“That sounds like a boat.” Mina turned toward the sound. “And it’s close.” She looked at me with a frown. “Can people come ashore here? Is there much beach?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never walked along the shore this far south.” The engine noise grew louder.
“Do you think someone needs help? I mean, we’re not that far from Dupont Beach. Wouldn’t they try to come ashore there if they were just looking for a place to set in?”
“You’d think, yeah. Let’s go check it out.”
As we stepped off the trail, Mina picked up Pebbles. I let Betty, who was bigger, trip along until we encountered a series of fallen branches. At that point, it was just easier to pick her up and tuck her under my arm.
In the few minutes it took us to trek through the woods to the shore, the boat engine cut out. Nearing the tree line, I caught a glimpse of the sky and water through the pine boughs. From my left, movement caught my eye.
“There.” I pointed.
We changed direction, heading for the boat we could see bobbing on the water.
“Just stop! I told you selling the building was a terrible idea. But would you listen to me? No!”
Mina and I froze, not just at the angry female voice, but at her words.
“Building?” Mina mouthed, eyes wide.
Tipping my head, I motioned her to follow me.
I watched my footing as I crept closer. There was no way to avoid all the dry brush on the forest floor, but I could hopefully not step on some of the bigger twigs and branches that would make a louder snap.
“Get out of the damn boat, Walter, or so help me, I’ll let Sarah shoot you when we see her.”
“Why are you even helping her? You never did say. You just pointed that damn thing at me and told me to get on the boat. Now you’re telling me to get off. She’s got nothing good planned for either of us, I can tell you that.”
“I’m only involved in this because of you. I tried to do one good thing, and it’s come back to bite me in the ass. Well, I learned my lesson. I’m handing you over and heading for Hawaii. Let the crazy bitch find me there.”
“Crazy bitch, huh? Can you believe that?”
All the blood froze in my veins at the sound of a second female voice, but it didn’t stop my feet from turning.
Ten feet away, an older woman with graying blonde hair caught up in a ponytail held a Remington hunting rifle aimed squarely at Mina’s chest.
CHAPTER 34
Mina
Inever expected to see the end of a gun pointed at me ever again after Claire and I took down Grace Alonso back in March.
But there was no denying the fathomless black hole in the end of the rifle barrel aimed straight at me. I just wished I knew who held the rifle. Though from her comment when she came up behind us, I had a sneaking suspicion.
“Sarah?”
The woman smiled, the sight scary, because there was no mirth in her eyes. Only cold calculation and a simmering rage.
“That’s me, yes.” She used the rifle to gesture toward the shore. “Let’s go greet our friends, shall we?”
I shared a quick look with Luke. His expression warned me to do what she said. He needn’t worry. I had no plans to do anything that would get either of us shot.
Turning around, I headed toward the sound of Miranda and Walter still bickering.
A minute later, we broke through the tree line, and the bickering abruptly stopped. Surprise flickered in their eyes, but not just because Luke and I were there, I noticed. They botheyed Sarah warily. Something told me they were meant to meet elsewhere.
Miranda was the first to break the silence. “Where did you find them?”
