Page 176 of Hidden Tide
Scott and Piers emerge from behind stacked shipping crates. Scott pulls Elliot to safety while Piers covers the warehouse entrance.
Mark and John reach Peter.
The rifleman swings toward them.
Ben tackles him before he can fire again.
Federal agents swarm the dock.
Within seconds, three of Simon’s men are facedown in handcuffs.
The fishing boat races toward open water.
“Patrol vessel is pursuing,” Keating reports.
Marquez doesn’t look away from the feed.
“Get medical teams to the hostages.”
Ben kneels beside Elliot and removes the hood.
Arthur Bell’s son is bruised and bleeding, but alive.
Elliot grabs Ben’s arm.
Even through the distant microphone, I hear his terrified voice.
“He’ll kill my father.”
Ben steadies him.
“Where is Simon?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who ordered you to enter Ivy Sinclair’s studio?”
Elliot looks around wildly.
“Donald Cross.”
The name strikes the room like a gunshot.
“Donald Cross is working with Simon?” Ben asks.
Elliot shakes his head.
“No.”
Ben leans closer.
“Then why did he send you?”
“He didn’t send me.”
“You just said—”
“Donald Cross is the reason I went.”
