Hiro slowly backed down the dock. A small stretch of water separated her from the concrete dam and the spillway that emptied into the demon tunnel. She shuddered at the thought of that place. Her waiting text signaled again. She had no intention of opening it. Maybe when she got back to the room. A strong sense knifed through her that she shouldn’t be here. She’d played their game too long. She needed to leave. Now. “Do you hear me?” She moved faster. “Adios, boys! I’m leaving!”
“Sorry, Hiroko.” A man’s voice. Behind her. “You’re staying with me.”
She knew that voice. Hiro whirled around. Oh, dear God, no. It was Fat Elvis — otherwise known as Joseph Stein.
We should have listened to Hiro,” Cooper said.
Gordy’s eyes were wide. “We gonna abandon ship?”
Lightning ripped across the sky in a jagged line. For an instant, every detail around them was clear — and horrifying. The clouds were wicked. Tumbling over one another in confusion — or in their lust to punish the earth below.
“We can’t stay here. We’re the highest thing on the water for a mile around.” They’d be a target for lightning — a magnet — right up until the moment The Getaway slipped under the dark waters forever. The rain seemed to lighten up, but the storm didn’t look like it was through with them just yet. More like it was refueling for another assault.
“I’ll get lifejackets,” Lunk said. He disappeared inside the cabin.
“Hiro,” Cooper whispered. They couldn’t just sit here waiting to go under. They had to do something. Had to get to her. Cooper rushed back to the engine compartment. He stared at the water swirling around the twin motors. Would they even start?
“Lunk!” he shouted. “Fire ’em up!”
Lunk dropped the life vests on deck and stood behind the console. He toggled on the blower. Made sure both engines were in neutral, goosed the gas, and turned the key. The motors rumbled to life. Lunk revved the engines to keep them going.
Cooper pulled open a storage compartment. Dad kept a hand pump in here somewhere.
Lunk grabbed the wheel. “Head for the buoy?”
Cooper pointed toward town. “The beach. It’s closer to Hiro. We’ll run it aground — keep it from sinking.”
Lunk shifted into gear and opened up both throttles. The Getaway lumbered forward. Fought to gain speed.
“Can you handle the helm?” Coop said. “You’ve got more driving time than I do.”
Lunk nodded. Gripping the wheel with both hands, he cut it hard and leaned his body against it to hold the course toward town. The Getaway reeled and bucked like it was moving in slow motion.
“It’s handling like an elephant!” Lunk said.
“We gotta make this elephant dance, skipper!” Cooper said. “Hiro’s walking into a trap — she needs us!” He turned to Gordy. “Call 9 – 1 – 1! Tell them where Hiro is! Tell them she’s in trouble!”
Gordy nodded and ducked inside the cabin to call.
As if on cue, the rain pounded down again with fresh fury.
Cooper dug out the emergency hand bilge pump and lowered himself into the engine compartment. The sound was deafening — and terrifying. God, protect Hiro. God, please. He dropped the hose into the oily, black water sloshing around in the hull and snaked the other end over the transom rail. He started pumping.
Gordy leaned his head in. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to help the bilge pumps catch up!” Cooper shouted. “Are the police on their way?”
“The police boat is on its way from Fontana!” Gordy shouted over the twin motors.
They’d be here too late to do them any good — or Hiro. “What about Hiro? Did you tell them?”
Gordy nodded. “But no guarantees! The dispatcher said all the cops are at the casino — a big fire broke out earlier! People are trapped!”
Fat Elvis. It had to be. “So nobody is coming?”
“A car is on the way — but the casino is ten miles from here!”
Hiro may not have that long. God help us. The hose over the rail flipped back onto the deck. Everything he’d just pumped would run back inside. “Hold that hose over the rail!” Cooper yelled.
The boat rocked to the port side, nearly slamming Cooper into the hot engine.
Gordy reached down a hand. “Get out of there, Coop! It’s too dangerous!”
Gordy was right. This was insane. He couldn’t pump the water out fast enough to do much good. And if the boat did go under, it would sink quickly — trapping him inside the compartment. Cooper grabbed Gordy’s hand and climbed out. They dropped the hatch in place. No sense letting the rain get in there and help finish them off.
