Page 106 of Night Watch
“Why’re you slowing down?” he shouted.
“Watching for the sandbars,” she lied.
She peered overboard and saw nothing but a few branches floating in the rapidly flowing water. Could she grab one and somehow jam the propeller so the boat would be rendered useless?
She’d have to get to the back of the boat somehow, but jamming the propeller was worth a try. After all, she was going to lose her life one way or another. Might as well be the way she chose.
26
While Drake piloted the borrowed ski boat with powerful motor, Erik ran the helicopter up the river. He’d outfitted most of his RC choppers with night vision cameras, so he had a good view of the water and river banks. They’d traveled ten miles, and he hadn’t seen a sign of Kennedy and her abductor.
The skies suddenly opened up with a drenching rain, and he hunkered over the controller with his raincoat to keep it dry. On the screen, he watched the water flow under the helicopter, but his mind was elsewhere.
Oscar Edwards.A name Erik would never forget, no matter how this turned out.No! Stop thinking that way.It would turn out fine. He couldn’t allow himself to contemplate anything else. He and Drake would reach the boat before Edwards hurt Kennedy, and they would rescue her.
“Can’t you make this thing go any faster?” Erik shouted without taking his eye off his screen.
“Doing the best I can, bro.” Drake sounded way too calm for Erik’s liking, but Erik knew his brother’s guts were tied up too.
Erik had to let God point him and his brothers in the right direction. He’d leave it all up to God and let Him take control.
Right. That was all. No big deal.
Kennedy had decided she would jump, but she had to find the perfect spot, and now with the pouring rain beating down on her, she had an even more difficult time seeing. River width varied significantly, and a narrower location could ensure that she made it to shore. And she needed a clear place on the bank where she could climb out.
“Stop!” Edwards shouted above the roar of the motor.
She lowered the throttle, and the motor’s growl turned to a low-pitched rumble as the boat settled down into the current. She turned a bit, looking for anything to grab and knock him overboard before she had to enact her plan of jumping into the water. Other than the tote bag he’d brought aboard, all she saw were cushions and life jackets. And he’d asked her to stop in one of the widest parts of the river, she thought was nearly four miles wide. It would take her at least two hours to swim the distance, and no way she’d make it to shore before succumbing to the cold.
“Drop the anchor,” he commanded.
“Here?” She couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice.
“Yes, here.”
“I think it’s in the back.”
“Then kill the motor and move.” He gestured at the back of the boat with the gun and ran his hand over his polished head like a squeegee pushing the water to the back. “And no funny business. I won’t hesitate to shoot.”
She moved toward the boat’s stern, climbing over seats and being careful not to lose her balance as the craft swayed with the current. She heard a buzzing sound above and glanced up. Something moved high in the sky. She squinted. Was it a RC helicopter?
Erik?
She quickly lowered her gaze, so Edwards wouldn’t notice.
“Quit stalling and hurry up,” he yelled.
She found the anchor and started unwinding the rope. If the helicopter was above, Erik had to be nearby. Thankfully, Edwards didn’t hear it. She’d always had sensitive hearing, and maybe the pitch eluded Edwards’s older ears.
If she jumped now, she might be able to block the propeller, and Erik might be just downriver on his way to rescue her.
She got the rope fully untangled and climbed up on the seat to drop the anchor into the water. She let the rope slide through her hands, careful of the injury. She kept hold until the anchor made a solid clunk on the bottom. Now, Edwards couldn’t move the boat without pulling it up, which would take both of his hands. He would need to put the gun down to do that.
Then maybe she could strike him with a heavy branch. She would have to play it all by ear.
Please, help me to get away.
She clamped her unbandaged hand over her mouth so when she hit the cold water she didn’t reflexively gasp and draw water into her lungs and took the leap of faith.
