Page 18 of Storm Surge

“You can. I promise, you can. You’re stronger than you or your aunt think.”

Was she? She didn’t feel strong. She was just about one more bad break from falling apart.

Chapter Five

“We have a hit on the vehicle that belongs to Betty.”

The excitement in James’s voice had Will jumping to his feet. He’d been sitting on a chair in front of the lodge trying to control his chaotic thoughts when James called. “Where is it?”

“Idaho. At an isolated mountain location. I’ve caught our Canada team before they left to come to you. They’re meeting up with Kaid and Sidney at the closest airstrip to the place. Once everyone arrives, they’ll move on the cabin. If this is Collins, then he won’t be at the location for long. He’ll find a way to change vehicles and disappear like he has for ten years. We have to act fast.”

“How long before our people arrive at the site?” Will glanced around the vast wilderness surrounding the property.

“Both groups will be there before dark. They’ll watch the cabin from a distance and go in after nightfall.”

As much as Will wanted to be part of the hunt to bring down Collins, there were so many unanswered questions waiting for him here.

“I’ll be tracking the event and will be in touch once we have details. In the meantime, Victor and those with him will be arriving at your location soon.”

“That’s good news,” Will acknowledge. “I sure hope this is Collins.”

“You and me both. We’ll talk soon.”

Will ended the call and stuck the phone back into his pocket as Henry and Josh approached. Garrett was overseeing the removal of the body in the woods. Will updated them on what James had told him.

Henry blew out a whistle. “This could be big. I sure hope they find Collins there.”

“I do, too. With Collins on the loose and the weapons missing, it’s scary times,” Will said. “Let’s hope we have answers soon.”

“The sheriff’s men are coming in from the search. So far, there’s been no sighting of Kincaid. I don’t think he’s here.”

Will didn’t believe Kincaid was still on the property. “What about the boat? Has the Coast Guard found any clues to indicate where Collins might have gone?”

Josh shook his head. “Nothing but debris from the boat itself.”

Which meant they were no closer to finding the leader of Legion than they were when they’d arrived, and Will couldn’t help but believe time was running out for them.

???

You were right. She’s dead. Jamie typed the message to Mark despite the blinding tears filling her eyes. She couldn’t believe it. All these years she’d wanted to believe what her father had told her about her mother. Wanted to believe he wasn’t the bad man her gut told her he was. Now, she was close to having proof she’d been lied to for years. By her own father. Her precious aunt.

I’m sorry. I hoped I was wrong.

Jamie stared at the message. How did she move on from here? How did she believe anything she’d been told, including the things about the accident, when in her heart she knew there was so much more to it than that?

Her phone rang. Mark’s number appeared on the screen. She answered it quickly. “I don’t know what to do.” Her voice cracked over the words. “You were right. She’s been dead all these years.” She’d always hoped one day her mother would magically return and everything would be okay.

“I know, but this wasn’t what I wanted. She’s my mother, too.”

The tears fell freely. She’d been so heartbroken by learning her mother was possibly deceased that she’d almost forgotten, Sofia was Mark’s mother as well. He’d tracked Jamie down online, told her that he suspected something dreadful had happened to their mother. They’d been talking since.

According to Mark, their mother had married and gotten pregnant with him when she was a teenager. She’d given birth, but Mark’s father had died, and Sofia hadn’t been able to take care of him by herself. He’d been raised by Sofia’s parents until they’d passed away. Though Sofia visited him frequently throughout his childhood, when he got older, the visits suddenly stopped. Mark became worried something had happened to her. He found out she worked for the CIA but had run into a brick wall trying to get information. It was then that the death threats started.

“You should be here, too, Mark. Our mother deserves a proper burial.” Yet she knew what his answer would be. Mark lived in isolation for a reason. His life had been threatened, and it had caused him to go into hiding. Rarely leaving his home, his only contact with the outside world was through the connections he’d made online. Jamie had no idea where he even lived.

“I can’t. Too dangerous.”

She understood, but she wished things were different. “It’s okay. They haven’t confirmed that it’s her yet. As soon as I know, I’ll be in touch.” She hesitated. Always in the past she hadn’t wanted to hear anything about her father. Now, she needed information. After the things Will told her, she was convinced that the man coming after Mark was her father and she wanted to know who Martin Collins was, once and for all. “Can you do me a favor?”

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