Lunk was still muscling the wheel. His arms shook from the strain. He had the engines at full power. He was soaked. They were all soaked. “I’m making this elephant dance!” he shouted.
Cooper nodded. But The Getaway moved like it was dragging a grand piano. The boat rode low. Really low. Or maybe the height of the waves made it seem that way. The Getaway hit the waves head-on — spray exploded off the bow in both directions and into their faces. Cooper staggered over to the wheel to help Lunk hold it steady.
They were past Maytag Point. If they’d headed for Big Foot Beach, they’d be nearly there by now. But the beach was so narrow, the bow would’ve come to rest on Lake Shore Drive. And then they’d still have to get all the way into town to help Hiro. They didn’t have that kind of time. Cooper’s gut told him that much. Or was it telling him that Hiro was already beyond help?
Cooper took a wide stance and gripped the wheel beside Lunk, helping hold The Getaway on a direct course for the town beach.
“We gonna make it?” Gordy grabbed the windshield and fought to stay on his feet.
“Have to!” Cooper said. Were they slowing — or was it his imagination? Both engines were still at full throttle.
Cooper shouted to his cousin. “Hear anything from Hiro?”
Gordy checked his phone and shook his head.
“Call my dad! Tell him what’s happening!”
Gordy nodded and ducked inside the cabin again.
Cooper pushed the throttles forward even though he knew they couldn’t go any further. He never should have left Hiro in town alone. They should have stayed together — at least until the rest of them got back from the late show. Until he knew she was locked in the condo. Safe. God, please help her. “Fat Elvis is Stein!” he shouted to Lunk. “I feel it!”
Lunk gave a quick nod. “This is definitely payback!”
Gordy stumbled out of the cabin and grabbed the back of the seat to steady himself. “I left a voicemail!”
Cooper made out Stone Manor on their right. They were heading smack down the middle of the bay — on a collision course for the beach beside the Riviera. He strained to see anything in the direction of LeatherLips. Rain stung his face and eyes. It was impossible to see. God, keep her safe.
The rain plastering the windshield made it practically useless. Gordy squinted and raised himself on his toes to look over it. “We’re getting close. How are we going to play this?” Gordy said.
Cooper hadn’t planned out that part yet. He still wasn’t sure they’d make it to the beach. “There are two swim platforms by the beach — if we hit one of them, we’re dead!”
Lunk rocked up on his toes and nodded. “I’ve got a visual! I’ll bring us in closer to the Riviera pier!”
Closer to shore, the waves were definitely smaller. The Getaway built more speed.
“We’re pushing twenty-five,” Lunk said, looking at the speedometer. “We’re gonna hit hard!”
Too hard. They’d rip the bottom off the hull — and maybe get so banged up in the process that they wouldn’t be able to help Hiro. “How fast do you think we need to go to beach it?”
Lunk glanced at the dials. “Not this fast!”
Cooper agreed. They’d have to slow up — but not yet. Do it too soon and the boat was liable to sink. “Okay, as we pass the Riviera piers, I’ll dro
p our speed! If we hit the beach at ten — that should be enough!” He hoped that was fast enough to get the boat onto the beach. But hitting with too much speed would be disastrous for sure.
Lunk took a fresh grip on the wheel to brace himself.
“Gordy!” Cooper said. “When we get close, I want you to bail out over the back — Navy Seal style. If I can’t run after the boat hits — find Hiro!”
Gordy nodded and staggered to the back of the boat. He gripped the corner railing and watched the approaching shoreline.
Cooper flipped open the toolbox and strapped his dad’s dive knife to his right calf. He grabbed the flare gun and tucked it into his waistline and pocketed the two remaining shells.
Lunk glanced at him. “Good idea! When you’re outgunned or outnumbered — hit fast and hard! No hesitation!”
Cooper had no problem with that. Not now. He just hoped he wasn’t too late.
