Chapter 24 This Island
Hammersley approached Hinton cove and was almost ready for anchor, a terrifying shutter descended down Kate's spine as they anchored the ship.
" Are you ok about going ashore Kate" asked Mike.
"Yeah I'm fine I just want to get this over and done with" replied Kate as she got her gear on, ready to go ashore.
Buffer jumped out of the RHIB pulling it up onto the beach were it could rest, Kate slowly got off putting one foot on the island. Walking up the beach as she led the feds to the campsite, slowly making there way through the forest they reached the camp, shocked at there discovery.
"Papa 82 this is Echo 82 over" said Kate the worry in her voice had returned.
"This is papa 82 go ahead Kate" replied Mike hearing the worry in Kate's voice he headed down to the armoury getting his gear on and another RHIB in the water.
" We have found another camp site set up were we found the last one" replied Kate.
"I'm coming over I'll be there in 15 minutes keep searching" replied Mike as he waited for the RHIB to lower into the water.
"Copy that Echo 82 out" replied Kate, as they continued searching, looking for any trace, but, it was like before it had been abandon. They searched the whole island and found no trace of the backpackers.
Kate leant against an old gum tree painful memories flooded her mind, as she felt a warm hand on her shoulder, drawing her out of her head and back into reality.
" They were here Mike, they were here" said Kate as she started to cry, Mike pulling her in, when Murphy walked over Buffer.
"What's that all about?" asked Murphy
" There married now, and that little girl you saw on Hammersley that's there daughter" replied Buffer " and this island has been a bit much for her" he added, leaving Murphy stunned.
Kate walked around the camp looking in each tent when she came across a teddy and a photo, she looked down at it noticing a small child in the photo she handed it to Mike, as her fears started to become a reality. They were looking for children as well as adults.
Kate's mind was now spinning in circles, thinking of possible outcomes, search patterns and anything that involved the backpackers. Kate stepped back up onto the ship, Alexia stood there waiting for her mum to reach her, jumping into her arms, instantly cheering Kate up and putting a smile on Mike's face.
Kate and Mike headed to the galley passing the juniors mess, the laughter and humour was unmissable, as they walked to the seniors mess, Buffer and Nav sat beside Alexia as they ate there dinner, Kate sat there poking and prodding at hers, she was hungry but couldn't eat.
Meanwhile in the juniors mess 2Dads took the opportunity to discuss his latest prank involving Bomber, unaware charge was partially behind the prank Bomber pulled on him. Charge left the mess and headed to the galley pulling Bomber aside.
" Check your computer keys 2Dads has done something to it" said charge as he warned Bomber.
" Come on then" replied Bomber, they both stepped inside her cabin checking her computer, when Bomber dropped her tea towel on the keys,
"Its stuck I cant get it off" said Bomber as she tried to pull the towel off the computer keys.
"Superglue" replied charge, as Bomber found her packet of glue opened and one missing. Dragging Charge into 2Dads cabin she returned the favour placing superglue on his computer lid and keys.
"That will teach him to mess with me" said Bomber, she then happily returned to the galley as if she hadn't left.
Kate and Mike turned in for the night, putting Alexia to bed Kate stood beside Alexia's rack, "this has been a ride" said Kate as she stared down at Alexia.
"Yeah it has for you more than me it has" replied Mike grabbing hold of Kate's hand.
" There has to be an explanation to why these people are going missing" replied Kate.
" Well hopefully we will find something this time, I mean we have more to go on this time, now that we have access to the feds, we have information we didn't have before Kate" replied Mike as he tried to reassure Kate.
" Yeah maybe but its different this time, that little girl in that photo, she couldn't been more than a year older than Alexia" replied Kate " I need to find this girl if not for my sake for hers" added Kate the desperation in Kate's voice alarmed Mike.
Kate laid down in her rack her room was only a few metres from Mike's, she couldn't sleep and neither could Mike that photo had snapped something in both of them, neither knew what but something had, the tossed and turned until Kate could no longer stand it, getting up she headed to the galley, staring at Mike as she walked in her made her a brew.
"Cant sleep either?" said Mike as Kate nodded in reply, as she walked over to Mike, wrapping his arm around her shoulder they headed to the mess and put on the TV, the coffee had an opposite affect on both of them as they fell asleep in each others arms, only to be woken a few hour later by Buffer.
Kate, Mike, Buffer, Bomber and 2Dads headed back onto the island accompanied by the feds, collecting all the gear from the camp, and conducting another sweep of the island.
Mike walked up onto the bridge when Nav approached.
" How's she holding up?" asked Nav she had barely seen Kate since they had left port.
"No good, this time its different, we found a photo on the island of a little girl not much older than Alexia, it threw Kate" replied Mike as he filled her in.
" Look I have a search area from where we found the body and with current and wind our search area is there its approximately a 200 mile radius" replied Nav.
" That's a huge area any way we can reduce it?" replied Mike as he stared down at the map.
"Sorry boss but I suggest we take half the search area and get coastguard to do the rest its far more reliable" replied Nav, as she recalculated the area.
" Ok ill get onto to Navcom, plot a course and get us there as fast as you can" replied Mike, leaving the bridge he headed down to Kate's cabin.
"Kate?" said Mike knocking on her door, he heard a faint 'come in' as he entered, " Kate, Nav has a search area plotted I just thought you might want to know" added Mike as Kate laid in her rack, She didn't look to good either. "Kate are you ok?" he asked placing his hand on her forehead she was sweating, Mike picked up the phone to call Swain when he walked past Kate's cabin.
"Swain I need your help" said Mike calling Swain in, as he checked her over.
" Sir she's funning a fever I need to get her to the wardroom now" said Swain as Mike picked Kate up, gently placing her down on the bed, Swain got to work.
"Has she been sleeping sir?" asked Swain
" No she hasn't not since we returned here she was exhausted last night but she fell asleep for about 2 hours last night that's it and she hasn't been eating much lately either, what's wrong Swain?" asked Mike
" Sir it could be a number of things exhaustion, the flew I don't know" replied Swain as he rattled off a number things it could be. " I think its exhaustion as you sad she hasn't been eating which has deprived her body of vitamins and nutrition which can make you sick" replied Swain as he placed an iv in Kate's arm.
"Ok thanks Swain just do what you have to do I'll be up on the bridge I need to talk to Navcom" replied Mike just as he was leaving the room.