Caribbean Rescue (Coastal Fury Book 16), Matt Lincoln [best book recommendations .txt] 📗

The sky was beginning to darken when the dock finally came into view. It had been such a busy day that I’d barely noticed how quickly time had passed. I realized suddenly that I’d barely had anything to eat that day, and I made a mental note to have dinner with Olivia that night as soon as we got back. Maybe we could hit up one of those restaurants along the beach again.

There was a large black police van waiting for us on the dock, and I saw two men get out as Raymond pulled the boat in.

“Here we are,” he announced as he brought the boat to a stop. I climbed out immediately, eager to stretch my legs after sitting for over an hour.

“Hello,” one of the uniformed officers greeted us as we got off of the boat. “I’m Officer Stevens, and this is my partner, Officer Anderson.”

“Nice to meet you,” I stepped forward to shake their hands. “I’m Agent Marston with MBLIS. This is my partner, Agent Holm, and this is Officer Crowley and Officer Hanks.”

“We spoke on the phone,” Crowley said as he stepped forward. “Has there been any movement at the house?”

“None so far,” Stevens replied. “A pair of officers are stationed there now, but so far, it’s been totally quiet.”

“We should get down there ASAP and see for ourselves,” I replied.

Stevens nodded and began to lead us back to where the van was parked.

“I’ll uh… wait right here,” Raymond called after us as we began to walk away.

I turned around to look at him. There was something off about the way he’d said that, but I needed to focus on the mission first. I put the thought aside for the moment and followed Stevens over to the van.

The drive from the docks to the address that Antonio had given us was scarcely five minutes. It was an ordinary-looking building if a little run-down. There was nothing about it that stood out in particular from among the rest of the houses in the area. We drove a little ways past it and parked on the side of the street next to a police cruiser. From here, the house was still visible, though the cars were obscured enough by trees and other foliage that someone looking out from a window probably wouldn’t spot them at first glance.

Two different officers stepped out of the patrol car just as we got out of the van.

“Anything?” Stevens asked.

“Nothing.” One of the officers shook his head. “No movement since we got here.”

“Isn’t that a little strange?” I wondered out loud. I was sure that word would have gotten back by this point, so why wasn’t anything happening?

“Maybe it’s a trap,” Holm suggested.

“That may be the case.” Crowley nodded thoughtfully. “Regardless, we knew that was a possibility from the beginning. I think we should stick to the plan. Direct attack.”

“I think so too,” I agreed as I pulled my gun out of its holster. “No point in standing around here.”

Holm and the other officers drew their weapons as well. Then we moved in.

“Remember,” I warned as we stepped quickly toward the front of the house. “Daniela said the women would most likely be upstairs, but we can’t be sure. Their safety is the priority, do not shoot unless you’re sure they’re not in the crossfire.”

My heart beat faster the closer we got to the house. Once he was just a few yards away, Crowley broke into a run and headed straight for the door, kicking it in with an intense blow.

“Everyone freeze!” he roared as he stormed into the house, his gun held aloft. “This is the police!”

Holm and I raced in after him, followed by the other officers. As we spilled into the main foyer of the house, our weapons drawn and adrenaline pumping through our veins, one thing became abundantly clear.

The house was empty.

“Stay alert,” Crowley cautioned us before looking at the other officers. “They might still be here. Hanks and I will take the right if you two will clear the left.”

They took off to clear the few rooms on the main floor of the house, but I had a feeling that they wouldn’t find anything. Years of trusting my instincts to survive had taught me how to hone in on signs of life. The house just felt devoid of that.

Aside from a few couches and chairs, there was so little furniture that the place didn’t seem anything like a home. The walls were bare, with no photos or decorations of any kind. The floors were covered in a dingy brown carpet that looked like it hadn’t been vacuumed or washed in a long time. The walls might have been white, but in the darkness, without any interior lights on, they were a sinister blue shade.

I could see into the small kitchen from the main entryway. It was just as sparsely furnished and just as empty as the rest of the house. Really, the house was so open and devoid of furnishings that it would have been impossible for anyone to hide anywhere on the main floor. If someone was here, then they had to be on the second floor.

“Let’s head upstairs,” I suggested to Holm as the officers finished clearing the first floor.

“Okay,” he replied as he followed close behind me.

I stayed on high alert as we ascended the stairs. Though the house seemed empty, it was always possible that my hunch was wrong.

The upstairs seemed just as quiet as the first floor, though.

I turned to look at Holm before slowly placing my hand over the doorknob of the door nearest to us. After confirming that he was ready with a silent nod, I threw the door open and rushed inside, my gun at the ready.

“Empty,” I muttered as I took a quick look around the room. There wasn’t much to see, only a set of beds and a worn-out-looking chair in one corner.

I moved to the other side of the hall to the room just