Page 7 of Storm Surge

Callahan’s eyes narrowed. “That name is all over the news. He’s the one who is believed to be the mastermind behind all those bombings and the government takeover.”

“That’s correct,” Will told him. “Collins has ties to this place from the past. His parents once owned a lodge here. Until his dad killed his mother. I’m guessing that’s it.” He pointed to the log home.

Callahan shook his head. “Unbelievable. Obviously, that was before my time, but I’ll pull the files and see what I can find out about the family.” While they spoke, the medical examiner’s van pulled up alongside the sheriff.

“There’s Doctor Murphy. Where’s the deceased?” Callahan asked.

“On the shore.” Will pointed in the direction. “He was thrown from the cliff above. Though he had no ID on him, I’m pretty certain it’s Collins’s father, Edward Buckley.”

Callahan turned to Deputy Allen. “Go with Doctor Murphy and assist any way you can.”

Allen headed back to his patrol vehicle and started down the path to the shore with the ME following.

“We’ll need to clear the lodge and any other building on the place.” Will indicated the massive log structure. “We have no idea if there are any other members of Legion on the property. There’s a cabin near the cliffs.” Will pointed toward the path they’d walked. “There are two women there. One is Collins’s sister. The other his daughter.”

Callahan’s brows raised. “Where’s Collins’s wife in all of this?”

“Good question. We have no record of him being married, and we have no idea who the mother is.”

Will thought about the woman who appeared so much like Lizzy. How did she fit into her father’s crimes? More than anything he wanted to return to the cabin. Ask her a billion questions. But for now, there were more pressing things. Finding Collins quickly was imperative.

“Sounds like this guy is crafty. But then again, he wouldn’t have gotten away with the things he did if he weren’t smart.” Callahan looked him in the eye. “That just means we have to be smarter.”

Chapter Three

He slowly rose to the surface. Through the many missions he’d preformed for the CIA, he’d become an excellent swimmer and proficient at holding his breath.

The rocks on the opposite side of the small island where he’d crashed protected him from view of the chopper hovering overhead. He slowly climbed ashore and ran toward the thick trees near the coastline.

Once he’d reached their safety, he eased toward the location of the crash site while staying in the protection of the trees.

Several Coast Guard vessels circled the wreckage. The chopper hovered above the place where the boat had run aground a mile away from his property.

He watched the activity for a few more minutes and then headed toward the jeep he’d hidden here because he’d known at some point there was a chance this would happen.

All his thoughts were for his daughter. When he saw the man coming after him on the shore, he knew there was no stopping the past from coming out no matter how hard he’d tried to shield Jamie from it. Since he’d taken care of Sofia and her lies, all his efforts beyond advancing the cause were for protecting his daughter from that ugly period in her life. And now there was nothing he could do to save her.

He reached the jeep and opened the back hatch. In preparation, he’d stored a duffle bag full of supplies that he’d need to disappear—regroup. And when he did, he’d return for Jamie. It didn’t matter where she was; he’d find her.

Collins got inside the vehicle. The noise of the chopper would drown out the engine sound. He unzipped the duffle and removed one of the burner phones inside. As he drove through the thick woods, he powered it up. The call to Hassanzai wasn’t answered. The last time he’d spoken to the cofounder of Legion, Ahmad Hassanzai was unraveling. He’d urged Collins to get out of the state as quickly as possible.

A disturbing thought occurred. What if Strike Force had captured Hassanzai? Though his friend was loyal, the men and women of Strike Force were highly trained. They’d put pressure on Hassanzai until he broke.

After another failed attempt to reach his friend, the next call was to the man who would hopefully help Collins get out of the country in time.

“Hello.” The strain in Christian Martinez’s voice was evident.

“Can you talk?”

The length of time it took for Martinez to respond made Collins wonder if perhaps he should hang up.

“Yes, of course. What’s going on? Where are you? Are you safe?”

Not something Martinez would ask. It was a warning. He ended the call and tossed the phone out the window. Best not to take any chances.

He hit the first county road and turned the opposite direction from his family property.

By now, they’d have discovered the lodge and were probably searching it. Though there was little there for them to find, if they got into the safe, they’d discover things.

---