Read Online Pirate by Clive Cussler - Free Book Online Page B

inside?”
    â€œTwo men. I can’t say for sure, except the passenger’s profile reminded me of that gunman who robbed Pickering’s shop,” she said as he took off after the SUV. “What about Bree?”
    â€œThe only deputy in a twenty-minute radius is checking on her. And judging from his reaction to your cat story, I highly doubt he’s going to drop everything and follow a car that we have absolutely no evidence is doing anything wrong even if we could get ahold of him.”
    â€œGood point.”
    The two-lane rural road wasn’t exactly one on which a person could drive unnoticed for too long. Even so, Sam did his best to keep plenty of distance between him and the SUV, figuring it was en route to Beaufort. Apparently it was headed to an industrial area near the water, and Sam followed as it made a right turn down a street that dead-ended into a dock with several large warehouses on one side. Sam slowed but didn’t stop as they passed the street. If the car was there, he saw no sign of it. “See anything?” he asked Remi.
    â€œNo. It must have driven onto the dock or it’s between the warehouses out of sight.”
    Sam’s phone rang. He dug it from his pocket and handed it toRemi, who pressed the speaker function and held it up for Sam to answer.
    â€œDeputy Wagner,” came the voice on the other end. “Just wanted you to know that I checked the house. There was no answer.”
    â€œSam . . .” Remi whispered.
    He glanced at his wife, then back at the road. “We appreciate you checking. We followed the car we saw parked at the house. My wife thought one of the men looked like the man who robbed us in San Francisco.”
    â€œYour friend wasn’t in the car?”
    â€œDidn’t see her.”
    â€œWhere are you?”
    â€œNear the water about ten to fifteen minutes south of Beaufort.”
    â€œDo me a favor. Don’t do anything rash. I’ll try to get backup from Beaufort and meet you out there.”
    He disconnected, and Sam pulled over to the side of the road. “Guess all we can do now is wait.”
    Remi reached for the door handle. “We might not have fifteen minutes.”
    â€œRemi,” he said, reaching out, grabbing her arm.
    She stopped, looked over at him.
    He leaned in, kissed her, and said, “You didn’t think I was going to let you go out there alone, did you?”
    â€œOf course not.” She smiled at him and opened the door. “Now let’s go find my friend.”

Eight

    S am slipped his revolver from its case clipped to his belt, then popped the trunk. Remi stood watch, ready to warn him if there was any movement. And though he hoped that they wouldn’t need any weapon, his instincts told him otherwise. There was only one vehicle seen on that roadway. If Bree wasn’t at the beach house, then she had to be in the SUV as it drove past. And, since they couldn’t see her, chances were good that she was either injured or dead.
    They both turned their cell phones on vibrate. Remi kept hers in hand—just in case—and Sam shoved his into his pocket. Sam gave Remi his Smith & Wesson, then took a tire iron from the trunk. “Ready?” he asked.
    â€œReady.”
    He peered around the corner. “Clear.”
    The wind gusted as they walked to the dock just beyond the first warehouse, the only sounds their footsteps on the woodenplanks and the cry of the gulls as the water lapped against the pilings.
    There were no boats at the dock nor anyone working nearby. On closer inspection, the warehouses appeared abandoned, the windows broken, the doors padlocked shut from the outside.
    The perfect place to take a kidnap victim, Sam thought as he and Remi made their way, keeping close to the side of the warehouse.
    A faint sound caught his attention. He stopped, signaling for Remi to do the same. “Listen,” he whispered.
    â€œSort of a