Chapter 18
The violent rumble subsided, and an unsettling silence filled the room. Knox met Allie's startled gaze. "Are you okay?"
He rushed to the balcony door and threw it open. Leaning over the railing, he scanned the property—and the scene made his gut clench. He ran back into the room and looked at Jason. "Smoke. Near the fitness center, and in the distance, near the ferry."
"The ferry? Are you sure?" Jason asked as he darted through the balcony door.
Allie looked at Rowan. "You okay?"
"Yeah, but what happened?"
Jason raced back into the room. "Knox is right. There's heavy smoke near the ferry."
Knox lifted his phone. "Henrik gave me his cell number. I'm going to ask him what he can see. His shop is less than a hundred yards from the ferry bridge."
"Good idea," Jason said.
Allie looked sick. "I hope no one is hurt."
"Knox and I are going to check on the damage near the fitness center," Jason said. He pointed at her. "But you stay here. Keep looking. Even if the bomber threw the timeline out the window, he's probably still here." He turned to Rowan. "You too. Text us any updates."
Allie's eyes narrowed. "But if one of the bombs was placed near the ferry, how do we know he's here at The Mandeville?"
Knox leveled his gaze at her, hoping she sensed the certainty surging through him. "I can't explain it, but when we were talking to Kendall, I was positive Kendall believed the bomber was at The Mandeville. I know that's not a guarantee, but my gut says he's here."
Confidence sparked in her eyes. "That's good enough for me."
He squeezed her shoulder. "He might stay in a safe part of the building, or he might walk out, but he won't go far. You've got this."
Her "Yeah" sounded a little shaky, but more resolve hardened on her face than he expected.
His phone buzzed. He checked the text. And hot tension balled in his stomach. "Henrik says an explosion destroyed the bridge to the ferry."
Knox noted the professional expression on Allie's face, but tension hummed behind her words. "If no one can access the ferry, then no one can leave the island. Everyone is trapped. And there's no obvious place to run to because we don't know where the next explosion will be."
He grabbed her hand and squeezed. "One thing at a time. We work the problem, right?"
"Hey," Jason interrupted. "We need to go. Now."
Knox glanced back to Allie. She lifted her chin. "Yeah, work the problem." She nodded toward the door as Jason stepped into the hallway. "You guys be careful."
There wasn't time for more. He forced himself to jog out of the room and catch up with Jason in the hallway.
"Hey," Jason said as Knox matched his quick strides. Confused and frantic guests poured out of their rooms, asking each other what had happened.
Knox kept his steps measured and his voice low to avoid panicking anyone further. "What?"
"Any ideas?"
Knox grunted. "No. He's going off-script. Or made a mistake. Or there's another player. I don't want to guess right now."
They took the stairs to the first floor and sprinted across the lobby, heading for the billowing smoke coming from the fitness center.
Dozens of tourists ran in the opposite direction—some crying, some screaming, some with ash on their faces.
Another figure rushing in the opposite direction caught their attention—Kendall. And he was headed for Drakos's office.
Jason grabbed Knox's arm. "The hotel staff are calling for ambulances. Help is on the way. Let's follow Kendall."
Knox agreed. They navigated through the growing swarm of terrified tourists as fast as they could. When they reached Drakos's office, they found Kendall and Drakos standing practically nose to nose.
"Just sign it," said Kendall, his face red, neck veins bulging, "before things get more out of hand!"
"No," said Drakos. "You stop this crazy man. Just make him stop."
Kendall looked like he wanted to punch Drakos.
"What happened?" Jason demanded.
Kendall turned to him. "Two of the bombs detonated early."
As if that wasn't obvious.
"Why? How?" Knox asked.
"I don't know! When I heard it, I called him—the bomber," said Kendall.
"He's here at the Mandeville, but no, I don't know where.
He said two of the bombs detonated early.
" Kendall was right in Drakos's face when he turned back to him.
"I don't have control over this man. This is getting dangerous.
I don't trust him not to accidentally get me killed.
You're the one with the power here, Drakos.
Just sign the papers, then I call my boss, and all of this is over.
" A detectable amount of desperation laced his words.
Drakos set his jaw but turned wide-eyed to Jason and Knox.
Jason narrowed his eyes at Kendall. "Let me talk to your boss."
"What?"
"You said you can call your boss. Call him. Let me talk to him."
Kendall smirked. "You're trying to buy time." He nodded. "It's not a bad idea, but I don't think it will work."
"Let me worry about that," Jason said. "Call him."
Knox's phone vibrated. "Wait. Allie's texting. She found him. She's positive." He looked at Jason.
Jason nodded. "We'll go check it out." He gave Knox a pointed look, as his hand moved closer to his weapon. "But Kendall stays here," he said.
Knox understood. At the same moment, Knox and Jason withdrew their weapons and aimed them at Kendall.
"What is this?" asked Kendall.
Jason fished a pair of handcuffs out of his back pocket and tossed them to Kendall. "Put these on," Jason ordered.
"Are you insane?" Kendall yelled.
Jason kept his tone low and measured. "You lost control of your man. So, we're changing the rules."
Kendall looked like he wanted to argue, but the focus of both men's weapons kept his argument to a few muttered curses.
Knox watched Jason glance around the room. "What's wrong?"
"I want to cuff him to something, but I don't see—"
"Hang on," Knox said. "I have an idea." He waved his gun at Kendall. "This way."
Knox and Jason marched Kendall out of the office and to the right, into a stairwell.
"This will work," Knox said. He cuffed Kendall to the metal railing on the stairs.
Knox checked his phone again. "Oh no," he said.
"What's wrong?" asked Jason.
"We need to get to the bungalows on the east side. Allie's on her way over there."
"What? You should have told her to stay in Room 336."
"I did. That's what I texted her when we were standing in the office. She said he was moving, and she needed to get there. We need to go."
Worry tightened his chest and quickened his sprint out of the main building and across the east parking area, Jason on his heels. When they neared the bungalows, they slowed to a jog, searching for Allie.
The explosions had hijacked the serene vibe of the beach resort. People ran, cars honked, and ambulance sirens wailed. The weather even seemed to take its cue from the chaos, throwing blustering wind gusts into the fray.
They found Allie peering toward the bungalows from behind a cluster of palm trees. "Hey," Knox said with a wave, trying to snag her attention through the wind and sirens as they approached. "Where is he?"
He tried to hide how relieved he was to see her. In one piece.