Forced to Kill

“So Dalton and Montez were in a home owned by the son of our old boss? What are the odds?”

“Senator Kallstrom’s also a member of CDT with your dad.”

Nathan shook his head, speechless.

“You’re not thinking what I think you’re thinking, are you?”

“On second thought, let’s risk getting pulled over. Punch it, Harv.”

Chapter 37

Harv broke every traffic law on the books getting down to Mission Bay. Fortunately, not a single cop saw any of it.

“Crap,” Harv said.

“What?”

“I forgot there’s no exit onto I-eight west and we just passed Sea World Drive.”

“Don’t worry about it. Take Rosecrans. We’ll take Sports Arena Boulevard to West Mission Bay. It’s not much a detour.”

“Lots of traffic lights.”

“We’ll just have to risk running them. The delay won’t be too bad. And Montez isn’t in a big hurry.”

“Do we know that for sure?”

“Blowing a kiss good-bye seemed awfully cocky. I’m willing to bet he thinks he’s home free.”

Harv’s Mercedes screamed down the Rosecrans exit and ran the red light at Hancock Street. The light at Kurtz turned green before he got there. He ran several more lights along Sports Arena Boulevard. The street changed to West Mission Bay Drive once they passed under the I-8. The late hour allowed Harv to reach ninety miles per hour as they crossed over the San Diego River. At Sea World, he pushed the Mercedes to the limit of its traction as he navigated the tight loop that would keep them on West Mission Bay.

“We’re less than a minute away.”

“Good driving, Harv.”

“Can we see the marina from the road?”

“I think so.”

“Let’s make one pass. If we can see the yacht, the reverse is also true. We’ll cruise by slowly, but not too slowly. We’re just a late-night driver in no hurry to get home.”

Harv slowed as they approached the Bahia Hotel.

At a pedestrian crosswalk, Nathan looked over his right shoulder toward the marina. He saw it right away-a large motor yacht, just pulling away from the marina.

“Is that our yacht?”

“Yes.”

“Damn it. We’re too late again.”

“Where can he go? We can call the harbor patrol and have the boat intercepted. I’m pretty sure SDPD has jurisdiction over Mission Bay.”

Nathan reached down to remove his shoes. “Make a U-turn and pull into the Bahia’s parking lot.”

“You are not going to-”

“He’s not getting away this time.”

Harv made an illegal U-turn at Mission Boulevard. “Nate, this is crazy.”

Nathan didn’t respond.

“You’re recovering from a nasty concussion. This isn’t Tahiti. That water’s cold. And you’ll be out of communication. You can’t take your radio.”

He pulled the Predator knife from his ankle sheath. “This is all I need, but to make you happy, I’ll duct tape my Sig to my left calf. Don’t worry. I’ll shake the water out before I shoot anyone.”

“Well, that’s comforting. Do you realize how dangerous this is? That yacht’s got a huge screw. It’ll suck you down and chew you up like hamburger.”

“Not if I’m careful. I’ll grab the safety rail or the mooring cleat on the rear deck and tuck my legs up. I’ll be okay.”

“I have no desire to push your wheelchair around for the next forty years, assuming you live through the mutilation and don’t bleed out on the swim back. Come on, Nate. This is reckless at best, suicidal at worst.”

“And?”

Harv shrugged. “So let me do it.”

“I’m the stronger swimmer and you hate cold water.”

Harv turned left onto Gleason Road. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

“Just keep the yacht in sight for as long as possible. If it heads for open ocean, drive out to the jetty.”

They raced past a four-story hotel on the left. The right side of the road featured diagonal parking with a strip of grass paralleling the sandy shore of Mission Bay. The water looked like hammered pewter. Nothing a little mind over matter couldn’t overcome.

“This is becoming a habit.”

“What?”

“Jumping headfirst into ops without any intel or plan. Montez can’t escape. Where can he go? Even if he makes it into open water, the Coast Guard can easily intercept him.”

“Harv, everything you said is true. I won’t deny any of it, but there are children involved. What’s the first thing Montez will do if he thinks he’s cornered?”

“They may not be on the yacht. You could be risking your life for nothing.”

“Think about it. Would Montez try escaping like this without hostage insurance? I saw one of the girls in the van.” He pointed. “Park right here, next to this little building.” Nathan pulled off his shirt, but left his pants on. “There’s some wind chop. He’ll never see me through it. Plus, I’m going to swim most of it underwater.”

“Listen to yourself. You’re not superhuman. I’m seriously thinking about pulling executive override.”

“Harv, we agreed to never implement EO except in the direst circumstances. If you call this off, I’ll honor your decision, but you’re forgetting another promise we made.”

“What’s that?”

“We promised Cantrell to keep this under the radar. We can’t do that if the harbor patrol or Coast Guard gets involved.”

“Is that really why you’re doing this?”

He taped the Sig securely to his calf and tightly wrapped its entire length. “You know it isn’t.”

“Is there anything you’d like me to say at your eulogy?”

“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

“Plan B?”

“If I can’t get aboard, or I’m blown trying, we’ll fall back and call the harbor patrol. Like you said, where’s he gonna go?”

Harv took Nathan’s cell. “Better get swimming. The yacht will be rounding the corner any minute. If he heads in the other direction, toward Crown Point, we’re screwed. I’m calling the harbor patrol if he does.”

“Agreed, but I think he’s heading for the open ocean to dump the Daltons. Alive.”

“Good hunting, partner.”

Chapter 38

Harv watched his friend wade into Mission Bay and begin swimming. At this time of year, the seawater temperature near the shore would be in the high sixties, max. But if the cold shocked or bothered Nathan, it sure didn’t show.