rolled down his window. Pike slowed, and crept past the car.
Cole said, “Stop.”
Cole climbed out, and peeked into the car.
“Empty.”
“Let’s roll.”
Cole came back to the Jeep, but stopped as he was about to get in, and turned back to the car.
“I heard something.”
Pike shut off the Jeep.
Cole took a step back toward the car, then looked back at Pike.
“I heard it again. Something’s in the trunk.”
Pike climbed out, and joined Cole at the trunk.
Thump.
They both heard it.
Thump.
Then something went mmm-mmm-mmm.
Braun and DeLako and the sheriffs’ cars arrived as Pike popped the trunk. Carly Knox looked up at them. She was bound with duct tape and cord, and duct tape covered her mouth. The instant she saw them, she frantically tried to speak.
Pike lifted her out, and cut off her binds.
DeLako said, “Holy shit, who’s this?”
“Carly Knox. Isabel’s friend.”
Carly clawed the tape from her mouth.
“They tricked her. They didn’t find her at Peter’s, so they used my phone to trick her. They pretended to be me so she’d tell them where she was, and she did. I heard them. She thought it was me!”
“How long ago?”
“Five or six minutes. I don’t know—they just left!”
Pike ran to his Jeep.
“She was at the lifeguard stand, just west of here.”
Braun stopped him and opened the backseat door.
“Hang on. Stegner has to go with these guys.”
Braun waved two of the sheriffs closer.
“Ms. Knox can stay with us. The marshals are almost here. You should wait.”
Pike dragged Stegner out, dropped him, and climbed behind the wheel.
“I’m not waiting.”
Cole piled in, and Pike hit the gas. Two sheriffs scrambled to their car, but Pike did not slow.
53.
Pike braked hard when he reached Peter’s gate, and crept past the motor court.
“I make two sedans. They’re here, Braun.”
“How many?”
“Can’t see in from the front. ETA on the marshals?”
“Anytime. I’m calling in more sheriffs.”
“Call you back.”
Pike dialed Isabel. Her phone rang six long times before voice mail answered. Pike climbed out, and motioned for the sheriffs. They gathered between their cars.
Pike pointed out the access path.
“We’ll check the house from the beach. You guys post here, but stay back. If anyone tries to leave, stay back and follow.”
The older dep nodded.
“We got it.”
Pike and Cole ran down the path to the sand, passed the lifeguard stand, and jogged toward the house.
Peter Alan Nelsen’s beachfront home glowed like a lamp. They slowed as they neared, and crawled to the deck. Hicks and Isabel stood by the bar, Hicks gripping her arm. Blanch stood near Hicks, smiling. A tall, trim man in a western suit stood facing Hicks. The man wore a polymer vest over his jacket, and they seemed to be arguing. Pike made the man in the suit for Riley. Three bruisers the size of trucks also wore vests. The vests went well with their shotguns.
Cole nudged him.
“The glass door is open.”
Pike called Braun.
“Isabel is in the house. Six males. Four with vests, three shotguns. Two deps are out front. Cole and I are in the rear.”
“Copy that. DeLako’s coming.”
“Vest.”
“She’s good.”
Pike recited a four-digit number.
“Say back.”
Braun repeated the number.
“Tell DeLako. It’s the entry code to the front door.”
“I understand. Stand by. The marshals are here.”
Gregg’s voice came on the line.
“Cole?”
“Pike.”
“We have four cars here and Air Support on station. I have a SOG team in the air. ETA twenty. What do you want to do?”
“Set up and wait. Avoid a hostage situation. Let them leave. Take them down on the way out.”
“Sounds good.”
Cole nudged Pike again.
“Something’s up.”
Pike murmured into the phone.
“Wait one.”
Cole shifted, staring at something in the house.
“Not good. Not good not good.”
Riley took Isabel’s arm. He pulled her from Hicks. Hicks shouted, and waved his hand. Isabel stood between them.
Cole drew his pistol.
“Dude on the left. Watch the spread.”
“I see it.”
Back to Gregg.
“Something’s wrong. They’re arguing.”
The cowboy to Riley’s left circled toward Blanch. Blanch noticed, and turned to keep him in view. The remaining two cowboys drifted right, and Hicks started shouting.
Cole drew his legs under him, ready to go.
Pike’s heart slammed into a slow heavy roll.
Braun came on the line.
“Pike? It’s Braun. What’s wrong? What are they doing?”
“Arguing. They’re gonna pop.”
The rough men arrayed themselves like chess pieces. Tension spiked. Pike saw it in the cant of their heads and the way they moved. They were three heartbeats from killing each other, and Isabel was trapped in their hell.
Braun said, “Pike, damnit. Hang on. Let us get set up. We’re setting up now.”
Pike slipped the Python from its holster. Cole looked over and nodded.
“What are you doing,