Page 47 of Ozzie

“Thank you!” JB says, looking up.

With only two hours to go, we all forego trying to get any more sleep, and keep watch.

“The forecast changed for the better. It’s warming up, and it’s supposed to be thirty-two today,” Harding says.

“Which means more people will come into town,” I say.

“How do you know if someone is simply coming into town versus looking for us?” JB asks, staring out the window.

Lightning stands and stretches. “You don’t. That’s why you have to watch people and try to predict where they’re going. And always be ready.”

“Speaking of always being ready. We have trouble,” Harding says. “A boat is docking at the terminal. We need to get out of here.”

Lightning and I run to her window, see the boat, and the four very armed men walking to the front of it.

“They could be coming in from both sides,” Lightning says.

Harding goes out first, then motions for us to follow. Lightning goes next, followed by JB, and I take the rear as I have been.

We follow her across the street. I wish I had that snowmobile because the roads are pure ice, and it takes effort not to slip.

Once across the street, she turns a corner and fumbles with a door. “This is the coffee shop. Hopefully, the owners don’t show up anytime soon.”

We all funnel inside and to the back, out of sight. JB goes straight to the refrigerator and grabs a sandwich.

When he spins around, he finds us all staring at him. “What? I’m starving. Aren’t you?”

My stomach growls in response.

“I’ll leave more money,” Harding says as we all grab another sandwich while we wait.

Since we don’t want to attract attention, we don’t turn on any lights. We are sitting behind the counter where no one can see us eating our sandwiches in the dark.

Several boots crunch on the snow outside the shop, and we freeze.

“I’m telling you, they will use the water for an escape. We need to keep working our way up the coast,” a man with an accent says.

“Or they are waiting out the weather in any of these buildings,” says another man with the same accent.

“Turkish,” I whisper, recognizing the accent.

“This was a professional team that came here to rescue that boy. They aren’t going to sit around and wait to be caught. My guess is they are already out of the country and we missed our chance,” the first guy says.

“No one is getting out of here in this weather. Fine, let’s go back to the boat and head to the next port.”

Footsteps crunch as the men run back to where they came from.

“We need to know if they really are leaving that terminal,” Harding says. “I’m going to get eyes on them.” She goes to stand, and I pull her back down.

“Or this is all a setup to lure us out.”

She rolls her eyes. “No shit. I know what I’m doing.”

I let go of her sleeve. “Sorry. You’re right.” My mind immediately goes to Piper, who would need that warning. No, I need to stay focused. “I’m going with you,” I say.

Harding raises a brow.

“It’s better I go than be cooped up in here right now.”

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