Part 18 (1/2)

She waited and watched. And was rewarded with a slight movement of his eyelids. Excited, she bent down and talked to him again. Explaining where they were and what had happened. ”You have to wake up, please.”

He moaned slightly and slowly opened his eyes. There was an unfocused look to his gaze. ”Hawk, it's Tesla. Wake up and stay quiet.”

His gaze sharpened and then suddenly they came into focus. She smiled encouragingly at him. ”That's better. You need to be careful when you move. You were hit on the head and are still bleeding. You've been out for a long time.”

His gaze roamed her face.

”They are likely to come back any time. That's the only thing,” she said apologetically. ”And I'm afraid we might be on a boat.”

His gaze sharpened. ”Your face,” he said in cold and clear tones. ”What happened to your face?”

She reached up and gently touched her hot face. ”They hit me because I wouldn't tell them anything.” She dropped her head and whispered, ”I'm not sure what they'll do when they come back.”

”You won't be here,” he promised.

”Maybe and maybe not,” she said, hoping he was going to be well enough to leave, but not so sure at this point. She studied his white face in concern. ”You are injured.”

He sat up slowly and quickly checked his body over. When he reached his head, he winced. ”Could use a shot of whiskey right now but other than a headache, I'm fine.” He climbed to his feet and helped her up. She gasped as she straightened.

”Ribs?”

”I don't know,” she whispered. ”Maybe.”

He ran his hands over her in a professional manner and nodded. ”Looks like they've cracked a couple. Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds,” he said between clenched teeth.

”Daniel and two others,” she whispered, wis.h.i.+ng he hadn't said cracked and ribs in the same sentence. Now they hurt, d.a.m.n it.

”They will pay.”

She nodded, not worrying about that right now. ”We need to get back. I don't have much time before my demonstration.”

She felt more than saw his startled gaze. She stared at the door. ”Do we just open it? See what's out there?” She hated the fear in her voice. Hated the fear in her soul.

”Did you tell them anything?” Hawk asked. ”Thought I heard some of the questioning but can't be sure what I was hearing.”

”No, I didn't,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around her chest. ”But I wanted to.” She raised a shamed glance to meet his bravely. ”I'm sorry.”

He gave her a gentle smile. ”For what? For being human?”

”It's so easy to fail,” she admitted.

”But you didn't. Now,” he grabbed her arm slightly and nudged her toward the door. ”I'll sneak out first.”

She nodded. She hated to see his shaky steps as he made his way to the door, but as if every step gave him strength, by the time he was at the door he stood tall. Ready. She straightened, gaining strength from him. Thank G.o.d she wasn't alone.

”MASON. WE HAVE received notice that a yacht was taken out on the lake this morning.”

Mason turned to look at Swede. ”A yacht?”

”Not a big luxury schooner we might a.s.sociate with the name, but a small tight s.h.i.+p that had been rented for a week. They brought it back last night and handed it over. But then this morning it was gone from its mooring.”

”The same people?” he asked, frowning. Wondering why they'd have taken a boat out. Unless it was because no one could hear her scream. The thought made his stomach heave. The lake was huge. And the weather rough and wild and erratic. He had no idea if this missing boat had anything to do with Tesla or not, but they had little to go on. However, it was a short hop over the back wall to the neighboring town and down to the dock. He slowly stiffened and walked back outside. Swede at his side. They both studied the back wall.

”It would be easy,” Swede said. ”Carry her over the wall and to the neighbors.”

”Who happen to be gone for a week.” Mason frowned. ”But why take Hawk?”

”To leave nothing behind.”

Mason nodded. There could be other reasons, but that made the most sense. If he had the manpower. And if Hawk wasn't dead. ”He's still alive. He has to be. Otherwise they'd have left him in place.”

”I have a better idea why they took Hawk.”

Mason turned to look at Shadow. His smile was harshly thin. ”To force Tesla to give them what they want.” He paused. ”She's proven a little too stubborn for their liking at this point and having someone else to beat up would make her more cooperative.”

”Ha,” Mason snapped. ”Not even that will help.”

”But they don't know that,” Shadow said with the merest of a smile.

A call came from the hall. It was Dane. ”The two men stationed outside have been found. Dead.”

”That's how they got inside then. And likely out. Okay. Tear the two houses apart looking for answers.”

”Not sure we need to. The owner of the second house owns a boat. The same one that went missing off the marina this morning.”

”And the owner?”

”We're trying to contact him. He's somewhere in Ireland on a hike I understand. So far, no luck in finding just where.”

”Find him. And we're after the boat.” He looked over at Swede. ”Let's go.”

Chapter 24.

TESLA WAITED FOR Hawk to peer out the door. She worried about his head. He looked dangerous as h.e.l.l and as mean as a rattlesnake. She loved it. He shoved her behind him. He was awfully arrogant though. Although Mason was worse. Hawk opened the door wider and stepped out. She caught her breath. If she could see easier she wouldn't be so panicked. Actually, yeah she would.

He held out a hand. She grabbed it and slipped out into the tiny hallway. The boat was listing to the side now. He raced along the hallway to the small door up ahead. He tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge. It was locked. She groaned, but he did something she couldn't see and the door popped open.

With care, he opened it wide enough for her to see a set of stairs in front of them. And something else.

She grabbed his hand and squeezed, then pointed to the floor.

Water was seeping in.