Page 65 of Fatal Thrill

“Um,okay.”

He must have seen the question in her eyes. “He doesn’t live there anymore. It’s a big area and the locals aren’tfriendly.”

“Why not?” Percyasked.

“It’s a large survivalist compound. The original owner of the land accrued nearly 400 acres up and down the river back in the 1980s. He bequeathed it to his son who, in turn, parceled it out for big dollars to his fellow survivalist friends. They’re anti-government, anti-taxes, anti-everything.”

“Sounds like you better take Colton with you,” Shelbysaid.

Jon gave a nod. “Planto.”

“So you want us to stay here?” Shelby motioned at Miles and Charlotte. “While you guys go back to theStates?”

“Do you think your boss will let you keep on the case?” Jon asked. “I’d like you to work with Percy to find Sean. This won’t be resolved until he and the cross are incustody.”

Jaya flinched. She knew her dad needed to answer for the crimes he’d committed, but a part of her still hated hearing Jon ask her best friend to bring her father tojustice.

Shelby slanted a glance her way and squeezed Jaya’s arm. “I’ll do what I can, both to find Sean and see about cutting a deal with theFBI.”

Percy put a hand on Jaya’s shoulder. “Ditto from me. We don’t know the whole story yet, so don’t be fretting, cousin. We’ll find your father, make sure he’s safe, then handle the charges against him with as much mercy as wecan.”

“Mercy, ay?” A dark figured stood in the archway leading to the side entrance. There was a hood over his head and water pooled at his feet. “Save your breath, son. There’s no mercy for the O’Sullivans. Never was, never willbe.”

Jaya knew that voice. She took a hesitant step forward. “Dad?”

Sean O’Sullivan shovedthe hood off his head and gave his daughter a big smile. “Hear you’re looking for me,J.”

That the man called her by the same nickname he did, made Jon’s gutscrawl.

But of course, why wouldn’t he? The shortened version of her name was the easiest, and he was herfather.

“Where the hell have you been?” Jondemanded.

Sean didn’t even glance his way, his eyes soaking upJaya.

“Dad? Are you okay?” She hesitantly moved toward him and it was then that Jon noticed the man was holding hisside.

Dark, rusty stains bloomed from where his hand clutched at his coat.Blood.

“Not exactly,” he said, and before Jaya or Jon could reach him, he pitched forward and landed on hisface.

“Oh my god,” Jaya said, rushingforward.

Jon tapped his comm. “Bells, get down here. We have asituation.”

Miles and Percy stepped closer as Jon helped Jaya turn Sean over. Jon checked for the pulse at the man’sthroat.

Light and slightlyirregular.

Pulling back Sean’s barn coat, he saw what he was afraid of. “He’s gutshot.”

“Damn it,” Milessaid.

“Daddy!” Jaya tapped Sean’s cheek. “Daddy, wake up. We’ll get you some help. Come on,dad.”

In the distance, the sound of sirens cut through the storm. Claude and Neenan hustled over to see, but Kelli was hurriedly pulling on her coat. “Jaya, I’m sorry, but we have to leave.” She shoved a ragged piece of paper into Jaya’s hand. “This is a number where you can leave a message for us and pick up ours. We’ll be intouch.”

Jaya nodded numbly and went back to her father. Colton rushed in. His gaze bounced between the man on the floor and the bailing Gypsies. “What’d Imiss?”