The Alias Men by F. T. Bradley Page B

spotted me. She froze. “Linc?”
    â€œNo, it’s Ben. I was looking for Kurt too,” I said, quickly stuffing the boarding pass in my back pocket. I pushed the box back with my knee. “Thought he might be back here taking a nap or something.”
    Kate studied me, like she was making up her mind.
    â€œKurt’s not here.” I walked toward her, hoping I could scram already. This trailer was feeling very hot and stuffy all of a sudden.
    â€œI came to get him for the set, but we must’ve passed each other,” Kate said. “What did you need him for anyway?”
    â€œUm, Linc had a wardrobe issue, but no biggie.” I was grateful for the cold air.
    â€œLet’s go to the set,” Kate said. “Tons of touch-up to do with these water scenes.”
    â€œSure, yeah.” What I really wanted to do was call Agent Stark about this new lead, but it would just have to wait.
    â€œSo how do you like the work so far?” Kate asked as we walked between two trailers.
    â€œYou mean acting?”
    She laughed. “What else would there be?”
    You have no idea, lady. “It’s okay. I only wish I could be as good as Linc.” I couldn’t help myself, what can I say.
    â€œHmmm, yes, he’s quite the character. I imagine you bring your own talents to the table, though,” she added.
    â€œNot really.” We were getting closer to the beach and the set. One camera was set up on the sand, and one on a boat, a little ways out in the water. I did a double take.
    The boat was sinking.
    I could see Savannah, on the sinking boat. She was soaked, and the camera dude looked totally lost.
    Where was Ben?
    Off in the distance, I spotted him. Or his head anyway. He was bobbing in the water; then he tried to swim to the shore, but was making no headway.
    â€œSomebody call the coast guard!” Floyd hollered. He looked like he was losing it.
    Larry was busy dialing on his phone, and so were a few other people.
    â€œWhere are the lifeguards?” Floyd asked no one in particular.
    Larry answered, “You sent them away, remember?”
    Floyd looked confused.
    â€œThat boat is the only one we have,” Kate said next to me. She covered her mouth, looking really worried.
    Ben was trying to swim to shore again, but just kept drifting farther back.
    â€œHe’s caught in the current,” I said to Kate. “Don’t they have a backup boat, or a helicopter or something?”
    Kate shook her head. “The budget is blown as it is. We’re cutting corners where we can,” she said, her voice drifting. “Is Linc a good swimmer?”
    Ben was; I knew that from his file. “He’s from California, isn’t he?” I said, like that was an answer.
    Then I felt a wave of panic when I saw Ben’s head bobbing up and down. He was being pushed farther into the Pacific.
    â€œBut it doesn’t matter if he’s a super swimmer or not,” I said. “If he doesn’t know not to fight the current, he’ll die from fatigue soon.”
    I felt my heart freeze inside my chest. Sure, I hated the guy, but not that much.
    And no one was helping him.
    I didn’t hesitate any longer. I kicked off my shoes as I ran on the sand. Pulled my skateboard off my backpack and threw it aside.
    And I dove into the water to save Ben.

20
    FRIDAY, 1:51 P.M.
    ON THE UPSIDE, THE UNDERCURRENT was doing a great job of pushing me toward Ben. I passed Savannah and the camera guy, who was trying to save his equipment as the boat sank.
    Savannah reached to stop me. “Don’t! You’ll drown out there!”
    â€œI’ll be fine.” I tried to look confident and heroic as I swam away, but my breaststroke was pretty rusty. I was still a few hundred yards away from Ben, and I already felt the cold water stiffening my muscles. Thankfully, I had Henry’s bubbly backpack to keep me afloat.
    â€œCome back!” someone called