Page 1 of Storm Surge

Chapter One

The chopper sped along the rocky shoreline just high enough to keep from hitting the jutted cliffs bordering the Washington coast.

Will Grayson focused on the pilot’s sure path while his anxious thoughts fast-forwarded to what lay ahead of them. Every attempt to bring down Legion’s notorious leader had failed to date. Would he and his team be able to change that direction?

Pilot Josh McCray’s orders were to stay as close to the coastline as possible, using the sheer rock cliffs lining the Pacific as a buffer to keep from alerting Martin Collins to their approach.

As they neared their target destination, the helicopter gained altitude. They were at the edge of a piece of property that Strike Force believed Martin Collins secretly owned.

The topography of the land spread out before them. In the distance, a car sped down a dirt road sending snow and dirt flying in its wake. Someone was leaving the property in a hurry. Will’s first thought went to Collins. Had they flown all this way only to lose him seconds before they landed?

“Do you think that’s him?” Garrett Craig, Strike Force computer specialist and former naval intelligence, asked.

Will couldn’t let his mind go there. They’d fought too hard to bring down Collins. “I sure hope not.”

“Wait, what’s going on over by that cliff?” First Lieutenant Justice pulled their attention away from the vanishing car. “Is that—”

Will’s gaze riveted to the cliff. Two men were locked in a hand-to-hand struggle dangerously near the edge. “It is.” Will recognized one of the men right away. “That’s Martin Collins!” He couldn’t believe the man they were searching for was less than a few hundred feet away. Will’s full attention fixed on the struggle taking place below.

“Who’s the other man?” Garrett frowned at the scene unfolding before their eyes.

“I don’t know, but we need to land as quick as possible.”

“Roger that.” Josh had already begun searching for a landing spot.

Will grabbed his phone. His commander Victor Douglas needed to know what was happening. Will’s team’s mission here was critical to everyone on Strike Force and they’d all be anxiously waiting for any word on Collins’s whereabouts.

The former president of the United States, and now commander of Strike Force, answered on the first ring. “Will, what’s happening?” the tension in his voice evident.

“We’re circling over the property now. There are two men standing near the cliff above the ocean. One is Collins and—” He stopped because words just wouldn’t come.

While Josh McCray brought the chopper to the ground near the cliff, Collins grabbed the second man by the throat. Lifting him off his feet, he dangled him over the edge of the cliff.

“Oh no.”

“What’s happening?” Victor asked again.

The man in Collins’s grasp fought like a wild animal in a trap, but it was an impossible feat. Appearing much older than Collins, he was no match.

Through the shock of what was happening before his eyes, Will became aware of Victor’s yelling into the phone. “Sorry. Collins is struggling with another man. He has him by the throat and—” The words left Will when Collins released his hold. The old man’s fear was evident even from their vantage point. He clawed at the air as he fell backwards, disappearing from sight. “Collins just threw the man over the side of the cliff.” Will’s tone was so shaken he could barely push the words out. “There’s no way he survived that fall.”

“I can’t believe it,” Victor said. “Get to Collins before he has a chance to escape.”

“We’re on our way. I have eyes on him now.” Will shoved the door open and jumped to the ground, followed by Garrett and Henry Justice. All Will could think about was they almost had Collins. They couldn’t let him get away.

The leader of Legion appeared to snap out of a daze. He became aware of them approaching and took off at a fast pace down the embankment.

“Freeze!” Will yelled. “That’s far enough. Get your hands in the air.”

Collins didn’t slow down. He scrambled toward the shore below, fighting to widen the gap between them.

“He’s got a boat.” Garrett pointed to the shore where a 32-foot Fountain Powerboat was tied off.

Collins freed the boat and climbed onboard, his intent clear. He fired the engine’s motor.

No. They’d fought too hard to capture Collins. Were too close. Not like this.

Will charged for the boat, but before he reached it, Collins opened fire on them. Will and his team ducked low to keep from being shot. Collins put the boat in reverse and did a quick turn, pushing the boat to its limit.

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