Page 41 of Hurting Hunter
Halfway down the stairs, he pulled out his phone and dialed Dani. The phone rang once before she picked up.
"Ethan?"
"Yeah. Listen up." Ethan quickly brought her up to speed.
Dani repeated the information.
“That’s right. I’ve set up a COVID-19 scam to delay them to buy time before we get there. But I need backup.”
Dani didn't miss a beat. "Got it. I'll handle it. What's your ETA?"
"I'm on my way to the port now," Ethan replied, pushing through the stairwell door and heading out into the street. “With the current traffic, I should be there in twenty minutes or so "
“Okay, good. I’m heading there too after I call in. Any news on the other hostages?”
“Yeah, Hunter is heading to the safehouse with the last batch.”
"Okay, that’s good. See you in maybe half an hour. And Ethan? Wait for the backup," Dani warned. "You don’t know what to expect."
Ethan nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "I know. Thanks." He ended the call, while slipping into his car. A grim determination settled over him. They would save those four, no matter what it took.
Chapter 28
Ethan's car skidded to a stop at the port, barely over fifteen minutes after he had jumped in. He leapt out, heart pounding, scanning the area for any sign of Dani or the arrest team. The early morning air was sharp with the tang of salt and diesel, and the lights of the Majestic Dawn loomed in the distance.
His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he quickly answered. "Yeah?"
"Behind the storage building to your left," she instructed. "The arrest team is waiting."
Ethan hurried in the indicated direction. As he rounded the corner, he saw a group of four men in tactical gear.
"You were fast," she said, tossing him a bulletproof vest. "And that’s good. The port operator relayed they have called twice already about the tests."
Ethan pulled the vest on. The weight settled over his shoulders. He grabbed a porter uniform and pulled it over the vest, hoping the bulk wouldn’t give them away.
The men around him, all muscled and fit, looked nothing like porters.
“According to the information the port operator has given me, there were twenty crew members and fifty guests on board the Majestic Dawn,” Dani informed him, handing over a big box with test kits.
Ethan slipped on a face mask. Aside from lending credit to the possible outbreak deception, the mask had the added benefit of hiding his features.
"The odds aren't great if the guests or crew are armed," Ethan muttered, his voice low and tense. "But at least we have the element of surprise."
He glanced at the team around him, their eyes, hard with determination, met his.
Haunching his back a little to appear smaller and weaker, Ethan started to cross the dock toward the ship.
From his peripheral vision, he noticed the arrest team moving to the back of the ship. They moved in coordinated silence with their weapons at the ready. The only sound they made was the rustle of their clothing as they placed their feet silently on the concrete ground.
Adrenaline surged through Ethan’s veins and his mouth went dry. His senses heightened as he approached the ship, forcing himself to keep his steps measured.
His job was to distract and delay the crew.
Ethan's heart pounded as he approached the gangway, doing his best to appear calm and professional. He forced his breathing to steady. As he stepped onto the ship, he was greeted by three crew members, one of whom was unmistakably the captain. The man's posture was rigid, his eyes scrutinizing Ethan with suspicion.
Ethan held up the box. "I was told to bring you these tests. Do you know how to use them? We can send medics onto the ship to help if needed."
The captain's frown deepened, but he shook his head. "No, no, that's fine."
