Page 78 of Lost Truth
Hayden fired a look at Sawyer. “Urgent request to proceed to target.
“Roger that!” Sawyer grabbed the throttle. “Hold on.” He pressed the lever, and the boat jumped under his touch, leaping ahead and cutting through heavy waves, skimming the top.
Racing.
Hayden glanced at his sharpshooters in the bow of the boat. They repeatedly shifted to maintain their firing position with rifles outstretched, but both of them exhibited superhuman strength and remained in position.
“Maverick this is Top Dog,” Nolan’s voice came through Hayden’s earpiece. “Suspect boat captain spooked by Bandit’s attempt to intercede. He’s shoving passengers overboard as he flees. Rescue help needed.”
Tossing vulnerable people overboard!Disgusting.
Hayden’s gut clenched. He wanted to hurl. Scream. Yell.
No.He wouldn’t transmit his emotions to the group. He was in charge of this mission and had to remain calm and give concise directions.
He gulped in a breath of salty ocean air and peered at the navigation screen. Not nearly as close as he wanted to be to help, but they’d get there soon. “Roger that, Top Dog. Closing in on target and will assist in any way we can. Over.”
He swiveled to face Sawyer. “Can this baby move faster?”
“I’m pushing it now, but let’s see if I can open her up more.” Sawyer eased the throttle ahead, no doubt with a gleam in his eyes.
Time to update the team. Hayden didn’t want to yell across the boat so he stayed low, fought gravity, and moved to the bow. “Heard from Nolan. Mina closed in on Collins. He got spooked and started dumping his passengers overboard as he fled.”
Reece grimaced. “In open waters? How awful!”
Gabe slammed a fist into the side of the boat, then rubbed it. “We have to help.”
“We’ll help with the rescue the moment we get there,” Hayden assured them. “Wait for further instructions, but for now keep your eyes open as we approach the target.”
Jude shook his head. “This guy is the lowest of the low, and wewillsave those people. Hopefully Mina’s free to stop him.”
Hayden nodded and started scooting back through the rapidly moving boat to share the same information with Abby and Sawyer.
“Closing in, “ Sawyer said as Hayden reached him. “Should be on target within three minutes.”
“Perfect.” Hayden waved for Abby to join him so he could update her and Sawyer at the same time. The moment she reached him, he shared the information.
“That dirtbag.” Abby growled low in her throat.
“Agreed,” Sawyer said. “A real lowlife. We’ll have to change our approach. We can’t go racing in there with people in the water. We’ll have to advance slowly.”
Hayden nodded. “Our safest path is to come in behind Mina’s boat.”
“Roger that.” Sawyer gripped the wheel. “Once we reach our coordinates, I’ll request a Coast Guard cutter with a ScanEagle System. This new technology will allow us to monitor the subject ship from the ocean and air.”
Hayden nodded, thankful Gabe arranged to have Sawyer on their team tonight. “Head to the back, Abby. I’ll transmit this information to Nolan so he can share it with Mina.”
Abby held out a fist. Hayden bumped it, then they split up. He immediately informed Nolan, then ended their conversation to pass the info on to Mina.
Hayden could now see the lights from multiple watercrafts. The ship sat near to them along with a stationary boat, both riding the rolling waves. The third boat moved slowly away, probably Collins as he dumped people.
Unbelievable to disregard life that way. Abby was right. He was a real dirtbag and not a smart one either.
If he’d let Mina arrest him, he would’ve been charged with trafficking. But by throwing people overboard to avoid getting caught with them on his boat, he now likely faced attempted murder charges instead. At least Hayden hoped that would be the outcome. Hoped they would rescue everyone and no one would die, turning the attempted murder charge into murder.
What a mess! Hayden prayed everyone would be rescued. Because this operation was now totally out of the team’s and law enforcement’s control and fully in God’s hands.
Cady had been on pins and needles since Hayden left, and she wished Nolan would let her out of the vehicle to pace. Anything to relieve her racing heart. She couldn’t quit thinking about what Hayden and the rest of the team, along with Mina and her team were facing—in danger out on rough, choppy waters as they tried to rescue innocent people tossed overboard by that loser Wade Collins.
