Ripple Effect: Lantern Beach Blackout, Book 3

by Barritt, Christy

  Benjamin stood near the window, still rubbing his head. That man must have hit him hard if it had knocked him out. Certainly, it had bruised his ego as well. Most SEALs she’d met didn’t take well to anything they perceived as weakness.

  “What’s going on down there?” she asked Benjamin.

  “I can’t see anything. I’m not sure.” Benjamin turned toward her, his expressive eyes orbs of regret and sorrow. “I’m sorry, Bethany. I’m not sure how that man snuck up on me like he did.”

  “I know you were doing everything you could to protect Ada and Elise.”

  “It was just that I saw that drone and . . . it was the perfect distraction, I suppose.”

  “I can see why it would be. These guys . . . aren’t to be messed with, are they?”

  “No, they are not. They keep getting scarier with each incident.”

  Bethany shivered. To hear a former Navy SEAL say that, she knew it must be serious. It wasn’t that SEALs weren’t afraid of things. But if they admitted that they were? Then you knew you had a reason to be concerned.

  Bethany heard a shout outside, followed by gunfire.

  She held her breath as her eyes met Benjamin’s.

  She had no idea what was going on, but she knew it couldn’t be good.

  Dear Lord, please be with them.

  Chapter Ten

  Griff watched as the man continued to back up with Elise.

  At once, the man’s gaze shifted. He spotted Colton, and his actions became more frantic, his steps quicker.

  Whatever happened, they couldn’t let this guy get away with Elise. Griff felt certain there would be no happy ending if they did.

  “Let her go,” Colton called. “She has nothing to do with this.”

  “None of you have anything to do with this,” the man called. “You should have stayed out of it. Now you have to pay the price.”

  “You don’t want to do this . . .” Griff said. “You’ll regret it. Believe me.”

  “But I do want to. Now, put your guns on the ground before I pull the trigger. I mean it.” Elise let out a cry, as if the man had hurt her.

  Colton and Griff glanced at each other before nodding and doing as the man said. They had little choice.

  “Kick them toward me,” the man continued.

  Griff used his foot to push his gun out of reach. Colton did the same.

  Colton stepped closer, his arms in the air. “Let her go. You can take me instead.”

  “No!” Elise yelled. “Colton . . .”

  Colton didn’t seem to hear. “She’s not the one you want.”

  “Her husband was your leader. We had to take him out. We need to take her out also.”

  Anger shot through Griff at the way the man casually mentioned Daniel’s death. The world had lost a great man that day—and the act of violence had been senseless.

  “You’re not going to get away with this, you have to know that,” Griff growled.

  The man was arrogant if he thought he was smarter than they were. As SEALs, they’d been trained to handle almost any situation that was thrown at them. This was no exception. They might falter at times, but they always won in the end.

  “You might be surprised.” The man’s smirk came through loud and clear, even though they couldn’t see his face.

  “Don’t do this.” Colton’s voice cracked. He was worried—and rightfully so.

  The man reached the lane. Griff’s gaze searched the area beyond it. He still saw no vehicles.

  Certainly the man wasn’t thinking about making a run for it. He had to understand they would catch him.

  The bad feeling in Griff’s gut continued to grow.

  There was a chance this wouldn’t end well. He couldn’t let that happen. No more innocent lives could be lost.

  “If you come any closer, I’ll shoot her,” the man yelled. “Don’t test me.”

  Griff and Colton both stopped where they were.

  Elise let out a cry again. “Colton . . .”

  Griff’s heart panged in his ears as he heard the desperation in her voice. If that was Bethany . . . Griff would be beside himself.

  “I love you, Colton,” she muttered.

  “I love you too, Elise.” Colton’s voice sounded strained and throaty with emotion.

  Elise was preparing for a goodbye, wasn’t she? Pressure mounted inside Griff.

  It couldn’t end this way.

  “Say your farewells!” The man raised the gun to Elise’s temple.

  Was this why there was no getaway vehicle? Because the man didn’t plan on getting away?

  Griff’s blood went ice cold.

  “No!” Colton shouted.

  Griff braced himself as time seemed to turn to gel.

  The next instant, he heard a muffled gunshot.

  An ache began to spread through his chest.

  And then . . . the masked man fell to the ground.

  Elise nearly toppled there too, but Colton rushed forward and caught her. Gathered her in his arms. Kicked the man’s gun out of the way.

  What had just happened?

  Griff looked down the lane and saw someone step from the marsh grass with a gun in hand.

  CJ Compton.

  Ty’s newest hire—the house manager. The guys had been taking turns doing cooking and cleaning, but CJ was helping with the menial tasks that were important to day-to-day operations.

  The woman was a pistol. She was only five feet tall, with shiny brown hair often pulled back in a ponytail and a quick wit. She loved to wear Converse sneakers, and she could hang with the guys, matching wit for wit. Before coming to Lantern Beach, she’d worked as a bounty hunter.

  She lowered her gun and nodded at them.

  Griff rushed toward the man and checked for a pulse.

  There was none.

  Though Griff would have liked to get some information from the man, he knew that CJ had no choice. If she hadn’t shot him when she did, Elise might be dead right now.

