Julia saw the shift instantly. He went still, listening, and frowned.
“That shouldn’t be possible.”
He crossed the room quickly and disappeared into the hall. She heard a metallic click, followed by the rapid tapping of keys.
When he came into the room this time, his calm veneer had slipped a little. His expression remained composed, but the smoothness was gone.
“We’re leaving.”
Julia’s heart slammed once against her ribs. She kept her voice steady. “Why? Unexpected company?”
He didn’t answer. Didn’t need to. She’d guessed right.
They were closing in.
He crossed to the bed, unlocking the restraint at her ankle before reaching for her wrist.
Gone was the patient predator who had taken his time circling her. Now, urgency broke through and the inescapable passing of time. Somewhere out there, Leland was coming.
Chapter 29
The boathouse wasn’t large. By the time Leland reached the rear hallway, the team had cleared nearly everything else—galley kitchen, storage room, lower deck access. Only one room remained.
The narrow hall stretched ahead, the low light throwing shadows across the floor and onto the door at the far end. Leland moved cautiously but quickly, Dev beside him, and Alec just behind while the others locked down the exits.
Callan’s voice came through his earpiece. “Thermal pickup confirmed. Two heat signatures in the room at the end of the hall.”
“Movement?” Leland asked quietly.
A brief pause came as Callan adjusted the feed from the drone positioned outside the structure.
“They’re stationary.”
That bothered him. But heat meant she was here and still alive. Leland increased his pace, weapon at the ready, as they closed in on the door.
He tried the knob. With barely a touch, it swung inward. Too easy. Alarm bells went off in his head.
Using hand signals, he had the three men stack behind him. They breached, weapons ready to fire. The room was empty except for two inflatable mannequins and space heaters blowing hot air.
“Fucking decoys,” Leland growled.
“Son of a bitch,” Alec snapped.
“No, no, no—” Callan exclaimed at the same time.
Then he heard what sounded like a motor beneath his feet.
“Lower dock,” Dev barked.
“There was no lower dock,” Callan replied.
Julia didn’t have time for them to argue.
Leland scanned the room and yanked open the only other door, revealing a ladder descending to the water below. He was halfway down them as the boat started pulling out of the hidden slip.
Julia sat in the stern, wrists bound to the railing, as Strickland swung the wheel hard toward open water. Her gaze lifted and locked onto Leland.
Relief hit her face so fast and raw, it nearly stopped his heart. Just as quickly, it vanished as the boat lurched forward.
