Page 36 of Chinook Winds

Collins realized Kincaid was nowhere in sight. Somehow, he’d slipped out of the house undetected.

Edward started off in the direction of the shore where the boat waited. Had Kincaid beat them to it and taken away their chance of escape?

Though Collins’s thoughts were in turmoil, he had to look out for his Jamie and his sister.

As they neared the cabin, Jamie stepped from the house as if she’d spotted him.

He went to speak with her. Drawing near, the expression on her face scared him. She’d turned ghostly white and was staring at Edward.

Collins glanced toward his father. A smug grin played across his face. Almost as if he recognized Jamie. . . but how? They’d never met. Edward had seen no pictures of his daughter.

He hurried up the steps to his daughter, all thought of fleeing gone. “What’s wrong?”

She didn’t answer. Jamie kept her attention on Edward.

“What is it?” He took her by the arms and forced her attention to him. “Why are you looking at him like that?”

“He-he’s the one. I remember him. He attacked me. He’s the one who tried to kill me.” Her words were barely audible, but the meaning became clear.

Collins jerked toward his father. All this time he’d been searching for some nameless killer responsible for causing his daughter so much pain, when all along it had been his own father. “Go inside the house and wait for me.” Collins charged down the steps and grabbed hold of his father’s throat. He forced him away from the cabin because he wouldn’t kill him in front of his daughter. But he would kill him.

Edward sputtered and tried to speak as Collins pulled him toward the cliff overlooking the water.

“All this time you knew I was looking for the person who harmed my daughter, the serial killer responsible for so many lives, and it was you. You killed our mother. You killed all those other women. You tried to kill my daughter.” The noise of a helicopter approaching gave him a moment’s pause before he continued, “You’re nothing but a thug and a killer, and I’ve wasted my time with you for the last time.” Inches from his father’s face, those were the last words he’d ever speak to him. He would get justice for his daughter at the cost of his father’s life. Clutching his throat, he lifted the man off his feet and dangled him over the edge of the cliff. The ocean beat against the jagged rocks below. Sure death awaited.

“No, please,” Edward managed to get out before Collins tossed him away. He watched as his father clawed at the air and screamed before he slammed against the rocks.

His past had been nothing but a tragedy. For a while, he thought he could change all that. Rewrite history. But his father had proven once a thug, always a thug.

???

“I’m glad you’re here.” Lancaster shook his hand enthusiastically. “Are you ready to take back the position?”

Victor peered around at the oval office where he’d spent so many hours. He’d once eaten, slept, and breathed the political world. That world changed. So had he. Before he could answer, his phone rang. Will’s number popped up on the screen. “Excuse me one moment.” Victor turned away and answered the call. “What do you know so far?”

“We’re circling overhead. There are two men standing near the cliff above the ocean. One is Collins. . . Oh no.” The shock in Will’s voice had Victor’s full attention.

“Will, what’s happening,” Victor screamed into the phone. Something in his tone had Kinsley hurrying over.

“Collins just threw the other man over the edge,” Will said in a shaken voice. “He’s dead.”

“I can’t believe it,” Victor said in shock. “Get on the ground. Before Collins has a chance to flee.”

“We’re landing now. Collins is heading toward the shore. There’s a boat! He’s getting away.” The noise of Will’s heavy breathing filled the phone. Gunshots followed.

“Will? Are you okay? Will!” Victor shouted once more. It was a long time before his reassurance came.

“He escaped. Collins must have known this was coming and planned for it. Our pilot is going to pursue. I’ll call the coast guard and see if they can intercede.” Will paused for a second. “He got away.” The defeat in Will’s voice was hard to take.

“For now. He got away for now, but this isn’t over. We’ll find him. Have your people search the property and see what you can find. I’ll be in touch soon.” Victor ended the call and told everyone what happened. “He knew we were coming somehow, or he expected it. Our people in Afghanistan should hear this.” The words were barely out when a message popped on his screen.

It was from Tegan.

He read it quickly. “Whoa. Hassanzai has disappeared.”

“You’re kidding?” Kinsley said in shock.

“Nope. Will had people sitting in Hassanzai's place. There was a lot of movement going on outside and Will’s people went in to take Hassanzai into custody. He was gone. They believe the activity outside was a decoy to allow Hassanzai to escape. They’re searching the property now, but I’m guessing Hassanzai has a hidden escape passage somewhere on the property,” he told Lancaster, and the future finally fell into place. Victor didn’t want to be president. He wanted to lead the hunt to bring down Legion. It was a long road ahead, and he wanted to be there to guide his team through it all.

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