

At the urgency in his voice, her eyes popped wide open. "What is it?" A quick look at his face confirmed her suspicion. "It's time."

He gathered her clothes, placing them in her hands. "You need to dress quickly. We are about to have company. I don't have to tell you we have to hustle."

Della started dressing as fast as she could. "Stick to the plan," she muttered under her breath. "Stick to the plan." The idea of questioning him never entered her mind.

Perry pulled on his pants, shirt and shoes. "Let's get to the top of the cliff. There's nothing we can do to hide the Zodiac and our shelter, but we knew that was always a possibility."

"Higher ground," she agreed, slipping into her shoes.

"Yes," he agreed, "at least we can get a better vantage point. Now hurry."

As soon as Della was ready, he took her hand, heading for the steps in the cliffside. Being as careful they could, they reached the top just as the large cabin cruiser dropped anchor.

Lying in the scrub grass for cover, they watched as another Zodiac was lowered and several men climbed in and headed for shore.

Perry cursed himself again for not thinking to grab the binoculars from the sailboat. He untied the rope holding the blanket together. Carefully removing the knives, he laid them in a row in the grass, the Very pistol and flares next to them. He made sure the .38 was fully loaded and the ammo within easy reach. Then he rolled the blanket back up and tied it to protect their water and food.

He placed an arm around Della, keeping her close and making sure she was as hidden from view as possible. "Sweetheart, I need you to lay as flat and still as possible, understand?"

She only nodded and smiled, doing as he asked.

Making sure that she was almost completely hidden, Perry turned his attention to the men who had landed on the beach. There were five men, dressed in camouflage and all looked like they were armed. One of the men removed his military-styled cap and mopped his brow. Compared to the others in the boarding party, his gray hair looked like a beacon of light.

"Perry! That's Jack!" Della exclaimed, horrified. It wasn't so much that he was alive that surprised her nearly as much as it was the natural way he seemed to be in charge."

Perry turned his head to look at her. "Quiet, Della." Their eyes collided. "Jack isn't my friend. Never really was, come to think of it." There was more he wanted to say, but the time to do that had come and gone.

Below them they watched Jack break away from the group and walk over to examine their shelter. After checking inside, he walked back to the group.

Jack started walking toward the cliff. "Hey, pal. I'm here with the cavalry to rescue you."

Perry growled low, but he did not respond. Even Jack's use of the term pal rankled.

One of the other men walked over to the shelter and began tearing it apart, scattering everything on the sand, dumping their clothes and their sleeping area. Then he took a knife, slashing the sail and blankets. Still another went to the Zodiac and, using a knife, punctured it several times.

Jack was closer to the cliff now. "C'mon, Perry. I always knew you were resourceful, but I had no idea you were so domestic. Or were those touches Della's contribution? She is still with you, isn't she? Or did you get stupid and tell her your past indiscretions?"

Della put a hand over Perry's. "Don't answer that jackass, Perry."

"I'm your only chance now. These guys play pretty rough," Jack continued, moving closer to the steps. "Where is the cargo, Perry? I know you found it. You must have. You're going to have to trust me, pal. But if you come with us now, you'll be better off." He turned back to look at the men. "Think of Della. If we leave now, neither of you will last without food or water.

Now Perry drew in a breath. He was about to respond when he felt Della's hand on his arm. In a soft whisper, she said, "No, Perry. We'll be okay."

Jack was walking back towards the four other men. "Last chance Perry."

When Jack received no answer, he gave a signal to the men. Perry pulled Della further back from the edge of the cliff.

"Don't move, whatever happens, don't move!"

Just then, the men swung their automatic weapons into position and opened fire. The bullets slammed into the cliff face just below Perry and Della's position. To her, it seemed to continue forever. Only Perry's strong arm around her kept her from moving. She was trembling, but it wasn't from fear.

Della was royally peeved. She glanced at the knives, longing for someone, anyone in the raiding party to come into range. She hated Jack for taunting Perry. And for using her as a weapon against him.

