Chapter 29

"I'm sorry," Vance said as Alexis secured the boat to the rickety wooden deck. "You have to understand that my boss gave me a direct order."

"Yeah, just doing your job. I've heard that one before." She didn't hide her disgust. "The thing is, Vance, you intended to hand me over to some nasty men who were going to kill me once they got the information they needed. So, I'm taking it personally and you can bet I'll hold a grudge."

Alexis pulled out his gun from the small of her back and stepped back from the boat. She waved it at his mangled arm. "I wouldn't count on that promotion you were hoping for. When your boss hears the news of your prisoner's escape, she won't be impressed. Now, get out of the boat. I'm going to borrow your friend's vehicle."

Vance had flinched at the word promotion. It'd been a guess, and she'd been right. If he'd thought it would have helped, Vance would have turned Seb over to the men waiting for them at the rendezvous point.

"I need help." He sneered and remained seated.

"You've got a choice." Clearly in agony and suffering from shock, he'd still try to muster the strength to disarm her. Vance wouldn't give up that easily with a promotion on the line. "You either get out of the boat or I set it adrift among the gators."

Alexis caught his sharp indrawn gasp and picked up the pushing pole at her feet. "Once you toss the oars overboard, it'll be easy to push the boat away from the dock. Why do you think I moored at the far end?"

A muscle flickered in his jaw as Vance hauled himself out of the boat. The pain must have been intense, but he didn't utter a sound. He dropped to his knees on the dock, drenched in sweat and drained from the physical exertion. There wasn't time for him to gather his strength. Seb wouldn't waste a second tracking her down once he found out she'd left.

"What's your friend's name?"

"Holt."

Alexis hesitated before placing the pole on the deck. Maybe she should knock him out. It would make things simpler. His friend would assume the blow to the head resulted from his struggle with the alligator.

"I'd rather not wake his daughter, but let's be clear about one thing. I will shoot you and Holt if either of you try to stop me." Alexis didn't know if she could put a bullet in Holt with his daughter watching and prayed it wouldn't come to that. "The information I have is more important that the two of you."

"That's what they all say." Vance snorted, narrowing his eyes.

"You've lived in the Everglades all your life. You've seen the havoc wrecked on an ecosystem by an invasive species. Imagine what a genetically engineered species of algae would do if it had the potential to contaminate the world's freshwater supply."

Vance's lip curled in disbelief, and he snorted again. "You've been watching too many movies."

Alexis's eyes flicked to the white two-story house at the end of the manicured lawn. A light had been shining through an upper window when they'd arrived. Another window lit up. Holt had spotted them.

Vance could laugh off the algae. It was more important he believed she'd shoot him if he didn't cooperate. And she would.

"Get up and walk to the house."

"Take me with you." Vance got up and staggered forward. "I need a doctor."

Alexis didn't answer. He'd be a burden, an addition to her growing list of obstacles. Plus, she couldn't trust him.

The home's front door opened, and a man strode out, shotgun in one hand. Another complication. Alexis tucked the Glock at the small of her back, the oversized windbreaker effectively concealing the weapon. She supposed this was payback for complaining to Finlay her life was boring.

"He won't shoot. He's just being careful," Vance said in a rush. "This is an isolated area. Visitors at night, especially those traveling by water, usually mean trouble. He has to think of his daughter."

"Hands up!" The stocky man, shorter than Vance by several inches, shouted as he strode across the grass and raised the shotgun.

Alexis raised both hands in the air and moved closer to Vance. She'd pull the Marshal in front of her and use him as a shield, even though she wasn't sure it would help if Holt fired.

"Vance." Holt lowered the gun when he was close enough to recognize his friend. He ran the remaining few feet and Alexis lowered her arms. "What the hell happened?"

"An alligator jumped into the Jon boat. He clamped onto my arm."

"Lean on me." Holt's expression darkened with worry. "We need to get you to a hospital. I'll get the keys to my truck."

"It's too dangerous. You can't get involved. I need to borrow your truck," Vance said firmly, his voice not allowing room for argument despite the pain he was in.

"You can't drive in that condition," Holt protested as they slowly made their way to the house, Vance leaning against him. "Your injuries need to be looked at now."

"My witness can drive and the Marshals at the safehouse will get me to a hospital. I'll get the car back to you tomorrow."

Holt's protest died in his throat as the back door to his place burst open with a loud bang. A young girl in pink pajamas dashed down the steps, her blonde braids streaming behind her as she ran toward them. "Uncle Vance! Uncle Vance!"

It had to be Holt's daughter.

She stopped and stared at Vance.

