“Has everyone got a good view?” Russ moved to the living room. Along the way, he pushed the remote to open the blinds. Open the windows. “I especially want Drake and Agent Granger to have prime seats. In fact, Elizabeth, come over here. I’d hate for any of you to miss this after all my planning.”
She strained to stay out of her father’s reach yet keep all of him in her sight.
“Come here, Elizabeth. Stand next to me,” Russ said, reaching in his pocket and pulling out what looked like a credit card sized two-button palmtop computer.
What was that? Whatever it was couldn’t be good. But the scariest part was that her father seemed to be enjoying his control of the situation. She glanced at Drake and then the other wounded man slouched against the opposite wall. Neither of them appeared to have a clue as to what was happening, either.
Russ glared at her. “I said come here. Now!”
She moved closer. Now that the windows were open to the deck, she hoped someone outside would see what was happening inside the house.
“Showtime in…” Russ pushed a button on the two-button computer then flashed it around for everyone to see a digital number counting down from twenty seconds. A maniacal expression took over his face as he pointed outside.
She stared into the distance. Looked back at the countdown. There was nothing outside except…the beach…the Gulf…the waves…the boat—
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Bomb! Bomb. Don’t do it, Russ!” Mitch yelled. “My guys are still on board!”
Liz gasped, fisting her fingers in front of her.
“Fifteen,” her father said calmly.
Mitch took a step forward, but the long-necked thug grabbed his arm and shoved the barrel of a gun tight against his throat, and Slugger shot a punch to his jaw. No matter how much he struggled, all he could do was stare out the window, mentally counting down the seconds.
“Ten.”
Liz bolted to the deck. Shouting. Screeching. Waving her arms over her head. She stood at the rail jumping up and down. Just as fast, Slugger ran out and grabbed her, slamming her back inside.
Mitch kept his eyes on the boat. Five—four—
She’d tried. Had it been enough? Had Reese or Josh or Stealth seen her?
Three—two— Had there even been time to jump?
One—
Out in the Gulf, a huge, rolling, yellow-red fire blast rocked the horizon a second before the roar of three subsequent explosions pounded his ears. Mitch roared back in anger. What had been the boat moments ago plumed into a raging fire.
Liz screamed as she crumpled to her knees, beating the floor with her fists. “No. No. Nooooo!”
Mitch never blinked. With help from the CIA and Water Patrol, his team had searched the entire boat. Disabled bombs. Ripped duds apart. What had they missed?
Now Reese, Josh, and Stealth were gone, and he hadn’t been able to stop it. Drake still focused on the roaring blaze and the after-explosions. The perimeter man kept looking around the room, likely pinpointing anything that could be used as a weapon if he got a chance.
“I will wipe you off the face of the earth.” Mitch spat in Russ’s direction. “You’ve got my word on that.”
Russ laughed. “Will you now?”
“You won’t be able to take a leak without wondering if I’m going to walk up and blow you away. And, trust me, I won’t make it fast.” Mitch’s words were staggered and staccato just like his breath.
“I don’t think so. I think you’ll do whatever I say because your alternative is Elizabeth’s life.”
She gasped as Slugger hauled her back into the kitchen. Grabbing a coffee cup from the counter, she smashed it against the thug’s head. He backhanded her in return. Mitch grabbed the empty drawer still laying on the floor and flung it toward the man. Slugger sidestepped then moved her in front of him as a shield.
Russ aimed his gun straight at Mitch. “Hold your hands out in front of you, Agent Granger. Now!”
Mitch stared back in defiance.
