Page 81 of Hidden Tide

“Two intruders came over the seawall. The unlit boat must have dropped them before it headed for the bridge.”

My stomach clenches.

They were already ashore when I saw the boat signaling.

“What do they want?” Storm asks.

Everyone looks toward the evidence room.

The pieces of Grandpa’s lens.

The cards.

The navigation log.

The map.

“Move!” Keating orders.

The officer escorts Mom and Thomas into the storage room. Nathan follows, but Storm stops at the door.

“Where’s Ward?”

I turn.

He was behind us a second ago.

Now the hallway is empty.

“Ward!” Storm shouts.

A shadow moves near the far doorway.

Ben shoves me against the wall as a bullet strikes the doorframe where I was standing.

Wood splinters across my face.

Ben fires once.

The shadow disappears.

Keating pulls Storm into the storage room.

“Stay down!”

“I’m not leaving Ward out there!”

“He can take care of himself.”

The words don’t comfort her.

They wouldn’t comfort me either.

Ben looks at Keating. “The shooter’s headed toward the evidence entrance.”

“I’ll take the main hall. You use the side passage.”

Ben nods.