Page 395 of Hidden Depths
“What about my sisters?”
“We made radio contact with Ivy. She whispered that six men boarded from two boats. Three went below deck. Three stayed topside.”
“Why didn’t the Coast Guard stop them?”
“They arrived wearing Coast Guard uniforms.”
Ward went still.
“Insiders?”
“Stolen uniforms. Their first boat carried identification matching a maintenance crew. By the time our people realized it was false, the attackers had already boarded.”
“Where are Scott and Mark?” Ben asked.
“Approaching Sea Whisper from the east.”
“I’m going with them.”
John glanced at Ben’s shoulder.
“You’ve been shot.”
“Grazed.”
“You’re still bleeding.”
Ben stripped off his wet shirt.
A red furrow cut across the top of his shoulder.
Mom examined it beneath the emergency lights.
“You need stitches.”
“Later.”
“Ben—”
“Calle doesn’t have later.”
The words silenced everyone.
Ben seemed to realize what he had said.
His face closed.
Ward didn’t react.
Neither did John.
But I saw the truth before Ben buried it.
He was terrified for her.
Mom cleaned and bandaged the wound.
Ben didn’t flinch.
