Page 45 of Devlin (Lighthouse Security Investigations Montana #4)

The roar of the helicopter’s twin rotors thundered through the air as they lifted off the ground, sending a storm of dust spiraling into the sky.

Devlin tightened his grip on the steel framework beside the open door, watching the landscape blur beneath them as Cole pushed the aircraft to its limits.

The old Army model had seen better days, but it was solid and hopefully reliable.

Cole had assured him he could fly it, but seeing the helicopter in action eased a knot of tension in Devlin’s gut.

They needed speed. They needed power. And if it came down to it, they needed the ability to shoot from the air.

The side doors had been locked open for just that reason, giving Todd and Moses the necessary range if they had to fire.

The wind whipped through the cabin, and the sheer force of their acceleration pressed Devlin back against the seat. At this speed, they had a chance to get to Mia before it was too late.

Devlin adjusted the headset over his ears, the built-in radio crackling to life. Sadie’s voice came through, sharp and controlled despite the tension in the situation.

“Mia is traveling on a road just entering Queen Elizabeth National Park. Casper is coordinating the satellite view. She’s with a semi. The same one from the warehouse.”

Devlin’s grip tightened around the rifle strapped to his chest. He exchanged a look with Moses, who sat beside him, his own weapon secured and ready.

“The security officers checked—there’s no record of a broken-down truck anywhere in the area,” Moses said.

A slow, simmering fury curled in Devlin’s gut.

He focused on the landscape blurring beneath them, the vast stretches of greenery and winding dirt roads.

If she was still moving, there was a good chance she was still alive.

He closed his eyes for a moment and pulled her image into the front of his mind.

Slowly nodding, he knew she was alive… he felt it deep within.

Logan’s voice cut in over the radio. “I’m in contact with the Ugandan police. They’re giving Moses and LSI clearance to engage. Do what you need to do to stop the smugglers.”

Devlin let out a slow breath. That meant no red tape. No bureaucratic interference. Just action.

Moses nodded, his expression grim. “This… situation. Enock. How did I not see it?”

“He didn’t want you to see it. People are good at hiding when they’re desperate.”

Moses grimaced, but then another transmission came through. Moses listened intently before turning to Devlin. “Charlie is still missing. And there’s no sign of Enock. They must be with her.”

“They found the Jeep that Enock and Mia took,” Todd added, his voice clipped. “Charlie’s bike was abandoned nearby.”

Devlin swore under his breath. He hadn’t trusted Charlie from the start, but the situation spiraled faster than anticipated.

Moses added to the voices as his officers reported to him: “A cell phone was found on the ground.”

Devlin’s gut dipped but before he could process what all that meant for Mia, Sadie’s voice returned. “I found something on Charlie. A British bank account. Charlie opened it last year when he was on leave in England. It’s not linked to his paycheck. There’s over twenty grand sitting in it.”

“Twenty thousand?” Devlin’s fingers curled around the radio. “That’s not normal savings. That’s payoff money.” Fury burned hot in his chest.

Silence filled the cabin for a moment, each in planning mode or lost in their own thoughts.

Devlin inhaled deeply, forcing himself to stay focused.

He didn’t give a fuck any longer about Enock or Charlie.

He just wanted Mia. He turned to Todd. “If we don’t get to her before they reach the water, we have to be ready for a water rescue. ”

Moses turned to him and spoke up. “That’s risky. The lakes and rivers here aren’t safe. The water is full of hippos, crocs, bacteria, and parasites. You go in, you’re taking your life in your hands.”

“Then we get to her before it comes to that,” Devlin’s unrelenting voice growled.

“Good plan,” Cole muttered from the cockpit. “I’d rather not fish you out of hippo-infested water.”

The helicopter surged forward, the wind whipping past the open door as they closed the distance. His pulse was drumming as his mind became a whirlwind of calculated tactics and worst-case scenarios.

Then Sadie’s voice cut through again. “You’re getting closer.”

Devlin exhaled, gripping his weapon tighter. They were coming for her. And nothing—no man, no beast, no damn river or fucking hippo was going to stop them.

The rhythmic thump of the helicopter blades reverberated through Devlin’s chest as he gripped the strap above his head, his eyes locked on the dense jungle below on one side and the tan grassland of the savanna on the other.

Sweat trickled down his temple, but he ignored it, his focus sharp as he listened to Sadie’s voice crackle through the headset.

“Truck’s stopped—near the water, but not at it,” she reported, her tone controlled but laced with urgency. “Mia’s tracer is moving. She’s leaving the area.”

Devlin’s gut clenched. “Taken?”

“No way to know. But she’s heading along the jungle edge, running parallel to the water, not toward the lake.”

A slow exhale left his lips. That could mean she’d gotten the jump on her captors and was fleeing.

“The truck is moving again,” Sadie radioed. “She’s not with it. You’re almost where it had stopped. Where the road splits.”

“Cole, fly over the road,” he ordered, scanning the terrain as the chopper banked sharply.

Below, they spied two bodies sprawled on the dirt, one in a uniform like Enock’s. The other man was dark-skinned, and there was no sign of Charlie or Mia.

“Must be the driver,” Moses surmised, his gaze on the bodies below.

“Coming around again,” Cole called as he adjusted their position.

The second pass revealed Charlie’s body farther away, crumpled on the ground. Blood pooled beneath him. No movement. But no Mia either.

Moses leaned forward, his voice steady but tight. “We go. Now.”

Cole didn’t argue. He dipped the helicopter lower, skimming the tree line as the truck came into view. It was parked haphazardly near the shore of the lake, its back doors flung open. Through the windshield, Devlin caught a glimpse of men moving, unloading crates of food onto a waiting boat.

Moses grabbed the radio. “Ugandan police, confirm position.”

A voice answered in Luganda. Moses nodded, then turned to Devlin. “They’re on their way.”

“We don’t wait.” Devlin’s jaw flexed. “Todd, we take out the boat.”

Cole didn’t hesitate as the bird swung around.

The chopper’s side door was already open, so Todd crouched beside a mounted weapon and took aim.

A controlled burst of gunfire shattered the relative stillness.

The boat rocked violently as bullets punched holes through its hull. Water began rushing in.

The men on shore scattered, some diving for cover, others shouting in confusion. A few fired wild shots toward the sky, but they had no chance of hitting their airborne threat.

“Sadie?” Devlin pressed.

“She’s still moving—southwest. You won’t see her for the trees, but she’s there.”

“Cole, get us as close as you can. We go in on foot.”

The helicopter descended, the turbulence kicking up dust and loose foliage as Cole found the best clearing possible. It wasn’t perfect, with trees and thick undergrowth forcing them to land just short of the ideal spot, but it would have to do.

As soon as the skids touched down, Devlin and Moses were out, weapons up, scanning the jungle’s edge. The heat wrapped around them immediately, thick and smothering, but Devlin barely noticed. His blood pounded with adrenaline, his senses fine-tuned.

Todd stayed behind, gripping his rifle as he crouched near the open door. As soon as they were clear, Cole would lift off and circle to provide aerial support. If Mia emerged anywhere visible, Todd would see her. If predators came near, he could take them out from the air.

Moses touched Devlin’s arm, nodding toward the jungle. “This way.”

They moved swiftly, slipping into the shadows of the trees.

The thick foliage swallowed them instantly, dampening the roar of the helicopter as it lifted back into the air.

Now, all that remained was the rustle of leaves, the distant calls of birds, and the pounding of their own footsteps as they searched for Mia.

Devlin clenched his jaw, forcing himself to stay focused. She was close. She had to be. And no matter what it took, he was getting her out of there alive.