“What is it?”
“I can’t find my family.”
She glanced at Dewi and Nenek and then towards the ocean.Though every instinct told her to run, she couldn’t leave this child alone.She waved them away and turned her attention to the boy.“Where were you when the earthquake struck?”
He pointed, and she ran to the neighbouring building with him.
Hopefully they could find them in time.
Chapter 3
By the time Dobby and his team reached the village, another aftershock had hit and people were streaming up the road towards the mountain.He crouched low behind a tree and frowned.Why was everyone leaving?There would be damage all over the island, and potential landslides the higher they went.
His eyes widened as comprehension hit him and then he swore ripely under his breath.
“What is it?”Hawk asked.
“Radar, get on the comms and find out if we should expect a tsunami.”Depending on where the epicentre of the quake was, they may have hours or minutes.
Radar took a knee to set up the long-range equipment while Dobby scanned the people leaving the village.
From his intel, Vance’s ex had a place nearby, but she was likely part of the exodus heading into the hills.
“They’re estimating an hour,” Radar said.
Could they get in, rescue Vance and get back to the zod before the tsunami hit?Maybe.
“Do we need to move the zod?”Joker asked.
Should he split his team?They were already down a team member and they might have to separate to search for Vance if he wasn’t in the house on the cliff.“It’s tied in place.”Finding Vance and getting him to safety was the priority.They’d work out how to get off the island afterwards.
The road out of town was empty, and he gestured for the team to move across and into the jungle at the edge of the settlement.
His gut clenched.Was he making the right decision?Normally they would have planned for all contingencies, but there hadn’t been time.
He focused on the mission.The village had very few people left in it.Few people to notice them sneak in.
But the way this mission was going, someone loyal to the kidnapper would spot them and know exactly who they were.
“Axle and Radar, procure transport,” Dobby said.They would need to move fast when they got Vance in order to avoid the tsunami.“Joker, stay here and monitor those leaving town.Maybe you’ll get lucky and spot Vance and his kidnappers fleeing, or the ex-fiancée.”He scanned the area.“Get the drone up and find out how bad the damage in town is and what roads we can use.Hawk, you and I will search for the woman.”
His men nodded and got to work.With Hawk by his side, Dobby slipped from the jungle to the nearest building and worked his way into town.
Chaos.So many buildings had collapsed and people were frantically searching for loved ones.A child, no more than three or four, stood by the remains of a house crying with dirt streaked across her face.
Hawk tapped him on the shoulder and pointed towards the square where a petite white woman was frantically shifting debris from a house while a young boy stood next to her.The woman wore pyjama shorts, a pale tank top and sneakers, with her dark hair tied back in a ponytail.She should be leaving, not lifting things which were too heavy for her.
He picked up the child, unable to just leave her there, and her arms wrapped around his neck.His heart clenched as he moved closer to the ex, and she turned to say something to the boy.Dobby saw her face and his breath caught.
The photo hadn’t done her any justice.Fierce beauty.
Determination in her eyes.Stunning.
Mila Watkins.English teacher, the Major-General’s daughter, and Vance’s ex.
He nodded to Hawk and together they approached, keeping to the shadows of the buildings.
“Fajar, it’s too heavy,” she said.“We need more help.”
