Page 6

CHAPTER 6

J ake coughed to clear his lungs before standing and blinking away the sand in his eyes. His ears rang from the blast.

Thankfully, the only shrapnel the grenade had sent flying was sand.

He glanced at where the grenade had landed fifteen feet away from him.

A crater with an eight-foot radius and five-foot depth had formed in the sand from the detonation.

His throat tightened. If he’d been any closer . . . he might not be alive right now.

He blinked more gritty sand out of his eyes and peered beyond the crater. The man was gone.

That guy had come prepared. He’d planned the perfect getaway if things went south.

Jake’s gut tightened at the realization.

Had that man been the one to plant the second bomb?

Jake needed to find out who he was. Even if Jake wasn’t on this case officially, he’d make it his goal to find answers. The man had almost killed him, after all.

“Are you okay?” Cassidy paused in front of him, narrowing her eyes as she studied him.

Meanwhile, Officer Leggott skirted the detonation site, going after the man.

In Jake’s gut, he knew the officer wouldn’t catch the perpetrator. There was too much distance between them.

“Yeah.” Jake frowned, not liking the fact that guy had gotten the upper hand. “I’m fine.”

But his voice made it clear he wasn’t fine. Well, physically he was—other than the ringing in his ears.

Now he was just angry the man had gotten away.

“What happened?” Cassidy stood with her hands on her hips and her body tense as she stared at him.

He could only assume she’d already radioed for backup.

Jake glanced at the people gathered around, his gaze lingering on Raven. If he wasn’t mistaken, concern filled her eyes.

Don’t think too much of it, Laudner. Raven is simply compassionate.

“I saw a guy watching us from the dunes, and I knew he was up to something,” he explained, determined to keep on point. “When I went to confront him, he ran. I assume you saw the rest of it.”

“Did you recognize the man?” Cassidy squinted against the late afternoon sun as she turned toward Jake.

“Never seen him before,” Jake said. “And I didn’t get a good look at him. He was too far away, but if I had to guess, he was in his early thirties, just under six feet tall, with light brown hair and an athletic build.”

Cassidy nodded slowly. “I called my other officers, and they’re going to keep their eyes open for him. I wish I could say I think they will find him, but I don’t. The guy knew what he was doing.”

Jake agreed. That fact made him even more uncomfortable.

Who exactly was behind today’s events?

Someone was playing a deadly game, and he didn’t like it.

Because the next time this guy struck, there might be more collateral damage in the form of more human lives.

Raven was glad Jake was okay. But she didn’t like this situation.

Right now, all she wanted was to get back to the site of the detonation so she could examine everything. But she knew the wreckage still needed to cool off after the last explosion.

She thought her trip to Lantern Beach would be quick—one night at the most.

Now she wasn’t so sure. She wouldn’t leave until she found some answers.

Leggott returned from his chase, winded as he shook his head.

He hadn’t caught the guy. No one had really thought he would.

The five of them began to walk back toward the house.

Raven only wished Jake wasn’t here to complicate things.

Why was he here? Sure, he was an explosives expert. But why, of all people, had he been called in? Certainly, there were other explosive experts who were closer and just as experienced.

She had more questions, but she probably wouldn’t ask any of them. The more distance she could keep between her and Jake, the better.

She trudged through the sand, listening to the conversations around her. Cassidy was talking to Fire Chief Holland about getting some equipment out here to fill in that hole before someone fell in. Jake, Leggott, and Raven followed close behind.

As they all headed back toward the blast site, an out-of-place sound caught Raven’s ear.

She paused. Heard it again.

It sounded like . . . a phone ringing.

But it wasn’t her cell, nor did it sound as if it came from anyone in the group in front of her either.

“You guys,” Raven called. “Do you hear that? Is that one of your phones?”

Everyone paused, listened, and then shook their heads.

Jake’s hands went to his hips as his eyes narrowed. “My ears are still ringing, but I hear it too.”

As if on autopilot, Jake walked toward the sound.

Raven hurried to catch up with him, curious about the noise since no one else was on the beach except them.

She paused as they neared the dunes.

“This is where that guy was hiding when I saw him.” Jake pointed to the sea oats on the sand dune.

Raven’s heart beat harder as theories tried to materialize in her mind. But she didn’t want to latch onto any of them. Not yet. Not until she had more information.

Jake walked between the brush then leaned down. Pulling a glove from his pocket, he used it to pick up an object in the sand.

A cell phone.

Her throat went dry. Had that guy accidentally dropped his phone when he’d fled? Could they be that lucky? Maybe the device would give them the evidence they needed to track him down.

She watched as Jake hit the screen.

Words appeared as if a text message had been left open.

But when Jake grunted, Raven realized it wasn’t good news—like a break in the case might be.

“Well?” Cassidy asked.

Jake turned the screen toward them.

Raven’s blood went cold as she read the message.

You’re too late.