Page 88 of Locked In

Gina let out a strangled sob and started into the water. Harper reached out and pulled her back. She turned on Lockerby.

She was done with this. “Listen, asshole. If she goes through the water there’s no way for either of us to get into the boat. Our hands are tied and the water is at least to my waist. It will be higher on her,” Harper snarled.

Lockerby glared at her. He raised his gun in his hand and started to bring it down toward Harper’s face. She tried to twist away.

Someone behind them yelled. “Freeze!”

Lockerby whirled around and lost his footing on the mossy stones. Harper tried to lunge toward him to knock him further off balance, but Gina’s weight brought her up short and she barely managed to stay on her feet.

“I said freeze. The next person that moves gets a bullet to the head.” George Crawley stepped out of the shadows.

Harper sagged with relief. “Oh, thank God. George, arrest Lockerby. He killed Astrid.”

Lockerby smiled slowly at her. “Like I said before, I did not kill Astrid.” He gestured with his gun toward George. “He did.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

With his hand on the wall, Flynn felt the vibration once again. He’d thought he heard voices but couldn’t be sure. He put his fingers on the floor and the breeze was gone. He pulled out his gun and hit the button one more time. The wall swung open. He went up the stairs to the third step and waited for it to close again. He was about to keep going up when he noticed a wet mark on the floor. A splash of water that was spread in an arc.

He came back down and examined the floor. There were faint grooves cut into the rough pavement. He touched the wall adjacent to the wet mark. Could this be a door, too?

Running his fingers over the surface, he looked for some way to open it. It took him a few minutes until he finally stumbled onto the button on the other door jamb. He hit it and the door swung inward blocking the other door. Ah, that’s why it wouldn’t open.

Flynn put his gun up and walked slowly into the other tunnel. The smell of seawater hit his nose along with the sound of the surf. He walked a few steps and then the sound of voices reached him. He inched his way carefully to the slight bend in the tunnel. Years of training had him plastered against the wall, and wishing he had a periscope mirror. He settled for a quick look-see around the corner.

Lockerby was there with Gina and Harper. His knees gave a momentary wobble and he darted back out of sight. He leaned against the stone wall of the tunnel. She wasn’t out of the woods but at least she was alive. There was another voice. It was familiar, but he couldn’t place it. Not with the sound of the waves nearly drowning it out. He crouched low and snuck another quick peek. Harper and Gina were tied together which made things more difficult. Lockerby was standing slightly to one side which was better, but the other man remained hidden in the shadows.

He stayed low and tried to hear what was being said but it was no use. He needed to get closer but the light was in his eyes. If he went in, he’d be blinded for a few seconds and that could be deadly. He was just going to have to stay low and risk it. Not the best plan but Harper’s life was at stake. He needed to get her out of there.

* * *

Harper was dumbfounded. “You killed Astrid? Why, George?” She just couldn’t get her brain around it.

“Because he’d beaten her so badly, she would never be the same. It was a mercy killing. She’d suffered massive blows to the head. If she survived, she’d have been a vegetable. There was no way she’d want to live like that. It would kill Paul. Her father is a good man. He didn’t need to go through that.”

“Why didn’t you give him the choice? You could’ve taken her to a hospital. She might have pulled through. You don’t know what might have happened.”

George said, “I’ve been at this a long time. I know what the chances were that she’d survive and I’m telling you she was better off.” He gestured with his gun toward Lockerby. “He’s an animal.”

She agreed with him on that score but still couldn’t get her brain wrapped around the rest. “Why were you involved with these people in the first place?”

Lockerby grinned. “Why don’t you tell her about that, Crawley?”

“I made a mistake, Harper. And they offered help, but it came with a price. I’ve been paying for a while now.”

“That’s why the investigations into the robberies and everything else have been so slow. You were doing it for them.”

George sighed and then nodded.

“We own his ass,” Lockerby gloated as he turned toward Harper. “Now getyourass in the boat.”

She looked at George. Was he going to help her?

He had a hangdog look on his face as he shook his head. “Sorry, Harper. Nothing I can do.”

“Is the entire police force corrupt?” she snarled.

Gina stared at her. “What the fuck does that matter? Just get into the damn boat.”

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