Chapter 34

34

The old man approached, his weathered face a roadmap of sun-baked wrinkles. Cody guessed the guy was in his mid-sixties at least, but he moved with the fluid grace of someone half his age. His Florida beach tan couldn't hide the unmistakable bearing of an ex-military type, a fact that set Cody's nerves on edge.

"Find what you're looking for?" the guy asked, his voice rough and gravelly, as if unused to much conversation. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, zeroed in on the file in Paige's hands.

Cody tensed, ready to move if necessary, but the old man's next words caught him off guard.

"None of my business, I know. Just want to make sure you got whatever it is Atticus left for you. I'm thinking about moving north. Closer to the grandkids. But I didn't want to leave Atticus's place unwatched until his business was complete. I'll follow you back to town. Make sure you get off-island alive."

Paige's voice was steely. "How did you know we'd be coming?"

The man's lips twitched into a smile. Deep grooves radiated out from the corners of his light eyes. "Your father had friends in high places. That's all I can say about that." He gestured at their boats. "Tide will be heading out soon. The channels here get real shallow real fast. Best we get you back to real land ASAP."

Cody exchanged a quick glance with Paige, noting the wariness in her eyes that matched his own. But they couldn't afford to linger and play twenty questions with this mystery man.

And declining his offer felt like it would draw more attention than it was worth.

He nodded at the other man. "That would be great."

The dock creaked under their feet as they made their way back to the boats. Cody helped Paige aboard, his hand lingering on her arm a moment longer than strictly necessary. Once she was settled, he hopped in and started prepping for departure.

The old man untied their mooring lines himself, tossing the ropes into the boat with the casual expertise of someone who'd spent a lifetime on the water.

"I'll follow about fifty yards behind," he announced, gesturing at his own gleaming boat. "Don't mind me. Just making sure you get back safe."

Cody nodded, not entirely sure if he found the man's presence reassuring or unsettling. As he fired up the engine, he caught Paige looking back at the cabin, her expression unreadable.

The boat's engine rumbled to life, and they pulled away from the dock. The channel stretched out before them, a darker blue cutting through the shallow turquoise waters. Cody focused on navigating the twisting waterway, all too aware of the old man's skiff maintaining a steady presence behind them.

What had they really stumbled onto here? And more importantly, what were they going to do next? One thing was certain—their lives had just gotten a whole lot more complicated.

Once they reached Rusty's Clam Shack docks, the old guy had his go-fast powerboat tied up before Cody could even get their borrowed cruiser into neutral. He helped Paige onto the dock with surprising gentleness.

Cody followed, extending his hand. "Thanks. Cody Lassiter, by the way."

"I know who you are," the man responded, his grip firm and calloused. "Atticus mentioned you a time or two."

"Nice. He say good things?" Cody couldn't help but tease.

"Mostly," came the gruff reply. "I'm Bill Weathers. Most folks call me Weathers, but I'll answer to most anything."

The man jabbed a finger at Paige. "You stay safe, girlie." His gaze swung back to Cody, hard as flint. "You watch over her. I don't care to have to hunt you down."

"Yes, sir." Cody recognized a genuine threat when he heard one.

The whine of a boat engine split the air before he and Paige even reached their vehicle. Paige clutched the file to her chest, her eyes wide. "My dad had interesting friends."

"No kidding."

While Paige wandered into the shade to update her team and upload her father's notes, Cody inspected their vehicle with meticulous care. He lay on his back, the hot asphalt burning through his shirt as he checked the underside. Satisfied it hadn't been tampered with, he unlocked it and thoroughly examined the trunk. The Consortium would bring in their big players now. Or worse, they'd deploy the virus ahead of schedule. He shied away from even considering that outcome. Nothing they could do except what they were already doing.

He'd just hit the button to retract the top when Paige returned, slipping her phone into her backpack. "Kate's got another plane lined up for us at Key West. The team'll pick us up once we land."

As they set off southward, Paige was silent. It wasn't a sad quiet, but more ... introspective. Going through her father's things was a lot. He decided to bide his time. She'd tell him when she was ready.

Cody kept a vigilant eye on the rearview mirror as he guided the convertible along the Overseas Highway. The drive back south was uneventful, but the scenery was a stark contrast to their nighttime journey.

Under the bright Florida sun, the iconic roadway revealed its full splendor. To their left and right, the vast expanse of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean stretched out in a dazzling display of turquoise and deep blue. The water sparkled like scattered diamonds under the relentless sunlight, occasionally broken by the darker patches of coral reefs visible beneath the surface.

Lush mangrove islands dotted the seascape, their tangled roots reaching into the crystal-clear waters. Elegant herons and vibrant roseate spoonbills waded in the shallows, while pelicans dive-bombed for fish, adding bursts of movement to the serene panorama.

The narrow strips of land they crossed were alive with activity. Cody noticed families setting up for beach days, fishermen casting lines from small piers, and kayakers paddling through calm inlets. Palm trees swayed gently in the sea breeze, their fronds a vivid green against the cloudless sky.

Despite the breathtaking views, he remained focused on their situation. He silently thanked his Savior that the highway's long, straight stretches made it easy to spot any potential tails. So far, the only vehicles behind them held tourists in rental cars or locals going about their day. No sign of pursuit or surveillance.

Needing to break the silence, he shot Paige a glance. "Your dad was a man of great faith. I'm guessing you grew up believing?"

She considered the question, shrugging slightly. "I've had my own journey, for sure, but yeah, I can't remember a time we didn't go to church. Or read the Bible. Turning to the Lord in times of trouble, and triumph, is second nature to me."

He marveled at that, feeling a twinge of envy. "Your dad's the one who mentored me. Gave me a Bible when he sensed I was ready. Got me through a lot of dark times."

Surprise flickered across her face, as if she hadn't expected such emotional depth from him. "Thank you for telling me that. It means a lot."

Her words warmed him. As they continued down the sundrenched highway, Cody found himself hoping that maybe, just maybe, he could find a faith like hers, too. If it even worked that way.

The cars ahead of them ground to a halt, the sudden sea of brake lights cutting a red line through the sparkling water on either side of the highway.

He tensed, slowing the car. "Could be trouble."

"Or just a tourist with a flat tire," Paige offered optimistically.

He'd love to think that, but his spidey sense was pinging like crazy. Trouble, most likely.

A distant whirring sound caught his attention. A helicopter. Approaching fast. The decals on the side suggested it belonged to WPLT, NEWS MIAMI, but he didn't buy that for a second.

They were trapped on this two-lane concrete strip, literally surrounded by water. They were close to the center of the bridge now, which meant it ran at least a quarter mile in each direction, and to the east and west, there was only the vast Gulf of Mexico. The Overseas Highway, usually a marvel of engineering, now felt like a cage closing in around them.

The helicopter drew closer, its rotors chopping the air with ominous precision. His palms started to sweat. He slipped his free hand around the butt of his gun, the cool metal a small comfort against the rising tide of danger.

"Grab your stuff," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Get ready to run."