Rachel turned to Jake. “Can you drive any faster?”
“If we get stopped by a cop, that will only slow us down,” he answered.
* * *
Olivia had becomean expert at reading Smith’s expressions. He was trying to look reassuring, but he couldn’t hide the malevolence just below the surface.
“We’re going for a boat ride,” he said. “I’ll leave you and the detective off on an uninhabited island. That way, you’ll have a fighting chance.”
Oh sure, she thought. He was trying to make this like one of those survival reality TV shows. But since any comment she made would only make things worse, she kept silent.
His eyes narrowed. “You look like you’re plotting something.”
“No.”
Ignoring her protest, he went on, “That would be a mistake. Don’t spoil anything by trying to get away. I wouldn’t want to have to shoot you. My men are bringing Carson’s boat to my dock. After they let you off, they’ll come back and leave the boat drifting. It will look like there was an emergency on board and you had to abandon ship.”
Travis had moved beside her and stood with his hand protectively on her shoulder. She saw Smith squint, and a spurt of alarm crossed his face. “What’s that?” he demanded.
“What’s what?”
“I thought I saw...” His voice trailed off.
She might have asked what he had seen, but she suspected that would only earn her a hard slap across the face. And when she sensed Travis getting ready to fly at the man, she shouted a warning in her head.No. That will only make him start questioning me about you.
Regret and anger flashed in Travis’s eyes, and she saw him clench his fists.Unfortunately, that’s right.
Hopefully we’ll get a chance to smack his self-satisfied face,she answered, praying it was true. It would be a miracle if they got out of this alive.
Travis’s inner voice was gritty.I wish we were strong enough to kill him now. But we’re not. And if we try, we’ll make him change his plans. He’ll move up his timetable and kill you now.
She winced at the blunt words, but she knew they had to be realistic.
We need to make some plans of our own.
During the silent conversation, Smith had turned away, and she couldn’t see what he was doing. Suddenly, he whirled toward her, and she saw with alarm that he had a hypodermic in his hand. Instinctively she tried to pull away, but the table held her fast. And before she could take two breaths, he jabbed the needle into her arm.
“No,” she cried out in anguish.
“I’m not taking any chances with your being able to do something tricky. I’ll be back for you when we’re ready to leave.
She desperately clawed at consciousness, but she felt it slipping away. In her mind, she could hear Travis cursing.We should have taken a chance. We should have tried to blast him.
That was the last thing she heard.
* * *
The groupfrom Louisiana headed straight for the St. Stephens town dock, and paid a premium to rent a fast boat.
As soon as they cleared the marina, they headed downriver toward the Chesapeake Bay. They had no fixed destination. All they could do was make for the location of the...ghost who was now guiding Rachel toward open water. It felt weird to call him that, but she couldn’t think of another word to describe him.
Because of their speed, the telepaths were able to catch up while the other vessel was still heading out to sea. As the rescue party drew near, they used their combined efforts to make their craft disappear from view so that the thugs had no idea that they were being followed.
At the same time, Rachel’s contact with...the ghost grew stronger.
Call me Travis, he told her.That’s my name. Thank you for showing up. I was afraid there was no way you could get here in time. I assume you’re also part of Dr. Solomon’s experiment.
Yes. What’s happening, exactly?Rachel asked.
