Page 23

CHAPTER 23

R aven waited by the SUV as Jake held the phone to his ear, trying to reach someone on Lantern Beach. Sheriff Williams also lingered nearby, answering questions and waiting to talk to them.

None of Jake’s calls were going through, however.

After several minutes, Jake sighed and jammed his phone back into his pocket, clearly unhappy.

Raven stepped toward him. “You’ve tried calling everyone? I don’t like this.”

“I don’t either.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Something’s going on. The fact I can’t get in touch with anyone says a lot.”

“I agree. What are we going to do?”

“We’ve got to get back. Now.” As soon as he said the words, Jake withdrew his keys from his pocket.

Sheriff Williams stepped toward them. He’d clearly heard the last part of their conversation at least. “What about the bomb and chain of custody? I can’t release it to you yet.”

“We’ll get back with you on that,” Jake said. “Right now, we need to go.”

He nodded. “I understand. Keep me apprised of the situation, if you don’t mind. Whatever’s going on, I don’t know if our little town is connected to it or not. But I want to make sure I can keep the people here safe.”

“Absolutely. We’ll be in touch.” Then Jake nodded toward Raven.

A moment later, they climbed into the SUV and took off down the road.

Raven’s thoughts continued to race. “Do you think it’s a signal jammer? Is there one that could cover the whole island?”

“That would be unlikely. At most, a really powerful one could cover a one-mile radius—enough to knock out Blackout headquarters.” He twisted his neck. “Actually, all the phone calls I’ve made have been localized to one area.”

“Even Cassidy?”

He shrugged. “There’s a good chance she’s at Blackout.”

Her breath caught. “So maybe everyone who’s close to the Blackout headquarters could be impacted?”

“That’s what I’m thinking. If Cassidy’s there, that would explain why we can’t reach her either.”

Raven’s thoughts continued to race. “Do you have the number of anyone else on the island?”

“Yes, actually, I do.” He used a voice command on his Bluetooth to call Jack Wilson.

“Who’s Jack Wilson?” Raven asked.

“He’s the pastor at the church I attend. It’s not far from Blackout Headquarters.”

Raven tried not to show her surprise—or her delight that Jake attended church now. But she was glad to know he’d moved forward in his faith.

Pastor Wilson answered a moment later. “Jake . . . wasn’t expecting to hear from you. You going to challenge me to another game of pickleball?”

“Not today,” Jake said. “Unfortunately, I’m calling about something more serious.”

The pastor’s voice sobered. “What’s going on?”

“I can’t get in touch with anyone at Blackout. You heard about anything going on?”

“Everything is fine as far as I know,” Pastor Wilson said. “Why?”

Jake explained the situation.

“I’ll see what I can find out,” he said. “But you’re right, something doesn’t sound right, does it?”

Apprehension thrummed inside Raven.

Whatever was going on here, she didn’t like it.

Jake rushed back toward Lantern Beach, wishing he didn’t have to deal with the ferry system again. It would only make this trip take longer.

But that was where he and Raven now were.

On the ferry. Riding back to Lantern Beach.

He’d insisted to Raven that they stay in the SUV this time—just in case anyone was watching or planning something.

They were safer in there than they’d be out in the open.

But just sitting in the car was driving him crazy and showing his impatience. Raven had busied herself looking at something on her computer and jotting down notes—brainstorms, she’d said.

He gave her space.

But that left him with his own thoughts.

Traveling to and from the island was never something that should be rushed. It should be enjoyed. That was what Atlas had told him once. Some kind of poetic side emerged from the man on occasion.

Jake was sure all the women loved it. If the situation wasn’t so serious right now, he might roll his eyes.

Instead, he continued trying to reach his teammates.

No one had picked up.

The bad feeling in his gut only grew stronger.

He’d even tried to reach Cassidy again, but she still hadn’t answered. He’d tried the police station, and the person who’d answered told him she was on a call.

He hated feeling helpless.

It brought back too many bad memories. Memories of his time in the service—one mission in particular.

He stared out the window as his mind traveled back in time.

His team had gone in to diffuse a possible bomb in a compound where they believed a terrorist leader was hiding out. Jake had been the leader, so he’d remained on the periphery while his guys had gone in.

They’d all communicated via their comms.

But halfway through the mission, they lost all contact.

Jake had feared the worst.

After several minutes, he’d decided to go in himself.

He had to know if his guys were okay.

He reached them just in time to see one of them cross a tripwire.

The building had gone up in flames.

He’d lost three of his best guys that day. Two others had been seriously injured.

And Jake had never seen it coming.

It should have been him.

Shortly after that he’d been reassigned and directed to rescue the ambassador’s daughter.

Raven.

She’d been abducted by a group of terrorists with a fetish for bombs.

But Jake had been hired. He’d tracked her down. Rescued her.

Protected her as her abductors had been captured and arrested.

His time with her had changed him.

Until everything had been turned upside down.

He ran a hand over his face.

Would Raven ever understand why he did what he’d done?

He frowned.

He wasn’t sure.

Few things in life scared him—but Raven not understanding his reason for not being in touch caused enough fear that he kept the truth to himself.