  Griff stared at the man’s still figure a moment before jerking his mask off.

  A stranger’s face stared back at him.

  Surprising disappointment pressed on him. He wanted logic. He wanted for things to make sense. But they didn’t. He had no idea who this man was.

  Which meant they had no more answers than they did before.

  “Look what I have,” CJ called.

  Griff looked up as she walked toward him. She reached into the marsh and held up something, displaying it like a hunter might display a duck during open season.

  It was the drone.

  “How did you get that?” Griff asked.

  “I saw it hovering over the house and figured something was up,” CJ said. “I parked at the end of the lane and crept this way. I knew it was trouble, so I shot it.”

  “Color me impressed,” Griff muttered.

  “I didn’t hear any gunfire.” Colton pulled Elise closer, looking like he never wanted to let go.

  “I have a silencer.” She held up her gun, looking totally at ease with the weapon.

  “You must have been quite the bounty hunter.” Griff liked this lady more and more all the time. Why in the world had she applied to work in the kitchen instead of the field?

  She shrugged. “I like to think so.”

  “Either way, you saved my life,” Elise said. “Thank you.”

  “Thank the person who sent me this text.” CJ held up her phone.

  “What text?” Colton’s eyebrows shoved together in confusion.

  CJ placed the drone on the ground and handed him her phone. “I didn’t recognize the number.”

  “We need your help at Ty’s place. Come now. Come quietly,” Colton read out loud. He glanced at Griff. “Did you send this?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. Someone knocked Benjamin out. I doubt it was him.”

  “Dez and Ty aren’t here right now,” Elise said. “Who could have sent it?”

  “I have no idea.” Colton’s jaw flexed. “It sound
s like someone was watching out for us, though.”

  Whoever that person was may have saved Elise’s life. So why did Griff still feel tense? “I should get inside to check on Bethany and Ada.”

  “I’ll call the police,” Colton said. But, before he did, he kissed the top of Elise’s head and murmured something else in her ear.

  Griff was so thankful things had turned out for the best.

  But that had been close. Too close.

  * * *

  Bethany felt relief wash through her when she saw Griff step inside the cottage. Against her better judgment, she rushed toward him, desperate to confirm everyone was okay.

  Before the question could leave her lips, Griff asked, “How’s my little girl?”

  “She’s fine. Maybe even a little sleepy.” Bethany switched her daughter to her other hip as the girl’s body began to feel limp with exhaustion against hers. “How are Colton and Elise?”

  “They’re safe.”

  Bethany let out a long breath. Thank God.

  “What happened to the guy?” Benjamin looked stiff as he joined them, like anger had made his muscles go ramrod straight. “Does Colton need me downstairs?”

  “Colton is fine right now,” Griff said. “The man . . . he’s dead. CJ shot him. Right in time, too.”

  “CJ?” Benjamin questioned.

  Griff nodded. “That’s right. She saved Elise’s life.”

  Bethany would ask who CJ was at another time. Whoever the woman was, she sounded fascinating.

  “What about the drone?” Benjamin continued. “Is it still there?”

  “CJ shot it down,” Griff said. “At least we’ll be able to examine it. Maybe we can even get an ID on this guy. All in all, things could have turned out a lot worse.”

  “I can’t believe it happened.” Bethany shook her head as shock continued to course through her.

  “None of us can,” Griff said.

  “Why try to take Elise and Ada?” Bethany said. “Why not grab Benjamin after they knocked him out? No offense, Benjamin.”

  “No offense taken,” he said. “I’m going to go check out things downstairs, though. You two okay?”

  “We’ll be fine.” Griff turned back to Bethany, not missing a beat in their conversation. “If they have someone we love, we’ll be much more likely to bend to their commands. I hate to admit it, but it’s the only thing that makes sense.”

  Bethany’s head began to swirl, and she lowered herself to the couch. As she did, Ada scrambled from her arms, suddenly awake. She ran over to her dad. Griff picked her up, and a huge smile stretched across his face. The drama was temporarily forgotten as they embraced.

  But not for Bethany. She rubbed her hands on her jeans. It would take a while for all of this to sink in.

  “What do we do now?” Bethany asked. “I’d say we should stay here in the house this whole time, but I’m not sure it would do any good.”

  “I can’t argue with that.” Griff bounced Ada in his arms, trying to keep her still. “All I can say is that we all need to remain on guard. These guys are smart, and I doubt they’re ready to give up yet.”

  Bethany rubbed her forehead, a headache coming on. “How did members of the Savages even get into the US?”

  “We can only assume that they were planted here. Maybe you’ve heard the term ‘sleeper agents’? That’s essentially what they are.”

  “You have any idea what their plan is?” Bethany continued, desperate to get answers.

  “We’re still trying to figure all of that out. But so much of the information is classified. Trying to find answers now that none of us are in the military is complicated.”

  She pulled a pillow onto her lap. “I don’t know how much longer I can live like this. It’s only been a day, and I already feel like I’m losing my mind.”

  Griff sat down beside her, Ada still in his arms. “We’re going to figure this out, Bethany. I promise you.”

  Bethany wished she could feel as confident.

