Page 6 of Hidden Depths

Barlow stepped away from him, and Tom stumbled sideways, latching onto another teammate unlucky enough to be close by. “At least I know Santiago has my back.”

“Barlow’s not the only one who’s unhappy with this,” Santiago growled.

“Come on, guys. You don’t have to be like this.”

“He’s right,” Barlow said. “Let’s give him a break. He’s had a rough couple of hours, and he’s got a few booboos that need looking after, including the ones in his heart.” He pushed his bottom lip out and winked at Tom.

That was all the motivation Tom needed to secure his legs under him. “Funny.”

“I thought so. Now, let’s get Harry and Jimbo back to headquarters.”

Tom took a step, nearly toppling to the ground. “Uh, I could still use a hand, if you don’t mind.”

“Nice to know you need us for something.”

Using Barlow as a crutch, Tom limped from the building to the awaiting tactical van.

“What was the holdup, anyway?” Tom said as he was loaded into the back. “I thought you guys would have gotten here ages ago.”

“I’m innocent!” Harrison yelled as he was dragged to another vehicle nearby. “I’m going to sue the federal government for harassment.”

“Give it your best shot,” Tom called back. “You tortured a federal agent for information after he told you repeatedly who he was.”

Harrison spit in his direction before he was shoved into the van.

“You’re talking in the third person now?” Barlow joked. “Did Harrison hit you one too many times?”

Tom shook his head. “I don’t know why it was so hard for you guys to apprehend him. Forget about the drugs and other criminal activities. He deserves to be locked up for incompetence.”

“I could say the same about you. What you did was stupid,” Barlow said, removing some of his gear.

“Oh, come on. You’ve been after this guy for almost a year. I got him in one night.”

“Armstrong is fuming.”

“He won’t be when he sees Harrison behind bars.”

“We’ll see. Let’s get you to the hospital.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re going to the hospital.”

Tom leaned his head back against the panel and closed his eyes. “I’m too tired to argue.”

“That’s a first.”

“Don’t worry. Once I recover, I’ll be the same old Tom.”

“That’s what I’m worried about the most.”

Chapter3

Sara liftedher face to the sun as she stood out on the deck until she could feel the beads of sweat forming above her lip. She wiped it away, then went back inside to get breakfast.

She’d thought living out here in the Keys would feel a million miles from anywhere, and in a way, it did. But that didn’t make it any easier to shake the feeling that she had to watch her back every moment. When the sun was shining, her confidence returned, but every time the darkness descended, so did her fear. She’d made some headway, but freedom was impossible.

Standing in her tiny kitchen, she pulled open a cupboard, lifting a bowl from the eclectic mix of crockery bought from a secondhand shop in town as needed. Not that she needed four bowls. She hadn’t had anyone over. The whole time she’d lived here, she didn’t have anyone in her life who was close enough to be considered a friend, although she’d gained several acquaintances.

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