“I don’t know,” he said. “Looks like you’ve got everything under control.”
“It was a losing gamble from the start. Where am I going to go? How am I getting off this rig? But now you’re here. Can I hitch a ride?”
“That’s the plan.”
“You got her?” Diggins’s voice sounded over his ear mic.
Oh yeah. I got her.“Yes.”
He released her, rushing forward, leading with the submachine gun so he could look the part as they bounded up the steps. The exit door was at the end of the hall. Hecouldn’t get out of here fast enough. Finally, he peeked out the porthole onto the deck, then opened the door and stepped into the cool, windy night, turning to look at his surroundings.
He motioned for her to follow him to the bow.
He stopped to peer out onto the water through his night vision binoculars.
“Look out!” she shouted.
He instinctively ducked but didn’t evade the punch to his gut. At least it hadn’t been a bullet. He turned to face the traitor. Though he’d known, the shock of it still rolled through him. “DeputyTrent Riker. Why?”
Trent aimed a handgun point-blank at Braden. He stood too close. Not a wise move. The vessel rolled with the approaching storm and the clouds unleashed a torrent. One dim light illuminated Trent’s face. Braden stood between Trent and Cressida.
“Cressida, get out of here.” Diggins, Hawk, or Cole should be closing in to help her escape.
“Don’t act like you’re a detective,” Trent spat. “I know you’re here for one reason. To find the location of theVanguard. Now both of you, lower your guns slowly and kick them over into the ocean.”
Braden and Cressida did as Trent requested, losing their weapons in the swell. Behind Trent, Braden could see spotlights out on the ocean in the distance. The Coast Guard was finally arriving, unless Trent also had reinforcements that he’d called in for assistance.
“You’re weak, Trent.” Braden shoved Trent’s weapon up as shots went off and quickly disarmed him, but Trent slammed Braden’s arm against the railing, causing him to release the gun, which slid across the deck and out of reach.
“You’re not a hero, Detective Sanders. You are just a pawn.” Trent lunged, aiming a punch at Braden’s face.
He dodged and threw his fist into Trent’s ribs. Trent hesitated for a few seconds but locked arms with Braden, trying to throw him overboard into the ocean, but that wasn’t happening.
He slammed his forearm into Trent’s throat and broke free, but Trent thrust his knee up into Braden’s gut. He tumbled against the railing, flailing as sea spray soaked him from the growing swells. In his peripheral vision, he could see that Cressida hadn’t run to escape but stayed behind to watch.
The momentary distraction had cost him. Trent came at him with a knife. Braden thrust it to the side, but it landed in Braden’s arm, sending fire through him. When Trent kicked him, he toppled to the ground.
His stance wide, Trent stood over Braden.
“It’s over, Trent!” Cressida pointed Trent’s own handgun at him. “Toss the knife in the ocean and back away from him. Now!”
Trent did as he was told but remained too near for comfort.
Gritting his teeth, ignoring the pain, Braden slowly got to his feet.
“This location—theVanguard—was never my goal,” Braden said.
“You’re not getting out of here alive,” Trent said.
“I don’t care about what you’re doing here. Take what you want, just let Cressida get to safety.”
He said the words knowing that law enforcement was closing in on this operation. Trent and his crew had nowhere to go, and the vessel could be inoperable, depending on what damage Cressida had inflicted in the engine room.
Cressida might be holding a gun on Trent, but his men outnumbered the team Braden had cobbled together, and he didn’t want Cressida to get hurt.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Detective Sanders. You’re here attacking this vessel without the proper authority, and now you’re going to blow it up. You’re a rogue agent—a former federal agent who’s out of control. I’m a county deputy who came here to rescue Cressida, who sadly died.”
Did Trent seriously think he could get away with that story? He lifted a detonator and grinned at Braden.
