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on the tiller. The explosion was small enough that neither of them was hurt, but they were both stunned.
    Flames then erupted and shot out from a gaping hole in the front of the boat, and the prow began to dip deeper and deeper into the water. Thick smoke billowed up from wherever water doused the flames.
    The boat was sinking fast.

Chapter 7
    The next few moments seemed to take place in slow motion, but Joe knew that he had never acted faster in his life. His ears hummed with the aftershock of the explosive noise, but that was the least of his worries right then, because he now found himself several feet under water and caught in a harsh undertow.
    Kicking and thrashing, he struggled to kick up and break the surface.
    His body ached all over, but he told himself he had to fight harder. His life - and perhaps Heather's life as well - depended on it.
    His lungs were burning now, and flashes of pain cut across his chest. He had to reach the surface - and soon.
    Calm yourself, Joe, he told himself. Stay cool. Heather may need you.
    He fought the panic that was building in him and forced himself to make slow, steady strokes. With not a moment to spare he burst to the surface and gulped in welcome mouthfuls of air.
    Joe bobbed there for just a moment, trying to get his bearings. He quickly checked himself out and came to the conclusion that he was unharmed. His body ached from the impact of the blast, but he was okay.
    "Heather," he said to himself. He had to find Heather.
    "Heather!"
    "Joe." Her voice was distant and faint.
    Joe spun around in the water, but the light was fading quickly and he could see almost nothing. Here and there bits of debris floated past him.
    "Joe," she called again. "Help me."
    There. He saw her. She was clinging to a section of the hull that floated some fifty feet away.
    "Hang on!" cried Joe as he swam to her.
    She was crying and barely conscious when he reached her, but she didn't seem to be seriously hurt.
    Without speaking, Joe reached his right arm across her chest and under her arm and slowly swam back to land.
    Frank was on the beach, and he helped Joe the last few feet onto shore.
    "I heard the explosion and came running. Are you all right?" asked Frank.
    "Think so," Joe said between breaths.
    "Let's get you both back to the hotel," said Frank, "and then you and I can start to piece some of this together."
    ***
    Joe had just finished changing into dry clothes when there was a knock at his door.
    "It's open," he said, and Frank stepped in.
    "How's Heather?" asked Joe.
    "She'll be okay. And you?"
    "I'm all right. Did she have any idea what happened?"
    "She said she didn't remember anything, but she's pretty beat up. We'll talk to her in the morning."
    "She's here?"
    Frank nodded. "Gary and Janet gave her a room for the night." Frank paused before saying what was on his mind. "You like her, don't you?"
    Joe nodded.
    "We're only here for a short time," Frank pointed out.
    "Meaning?"
    "Meaning, I don't want to see you get hurt."
    Joe said, "Thanks for the advice, big brother. I won't."
    "But - "
    "No buts. Now let's get to work. We have a case to solve."
    Frank studied his brother for a moment and then said, "Right. So tell me, what happened out there?"
    Joe recounted the boat ride and then said, "This is getting serious, Frank. We've got to do something."
    "I agree. I think," said Frank, "we have to return to basics - who and why. If we find out why, we'll know who. And if we know who, the why should follow. I think it's safe to assume that Gary and Janet are not responsible. I mean, they're not trying to drive themselves away from their own hotel."
    "Agreed."
    "Well, then," said Frank, "let's start by questioning Logan and Gaines to see if they saw or heard anything at the boathouse today."
    As they walked down the hall to Logan's room, Joe suddenly remembered something.
    "I can't believe I forgot this, but you know, Frank, right before Heather and I went out on her boat, I caught Paul Wilkerson