She kept her eyes on the rocks and the cave and ran as hard as she could.
Ahead, she could see a flashing light.
That had to be Gianna, waiting for her at the cave.
She kept running toward the light.
Then they noticed her.
"Miss Craige, Miss Craige, stop!"
Her heart hammered. She'd seen enough police shows and knew at any time they could start shooting at her and take her down. She started darting back and forth to try and make her a harder target.
And then she heard the dogs barking.
Hell.
She was asking for it now.
Probably seventy-five yards from the entrance to the cave, Tina didn't know if she should keep running or stop. Those dogs would be a helluva lot faster than she could be, but she was getting there. If she stopped, they'd arrest her. Or detain her. And who knows if she would make it back to the cave within the time limit.
She couldn't risk it.
She wasn't about to give up on this!
So close.
She pushed on.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
The dogs were barking, and the officers were calling out the names. The officers were right behind the dogs, she could hear them closing in on her.
Damn, she needed to work on her cardio when she got back.
Gianna was just inside the cave. "Come on, come on!" The water splashed around her, and she had a backpack sealed in plastic or something on her shoulders.
The tide was coming in, and the cave entrance had filled up to about waste high.
In the water she went and charged forward. The water feeling like it held her down. The tide pulled at her, dragging her into the cave. She slammed into the walls.
"We have to move," Gianna said, and held out her hand. "We don't have time."
"I know," Tina said and grabbed her hand.
Tina struggled through, and it only got worse when the dogs leaped into the water.
And it only got worse.
"Did you have to bring the whole police department?" Gianna asked.
"I guess my grandparents did."
"We are so close!"
Tina cried out as the water got deeper and deeper.
"Miss Craige, you need to come out," the police called. "You're going to drown! The water is coming in too fast!"
