The main building was a smoking ruin. The boat house remained intact. Hale's body lay covered with a tarp in the gravel.
The ambulance doors closed. Sirens wailed. They pulled away with Price's cruiser leading the convoy.
Gabe had found his brother and stopped Hale.
But the real enemy was still out there.
43
The hospital corridorsmelled like antiseptic and hope.
Gabe stood outside David's room. Wade leaned against the opposite wall, both of them dripping salt water onto linoleum.
A female doctor emerged. Young. Competent looking. "Agent Sawyer? Your brother's stable. Mild hypothermia. Dehydration. Bruising. Nothing serious. He'll make a full recovery."
The words hit Gabe like a benediction.
"Can I see him?"
"He's asking for you." The doctor consulted her tablet. "Miss Sweet is responding well too. She had better cold tolerance. She'll probably be released first. Both of them should be able to go home tonight."
She disappeared down the hallway, passing Tyler Price on his way toward them. Two State Police uniforms trailed him. Jacket torn, dust on his shoulders and blood spatter on one sleeve, Price looked like he’d slid down a hill face-first.
Wade’s thick eyebrows rose. “This can’t be good.”
Gabe eyed Price’s serious-looking escort. “Copy that.”
"David’s good?" Price asked.
"Stable. Both of them."
"Great." Price gestured to the waiting area. "We need to talk."
Gabe and Wade followed him to chairs near the window. The State Police officers took up guard positions nearby.
That told Gabe everything about the threat level.
Gabe and Wade followed him to chairs near the window. The State Police officers took up guard positions nearby.
That told Gabe everything about the threat level.
Price pulled out his phone and showed them crime scene photos. "We found the shooter's position. Perfect sight line. Northeast quadrant, elevated. No casings. No brass. But we got these."
He swiped through images. The sniper's nest. Disturbed pine needles. Boot impressions in soft earth. Measurements marked with evidence flags.
Wade studied the photos, his expression growing darker with each image.
"What?" Gabe asked.
"This wasn't set up this morning." Wade zoomed in on one photo. "See the compressed vegetation here? And here? Multiple days of observation. They've been watching the station for at least seventy-two hours. Maybe longer."
Price leaned forward. "You can tell that from photos?"
"The needle compression patterns. The way the branches are bent and dried in specific positions." Wade's finger traced the screen. "This is a hide that was occupied repeatedly. They had time to range the distance, calculate wind drift, establish primary and secondary firing positions."
Gabe's blood ran cold. "They’ve been planning to eliminate someone."
“Hale is my guess,” Price said. “He and his sidekick, Brewer, were clearly part of the crew detaining David.”
