Chapter 39
Thirty-Nine
“ E mily!”
Max’s phone trilled as the echo of his voice faded, startling him. It wasn’t Margot’s ringtone, but one he used for miscellaneous callers.
Yanking the device from his pocket, he saw a number he didn’t recognize.
“Carson,” he answered.
“Berry’s got Tad and the kid.”
All the air froze in Max’s lungs at Marchand’s words. His knees wobbled, threatening to give out. Dear God. “What? You’re sure?”
“Yes. Gaultier called me. But he never spoke directly to me. I heard him address Berry, then there was a bunch of muffled conversation, but I clearly heard him ask to take Emily back to her mom. I’ve sent Wurst and Beale down to his last known. Phillips is with me. I’m calling you from his phone. The call with Gaultier is still active. I can’t hear much. I think he’s sitting on it.”
Heart thumping, Max’s adrenaline spiked. That was good. They could use that. “Text me the number for Tad’s phone.” He didn’t wait for Marchand to respond, just hung up.
“Ford!” Max’s bellow filled the jungle.
Heavy rustling came from his left. He didn’t wait for his friend to arrive. Instead, he dialed Asher’s number.
In seconds, Asher picked up. “Horn.”
“I need you to track a phone. Berry took Tad and Emily.”
Asher muttered a curse. “Okay. You got a number?”
Max pulled the phone back and checked his texts. “Marchand, you’re amazing, thank you,” he muttered. The man had sent the number without question. Louder, he read off the digits to Asher.
“I’m on it. Give me a couple minutes.” The line went dead.
“Max? What’s going on? Did you see her?” Ford came up beside him.
“No. Marchand called.” Max turned, heading back up the hill. “Berry’s got Tad. And Tad found Emily.”
“Hell.” Ford fell into step beside him. “You call Sam and Dean. I’ll call Ezra and Edie.”
As they ran, they made breathless phone calls, rallying the troops. Everyone was on their way by the time they broke through the trees into the backyard.
Max dashed across the grass to the sliding door to the living room. When he entered, he quickly scanned the space and saw Margot sitting on the couch, her head in her hands. Brooke sat beside her, running her hand over Margot’s back. Lily was on her other side, clinging to her mother.
She looked up, and he knew Marchand had made contact by the bleak look in her eyes.
“We’ve got everyone coming.” He hurried over and sank to his knees in front of her. “Marchand said the phone line is still active. He was on the phone with him when Berry took them. Asher’s already attempting to track the vehicle. There aren’t many roads here. We’ll find him.”
She sniffed and nodded.
Max turned his attention to Lily, who stared up at him with her wide hazel eyes. “You doing okay, pumpkin?”
She nodded slightly, looking down. Her tiny fingers fiddled with the hem of Margot’s shirt. “I miss Sissy.”
“I know you do, honey. She’ll be home soon.”
The front door opened and Sam came through, Audra right behind him. They didn’t even get to say hello before Max’s phone rang again.
It was Asher.
“Go.” Max put the line on speaker.
“They’re at the marina.”
Ford was quickly on his phone. He had an office there, still staffed at this time of day.
“I’ll stay on it,” Asher said. “Call me back if you need something else.”
“Yep.” Max hung up, then looked at Ford. “Well?”
He held up a finger, listening. A moment later, he responded to the person on the other end in Spanish, telling them to keep an eye on things, that they were on the way. He hung up. “They’re boarding a boat. Let’s go.”
“You guys go ahead. Margot and I will take my car.” They needed a car seat for Lily.
Ford nodded, already backing toward the door. “We’ll see you there.”
Max scooped Lily off the couch. “Time to go, honey.”
“To get Sissy?” She wrapped her little arms around his neck, holding on as he headed toward the garage.
“Yep.”
Dashing through the house, Max snagged the keys to his SUV off the wall by the garage, as well as the keys to all of his boats. He might need them.
“Get in,” he told Margot. “I’ll buckle Lily into her seat.”
She ran around the side, climbing into the passenger seat as he deposited the girl into her seat and drew the belts over her shoulders. With her secured, he hopped into the driver’s seat.
The engine roared to life with the push of a button. It was an agonizing few seconds as he waited for the garage door to open. Once it was up, he put the car in gear and pulled out, thankful he always backed in.
Heart pounding in his throat, threatening to choke him, he descended his driveway and turned onto the road. He had to force himself to swallow and to take a deep breath. Losing his shit wasn’t an option. Not with Lily watching their every move.
So, he prayed. Harder than he ever had before. All the way to the marina, he prayed for Emily’s safety as he clutched Margot’s hand.
Finally, after what felt like eons, but was only a few minutes, he turned into the parking lot and brought them to a stop behind Ford’s car.
“Where is everyone?” Margot scanned the area.
Ford and Sam’s cars were empty. Max also spotted Dean’s vehicle. “Not sure. In the office, maybe.” He pulled on his door handle. “Let’s go find out.”
Margot climbed out, rounding the hood to meet him on the other side as he lifted Lily from her car seat. Together, they jogged toward Ford’s office.
