Page 33

CHAPTER 33

R aven’s heart throbbed in her ears as they pulled to a stop in front of a small beach house that looked similar to the one where she was staying. This one wasn’t located on the ocean, but four houses back instead, right off the main highway cutting through the center of the island.

A maroon-colored sedan was parked in the driveway, indicating someone was there.

The place looked unassuming, not like the type of place that housed a terrorist.

If Thomas was a terrorist.

It was still unclear what his connection to all this might be—if he even had a connection. But that Facebook post did make it sound as if he knew something. The fact he’d posted it so long after the accident happened made it sound as if he’d wanted someone to find him and ask questions.

Or this could be a setup.

They climbed from the SUV, and Jake turned toward her. “Stay behind me.”

“You won’t get any arguments from me.”

She wasn’t even sarcastic as she said the words. She wasn’t a soldier or the soldier type, and she knew that. Being in the line of fire wasn’t her forte.

They climbed the steps to the front door of the stilted house. Just like Raven’s place, a deck ran along the perimeter of this place with stairways on each side.

Jake headed to the front door and knocked.

No one answered.

He knocked again.

Again, there was no answer, and Raven sensed Jake’s growing agitation as his movements became faster, jerkier.

“Maybe you should announce yourself,” Raven suggested.

“It might scare him away.” He moved from the door and peered through the closest window, squinting as he did.

“Anything?” Raven asked.

“This guy’s definitely home, he just doesn’t want to answer.”

“Let me see.” Raven started to look.

Then a noise came from the other side of the house.

A door slamming.

She and Jake looked at each other, and Raven blurted, “He’s running.”

Jake sprinted down the stairs, taking the steps by twos. He had to catch this guy.

Just as he reached the driveway, he spotted the man, who was already halfway to the street.

“Stop!” Jake yelled. “We just want to talk.”

The man didn’t slow down. Of course.

Thomas Logan clearly didn’t want to be caught.

Jake pushed himself harder, but this guy was fast—he was running as if his life depended on it.

As the man reached the highway, he paused and glanced behind him, probably to see how close Jake was.

Jake knew what was going to happen a split second before it did.

He watched it all as if in slow motion.

Thomas stepping into the road.

A car coming.

Brakes squealing.

Thomas trying to dive out of the way.

But it was too late.

He was already directly in front of the car.

The vehicle smashed into him, and he flew into the air before landing on the road with a sickening thud.