Hiro had to keep stalling. Keep Stein talking. Pray that someone would see them. The rain unleashed a fresh attack, but she dropped her umbrella on the dock. It wouldn’t do her any good against a gun — and she needed to keep her hands free.
Stein kept the gun pointed at her. He held it waist high, like he didn’t want to attract attention if someone happened by.
“What is it with you kids?” Stein said. “You’re always getting in my way. Always messing up my plans. But not tonight.” He held up a phone. “Recognize this?”
“Is that Cooper’s?”
Stein nodded. “Backpack. County fair. I slipped it out while you were riding Typhoon.”
Hiro sucked in her breath.
“Genius, right? And you took my bait.”
His eyes were wild. Hypnotic. Was he on something? Possessed? And why was he wearing a wetsuit?
“I knew my luck was changing when I first saw you at the beach on Sunday night.”
Keep him talking. “That was you — in the black pickup?”
Stein nodded. “I hated my job. Wiping that rich kid’s nose. Actually, I’m glad he got what was coming to him.”
It wasn’t that Stein cared about the girl or getting justice for her. His hatred of Kryptoski governed his sense of right and wrong.
“You tried to run Coop down, didn’t you?”
Stein snickered. “I couldn’t help myself. Just having a little fun while waiting for the right moment to strike.”
Another chill flashed through her. The right moment. What was he going to do to Coop?
“By the way” — Stein glanced over his shoulder — “leaving the condo at this time of night?” He tapped his forehead. “Not too smart, Hiroko. You’ve got to use your brains. It’s a big, bad world out there, and a girl could get hurt if she’s not careful.”
The guy was sick. Deranged. “Just let me go,” Hiro said. “I’ll toss my phone in the water. I won’t be able to call a soul. You can get away clean.”
Stein laughed. “I’m not worried about a clean getaway. I’ll roll the dice on that one.”
“Hasn’t gambling gotten you into enough trouble?”
“This one’s a sure bet,” Stein said. “There’s a nasty fire blazing at the casino right now. The cops won’t be here quick enough, even if you did call. I’ve got plenty of time.”
The sirens. A fire. A diversion. Of course. “You decoyed them.”
“I needed to keep the boss busy. After his boy got arrested, he was in a hellish mood.”
No more than Stein seemed to be in now. “Somebody could get hurt.”
Stein shrugged. “Just the boss, if I’m lucky.”
He was a sociopath. No conscience. No remorse. “Coop knows where I am. I sensed it was you. I told the boys — and they’ll be here soon to check on me. You have to leave. Now.”
Stein shrugged. “I already took care of them. Right after I started the fire. Now I’ll be free of all of you.”
Hiro felt her knees go weak. What had he done? She’d just gotten a text from Gordy, hadn’t she? Maybe Stein was bluffing.
He smiled. “A little boating accident. They’re all swimming with Tommy’s girlfriend now.”
Wendy? She was dead. Oh, God. Could he be telling the truth? Tears blurred her vision. He was a creature of the dark now — one who dragged away innocent people and devoured them. “You’re an animal.”
He raised his head and howled.
It didn’t sound human.
“Now you’re coming with me — unless you’ve got your heart set on going out with a bang.” He waggled the gun at her and grinned.
She had to run. The gun wasn’t as much of a threat as it looked. Not here, anyway. Likely Stein intended to use the gun, but someplace where he wouldn’t be spotted or heard. If she went with him, she’d die for sure. But if she ran and he fired, he might miss.
The tiny bay was to her right. She could jump in, but where could she go from there? It would be like that shooting gallery game at the fair. She’d be a sitting duck. Especially if she tried climbing out of the water on the other side.
The spillway was to her left. If she could jump to that wall and slide down the spillway . . .
Stein checked over his shoulder toward Wrigley Drive. “Let’s go. Come with me.” He took a step backward.
She took a step toward him as though she intended to follow his orders.
“That’s it.” He backed his way off the dock. “Nice and easy.”
Nice would be seeing him behind bars. But that wouldn’t be easy. She took another step. Then two. Did he really expect her to follow him without a fight?