"Steady, girl," Perry whispered. "Don't lose your temper."

When at last the firing stopped, Della was trembling violently. Perry whispered in her ear, "it's over Sweetheart. Just lie still. I need to see if they've gone."

Perry crept up to the edge to look down. Jack and the others were in their Zodiac heading back to their boat.

But as they pulled up anchor, there was the sound of a siren and a Mexican patrol boat came into view. There was a host of Coast Guard officers standing on deck, guns trained on the boat, as well as a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on the bow, taking deadly aim.

Perry helped her to her feet. Drawing her into his arms, he bent his head to kiss her just as they heard a roar in the distance. Seconds later a helicopter appeared overhead and Paul's head poked out of the co-pilot's door.

He shouted over the sound of the rotor, "Can I give you two a lift?"

Perry's frown was half-hearted as he waved Paul off, watching as the helicopter pilot maneuvered the copter and set the craft down on the beach.

He paused only a fraction of a second, then quipped, "He isn't interrupting this kiss. Come here, Miss Street!" Then he bent his head and kissed her. "I told you he'd show up at the most inopportune time."

"In all fairness," she teased, "That would have been earlier."

He laughed and clasped her hand. "There's nothing else to do, Sweetheart. Come on, lovely lady, let's go see what's happening below. All we need now are Tragg and Burger and this rescue will be complete."

Perry held her hand tightly as they made their way down the stairs. When they reached the bottom, Paul rushed up, hugging Della tightly.

"Hi, Beautiful!"

Perry smacked Paul's arm. "How the heck…"

"MASON!"

I should have known . . . Only one man on earth can bellow my name like that. "Yes, Lieutenant?"

Tragg completely disregarded him as he marched through the sand and went straight to Della, taking her hands.

"Della, my dear, are you alright? You're not hurt are you?"

She smiled at the grizzled detective. "Yes, Lieutenant, I'm quite alright, thank you."

Perry stood back, gratefully lighting the cigarette Paul offered him, waiting for the inevitable. He didn't have long to wait. Hamilton Burger strode through the sand just as Tragg had done, followed by a Mexican general. He, too, ignored Perry and went straight to Della.

"Miss Street, how are you? I can see that you're unhurt. But . . ." he glared over at Perry, "Are you okay?"

Della laughed at the absurdity of the scene. She had been shipwrecked, marooned on a deserted island, shot at by a man she thought was a friend, and finally found by the only three men in her life who cared for her more than Perry.

And yet, her only thought, her only desire, was for the man who stood watching her, with eyes so filled with love that she felt as if the sand beneath her feet would drop away.

She smiled at the three men, excusing herself and crossed the sand to melt into Perry's arms, not caring who saw or what they might think. "I knew you could get me off this island, Chief! My hero!" Winding her arms around his neck, she pulled his head down, kissing him as though he would disappear at any moment.

Tragg pushed his hat back on his head, "Well, I'll be damned." Burger only stared, his mouth suspended in open-mouthed amazement. Paul let out a low whistle.

Perry held her tightly, deepening the kiss. Della finally broke the kiss, staring into his eyes, now the color of the ocean.

Paul's hands landed on his hips. "Well, I like that! I risk my neck, my very life to save this guy, and how does he repay me? He snitches my girl!"

Della didn't hear a word. Her entire attention was focused on the man holding her tight. Her entire world was in that embrace. She sighed.

"Perry?"

"Yes, Sweetheart?"

"Do you think we can get off this island now, please."

Perry laughed and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "Yes, we can. I just have one thing to take care of first."

With that, he strode across the beach to where the police were holding Jack. As he approached, Jack smiled at him. "Perry, I'm glad you're…"

Perry's fist caught Jack square on his jaw, knocking him out. As Jack slumped to the sand, Perry offered a salute to the officers. "He's all yours."

Then walking back to Della, he put his arm around her, looking at Paul. "I hope you have room in that copter for us."

Paul smiled at his best friend. "You bet. Let's go."