"Gator." She nodded her head and stepped closer to inspect his arm through the jacket's shredded sleeve. "Your shoulder is dislocated. The radius is broken. Stitches." She paused and tilted her head in surprise. "I don't know how many. I'll have to add that to my research question list. You've lost a lot of blood and require immediate medical attention."

"Thank you, Dr. Claire," Vance said, smiling despite the pain.

"It has to hurt like hell," she said.

"Claire," her dad growled. "Language."

"Well, it has to. Just look at his arm."

Alexis snickered.

"Don't encourage her," Holt said, his lips pressed together in a firm line to keep himself from laughing.

Claire turned her attention to Alexis. Her eyes grew wide, and she placed both hands over her mouth and screamed. Holt raised his shotgun.

"Dr. Alexis Hayes. It's Dr. Alexis Hayes, Daddy." Claire yelled again. "I can't believe she's here. No one at school will believe me."

Holt lowered the shotgun. "Sorry, Dr. Hayes. Instinctive Dad reflex. I was focused on Vance and didn't recognize you. I'm Holt Jacobson and the screamer is my daughter, Claire. You've probably figured out she's a fan."

"I'll go get the keys to the truck so we can take Uncle Vance to the medical clinic." Claire bounced up and down as she spoke. "Can I sit with Dr. Hayes in the back seat?"

"Slow down, Honey." Holt said, his voice firm. "This is U.S. Marshal stuff. He'll borrow our truck, and Dr. Hayes will take him in.

"Claire is right. You need to get Vance to the medical center." Alexis had seen people ripped apart worse from shark attacks and live, but Vance was in bad shape. There were three vehicles parked to the side of the house. "I need to get to Miami tonight. Could I borrow one of your vehicles?"

"Of course." Holt looked down at Claire. "You have two minutes to change into jeans and bring the keys to the truck and the SUV while I help Uncle Vance to the truck."

"Got it." Claire raced across the yard into the house.

"Holt." Alexis reached out and touched his arm. He may not listen to her, but she had to try. "Vance was right when he said it was too dangerous to get involved. There are men looking for me. They're posing as FBI agents. They will kill you if you get in their way. Loaning me a vehicle could attract their attention. You have Claire to think of. I can get back into the Jon boat if you want me to."

"Vance? Is she telling the truth?" Holt's face was grim.

"I don't know. My boss ordered me to bring her in." His voice was barely audible. "The FBI has an alert out. They want to question her in conjunction with a recent terrorist attack."

"And you believed Dr. Hayes could be involved in something like that?" Holt shook his head and let out a heavy sigh. "Sometimes you're a real stupid shit. This is one of them."

Claire ran out of the house as they reached the vehicles. She handed Alexis the keys to the SUV, disappointment clouding her face. "It's been nice meeting you."

"Claire, why don't you show Dr. Hayes where the SUV is while I help Uncle Vance into the truck?" Holt said. When Claire pointed to the vehicle at the far end of the gravel parking space, he chuckled. "She still takes things literally. We're working on it."

"It took me a while too," Alexis said and smiled.

She couldn't remember having as much energy when she was Claire's age, but she remembered the list of research questions she'd compiled and the laughter of the kids in her class when she'd shared her list. Number of stitches to close a wound hadn't been on her list. Alexis would look it up later.

"I'd like to stay in touch if that's alright with you. My life would have been easier if I'd had someone like me to talk to."

Holt smiled and inclined his head. "Thank you."

"Really?" Claire bounced up and down. "We're going to see you again?"

"First you need to show me the SUV." Alexis held out her hand and the little girl grasped it.

Claire gave her directions for the shortcut to the highway as they walked to the SUV and Alexis memorized her contact information, promising they'd video chat next week.

Alexis hopped into the SUV and placed the Glock in the glove compartment, glad to be rid of it. Two minutes later, she was traveling down the dirt road, making better time than they had driving to Orlan's place in Ruby Anne's clunker.

The road was pitch black in places where the trees bent over the road along both sides. Even the light from the full moon couldn't penetrate the canopy of leaves overhead. Holt had installed extra lights on the vehicle, which made the road easier to navigate.

Still, Alexis had to concentrate on avoiding holes, ruts, and a rodent she didn't recognize—a temporary respite from worrying about what she would do if Antoine's men were watching Dr. Butler's lab and how to get rid of the ache she felt deep in her gut every time she thought about Seb.

The road was narrow, much narrower than the one they'd taken to Orlan's place. Alexis was glad she was driving it at night, despite the feeling that Vance was right and she could run faster than taking the road. The possibility of meeting a vehicle coming in the other direction was remote. She would surely ditch the SUV if she had to pull to the side to let someone pass.

She'd no sooner rounded the bend when the lights of an oncoming vehicle blinded her. Alexis slammed on the brakes.