A sharp whistle from the water drew their attention. Max looked over to see Ford standing on one of his boats—the new one Brooke bought to replace the one that blew up last year—motioning to them. Brooke popped up from behind a pillar, a rope in her hands. She was on the dock, hurriedly untying lines.
“They took off!” Ford yelled.
Max ran toward the dock. “Not that boat. Mine’s faster.” He ran past Ford to where his speedboat was moored.
“It doesn’t have the cover mine does,” Ford called.
“Then follow me. I want to catch up, not wait for them to stop.” Max came to an abrupt halt, though, considering Ford’s logic. “Here.” He passed Lily to Margot. “You two go with Ford. It’s safer on his boat.”
“Wha—” She took the girl. “Max!”
Feet thudded onto the dock, rattling it, as Sam, Audra, and Marchand jumped off Ford’s boat.
“Go with Ford.” He pointed as he backpedaled toward his vessel.
The three ran past Margot toward Max.
“Let’s go!” Marchand yelled.
Giving Margot one last look, he waited long enough to see her nod, tears in her eyes, before he turned and followed them.
On board his speedboat, he found the right key and shoved it into the ignition. Sam pulled the lines and pushed them away from the dock.
“Ezra’s going up in the bird. Edie and Jordan are too far away to get here before Ford casts off, so they’re going to deal with the local police, along with Marchand’s guys.” Sam hooked a thumb toward the marshal. “Dean’s on board with Ford. So are Brooke and Annabeth.”
“Sounds good.” Max eased the speedboat away from the slip and entered the harbor. He looked at Sam. “Did Ford say which way they went?”
“No. I—I don’t know… if… Let me find out.” Taking a deep breath, Sam raised his phone and dialed. A moment later, Spanish flowed from his mouth. He’d called the office and not Ford.
Max glanced back.
Sam nodded once, then pointed to the northwest. “That way. He said they were moving quickly too.”
Easing the throttle forward, Max went as fast as he dared with the other boats around. If harbor patrol spotted him, they’d light him up for sure.
He didn’t care. They could come along and help.
A minute later, they were away from the other vessels, and he opened up the throttle. “Hold on,” he yelled.
The boat shot forward, and they were quickly cruising in open water.
Several minutes passed. Max glanced back, looking for Ford, but didn’t see him. In the distance, he saw the dark shape of Ezra’s chopper in the sky.
“There!” Marchand pointed ahead and to the right. “What’s that?”
Max spun around, spotting a speeding boat in front of them. “Get the binoculars.” He nodded toward the compartment below the dash, between the front seats.
Audra crouched beside him and rummaged inside, coming out with the specs. Sam held her steady while she aimed them at the white boat in the distance.
“It’s them.” She lowered the binoculars. “Tad’s sitting on the bridge holding Em. Berry’s driving.”
“Did you see anyone else?” Sam asked.
“No.”
Max glanced back, looking for Ford again. There were several boats behind them now, but he couldn’t tell which one—if any—was Ford. He picked up the radio mic. “Ford, we’ve spotted them.” He read the heading off his instruments.
“Copy. On your tail,” came Ford’s reply.
Satisfied they had backup on the way, Max focused on driving. The speedboat rapidly closed the gap with Berry’s vessel, and soon, they were within a hundred yards.
He throttled back. “We need a plan. Are any of you armed?” He was betting they all were. He was and had been since the morning after they returned to Costa Rica.
Marchand lifted a hand. Sam and Audra shared a look, then they nodded.
A muffled crack sounded over the roar of the speedboat’s engine. Water sprayed up just ahead as the round Berry shot hit the water.
They’d been noticed.
“If you get us closer, I can take a shot.” Marchand moved forward to stand beside Max. “We’re too far back, going too fast. I don’t want to hit Gaultier or the girl.”
Max ran the risks in his head. Yes, they were faster, but Berry had a better vantage point. The closer they got, the harder it would be to see him up on the bridge. They were also sitting ducks in this boat. It offered some cover if they crouched down, but not enough. He would need to do some fancy maneuvering.
“Everybody get down and hang on.” Max hunched, hoping he was low enough, then opened the throttles up some again.
Swiftly, they closed the gap. More shots rang out, and he began weaving behind Berry’s vessel.
“Pull up alongside him.” Marchand duck-walked to the edge of the dash to Max’s left.
Cutting hard to the right, Max throttled up further, bringing them along the boat’s port side.
Gunshots pinged off the hull.
Marchand let out a yelp and fell back.
“He’s been shot!” Sam crawled forward, pulling the marshal out of the open.
“How bad?” Max glanced back.
“I’ll live.” Marchand sat up. “But he hit my shooting arm.”
Audra moved up to get the med kit from the same cabinet where she found the binoculars.
Anger roiled in Max’s gut. They needed to get on board.
But not from this side.
He pulled back on the throttle and swung behind the boat, then sped up to come up along the other side.
“What are you doing?” Sam asked.
“Come up here.”
A curious frown sat on Sam’s face, but he didn’t argue.
