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“Babe?”

“Hey.”

“Did you see the weather?”

“Yes. We are packing up what we can. Dr. Winnfield is leaving now. She’s taking the research vessel up to Maryland.”

“You aren’t going?”

“I thought I’d evacuate with you.”

“I have to leave now. Shit is going down at work. Do what you need to do but please leave before noon tomorrow. Come straight to my condo. I’ll text you the address.”

“I will. I promise.”

He hesitated as if he wanted to say more. In the end he said, “I’ll miss holding you tonight, love.”

“I’ll miss it, too.”

I hurried home. Steve had ordered some supplies to be delivered from the hardware store. My muscles screamed as I placed heavy sandbags around the foundation. I boarded up the first-floor windows. Moved all the food on metal shelves. Steve had texted he was in contact with shelters inland and was trying to arrange transport for the animals we had.

I was bone tired when I finally crawled into bed. Morning came bleak and gray. The ocean was angry, frothy swells already crashing against rocks. Boats that were still here, bobbed wildly. Steve had bad news. The shelters were all full. Ours wasn’t the only one who needed help.

My throat was thick with tears. I looked into anxious eyes as I made my morning rounds fed them breakfast, gave them all extra. How could I choose which ones to save? I might be able to pack three in my Jeep.

I crossed the street to Pop’s Mako. Secured everything onboard. But I knew she’d only make it with luck and a prayer.

I knew I’d need both.

Twenty-Nine

“Dammit, Ryan pick up!” Her phone went straight to voicemail. “Are you sure she left?”

Bunny nodded. “She swore it. All she had left to do was secure lines on the boat and pack up.”

“They’re shutting down bridges.”

“What about your house? Did you sandbag it?”

“I hired a landscaper to sandbag it. Hunter was still at the shore. He moved what he could to the second floor and attic space.”

Bunny and I turned back to the live news feed I was playing on my desktop. “Folks we’re back at the Outer Banks where a CAT 4 Hurricane is expected to make landfall sometime after six tonight. The governor has ordered a mandatory evacuation. There are still several storm paths it could take… from this model the eye will pass right over Kills Devil Hills.”

Kills Devil Hills was only twelve miles north of Nags Head. My heart tripled speed. Where was she?

“I’m leaving. It’s only noon. I could get there and back. What if her Jeep broke down?”

“The roads are closed Chase…” Bunny’s face was white. She wanted me to go.

“So? I’ll ram the barricades. I’ll take Hunter’s truck. I know how to get into his penthouse.”

I dialed Hunter. “It’s all good, bro. I moved everything. I even wrapped the base of your house in 16 mil plastic. You’re welcome.”

“I can’t get ahold of Ryan. Her phone’s dead.”

“I’m already approaching city limits.”

“I need your RAM.”