Page 36 of Raven’s Claw (Raven’s Cliff #2)

“Got it.” She breathed into the phone for a few moments.

“Wow. There’s quite a story here, which we can get into later.

But Icarus is really Gavin Troy. He’s thirty-one.

Was institutionalized from the age of twelve for suspected Dissociative Identity Disorder.

It seems Rook liberated him a year later.

Gavin’s been on medication to help mediate some of the symptoms ever since, but during a recent Scythe assessment, he showed signs of schizophrenia.

The doctor recommended immediate removal from the field, but Rook overruled it.

Claimed the issues made Gavin the perfect candidate for missions with unfavorable survivability rates.

His current location is marked as unknown. ”

She tapped on keys, the sound echoing through the phone. “I’m searching for a photo that isn’t blurry or beyond recognition… got one. Sending it through to Cannon’s phone.”

Cannon’s cell chirped, and he swiped over to the image.

“No fucking way.” Kash pulled the cell closer, blinking a few times to keep it in focus. “Do I really have a concussion or is that freaking Tucker Grant?”

Zain practically growled. “You definitely have a concussion, buddy, but you’re not seeing things. That’s Tucker. Damn. Did he know who Jordan was all along? Was this a setup?” He looked at Kash. “Did he purposely try to kill you and Nyx that day?”

“I don’t know, but I’m sure as hell gonna ask him. Becca? Any chance we can track this guy? Maybe a chip like Jordan’s?”

“From what I can tell, he never had one. But assuming he’s not a former Coast Guard guru like Saylor, he must have a vehicle nearby.

I’ve got satellites searching anything larger than a goat trail.

He can’t avoid me for long.” She paused.

“I know we don’t have any time to spare but give me a few minutes to scour the area. I’ll call you right back.”

The line went dead, just like Kash’s heart.

Nothing but empty weight in his chest as he stood there, willing the phone to ring.

Time ticked past as that storm front swept over them, kicking up the wind and the waves until Kash wasn’t sure they’d have any other option but to wait for Foster or Mac to return.

He should have listened to Jordan. She’d been skeptical that Tucker was simply a coincidence, and now she was paying the price.

Cannon muttered under his breath. “I’ll call her back?—”

The cell rang in his hand, cutting him off.

He swiped his finger across the screen, holding it out so everyone could hear. “Talk to us, Becca.”

“I’ve got a dark SUV barreling out of the forest northeast of you onto some old two track twenty minutes ago.

It’s headed northbound, with two confirmed heat signatures onboard.

I can’t guarantee it’s Icarus or whatever his name is but, seeing as it was the only vehicle within the parameters, I think it’s a safe bet. ”

“How close is he to Raven’s Cliff?”

“About five minutes. He’ll have to jump onto a highway if he wants to go anywhere east or south. If it’s safe, I’d hop back in the boat and head that way. Maybe plan to grab a truck at the hangar. I’ll keep you posted.”

“Gib’s tagging along with them. Ring Miller the moment you know which way that bastard’s going. And keep Jericho’s boss, Art, updated. With Tucker’s questionable mental state, I think it’s safer to let him get where he’s going. If we set up roadblocks, it might set him off.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

Cannon stared at his phone, then at the ocean. “Water’s getting pretty rough, but something tells me you don’t care. That Saylor won’t care much, either.”

Kash took a step, swayed, then caught himself before he landed on his ass. “I can’t let Jordan down, even if I have to pilot that boat, myself.”

“Are you nuts? You’d have us capsized in a heartbeat.” Saylor moved in behind him. “Zain’s already searching for possible venues that asshole might target if he continues north. And we’re wasting what little good weather we’ve got, so…”

Kash grabbed her arm. “Are you sure? I…”

She smiled. “Endeavor to do more, Kash. Or we can go by your creed and lead the way. Both work. Just try not to puke. You look ten shades of green already.”

She took off, jumping onboard as if the boat wasn’t rocking like a damn Tilt-A-Whirl. Had spray shooting several feet in the air as waves crashed over the side.

Cannon snagged Kash’s elbow. “You sure you’re up to this? Saylor’s right. You look like shit.”

“Not dead yet.”

He nodded. “I know the feeling.”

Kash clapped the man on the shoulder. “Thanks for all your help. I owe you.”

“Anytime, brother. I’ll see you at the hospital when this is all over because you’re gonna get her back.”

Kash merely nodded. He wouldn’t say it. Wouldn’t jinx it, just like he hadn’t in the boat.

Instead, he headed for the vessel, Miller shadowing him — looking as if he’d catch Kash when he inevitably tripped.