Max shifted to the side. “Take the wheel.”
“What? Why? What are you planning?” He grabbed the wheel as Max let go.
“Get me as close to that boat as you can.” Staying low, he walked around the dash.
“Max! You’re insane. You’ll never make it on board.”
Maybe, but he wasn’t going to let Berry get away with his little girl. “I’ve got a chance from this side. Get me closer.”
Sam let out a frustrated growl but swung the boat toward Berry’s.
The strip of water between the vessels disappeared. Max waited until they were practically touching before he stepped around the dash and climbed onto the starboard bow. Water sprayed him in the face, dampening his shirt. “Hold it steady!”
A bullet splintered the hull just feet away.
Max jumped.
Tucking himself into a ball, he hit the deck of Berry’s boat and rolled. Coming up to his feet, he took two running steps toward the cabin and tucked himself against the wall, out of sight.
Above, he heard Emily scream, closely followed by a shout from Tad. A moment later, there was a heavy thud.
He needed a line of sight. But climbing the ladder to the bridge was out of the question. Berry would put a bullet through his skull before his shoulders cleared the floor.
Staying low, he hurried around the side of the boat, ignoring the railing and plastering himself to the windows. He’d come at him from the front. The angle would make it difficult for Berry to see him.
“He’s got Em!” Sam yelled. “Tad’s down!”
That made Max pause. Berry couldn’t hold the girl, a gun, and steer.
He changed direction, deciding to chance the ladder. “Push him toward the right!” he yelled to Sam, swinging an arm and pointing. They needed to keep one of Berry’s hands on the wheel.
Sam swung the speedboat away, then back at the other vessel at a sharp angle. Max grabbed the railing as the boat lurched to the right. A moment later, it swung left at the speedboat.
He climbed the ladder, hurtling himself into the pilothouse and drawing the handgun tucked into the holster at his back. In one quick glance, he took in the scene. Berry stood at the wheel, Em tucked under his arm, the gun on the dash within reach. Tad was on his forearms and knees, head hanging. Blood dripped from his temple near his hairline onto the floor. He was awake, but appeared dazed.
Max leveled his weapon on Berry. “Stop the boat!”
“Daddy Max!” Emily squirmed in the man’s hold.
Berry let go of the wheel and picked up the pistol on the dash, holding it to Emily’s side.
“Back off! I’ll shoot her!”
Max took one hand off his gun, holding it up. “You don’t want to do that. You shoot her, and you’re dead. Simple as that.” He took a step closer. “Give me the girl.”
“Stay back!”
The whites of Berry’s eyes shone bright in the sunlight.
Max planted his feet. He wanted to rush him, but the man was on the brink. He had nothing to lose.
Tad lifted his head. Fury had turned his hazel eyes to a flinty steel.
Oh yeah. Max’s inner voice fist-pumped. Tad wasn’t as hurt as he appeared. He was playing possum.
He met Tad’s gaze, letting him know he knew.
“Let me go!” Emily pushed against Berry’s hold.
“Em, it’s okay. Just hold still,” Max reassured her. He didn’t want her to get shot accidentally because she moved the wrong way.
But, in typical Em fashion, she ignored him. Like some sort of contortionist, she turned her upper body, wrapping her hands in the collar of Berry’s shirt. Using it as leverage, she raised herself high and leaned in. Her little teeth clamped down on his ear.
Berry let out a howl. The gun moved away from Em’s side, and Max pounced.
He took two running steps and was on the man, grabbing his gun hand and keeping it aimed at the floor. A shot went off, going through the deck.
Tad pushed to his feet. Hands appeared in Max’s field of vision, plucking Emily from Berry’s grasp.
With the girl out of the way, and not wanting to risk another shot going wild, Max palmed his pistol and aimed an open-handed punch at Berry’s face, striking him in the nose.
“Ugh!” Berry’s head whipped back and bright red blood spurted from his nostrils.
Max yanked on the man’s shooting arm, twisting it and putting pressure on the nerve that would make him drop the weapon. His hand opened, and the gun fell to the floor with a clatter. Pushing forward, he shoved Berry into the dash, pulling his arm up until his fingers were between his shoulder blades.
“Ow! Fuck, let go!”
“No. Don’t move.” Max leaned in, holding him there. He glanced at Tad. “Are you all right? Is Em?”
Tad sat against the far wall of the pilothouse, clutching Emily to his chest. He was bloodied, but alert, and she appeared to be fine.
“We’re okay.” A lopsided smile formed on his face. “Fred, you picked the wrong twin to mess with.”
Max chuckled. That was the truth. He motioned Tad over with a quick tip of his head. “Come slow us down.”
Tad got up, still holding Emily.
As he neared and reached for the throttle, Em tipped herself in his arms so she could look into Berry’s face. “You is a bad man.”
Berry groaned and closed his eyes.
Max laughed. “I’m gonna make sure it gets around your prison group that you got taken down by a two-year-old.”
The man groaned again.
As the boat slowed, Max took a deep breath. Relief made his hands shake.
It was over.