No.
Tabitha let the air out of her lungs. “It’s not Sheila.” She wanted to cry with relief. “I thought it was a person for a second, but it looks like maybe it’s a…wet suit and tanks?” She said as she drove closer. “It’s placed just shy of the waterline.”
“Park as close as you can,” Spencer told her, mutedly. “But don’t block my brother’s line of sight from where they’ll be hunkering down to the north of us. We want them to have eyes on you and the situation at all times.”
“Got it.” Tabitha pulled the SUV to a stop, ten feet from the mound of stuff, parking at an angle that would allow a visual from the north.
“I can see now that it isdefinitely scuba gear,” she told Spencer nervously, her fingers unwrapping and rewrapping around the wheel. “I can also tell there’s a piece of paper fluttering on top of it that’s being held down by a rock.” She turned off the truck and removed her seatbelt. “I’m getting out to have a look.”
“Slowly,” Spencer told her, and she could hear the tightness in his voice.
Even though she’d donned a tactical vest on which he and his brothers had insisted, a head-shot was still a distinct possibility.
“Don’t worry,” Spencer said, as if reading her mind. “By this time, if Ghillie is here, Julian will have eyes on him and Mason will be ready with his sniper rifle if he’s aiming for you in any way.”
Tabitha slowly got out of the vehicle, still hiding her face behind the SUV’s door as she gazed around. A little of her tension dropped. “I see Kyle and Rowan on the water. They’re in their kayak.” The pair weren’t close, but they were casually paddling her way, clearly trying to make it look like they had no actual destination in mind.
“Okay. I’m activating my earpiece now,” she said, tapping the small gadget Julian had stuck in her ear before they’d left the Sothard compound.
“Me, too,” Spencer responded.
“Tabitha here,” she stated under her breath, once she’d connected.
“Mason up,” a voice came back.
“Julian active,” chimed another.
Buck, Kyle, and Rowan also sounded out in turn over her comm.
“We all have you in our sights,” Mason confirmed.
That helped her anxiety a bit.
At this point, Tabitha knew that the only one not in direct communication was Tex. He was unable to be in everyone’s ear due to his remote location in Pennsylvania, but Mason had assured her he’d stay plugged into Tex by phone at all times.
Tabitha sucked in her fortitude. “Headed to the pile on the beach,” she told everyone, forcing her feet to move forward.
At this point it was do or die, but she trusted that Spencer’s brothers would have her back.
Tabitha eased toward the gear on the rocks, her head on a swivel. She didn’t feel any eyes on her, but it had been a long time since she’d been in the military and her instincts might not be as sharp as they once were.
She had to ask.
“Does anyone see anybody?” she whispered.
“No humans,” Mason responded. “That would have been the first thing we told you. Juliandidcome across a beat-up car in the woods not far from here that matches the description of the one Tex thought Ghillie might have grabbed from a friend. The license plate doesn’t match, but that came back as stolen. Tex is checking the VIN to be sure we have our perp ID’d correctly, but for now, we’re going on the premise that our conceptual Ghillie is the real Ghillie.”
“And he’s nowhere in sight?” Spencer questioned. “You’re sure?”
“Julian’s spidey-senses say no. So does the scope on my rifle. But we’re watching carefully in case that changes.”
“Good to know.” Tabitha felt less skittish. They were now ninety-nine percent certain it was Ghillie pulling the strings. A complete unknown would have been worse. At least this way, Tabitha knew who she was dealing with; an adversary who was filled with vengeance, and who had also let anger get the better of his judgement back in the day, that would often put him at a disadvantage.
Still, she’d be very cautious.
Approaching the pile slowly, she heard Julian’s voice.
“Walk around the stuff before you touch anything. Make sure he hasn’t set any booby-traps.”
