Chapter 25
25
Remi appreciated that the enclosed and heated pilothouse on the boat Hawk had rented protected her from the cold and rain. Sitting behind Hawk as he steered the boat, she studied him. He was focused on navigating across the rough water in Puget Sound. Now that she knew Cole was his brother, she could more easily see Hawk’s resemblance to the image of the man in her mind reaching for her from the helicopter. She’d never actually seen her attacker’s face. When she’d fought him in the woods, it had been dark and raining, and he was well layered just like when he’d fought Hawk near the cabins.
If Hawk hadn’t run into him again later that night, they still wouldn’t know who was behind this. Except, Cole was probably not actually behind it. He had to be working for someone.
Despite his multiple attacks. Despite the fact that he’d abducted Jo, calling him a “hired assassin” wasn’t adding up. If he was a cold-blooded assassin now, Jo would have been thrown into the furious ocean. Her body wouldn’t have been found for days, weeks, if ever. Instead, Cole had kept her hidden but alive, maybe to release her at a future date after he completed his mission.
But what was his mission exactly? It seemed like he wanted to kill Remi. He’d approached her with that knife, after all. Then again, he’d come after Hawk and Remi in the forest in the dark. If he used all the skills he’d gained in the military, he could take her out in an instant, no trouble at all. If he simply wanted to find out what was in her head, like Dr. Holcomb had insisted, Cole could have taken Remi, abducted her, and tried to torture it out of her. But Cole might know that wouldn’t work.
She shook her head. Something more was going on here. Regardless, she hoped Hawk would find Cole and then Cole would confess his wrongdoings and turn himself in. But nothing was ever that easy. Happy endings weren’t the reality, and she was only fooling herself. As much as Hawk and his brother were similar, they were very different.
“We’re almost there,” he called over his shoulder.
She took in the beautiful greenery and a few small hills that sprung out of the water. “It’s a small island.”
“Yeah. Only a few residents, so no ferries or bridges. Boat access only.”
Hawk circled around to dock at a private pier. He jumped down and secured their boat. She joined him on the dock. They hiked forward, and Hawk glanced around, maintaining situational awareness like the Army-trained pilot deputy he was. After his brother had found them at the safe house that supposedly he wouldn’t be able to find, Hawk’s hyperawareness was appropriate. Remi’s handgun was tucked in the small holster at her side, reassuring her.
“Tell me about this man we’re going to see.”
“What more is there to tell?” he asked.
“Was he there during that mission that went south?”
“Which one?”
“The one you just told me about, with King County, where you were fired.”
“No. Why would he be?”
“For support. You made it sound like you were close.” This was like pulling teeth.
He didn’t respond and continued his pace.
The house came into view behind the trees—a spacious multistory bungalow. Nice.
Hawk hiked up the porch steps. This guy had a great job or he had family money to afford a place like this on an island in Puget Sound. She suspected Hawk’s family had money too. A helicopter, she didn’t care how old. Cha ching. Home in Seattle. Cha ching. Then a condo and a Chevy Blazer in addition to the Ford truck. Cha ching, cha ching. But she hadn’t asked. None of her business.
Hawk rang the doorbell. The guy must have had cameras all over the place like Hawk did, for the same reasons—or possibly even more reasons, depending on his job. If he’d directed Hawk to Cedar Trails Lodge, then he had his finger on the pulse of a covert operation or two. But maybe Remi shouldn’t make so many assumptions.
He shifted to look at the water behind him, then pressed the doorbell again. Nothing. Nada.
“Come on, John. I know you’re inside.” He looked at the doorbell camera when he spoke.
“Unless he has another boat. He might not be home.” Remi kind of mumbled so maybe only Hawk could hear. Or maybe he couldn’t.
But he angled to look at her and arched a brow. Yeah, he’d heard. She shrugged.
He shoved both hands through his hair. “We ran into Cole just like you thought we would. We, as in Remi Grant, in case you were wondering who the woman with me is. We need answers. Come on, man.”
Hawk knocked this time instead of using the doorbell. At his touch, the door opened slightly.
Remi sucked in a breath. The door wasn’t latched shut. Maybe John just hadn’t shut it hard enough. That happened to Remi sometimes. But a former military guy who worked in intelligence and had cameras everywhere—she could see some, and probably a lot she couldn’t see—leaving his door open?
“Tell me we’re not going inside,” she said.
Hawk sent her a look.
Keep quiet.
He wasn’t about to leave without checking on his longtime friend. He readied his handgun and toed the door open, then stepped inside, his back against the wall. She took his lead, drew her weapon, and followed him inside.
God, please let John be all right. Even as she said the prayer, she suspected he was probably not okay and they were walking into danger. She followed Hawk through every gorgeous room in the house—who was this guy’s decorator? His wife? Remi hadn’t heard Hawk mention a wife. Maybe she should have asked.
The last room was down the hall. The door was cracked enough for her to see the bookshelves in deep mahogany. His office? Tension rolled off Hawk as he glanced back at her, cautioning her with one look.
They might find John and it might not be good. He crept forward, leading with his gun, cleared the room quickly, then rushed forward and dropped to one knee.
A man lay on the floor.
Hawk pressed his finger against his carotid, and then the man’s hand flew up and gripped Hawk’s arm. “You made it.”
“What happened?” Hawk asked him.
Remi couldn’t believe her eyes. Her pulse skyrocketed. She gulped for air and pressed forward. “I ... I know you.”
The man held his hand up as if to speak but coughed up blood instead.
“Now isn’t the time, Remi,” Hawk said.
He could die. There might not be another time.
“You ... you asked me questions while I was in the hospital. Then you followed me from the hospital in Germany. I saw you in Nebraska.”
Hawk was right. Surprising him was a good idea. But someone else had beaten them to it.