THE CAPTURED

CHAPTER 13 ✔️

"Ok, ladies, time for a little fun in the sun." Logan was standing on the dock, his bronzed skin set off by his pale blue polo shirt and khaki shorts. His well- worn Docksides and designer sunglasses completed the picture of the affluent and slightly bored director.

The four men were nowhere in sight, presumably sent off on their own mission.

Two cameramen were standing on the dock behind Logan. As one of them looked her over Allixon felt a shiver of distaste, and unconsciously folded her arms over her chest. She couldn't question him in front of Logan

but she wasn't sure how she felt about the idea of catching up with him wher they were both alone.

"I can't wait to see what this involves," Clarice muttered. Logan turned a level gaze toward her.

"Did you have a complaint, Clarice?"

"No."

"Because if you do, you can stay right here on dry land. In fact, we can drop you off on the other side of the Island with the men, with the instruction that you don't return until you find and kill something for dinner tonight."

So that was what the adventure was for the men in their group today, Allixon thought. Given a choice between posing for some wet bikini photos and snaring, killing and then skinning a rabbit or some other animal for dinner, she could happily pretend she was just sunning herself at an all-inclusive Caribbean Resort

"So I'm going to ask you again, Clarice, do you have a problem?"

"I don't have a problem, Logan."

"Then take off your shirt. You're on television for crissake."

Clarice stared back at him, then slowly took off what looked like a silk wrap, revealing a modest tankini. Jolene cracked her gum and winked at Logan, before pulling her oversize t-shirt off over her head. Her breasts were barely contained in a strapless bathing suit top that Allixon figured would never survive the vibrations of any kind of watercraft, much less a vigorous swim.

"That's more like it." He looked at her appraisingly.

“You get to ride the banana tube."

"Oh, cool," said Miranda.

“We're going tubing?"

Logan gestured toward the end of the dock where two waverunners were pulled up on a partially submerged deck.

"Any of you ever drive one of these before?"

They all looked at each other until, finally, Clarice took a step forward.

"I know how."

"Fine." Logan nodded.

“You can show the others." He stepped into the

speedboat with the one of the cameramen - the one who'd leered at Allixon the other remaining on the dock.

"Now give me some footage I can use,

ladies."

…..

"Where did you ever learn to drive one of those things?" Jolene looked at Clarice skeptically, and Allixon agreed Clarice didn't seem like the fun in the sun type.

Clarice shrugged. "Camp counselor in high school. Then I ran the summer aquatics program in college for part of my tuition."

"You go, girl," Jolene said as Clarice straddled one of the waverunners and gestured to Allixon to do the same.

Allixon glanced over at the cameraman

who was still on the dock.

There was no way she could even approach him with the other three women right there, but maybe there'd be some chance today for her to be on shore herself while Logan was still out in the water and distracted. It was starting to look like there were a lot less production

people on the island than she'd hoped. She shifted her attention back to Clarice, who was explaining the basics.

"You turn the key. It's powered through water that's sucked into the machine and propelled out through the back." Clarice pointed out the throttle.

"You don't have to go full out, and remember to try to hit the waves at an angle. Don't turn too sharp or you'll flip it. Climbing back on in open water while it's being tossed around by the waves is no picnic, take it from me.”

"Clip the safety cord to your --- do we have an life jackets? Hey Logan!" she shouted, but her call was lost in the sound of his boat engine.

Jolene snorted.

"Don't even bother." Clarice looked at her.

"What."

"Get real, Clarice. You think he wants us to cover up our t**s with life jackets?"

Clarice looked at the group and bit her lip.

"Please tell me you all know how to swim."

"I grew up in lake country," Miranda said.

"I used to go fishing with my Dad."

She looked out over the water a few seconds, then turned back and grinned.

"So, yeah, I know how to swim."

"I was on the swim team for awhile in high school," Allixon said, remembering. That had been their third move that year, and her dad hadn't had any better luck holding onto that job. When they packed up the next time, Allixon didn't bother trying out at the new school.

"Yeah, sure," Jolene said.

"I was on the swim team in high school, too." She stared back at them as if daring them to question her statement.

"Anyway," she shrugged, "I'm not planning to fall off."

Clarice and Allixon exchanged a look, then eased their waverunners off the floating deck and into the water.

The inflated "banana boat" was already tied

onto the back of Allixon's waverunner, and Jolene climbed on, gripping the handholds tightly, while still flashing a smile at the cameraman on the dock. Allixon accelerated, tightening the towrope and pulling the banana boat away from the dock. Miranda laid belly-down on the round canvas-covered tube,

slipping her hands through the foam grips on each side, arching her back and dangling her legs out over the water.

"Go, matey!" she shouted, and Clarice gunned the engine and took off across the water, with Miranda and tube bouncing behind her, shrieking. Miranda's tube skimmed over the water and Clarice angled outward, the tube grazing the banana boat that was moving along at a more sedate if choppy pace.