Making it all the way to the boat without landing on his ass was a nice surprise.

Not that he thought it would last, but he’d take the wins wherever he could find them.

Kash grabbed Nyx’s harness, handed her to Zain then practically fell onto the deck. Zain grabbed him before he continued all the way to the floor, tsking as he helped him over to a seat — pointed at him to sit.

“Keep your ass in that chair until we get to our destination. You hear me?”

“I’m fine, just… Do you have any idea where he might be headed if he stays his course?”

Zain thumbed at Saylor. “Saylor does.”

Saylor glanced over her shoulder at them as she revved the engines, clearing of the shoreline as she flew over the waves.

“There’s an old, abandoned Coast Guard supply depot about twenty miles north of town.

It hasn’t been used in over fifty years and is mostly accessible by boat.

There’s a path down the cliffs, but it’s treacherous in the best weather.

Though, with Tucker’s unstable mental state, I’m sure he’d risk it. ” She sighed. “Assuming I’m right.”

“It’s as good a place as any and in the right direction. We’ll just hope that Becca gets an update before we get there.”

The boat bounced along the water, rising and falling with every swell, every breaker, until Kash thought he really would puke.

Anything to relieve the constant pounding in his head.

How every motion got amplified by the next.

He grabbed ahold of the rail, doing his best to ground himself as rain poured from the sky, the horizon a thick gray mass of unforgiving clouds.

Zain kept looking over his shoulder, shaking his head and muttering under his breath.

Kash knew his buddy would have pulled rank if Jordan’s life wasn’t hanging in the balance.

But Zain had similar demons haunting his conscience, and he’d never ask Kash to step aside with one of their own on the line.

Gibson’s cell rang.

Miller answered it, nodded, then ended the call, staring at the screen before handing it to Saylor.

“It looks like Saylor’s intuition was spot on.

Becca followed the vehicle to the top of the cliff overhanging that depot.

Said it looked as if the driver jumped out then hoisted the other person over his shoulder and headed down.

She lost them once they went inside. And despite all the movie hype, she can’t see through the walls. ”

Kash nodded. “Then, we’ll do this old school.”

Which, he had to admit, felt right. Knowing it would come down to their skills against Tucker’s. And he’d put his faith in his team, any day.

The wind picked up as they roared past the lighthouse and the hangar, then continued up the coast. The waves crested higher, battering the boat despite Saylor’s attempts to literally dance through them.

His fingers cramped from holding on, the searing cold cutting through his resolve until simply existing seemed to take all his strength.

Saylor kept them upright and on course, piloting the boat the way Foster flew a chopper.

She didn’t seem the least bit fazed when a wave nearly toppled them.

She simply angled into it — shot out the other side smiling.

She worked the throttles, timing each burst until the old metal depot appeared through the veil of clouds, sitting on the precarious rocky shore like Olympus atop its peak.

A lone, rickety dock stretched out to one side, rising and falling with every surge.

She eased back on the throttle, using it and the surf to get in close until Zain jumped out, Miller right behind him. They did a quick sweep of the area with their weapons, then tied off the boat.

Kash tripped to one knee as soon as he stepped onto the dock, the platform rising and falling beneath him. He just didn’t know if it was really moving or if it was all in his head.

Zain pursed his lips but didn’t call Kash out.

Instead, he gave him a hand, then took point.

Miller followed suit, the two of them quickstepping up the dock and over to the main structure, Kash and Nyx trailing behind.

Gibson showed the countdown on his hand, then shoved open the door.

Zain went high and right, Miller low and left.

They cleared the immediate area then waved Kash and Saylor inside.

Zain pursed his lips, searching the area, again, before sighing.

“Saylor? I know you’re gonna hate this, but we need you to stay here.

” He held up his hand to stop her from interrupting.

“I know you’re more than capable of guarding our six.

But you’re the only one who can pilot that boat, and we have no idea if Foster will be able to rendezvous with us in time.

Which means, it might come down to you and that ocean. ”

Miller nodded. “Knowing our exit’s secure would be nice, too. If you’re okay with that, love.”

Saylor narrowed her eyes but nodded, taking up her position by the door. Looking as if she could take on a full wet squad on her own.

Miller scanned the room. “We’ve got more doors than blocks. It’s your op, mate. What do you want to do?”

Kash frowned. “I’m betting there’re bombs.”

“Yup.” Miller sighed. “Probably other forms of traps, too, but nothing we haven’t faced before, yeah.”

Kash glanced at Zain, then Miller. “As much as I’d love to stay together, my gut’s telling me Jordan’s out of time. And I didn’t come this far to fail now.”