Page 22

CHAPTER 22

R aven could hardly breathe as she waited to see what would happen.

Everyone around her seemed to hold their breath too.

Jake took something from inside the ordnance. Examined it.

Examined it more.

Then he lowered whatever had been in his hands.

The next moment, he pulled off his helmet and called, “It’s safe!”

Raven slumped with relief.

But if it was safe, then what had Jake pulled from the ordnance? Curiosity pounded inside her.

“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day.” Sheriff Williams wiped his brow using a cloth from his pocket.

When he lifted the police line, Raven slipped under it without invitation. But no one tried to stop her.

She hurried toward Jake. When she reached him, she expected to see relief on his features. Instead, his eyes were narrow with concern and his lips pressed in a thin line.

He held a phone toward her and the sheriff, showing them the message.

The blood drained from Raven’s face as she read the words.

Boom. The countdown is on.

She began to rub her neck as tension pulled taut. “Someone is taunting us. Wanting to let us know they have the upper hand.”

Jake’s jaw tightened. “Whatever’s going on here, this is just the beginning. I won’t be surprised if more of these things pop up along the coast.”

Raven couldn’t argue with his assessment.

“So, we can clear the scene?” Sheriff Williams glanced back and forth from Jake to Raven then back to Jake. “Let people back onto the beach?”

Jake nodded. “You can. But I’d like to take this device with us so we can study it.”

“I’ll need to make a few phone calls concerning chain of custody. But I’ll see if I can make that happen for you.”

“That would be great,” Raven said. “I’d like to study this bomb and compare it against the samples of the one that exploded in Lantern Beach. Maybe if I can track down the paint manufacturer, we can figure out who’s creating these. Once we know that, then we can figure out the why.”

“I’m all in favor of that plan,” Sheriff Williams said.

So was Raven. Because she didn’t like where she thought this was going.

And the sooner they could stop the person behind this, the better.

Once they’d confirmed the bomb wasn’t active, a flurry of activity erupted.

The first thing Jake did was to get out of his PPE, better known as a bomb suit.

He gave his official statement to law enforcement, and Raven promised to keep Sheriff Williams in the loop on her findings.

He and Raven could now officially head back to Lantern Beach.

It had been a long day. The sun was beginning to sink in the sky, casting hues of pink.

But when he glanced over at Raven as they stood outside the SUV, he noticed she still looked concerned. Her brow was furrowed and her lips slightly downturned.

When they had a moment alone, he turned toward her. “What’s on your mind?”

“I don’t know.” She rubbed her arms and frowned. “I don’t want to overreact.”

“You can tell me whatever you’re thinking. I won’t think you’re overreacting.”

Raven’s cheeks flushed, and she looked away. When she turned back toward Jake, the concern in her eyes appeared even deeper.

“Why would someone do this?” she asked. “That’s what I can’t stop thinking about.”

“Because they’re playing some kind of game.”

She shook her head, her gaze tempestuous. “I think there’s more to it than that.”

Jake crossed his arms and leaned against the back of the SUV as he waited for her to continue. “Go on.”

“I feel like someone knew you and I would end up down here examining this bomb, just like we ended up on Lantern Beach looking at the one there.”

“Okay . . .”

“But this one wasn’t a bomb at all. If someone really wanted to do damage here, they missed their opportunity.”

He squinted as he considered her words. “So, you’re saying this isn’t about the bomb itself, but rather it’s about you? Or me?”

“I’m not sure about that exactly,” she murmured, rubbing her arms. “Could be about both of us.”

“So what exactly are you thinking?” Jake rubbed a hand over his face.

She turned to him, her eyes wrinkled at the edges. “I feel like someone did this as a distraction.”

His breath caught. “You mean they’re planning something else, and they wanted to get the two of us away from whatever it is?”

She nodded grimly. “Exactly. I think someone wanted to draw us away from Lantern Beach for a specific reason.”

Jake’s pulse beat harder, and he grabbed his phone. “I think you’re right. I need to call Ty and warn him.”

He prayed that they weren’t too late.