Page 132 of Stone Coast

I laughed. "Not anymore."

"You've got a lot of explaining to do," Olivia said. "And I am all ears," she said with enthusiasm.

"We are not out of this yet. There's one more. Sniper on top of the building across from us.”

Olivia deflated, and a frown tugged her lips.

I grabbed Ross's pistol from the deck, checked the magazine, then handed it to Olivia. "You know how to use one of these things?”

"I've been to the range a time or two, but I’m no expert. Not like you."

I led Olivia out of the compartment and into the hallway. Multiple footsteps on the deck above rumbled through the boat.

It seemed we had more problems than just the sniper.

69

The footsteps flooded into the superstructure. They hovered at the top of the stairs, and the beams of flashlights cut through the darkness.

I held up in the hallway, keeping my weapon aimed at the stairs, Olivia crouching behind me.

"I guess we’re going out in a blaze of glory," Olivia said. "I'm right with you all the way."

I think Olivia started to believe we were in a movie. But this was no movie.

A voice shouted from above. "Put your weapons down and come out with your hands up.”

I didn't know if they were cops or more of Ross’s men.

"Get fucked!" Olivia shouted.

After a momentary pause, the deep voice shouted back. "Savannah Stone?"

"Who are you?" I replied.

"My name is Officer Nate Shaw with the CIA. Who's with you?"

"None of your business.”

"Where's Ross Jenkins?"

"Probably in hell,” I said.

"Is there anyone else aboard?”

"None that are living."

"Why don’t you come up here, and I will debrief you?"

I laughed. "Sorry, I'll pass.”

"I can understand your skepticism, but you're outnumbered. I've got a dozen officers on this boat and a dozen more on shore. I'm not the bad guy. In fact, you did us a favor.”

"You expect me to believe anything you people say?”

"No. Honestly, I don't.” He paused. “How about I come down to talk to you? Unarmed.”

"Hell no!" Olivia hissed to me, "You can't trust anybody."