“Get in the water.” He motioned with his gun toward the spillway. “We’re taking a little shortcut.”
No — not down there. “Please,” she said.
“Scared, aren’t you, Hiroko?” Stein’s eyes got wide. “And you should be. Now move.”
She’d never get past him — he was blocking her way off the narrow dock. All she could hope to do was go where he directed her and get ahead of him somehow. She judged the distance to the spillway — and jumped. But she fell short and landed in the shallow water. She got back on her feet.
Stein laughed. “Seriously?”
She heard a splash behind her.
Hiro grabbed the wall and pulled herself over it, sliding past the edge with the rushing water. Stein’s hand raked her back, but she wriggled free and dropped onto the concrete spillway below. She rolled — over and over. Slipping and sliding on the mossy surface.
“Stop!” Stein growled.
He was close. She didn’t dare look back but crawled, ran, and clawed her way down the incline. He could have fired his gun. She would have been an easy target.
Stein kept coming. Why didn’t he shoot? She knew the answer. He intended to kill her — but he didn’t want to do it here.
The spillway dropped lower and lower. Concrete walls on either side towered well over her head. There was no escaping. Like the shallow water rushing all around her, she had no choice but to go down the ramp.
“I’m not going to hurt you.”
He was gaining on her.
Stein grunted behind her. Swore. “Actually,” he said, “I am going to hurt you.”
Please, God! The concrete chute led directly to the black hole. The demon tunnel. Like a gaping mouth — greedy, thirsty — it gulped down every gallon of water the spillway shot at it.
Stein laughed behind her. “I’m having fun. But I think Hiroko made another mistake. She got herself trapped.”
Hiro was on her feet again, — but making her way across the moss-covered concrete was like running on ice. Backtracking would be impossible. There’d be no getting past Stein on the slippery spillway slope. There was only one way out. God, help me! She ducked inside the black tunnel.
Get ready, Gordy!” Cooper shouted. The Getaway was on a collision course with the shore. It was insane. He wiped slick hands on his soaked jeans and grabbed the controls again.
Lunk maneuvered the boat directly between the closest swim platform and the R
iviera docks. The Lady of the Lake. The Walworth II. All of the excursion boats sat there silently. They pulled at their ropes like they wanted to get out of the way — or get a better view of the guys hitting the beach.
Cooper kept both hands on the throttles. Eased them back. Braced himself. The empty beach loomed thirty yards dead ahead. Every instinct screamed for him to turn the wheel. But they’d never stop in time now.
He turned to his cousin. “Jump!”
Gordy disappeared over the transom. Cooper fought the urge to join him.
Lunk widened his stance. “We’re coming in fast!”
Cooper pulled back on the throttles again. “Here we go!”
The instant Cooper felt the bow touch bottom, he threw the levers back to the neutral position and turned off the key. The bow rose sharply as the keel plowed into the sand and rode up onto the beach. Cooper slammed into the console so hard that he bounced back and rolled onto the deck.
The Getaway yawned over to the starboard side and stopped. It stopped.
Lunk was lying on the teak floor next to Cooper. “It worked!” He sounded surprised.
Cooper untangled himself and vaulted over the rail onto the soft sand. Lunk dropped down beside him. Huge waves from The Getaway’s run for the beach broke on the shore and rushed to meet them, dragging Gordy in with them.
Gordy coughed and spit. “We’re alive!”
Alive. Cooper broke out in a flat-out sprint for LeatherLips — praying Hiro was alive too.
Stein kept pace with Hiroko inside the tunnel. This couldn’t have worked out any better if Stein had scripted it. She was going exactly where he wanted her to go. And the chase was good too. She was a scared rabbit. No, a mouse. And he was the cat.
He did not want to use the gun. Not unless he had to. It wasn’t just the risk of it drawing unwanted attention. It was everything he’d miss. He didn’t get to see the boys panic as their boat sank to the bottom with them locked inside. But he wasn’t about to miss Hiroko’s moment of terror. A bullet was too easy. Too quick. Too clean. He wanted to get his hands around her neck and feel her fear.
Below the Surface Page 30
