Chapter 8 - THE BOAT
The marina smelled like diesel and cold salt.
Police moved without sirens.
Marcus’s boat was gone.
Harbor records showed it left twenty-two minutes earlier.
Destination listed as Catalina.
Quinn did not believe it.
Neither did Ava.
“He won’t go far.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he likes people to think he’s smarter than they are.”
Ethan looked at her.
“That sounds personal.”
“It is.”
Coast Guard units launched.
A helicopter lifted.
Ethan stood on the dock feeling useless.
Then his phone rang.
Marcus.
Quinn signaled everyone quiet.
Ethan answered.
“Put Sophie on.”
Marcus laughed softly.
“Still giving orders.”
“Marcus.”
“Do you know how much money I made you?”
“I don’t care.”
“You will when they freeze your accounts.”
“Put my daughter on.”
A small voice.
“Daddy?”
Ethan’s knees nearly gave.
“Hey, bug.”
“I only have one sock.”
He laughed and cried at the same time.
“I know.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry.”
Marcus took the phone back.
“She’s fine.”
“If you touch her—”
“Stop.”
Marcus sounded tired.
“She was never supposed to be part of this.”
“Then bring her back.”
“I needed Vanessa quiet.”
Ethan froze.
“What?”
“She panicked.”
Marcus continued.
“She thought you knew about Daniel.”
“I do.”
“Now you do.”
“So you took Sophie?”
“To trade.”
“For Vanessa?”
“For the recorder.”
Ava shook her head violently.
Ethan said.
“You can have it.”
Quinn stared at him.
Marcus laughed.
“See?”
“That’s why I always liked you.”
“Where?”
Marcus gave coordinates near an abandoned service pier.
“One hour.”
“Come alone.”
Call ended.
Quinn immediately said.
“You are not going alone.”
“I know.”
That surprised her.
Ethan looked at the ocean.
“I’m done doing exactly what these people expect.”
At the service pier, police staged out of sight.
Ethan walked forward carrying a copy of the recorder.
Wind pulled at his jacket.
A boat engine approached.
Marcus stood at the wheel.
Sophie sat behind him wearing a life jacket three sizes too big.
Ethan saw her.
Everything else disappeared.
Then another figure rose from the cabin.
Vanessa.
May you like
She was holding a gun.
