Page 34 of Storm Surge

Will chucked at the visual. Victor and Kinsley had been in love for a long time, but they’d been too caught up in what was happening to share it with each other or the world. It was because of Kinsley that Victor had decided not to reclaim the office of president but chose instead to take over the leadership of Strike Force. “She’s good for you,” Will told him.

Victor’s eyes met Kinsley’s across the room. They planned to marry soon. “She is.”

This was exciting news for the entire team. If they could bring down Collins, maybe the world would start to return to normal again.

“Hardeman should be here in a few hours. With this new information, there’s no question he’s been in cahoots with Collins at one time or another. Possibly still is. I’d like you to take the lead on questioning him,” Victor said.

“Of course.” Will’s phone beeped. The address for the Anana Harbor location came on the screen. “James sent the address. I’ll text it to your phone.”

“Thanks. We need to be on our way quickly. I have no idea who Collins still has in his corner other than possibly Hardeman, but if he has any indication we’re on to him, he’ll be gone.” Victor held out his hands. “They’re actually shaking. I sure hope I’m not getting my hopes up, but I want this guy.”

Bringing Collins in was critical. Without him they might never know where the rest of the missing weapons were. Or what Collins planned next.

Chapter Eleven

The pain that seared through her head blurred her vision. Stopping wasn’t an option. She’d worked too hard to put his image to paper.

With the pencil in hand, she continued to work on the drawing from memory. The man she hadn’t even remembered until now wouldn’t go away. Ignoring the pain, her pencil flew across the paper with renewed fury. Occasionally she had to close her eyes to bring his image into focus.

The hurt in her head was nothing compared to what she’d suffered at their hands. And the realization that it was her own grandfather who was responsible. . . well, it was hard to take in.

Waking up inside a box the size of a coffin had been terrifying. She’d screamed and screamed, but no one had come to help her. When the lid had opened, he’d been there. The expression on his face was anything but human. She’d pleaded with him—begged for her life—and he’d stared at her with those vacant eyes.

Lizzy worked on the eyes. The sketch staring back at her was the epitome of evil. The lower left part of his ear was missing. He’d looked at her as if she were an inanimate object and not a human being capable of feeling excruciating pain.

She dropped the sketch on her desk as if the image burned her skin and rose while sucking in several needed breaths. Since the memories started to return, it was as if a dam had broken free and her brain became flooded with them. Some good. She was thankful for the return of her memories of Will. Sad that she’d lost so many years with her husband. But she looked forward to the future they’d have together from this time forward.

The memories of the man who was her grandfather were the hardest to accept. He’d watched as his protégé tortured her for days with a smug expression on his face. He’d given suggestions on how to induce the most pain. And once they’d finished, Lizzy was locked away in the box.

She’d lost track of the time, even her identity. Had been convinced she’d die there and then. . .she’d woke up in her bed here at the cabin. Her father and aunt had sat by her bedside. All memories of the past gone. Erased. She’d been led to believe her memory loss came from a car accident, and she believed them.

Doctor Wolf told her sometimes when a person has gone through something so horrific, the brain shuts down the memories at a certain point. Her brain had shut out everything up until the time she woke up in her bed here in Washington.

Outside, the darkness spread across the countryside. It was the dead of night. The time on her phone showed two A.M. When she couldn’t bear the dreadful memories alone any longer, she sent a message to Will.Are you awake?

His answer came quick and confirmed he was having a sleepless night as well.Yes. Can’t sleep. Too much in my head. Want to come to the sunroom?

With the dark thoughts vying for her peace of mind, she needed his love and assurances to shut them out.I do. I’m on my way.She grabbed her jacket and tucked the sketch inside. Taking the flashlight she kept near the bed, Lizzy slowly opened the door to her room. The cabin was quiet. Her aunt had gone to bed hours earlier, exhausted from the emotional realization that she’d been lied to by her brother.

Lizzy eased the locks free and slipped outside, closing the door as quietly as possible. When she was a safe distance from the cabin, she flipped on the flashlight and let its beam lead her to the lodge some distance away. A noise nearby caught her attention. A snap of a branch on the ground. Almost like a footstep. She whirled at the noise and shone the flashlight all around the nearby woods. Nothing. Was it just an animal searching for food?

The hairs on the back of her neck stood at attention, and she hurried toward the sunroom. As she neared, a fire glowed through the windows. Lizzy breathed out a huge sigh. After everything that happened, was she jumping at shadows? Seeing danger everywhere? Expecting something to come along and snatch away the happiness she’d uncovered?

Will must have seen the flashlight through the windows because he came out to meet her. He took her hand and kissed her tenderly. All the worries disappeared as she went into his arms and held him close. The steady beat of his heart assured her, no matter what, they would face the world and its problems together.

He pulled away and looked into her eyes as if sensing her mood. “Is everything okay?”

Lizzy glanced over her shoulder. A shiver she couldn’t control slipped up her spine. “I thought I heard something in the woods when I walked over, but I’m sure it was just an animal.”

“Probably, but I’ll check it out. Why don’t you go warm up by the fire?” He squeezed her hand and then started for the woods, but she didn’t let him go.

He turned with a quizzical look on his face. She didn’t want to be alone.

“I’m sure it was nothing. Why don’t we talk instead?”

The worried frown smoothed into a smile. Together they went inside the sunroom. Will stirred the fire and sat down beside her. “What’s keeping you awake, babe?” he asked and tugged her closer.

Lizzy leaned her head against his shoulder. “Memories. I love the good ones with you, but the others…” She shuddered. The lack of anything human she’d seen in the one man’s face wouldn’t let her go. It was as if it were branded in her brain. She brought out the sketch she’d drawn. “Since we talked earlier, the memories have intensified. It’s as if whatever was holding them at bay has broken, and they’ve all come flooding back.” She handed him the sketch. “I remembered more about his face.”

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