Page 80 of Hidden Depths

“You stay safe.”

“I will until I can’t anymore. Hey, can you let me know as soon as you’ve picked her up?”

“I will. I’m sure she will too.”

“I take it you haven’t heard from her yet?”

“When she left the station, she sent a text through to give me an ETA and said she’d give me updates as she went, so I expect to hear from her soon.”

“I might give her a call anyway. Let her know what’s happening down here.”

“Sounds good. You make sure you take this guy down, Tom. I’d like to give Sara some good news for once. She’s had a rough time of it.”

“I know. And don’t worry. I have every intention of eliminating the threat so she can live the rest of her life free.”

“Is there anything else I can do?”

“Actually…are you a praying man, by any chance?”

“As a matter of fact, I am.”

“Would you mind keeping me in your prayers?”

“My wife and I have been praying for Sara for the past five years. When we found out what was going on, we started praying for the two of you.”

“Thanks. I’ll talk to you soon.”

Tom made one more call, but it went to Sara’s voicemail. “Hey, Sara, it’s me. Tom. Uh, I’m calling to confirm that Dodd knows Dutch missed. He sent a deputy after me to bring me in, but I got away, so I’m safe. When you get this, if you can send me a quick text and let me know where you are and when you expect to connect with Peter, I’d appreciated it. It will put my mind at ease. Thanks. Bye.”

Tucking his phone back into his pocket, he moved out from between the buildings, ready to complete his mission.

Chapter20

The first thingSara had done when she moved to Key West was to find a safe path to the marina where her home was moored. It involved backtracking through multiple side streets and climbing through thick brush in out-of-the-way spaces, but it made her feel safe. At the time, it had offered her a sense of protection. Today, it had become a necessity.

She climbed a fence, pushing through dry scrub before she balanced along a disintegrating concrete path, all but destroyed.

The sound of a speedboat on the ocean had her diving for cover, and she waited, watching as it passed. It looked like it had a family of four riding inside. No one to be afraid of.

Her eyes lifted to the darkening sky. With what looked like a storm closing in, there wouldn’t be anyone on the water soon.

She waited long enough for her heart to settle before wiping the sweat from her forehead and getting back on her feet while ignoring the sick feeling in her stomach. She had about a mile left until she’d reach the open parking lot she’d still have to cross.

Going home wasn’t the smartest thing to do. Dodd could have someone watching, although they had to know it was unlikely she’d be stupid enough to go there. But it turned out she was. She’d left her bag with the sheriff and had nothing besides the clothes on her back.

After pressing out several breaths to stave off the growing nausea, she continued on until she reached a copse of tall scrabbly trees where she nearly tripped in exhaustion.

It had taken her close to three hours to get to the marina after the extra precautions she had taken, but as soon as she stepped into the open, her legs gave way beneath her, and she dropped to the ground, grabbing at her chest.

She’d smelled smoke in the air but couldn’t have guessed what it was from until she caught sight of the still-smoldering skeleton that used to be her home. The front half of the boat was underwater, and the rest would likely soon follow. The dock hadn’t escaped either.

After choking out a breathless sob, she climbed back onto her feet, retreating into the scrub for cover. Whether they expected her to be inside or not, they knew where she lived. That meant they probably knew more about her than she could begin to fathom.

They’d taken her family, her home, and Tom. She clenched her teeth, trying to keep at bay the tears that were desperate to overwhelm her, then hobbled back the way she’d come, her head spinning. She was trapped, and she had nothing. With the sheriff’s department after her and no way to get off the island without being spotted, they could simply search everywhere, not stopping until they found her. It was impossible to hide forever, but she’d done it for five years, and she wouldn’t give up now.

Despite her desperation and exhaustion, she found a seed of strength to move forward, heading to the only place she could think of. The only true refuge she’d ever known on the island.

Detouring through a neighboring property, she crisscrossed streets, then hid herself where she could get a clear view of the church. The doors were wide open, which was odd. But she’d only ever been there on Sundays, so she couldn’t know for sure whether there was danger to consider.

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