“Not by air,” Jake said. “We'd have heard. Even if he'd hiked over the ridge, someone would have heard. Plenty of people are walking those trails this time of year.”
“By boat,” Brad said. “No other way.”
“Not Delray. He was a land lover, never touched the water.”
“Anyone can learn, and if he thought everyone believed like you that he hated water, Jake, then it's the perfect cover.”
Everyone silently processed what Brad had suggested.
“You could bring a boat in down where Macy's dad's houseboat was and no one would know,” Annabelle said. “He could have stashed his car somewhere else. Somewhere no one is looking for him. We need to go and look.”
“Wedon't do anything.” Ethan held her arm.
“Macy's my friend, so I'm coming.”
“Newman, you and Buster check the lake edge back into town for anything, and we'll start with where Annabelle suggested,” Jake said.
“Let’s go.” Brad was done doing nothing. He wanted to move, needed to find his girl, and then he’d kill Delray.
They ran out the door, armed with weapons and torches. DJ O'Donnell was to call Cubby with the information they’d come up with and stay with Branna and Rose. Willow had moved Billy to Jake’s parents’ house, where she’d stay until they found Macy.
They ran fast, the only sound the thud of feet in the still night air. Brad and Ethan took the lead, eyes scanning the road and lake as they moved. Jake ran with Annabelle.
“Did you hear that?”
Brad stopped briefly at Ethan's words and he heard the scream.
“Macy!” Brad sprinted down the road with Ethan on his heels, and they both saw the boat.
“It's him. Delray!”
Brad didn't hesitate. Moonlight had shown him the man was bent over Macy, his hands around her neck.
His roar had Brian Delray lifting his head, but Brad didn't stop, he jumped into the boat and grabbed him. His fist connected with the man's nose and he heard a satisfying crack.
“I have you now, Macy.”
“Ethan?”
Brad heard her voice as he swung again, this time making contact with Delray’s jaw. Searching, he found Macy in Ethan's arms. He turned to grab Delray again, but the man had a gun pointed at him.
“She’s mine!”
“No, she's mine.” Brad kept his eyes on Brian Delray. “You tried to break her, but she's too strong. It's you who’s weak.”
“Shut up or I'll shoot you.”
“You can try, but you don't have the guts.” Brad continued to taunt him until he felt the boat rock and knew Ethan had Macy safe.
Delray's face was bloodied, his nose bleeding, and Brad wanted more.
“She’s not fit for scum like you to walk on, Delray. You’ll never touch her again.”
The man roared and dived at Brad. He heard the gun go off, and then they were both falling overboard. The water was deep and sucked him under, but Brad fought against it and swam upward until he broke the surface.
“Brad!”
He heard her desperate scream.
