Page 23 of Once a Hero

On the other hand, yes.“Molyneux might’ve found them.”

“And thereby us, since we’re coming up to them,” Raynelle said.

“Ken, please check on Jake’s phone.” Beatrice unbuckled her safety belt and went to their stash of firearms. “What’s happening out there?”

“You know what your brother says about you and shotguns.” Kenichi laughed.

“That’s not my thing.” Beatrice slipped two handguns into her vest pockets. It would be hard to get them out if she needed them in an instant.

Kenichi whistled. “Houston, we have a problem.”

“What?”

“Jake is in the forest.”

“What I said.” Raynelle shook her head.

In front of them, two vehicles were parked right in the middle of the road.

There seemed to be someone still inside the vehicle.

Before Beatrice could say anything, Raynelle had parked their van, left the headlights on, and was walking toward the driver, who seemed to be looking her way through the rearview mirror.

Beatrice couldn’t hear what Raynelle said to the man, but she suddenly yanked open the door, and pulled the man out on the road. What looked like a rifle fell to the road. Raynelle kicked it away.

Why would that person have an assault rifle right in the middle of the redwood forest?

Raynelle stepped on his neck.

It looked like she was interrogating him.

Beatrice found some cable ties. She pulled up her bandana mask over her mouth and nose, and was about to exit the van when Kenichi grabbed the cable ties from her.

“Your brother would kill me if I let you walk out there.”

“Stop coddling me,” Beatrice snapped. “I pay your salary.”

“I would still not let you go out there even if you don’t pay me anything.” Kenichi put on a ski mask. “You’re like a sister to me, and I want to see you safe.”

And out he went.

Beatrice sat down at his laptop. Onscreen, she could see Jake’s phone. It was at five percent battery.

Her eyes widened when she saw the message.

“Over ten minutes ago. Where are they?” Beatrice decided to reply, even though it would look weird to Jake. On his phone, if he could see it, it would be as though he was talking to himself.

Beatrice: Are you okay?

Jake: Who is this?

Beatrice: A friend. Are you injured?

Jake: No. My associate is.

Beatrice: How?

Jake: Broken ankle.

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