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“Should we say we were kidnapped by a cartel?” Suki suggested. “We managed to escape and convinced Brenda to help us get back home?”
Sarina thought for a moment. “If we admit we were kidnapped, that will trigger a call to the police. Probably the FBI.”
“FBI agents raided our house,” Suki said. “Dad didn’t trust them.”
“So we don’t want them to get involved yet,” Sarina said. “But we also want them to release Brenda. Let’s go with the broken ship. We were stranded when the engine failed and just drifted.”
“That makes sense,” Brenda said. “I found you, but your boat was bigger than mine, so I couldn’t tow it.”
“Good enough. They’ll probably let you go.”
“We’re so good at lying,” Suki drawled. “But isn’t there a magic we can use to zap us to Florida?”
Sarina shook her head. “It only works in places where Ix Chel has prominence, and then only at night when the moon is strong.”
“Bummer,” Suki said, scratching her neck. She tried to think of other ways to avoid a confrontation with the boat. “What if we went invisible again?”
“That’s not going to trick their radar. And it’d draw even more attention if a boat on their radar turned invisible. Good thinking, though. Once we get to the port, we can use the magic to try and escape.”
“I was hoping to get you all the way to safety,” Brenda said, discomfort in her tone. “I know your family has done so much for Huellas de Pan. Jorge is grateful. We all are.”
“He helped us when we needed it,” Sarina said. She sighed. “So have you. Let’s see what happens.”
In about twenty minutes, the coast guard ship reached them, and someone on a loudspeaker ordered them to stop their boat and kill the engine. The order came in English and Spanish. Brenda complied, and soon they were bobbing up and down in the waves caused by the massive cutter.
“Let me talk to them,” Sarina said. “This isn’t your fault.”
“I know. Good luck,” Brenda said under her breath.
Suki’s nerves were taut again. But she was grateful her mom was there and that she wasn’t alone trying to figure out the adult world. Jane Louise reached for Suki’s hand and squeezed it.
The cutter came closer. There were uniformed sailors talking to each other at the bow. Sarina waved her arm at them. “We’re American!” she shouted up to them.
“Ma’am, sit tight while we send a vessel to your boat,” said the voice from the loudspeaker.
Soon, an inflatable with a motor came from around the other side of the cutter. The two men on board had on life jackets. As they approached the boat, Suki noticed they were armed. That made her nervous.
“Ma’am,” said one of the sailors, “you say you’re American. Your vessel is registered in Mexico.”
“I know,” Sarina said. “We were stranded. She found us and agreed to bring us back. We’re so glad you came!”
One of the sailors turned to the other before glancing back at her. “Do you have any ID with you?”
“No, it’s still back at our hotel. But thank you for finding us. We were really scared. The power was dead. We couldn’t call for help. We were gone for a long time.”
“There were no reports of a vessel lost in the gulf,” the sailor said.
“There wasn’t any way we could report it. It was a private boat.”
“Are those two girls your children?”
“Yes. The little one is adopted. Can we call my husband? He must be worried sick.”
The two sailors looked at each other. Suki’s stomach clenched harder. One of them got on the radio. He said a few words, then the radio chirped back.
“Get them on board.”
The bigger boat made for a much smoother ride. The family was kept in a private room with blankets and plenty of food and things to drink. It was cramped, but at least they could sit down and warm up. Suki could tell that the officer they’d spoken to wasn’t buying their story. But the fact that all three of them were fluent in English added to their credibility. They’d allowed Brenda to leave.
