Meanwhile on the beach two teens arrived and walked toward a tall man near the water.
"Mr. Rollins we've gathered more evidence." One of the boys handed the man an envelope.
"I told you, call me Barry. What's this then." Barry opened the envelope and read the paper within, "Are you sure this is real?"
"Yeah, you gonna pay us now?" the other boy asked impatiently.
"Yeah, here you go." Barry reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of money, "I'll call you."
The teens left the beach satisfied. Barry Rollins stayed by the water staring out at the horizon. He had a lot of time to think in prison. He was just recently let out on parole, by blackmailing the judge. Revenge would be sweet, he could almost taste it. Now that he knew where she was, he laughed quietly and walked back to his boat.
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us, Cleo?" Lewis asked for the last time.
"Yeah, I've got to run some errands with Kim and finish my chores from yesterday." Cleo mumbled.
"Come straight over when you finish, we need to survey the rest of Mako island together. If something goes wrong tomorrow we need an escape plan." Emma stated. Everyone was sitting in Lewis' boat except Cleo who was standing on the pier, her arms crossed and jaw set. She wanted to go with them and cursed herself for neglecting her chores.
"I'll try to be done by six." Cleo waved to them as Lewis started the motor and sped away. She drug her feet back to the house and hurried through her work. Kim refused to do the dishes for any amount of money. Cleo gathered her courage and her gloves and prepared the sink. Kim walked by as she began and tossed some dishes in the sink, water splashed out on Cleo and she barely managed to dry off in time.
Cleo finished all her chores just after six, ran to the canal and dove in. She surfaced about a mile off the shore. She looked at the shore, she quickly spotted Lewis' boat. Near the boat Barry Rollins was dragging Rikki to another boat he had anchored close by. Cleo swam to the boat and grabbed hold of the anchor and started to swim as fast as she could out to sea. Without a safe way off the island, Barry turned around and headed into the woods.
When Cleo felt she was far enough out she turned around swam towards the moon pool. She slowly lifted her head out of the water getting a good look around and seeing it was all clear she pulled herself out of the water. Lewis' gear looked hastily thrown up against one wall.
Elsewhere Emma looked at her watch, it was getting late. She turned around and headed back to the moon pool. About midway there she spotted Lewis. He was crouching behind some jagged rocks. Interested Emma jogged over and crouched beside him. Looking over his shoulder she saw Rikki, her hands and feet were taped together. Emma couldn't see her face, but assumed she was gagged as well since she couldn't hear any rude remarks aimed for her assailant.
"Lewis, what if she gets wet while she's still taped?" Emma whispered.
"Hopefully it will break," he whispered back, "You should wait for Cleo at the moon pool. I've been watching for some time now and I think I have a plan."
"No need, look." Emma pointed to a ball of water floating near Rikki. It took the shape of a blade and Emma took the opportunity to freeze it. The blade hesitated then quickly cut the tape binding Rikki's hands. Cleo jumped out of a bush and finished the job. They both ran to Emma when she stood up and then high-tailed it to the moon pool, the one safe place they knew.
"That was unexpected." Lewis commented in hushed tones, "What happened?"
"The so called Barry Rollins got a get out of jail free card, that's what happened." Rikki answered rubbing her wrists.
"Where did he go?" Cleo whispered.
"He already had a camp ready, I guess he went to get his supplies. I saw it before he went tape crazy. "
"Or he was looking for another way off the island." Cleo finished.
"My boat!" Lewis ran out of the cave.
"We should leave." Rikki said.
"We will as soon as Lewis gets back." Emma responded. They waited twenty minutes before Lewis returned, an abashed look on his face.
"Can you guys, maybe, give me a tow?" he asked.
"Give you a what?!" Rikki eyed him like he had just grown another head.
"Your Mr. Rollins has siphoned my gas. I won't get but a couple miles out before she stops. I need someone to pull me to shore…unless you have a better idea?"
Rikki was about to speak but Cleo beat her to it.
"I'll do it, go as far as you can I'll be waiting."
Rikki tried to talk again but Cleo and Emma grabbed hold of her and jumped in the water. Lewis retreated as well, getting to his boat and meeting up with Cleo. She drug him to their fishing spot where Rikki and Emma were waiting on the rocky shore.
"What are we going to do? After what I did to him, he oughta be scared." Rikki looked to Emma for a plan.
"You mean what are we not going to do? He is stranded on Mako. Besides all we have to do is call the police and let them handle it. You have the bruises to convict him." Lewis said.
"Good, all that's left now are Nate's friends." Cleo smiled.
"Already taken care of. I spoke to Zane before we left, he is probably still making them regret stealing that picture from him. No need to thank me all at once, ladies." Lewis puffed out his chest.
"For what?" Rikki asked amused.
"For helping you out of this mess. What would you do without me."
"A lot of things." Rikki said sarcastically walking away.
Fin.