  Chapter Eleven

  The police swarmed beneath the house, documenting the scene. It didn’t appear that CJ would be charged in the man’s death considering the circumstances around it.

  An hour after everything had happened, Bethany handed Ada over to Benjamin and headed downstairs. The police needed to know if she could identify the man.

  Griff walked beside her, almost as if he was afraid her legs might buckle.

  Maybe they would.

  As soon as she stepped onto the driveway, Bethany remembered seeing that man who tried to abduct Ada. Remembered the fear she’d felt while thinking about her little girl being taken away.

  Part of her wanted to curl up in a ball and tuck herself away from the world.

  But Bethany hadn’t been taught to do that. She’d been taught to keep her chin up and be strong.

  That’s exactly what she intended on being right now.

  Nerves claimed her muscles as she paused in front of the man’s body. It was covered with a white sheet, and a man with ruddy skin and rust-colored hair stood over it. He stepped out of the way when he spotted Bethany, and Police Chief Cassidy Chambers—Ty’s wife—took his place. Bethany had met her during breakfast that morning.

  “You ready?” Cassidy eyeballed her with concern, as if trying to ascertain her mental state.

  Bethany nodded, though she didn’t know if she’d ever truly be ready.

  As Cassidy slowly pulled the sheet back, a face stared at Bethany.

  She sucked in a breath.

  This was the man from the park.

  He had followed her to Lantern Beach, and he’d tried to snatch Ada again.

  She wished his death might indicate this nightmare was over. But she knew that was far from the truth.

  * * *

  Griff was still lost in his thoughts an hour later as he paced inside the cottage.

  The police had come to gather evidence. The medical examiner showed up. Everything had been documented. All of them had been questioned.

  A motorcycle had been found in the marsh. Obviously, the man had planned on using it to get away. Knowing that motorcycle had been meant for only one person sent a spike of anger through Griff.

  The man hadn’t intended on taking Elise or Ada with him.

  He’d intended on killing them.

  Cassidy had taken the drone as evidence. She was looking for someone who might be able to examine it for them. Maybe the device would offer them information.

  But if that man had Elise and Ada, that meant that someone else was operating the drone. Most likely, that person was still on the island. They had to track down the location these people were operating out of.

  None of that had made him feel any better.

  Dez and Ty were also back and had gotten the update. The car down at the ferry—the one belonging to the man who’d jumped into the water—had been registered to someone named Mark Blankenship. The man was thirty-six, he was born in Maryland, and he worked for an electronics store. He had no prior record.

  But he did have some pictures of Ada stuffed in his glove compartment—pictures that had been taken at her daycare.

  Griff was never going to let Ada go back to that place. Not if he could help it.

  As CJ busied herself making lunch, Bethany sat at the kitchen table, still looking dazed. She’d seen those pictures and knew what was going on.

  Griff lowered himself across from her, his thoughts still racing. “Was there anyone suspicious at Ada’s daycare?”

  She looked up, her gaze tumultuous. “Suspicious? I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I guess Sal could be a little strange.”

  Griff exchanged a look with Benjamin, who lingered by the door. “Sal who?”

  “Sal Philips. He worked there. He’s probably in his early twenties, and he loved Ada. He even offered to watch her after hours if I ever needed a sitter.”

  Hearing her words caused Griff’s muscles to tighten even more. “You didn’t let him?”

 
“Sal?” Bethany made a face. “No. Of course not. You know how particular I am.”

  Griff turned to Benjamin. “Can you do me a favor? Go run this guy’s name and see what you can find out about him.”

  “Sure thing.” Benjamin rubbed his head as he walked away.

  Doc Clemson—the town doctor and medical examiner—had checked Benjamin out when he came by to examine the dead body. He’d said Benjamin was fine.

  That had been a small dose of good news, at least.

  Benjamin had become almost like a little brother to Griff over the past couple years. Griff knew that some of the other guys on the team still kept the man at arm’s length. He had been the newest member of their SEAL platoon, and because of that, their bond with Benjamin hadn’t been as strong. The fact that his uncle had been their commander also made things more tricky.

  Griff saw a lot of potential in Benjamin and wanted to help him develop that potential. But Benjamin still had a way to go. The man could be quiet sometimes when he needed to speak, when the guys needed to know they could trust him. It made it seem like Benjamin was keeping secrets.

  Griff really hoped that wasn’t the case.

  “You think Sal is involved with this?” Bethany continued.

  Griff looked at the pictures on the table. “A couple of these look like they were taken inside the daycare. I’m telling you, the lengths these guys will go to . . . they won’t stop at anything.”

  Bethany frowned. “In other words, the person behind this might be someone I know.”

  Griff said nothing, which was answer enough.

  Chapter Twelve

  A few minutes later, sandwiches, chips, and fruit salad had been placed on the table, and everyone was called together to eat. In spite of everything that had happened, they still needed to keep up their energy. But the mood around the table was quiet and tense, like they were all caught in their own thoughts.

  Benjamin had made a call to the daycare, but he hadn’t heard back yet. In the meantime, he glanced at the kitchen. “Have you ever thought about cleaning while you cook instead of afterward?”