Page 106 of Hidden Depths

“It looks like they’re still moving!” Isla shouted back. She was crouched low, clinging to the seat. “But we’re gaining!”

“Are you okay?”

“I don’t think I mentioned I get seasick!”

Tom steered the boat as best as he could as it balanced on another wave before it dipped low and the sea broke across the bow.

Neither one of them heard the shot, but the windscreen cracked to the right of Tom’s head.

“Was that a bullet?” Isla said, ducking lower.

“I think so.”

Tom would have pulled his own gun, but he couldn’t drive the boat with one hand, and he couldn’t fire without risking Sara.

They continued to close in, and another bullet embedded in the gunwale.

“I think they’ve stopped moving!” Tom shouted. “You need to take the wheel.”

“I don’t think I can do you much good. I don’t have experience driving boats, and in this weather, I’m hopeless.”

“We don’t have a choice. Do the best you can.”

She crawled forward, gripping Tom’s seat as he slipped aside, kneeling on the floor for better balance.

“Stay low!” Tom said as he risked exposing himself to get a shot off.

Resting his forearm on the edge of the boat, he steadied his other hand. He counted off, picking the timing as the boat rose and fell. His eyes moved in rhythm with the other boat about fifty feet away, even as it disappeared behind wave after wave.

“God, give me a steady hand.”

Among the chaos of the surrounding storm, a calm settled over his body and mind. He exhaled slowly, releasing all his tension. Then he fired when the boat climbed into view.

Balthazar was thrown back, and Isla angled the boat so they drew closer.

Lansky abandoned the wheel and pulled Sara up, using her as a shield.

“Let her go!” Tom yelled across the space, to no avail. His voice wouldn’t carry. He had no choice but to lower his weapon and hope Lansky didn’t rid himself of his hostage.

* * *

Sara clutched Lansky’s arm that was wrapped around her throat while he pushed his gun against her head.

Balthazar lay dead near the stern with a direct hit to the head. An impossible shot. But now, with Lansky using her for protection, she didn’t expect a second. She knew Tom wouldn’t risk it.

“Turn back, or I’ll kill her!” Lansky screamed into the wind.

“He can’t hear you,” she said as she struggled.

He responded by tightening his grip, making it hard to breathe.

As she struggled for air, her head spun.

Then the boat lurched sideways, throwing them both off balance. She ended up bent over the side with a cleat digging into her ribs and Lansky on top of her.

He pushed off her back, bringing his gun up while she was still dangling over the water, and she rolled sideways, dropping into the ocean.

Pain shot through her arm, and she cried out, looking up to see Lansky pointing his gun at her. Then he jerked back and disappeared.

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