There was no response.
A few swift kicks, and the hatch flung wide.
The team stormed into the opulent compartment.
Rory stood there with his hands in the air and wide eyes.
"On the deck! Now!” a petty officer shouted.
Rory hesitated for a moment, then complied.
The petty officer advanced and restrained his wrists with flex cuffs.
They yanked him to his feet and read him his rights.
"Where's Tonya?" I asked.
Rory said nothing.
He was too smart to talk to law enforcement. With the evidence we had against him, I didn't think even the best attorneys could get him off. But this had to be done by the book. No doubt they’d try to get the evidence suppressed.
The petty officers escorted him out of the compartment.
I grilled the other suspects. "Where's Tonya?"
Nobody said anything.
"You think that guy gives a shit about you? You're all going down. The only hope any of you have is to flip on your boss. First one to speak wins.”
51
The petty officers secured the crew and searched the entire boat. They looked in every nook and cranny, but didn't find Tonya anywhere.
One by one, I interviewed the scumbags.
They all kept their mouths shut.
All but one. The bunny shooter. "Rory tossed her overboard.”
My brow lifted with surprise. "When?”
"When the helicopter was inbound. He didn't want anything incriminating aboard the boat.”
Daniels groaned and notified Lieutenant Coleman. The Coast Guard began search and rescue operations.
"What condition was she in when she was tossed overboard?" I asked.
The bunny shooter said, "She was gagged and tied up. There's no way she survived. Not with swells like this.”
Paige’s eyes filled. Rage and sorrow twisted her face. The tears spilled over, and she wanted to punch the guy. I held her back.
"They’ll find her," I assured. “They're good at that kind of thing."
"Tonya can't swim," Paige sobbed.
She broke down, her chest heaving and jerking.
My heart went out to her. It wasn’t looking good for her sister.
