Page 94 of Shadow of Death
“If any agents see someone heading out in a cape and cowl—”
“We’ll still have to follow through, Hunter. It’s not illegal to wear a cape and cowl.”
“I was about to say they need to make sure they don’t stop him. We need to catch him just about to...”
“Slice up Amy?”
“You know, we don’t have to verbalize it.”
“I know. It won’t happen. You’re out there.”
“Damned right.”
“All right. I’ve alerted Garza, and he’s using his federal power to discover what he can. You’ll be out there through the night.”
“With Sean, Ryan, and now Aidan,” Hunter assured him.
“Like I said, keep an open line. I want to clean this up.”
“Yes, sir.”
He ended the call and looked at Aidan. “You can rest—we can spell one another.”
Aidan grinned. “Okay, I’ll try. My people might have survived by running into the Everglades and hunkering down, and I do love my culture, but I live in an air-conditioned house now without mosquitoes.”
“Yeah, me, too. We’ll do our best.”
“Watch out for—”
“Spiders, snakes, and hmm, we’re kind of far from the embankment for an alligator—or a croc. But I do know to be wary.”
Aidan might live in air-conditioning, but he knew how to clear an area and make sure that, at least at the start, no other creatures would be resting with him.
Hunter watched the house, surprised he could be so alert as the hours went by.
His phone vibrated at about two in the morning. It was Ryan who wanted to assure him he and Sean were still across from them. There was no activity from their side of the shack, and they wouldn’t falter.
“Close your eyes for a while,” Aidan said, tapping him on the shoulder. “I slept. I really slept.”
Hunter nodded and closed his eyes. He believed he did doze. They were both awake as the sun began to rise.
And they watched. And waited.
Amy kept her eyes closed long after she had woken up. She pretended she didn’t hear what was going on.
Her two captors had awakened.
And discovered Aidan was no longer on his bunk. He was gone.
“Son of a bitch!” the one cried.
“He’s got to be right outside.”
“Why? You were awake, guarding the place?” the taller of the two demanded.
“Hey, I... What about you?”
“What kind of yellow-bellied coward runs and leaves a woman behind?”
