Reese glanced at the boat’s compass built into the captain's console and turned the helm just slightly to point them east.
"What are you doing?" asked Tony. “Baltimore is that way," he said and thrust a thick arm south.
Reese nodded. "Trust me, there is no other direction I want to go than south, but if we go that way, we’re going to run right into Cape Cod. We've got to get around the hook first."
"The hook?” Tony asked.
"What are they teaching in school these days?" demanded Jo from her position closer to the water on the tilted deck. "He's talking about Cape Cod, boy," she snapped. "We gotta get around that thing before we can turn south."
Reese stared at the horizon as Tony and Jo traded good-natured barbs about education and the coastline of the United States. He smiled to himself as the bow lifted over a slight wave and Tiberia continued to make her way east.
Open ocean lay before him—the open expanse of Massachusetts Bay, and beyond that, the Atlantic. The water would be far rougher on the other side of Cape Cod, but Reese didn't care. They sailed in the right direction. There wasn't a single soul around that threatened them, and the weather was clear.
"I'm coming home, baby…”
Chapter 22
Lavelle Homestead
Northwest of Charleston, South Carolina
Cami sat back and smiled. The expanded kitchen table, once they’d added the missing leaves, was just big enough for Amber, Mitch, Gary, Mia, Junior, Caleb, and herself. There was also enough space for one more setting, and Cami forced herself not to look there. That was where Reese would sit…if he were home. She inhaled a deep breath and stood. It was time for work.
“Okay everyone, now that we’re all together and somewhat rested—”
“And full, after that delicious breakfast,” Mia added.
“Yes, thank you, Cami,” Gary said, which ignited a chorus of thanks from around the table.
Cami smiled. “It’s my pleasure. Now, before we get started on what’s going on and what’s going to happen today—” she held up her hand to stop Gary. “We’ll get to you and Mitch in a minute. Just hear me out first, please.” He nodded, so she continued. “I think we have to delegate a very important task.”
The boys looked at her with wide eyes, as if they found themselves privy to top secret information for adults only.
“We need two strong people to be lookouts.” She crossed her arms. “They need to be fast, smart, and able to spy on people without being seen. And they have to pretend to be doing something else…like…I don’t know,” Cami said, as she stepped away from the table and looked outside through the slit in the plywood over the kitchen window. “Like, playing or something. Do we know two people who can do that?”
Junior shot his hand up, and when Cami didn’t call on him, put both hands up, then grabbed one of his brother’s hands and raised that, too. “Ms. Cami! Ms. Cami! We can!”
Cami turned around. “Really? It’s very important. You’d need to pretend to play but keep a close eye out on anyone who walks or drives down the street. You’d have to come tell us when anyone is coming near the house. Do you think you can do that?”
The boys nodded vigorously. Then they looked at their mom. Mia smiled and gave her consent.
“Okay then, you two head outside and start spying…I mean, playing,” Cami said with an exaggerated wink. The boys scrambled from the table, in a tangle of pushes, shoves, and squeals, until the back door slammed, and they disappeared into the yard with a final hoot.
The adults shared a laugh, then Cami got down to the real business. “Now. Gary, Mitch—did you two make any decisions last night? If you want to go, the car is still yours and it’s got at least half a tank, which should be more than enough to get you home and back—if you need to.”
Gary looked at Mitch and nodded. “We talked it over, and you’re right, Cami.”
Cami grinned. “Of course, I am, but go on…”
“Hooo boy, it’s gettin’ thick in here…” muttered Amber.
“It feels wrong to take off after hearing about such an awful attack as last night,” Gary said with a nod toward Mia, “but I can’t leave Elizabeth alone.”
Cami nodded in agreement, then noticed Amber and Mitch share a look. “Like I said last night, you two are more than welcome to stay here if you change your mind, and of course you can bring Elizabeth here as well, if things get too rough at your place.”
“And you’re free to visit whenever you want,” Amber added, then blushed.
Mitch grinned through his beard. “I’d like that.”
Gary smiled at the kids, then looked at Mia and finally Cami. “You’re sure you’ll be okay?”
“Yes,” Cami said with a smile. “Mia, Amber, and I talked it over last night. We’ll be fine. We don’t need a man around the house—we can fend for ourselves.”
“Well, I have two men—Smith and Wesson…” Amber said as she patted her holster.
As the adults shared a laugh, Caleb erupted through the back door. “There’s people coming! They parked a car in the street, and they’re being all sneaky. They’re going to the front door!”
“Caleb, take your brother up to the media room,” Cami instructed. “You know the little room with the little door?” The little boy nodded. “Good, go on up there and be sure to go through the little door and hide. Can you do that? Don’t come back till your mom gets you, okay?”
“Cami, my boys—” Mia began, already out
