Chapter 18 #2
After using the radio to make contact, Dylan assured them the Morghana Police would come to their aid. She worried he was overconfident.
Even if the police did show up at the marina, what would happen? A shootout? They might be caught in the middle.
That idea should terrify her. Instead, she worried a confrontation at the marina would delay their ability to get to Leland.
Jason led Dylan away from the radio and cuffed him to the bolted chair. Walking back toward Tayla, he looked confused, or surprised—she wasn’t sure which.
“Did you bite him?“ Jason asked.
Oh. “Um. Yeah.”
His eyebrows shot up. He nodded. “Okay.”
“Awesome,” Knox said. He turned to Jason. “See? She’s a fighter.”
Talya pursed her lips. “I’m not sure that’s accurate. But I’m definitely taking a self-defense class when I get home.”
Jason stared at her with a hint of awe. Until his face morphed into a confusing combination of shock and fury. “Wait.” He stepped closer, focusing on the left side of her face. “Did you hit you?”
She gripped his arm. Because he looked like he was going to explode. “I’m fine, Jason. I’m fine.”
“Steady,” Knox said.
Jason’s dark glare settled on Dylan. For the first time that night, Dylan looked nervous.
Knox cleared his throat.
Jason fisted his hands, then relaxed, and refocused his gaze on Tayla’s cheek. “I’m sorry.”
She squeezed his arm. “I’m alright. You’re here. I’m fine. Let’s focus on finding Leland.”
Jason gave a slow nod. He placed a protective hand on the small of her back and they both stepped closer to the helm, focusing on the dark ocean in front of them.
For the next several minutes, they fled their pursuers across the waves in tense silence.
She should be concerned about surviving the next few minutes of her life, but all she could see in her mind’s eye was Leland.
Smiling. Laughing. Yelling at the tv during basketball games.
Repairing her garage door. Driving her to the doctor when she had the flu.
Taking her to her favorite seafood restaurant on her birthday.
She needed him. She needed him alive and well.
Her thoughts derailed when she saw dozens of flashing lights. Dead ahead.
“Is that the Morghana Police?”
“Yes, ma’am, it is,” Dylan said, with an ‘I told you so’ tone.
Jason lifted the binoculars and focused on Enzo’s boats. “They’re peeling off. I don’t believe it. They’re not even going to try anything.”
Tayla watched the two boats retreat into the darkness.
Dylan smiled. “Yes, the small but mighty Morghana Police force is more than Enzo’s boys can handle. And they know it. He should’ve known better than to mess with me.”
Jason looked annoyed.
“Hey,” Dylan said. “I just saved your hide. A little appreciation is warranted.”
An almost-palpable, quiet strength radiated off Jason. A kind of strength that made Tayla feel safe. For herself—not for Dylan.
Jason’s voice, low and firm, melted the smile off Dylan’s face. “You hired the man who killed Gus Branch. We. Are. Not. Done.”
He pivoted to Knox. “Dock the boat as quick as you can. We’re getting out of here as soon as possible.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” Knox said.
Jason turned to Tayla. “Stay close. We’re going to move fast. But be aware, as soon as I find a safe place for you to hide, I need you to hide, okay?”
She wanted to help find Leland and Thirteen. But running around in the dark looking for an assassin was a bit outside her scope of skills. “I understand. I’ll hide if I have to. But maybe we’ll find Leland quickly.”
“I hope so.”
She tucked some stray hairs behind her ears. “I can’t believe we’re right back where we started.”
“What do you mean?”
“Leland in danger. And missing. You and me looking for him. Together.”
“Okay, ladies and gentlemen,” Knox’s voice boomed. “Thank you for choosing The Sea Queen for your hot pursuit needs. Please be ready to disembark. And remember us when choosing boats to commandeer when traveling through hostile waters.”
Jason patted Knox on the back. “Okay, buddy. You did good. When you’re close enough to the dock for me and Tayla to jump, we’re gone. Get the boat docked and catch up as soon as you can.”
“Wait. What about Dylan?”
“Try to get the police to arrest him. They might not, but it’s worth a try.
” Jason kept talking to Knox, but his eyes moved to Dylan.
“We’ll be able to track him wherever he goes, if they release him.
We have plenty of video of him, but get a DNA sample.
And fingerprints. He won’t be able to hide from us for long. ”
Dylan glared, but the bravado was fading.
“Will do,” Knox said, with a mock salute.
“And let’s stay off our radios,” Jason added. “We’re close enough to Morghana City for a cell signal, so use your phone to find me.”
“Roger that.”
Jason opened the window closest to Dylan. “This will work.” He moved to the door. “Tayla, come on, we’re about to go. Stay close.”
Tayla wasn’t sure what the exact plan was, but she felt a peace deep in her soul that she could follow Jason through anything.
“Alright Kitts, we’re close enough for the police to hear you. Yell out that window and tell them to let me and Tayla through. And make sure they don’t give Knox a hard time.”
“You’re awfully demanding Mr. Bridger,” Dylan scoffed.
“Us locating Leland soon benefits you in the long run. Trust me on that one.“ Absolute certainty punctuated every word.
“I offer nothing less than complete cooperation.” Dylan Kitt’s response oozed with sarcasm.
With an undercurrent of fear. He faced the open window and yelled his instructions to the police on the pier.
“Thank you for your assistance. Our pursuers fled at the sight of you. My two friends are leaving the boat. Let them be.”
Jason nodded to Dylan. “Nicely done. I’ll be seeing you soon.”
“Don’t count on it,” Dylan growled.
Jason ignored the retort and led Tayla off the boat and through the small crowd of Morghana police officers.
Their exit, while smoother than she expected, didn’t provide any relief. They were several minutes behind Leland. He could be anywhere. And hurt. Or worse.
“There,” Jason said, pointing to the familiar speedboat. “They did dock here.” He glanced around the marina, situated on the edge of the small airport.
“Jason?”
“Yeah?”
“You’re sure . . . you’re sure they both got here? You don’t think—”
He gripped her shoulders. “We can’t think anything else yet. That boat arrived. And we’re going to find out who was on it. Pray it was Leland, okay?”
She bobbed her head. And refused her tears.
Dear God, please protect Leland. Keep him safe. Please show us—
Two gunshots echoed in the balmy night air.