Cate’s fingers shook as she pulled out her phone. “Are you hurt?”
“No.” Julie jerked her shoulders, pulling at her taped arms. “Call the police and then cut me loose.” She jerked her shoulders again. “Fucking assholes,” she muttered.
Cate dialed Tessa directly. Her best friend was a county deputy and would know the fastest way to get a search activated. “How long ago did they leave?” Cate asked Julie, waiting for Tessa to answer. She switched her phone to speaker and set it on the counter so she could tackle Julie’s bindings.
“It’s been almost two hours. Two men.” Julie rattled off descriptions. “They were dressed in camo and black T-shirts. Black ski masks. Both tall. Probably six-one or -two. Glocks.”
“Why? Drug seekers?” Digging in a drawer, Cate found a pair of scissors. Her hands were still shaking as she sliced through the tape, trying not to cut Julie.
What did they want with Henry?
“No. Someone they know was shot, and they wanted medical help. They threatened to shoot me if Henry didn’t go with them.”
“Hey, Cate.” Tessa answered the phone call, her voice filling the small office.
“Tessa, I’m at the clinic. Julie was tied up, and she says two men with guns forced Henry to go with them a couple of hours ago.” Cate repeated Julie’s descriptions as her mind shifted into fast-forward, worrying about Henry and debating her next actions. She freed Julie’s arms, and the nurse took the scissors to cut away the duct tape from her legs.
“Hang on,” Tessa said. In the background, Cate heard her radio another deputy, Bruce, to get to the clinic immediately. “Bruce is twenty minutes out,” she told Cate. “I’m at home, so I can be there in ten. Do you have a vehicle description?”
“No,” said Julie. “But they said something about a boat. I don’t know where it’s docked, but I got the impression they were leaving the island right away.”
More talking in the background.
“I’m sending Bruce to the marina at Harlot Harbor instead of the clinic,” said Tessa. “And I’ll call Kurt to check the marina at Bishop Bay. Henry has cameras at the clinic, right?”
“Yes,” Cate said in unison with Julie.
“Pull up the video. I’ll be there ASAP.”
Eight minutes later, Tessa Black strode in the front door of the clinic. She wasn’t in uniform, but she’d put on a vest and her duty belt. “What do you got?”
Cate’s friend was in work mode. Both of them had spent many years in law enforcement. Tessa with the Seattle Police Department and Cate with the FBI. But the two had eventually returned home to tiny Widow’s Island in the Pacific Northwest, drawn back by family and possibly something more intangible. Tessa was now engaged to Cate’s brother, Logan.
Her heart now beating normally, Cate had also moved into work mode while pulling up the clinic video. She’d left the FBI months ago, unable to deal with particular stresses of the job, and now ran a bookstore and bakery. But her mind had effortlessly shifted into a mental FBI zone.
Find Henry.
“We’ve got video of them coming in and then leaving through the front entrance,” said Cate.
“Show me.”
Julie started the footage on the computer screen again, and Cate stepped back to give Tessa more room. She had already watched the footage five times and had strong opinions about what she’d seen, but she wanted to hear Tessa’s take first.
The video had color but no sound. The first man entered, his face covered with a mask, and Cate agreed with Julie’s guess about his height. He quickly scanned the room, then gestured behind him, and a second man appeared. They looked like twins. Same build, same height, same mask, and dark clothing. They strode forward, determination in their steps.
“No fear,” murmured Tessa, her gaze locked on the screen.
“None,” agreed Cate.
They vanished from the camera’s view.
“I’d heard the front door notification ding,” said Julie. “But I was typing with my back to the waiting area. By the time I turned, they were in the office. They moved fast.”
“They clearly knew where they were going,” said Tessa. “Did you see any men of their size come in earlier today? Maybe just to look around?”
“Cate asked me the same thing, but I didn’t notice if it happened.” Julie’s voice cracked, and Cate set her hand on her shoulder.
“We can review video from the entire day,” said Cate. “Maybe yesterday too.”
“If they cased the clinic, I think they would have done it today,” said Julie. “They were in a hurry. They wanted help tonight. I can’t see them waiting from yesterday to get help. Their friend or whoever sounded like he was in bad shape.”
“Show them leaving, please,” requested Tessa.
Cate steeled her stomach. The first time she’d watched them march Henry out the door, she’d nearly vomited. Julie started the second video. One man walked to the door, his weapon at his side. He opened it and glanced outside and then gave a jerk of his head for the other to follow. Henry appeared. He was in navy scrubs with a light-blue medical gown wrapped around his head. The gown’s arms were tied around his neck, and its strings were knotted to keep it in place. A makeshift hood. His hands were duct-taped behind his back. The second man walked behind him, one hand on Henry’s shoulder to guide him and a large duffel assumably with medical supplies in his other. He’d tucked his pistol into his camo pants at the small of his back. Henry tripped over the doorsill, and the second man grabbed his upper arm to steady him.
Tessa blew out a breath. “Again, please.” The three of them silently watched again.
“I think the first man’s name is Scott,” said Julie. “He was the one in front as they left. The other man had said his name and was immediately cut off.”
“Any accents?” asked Tessa.
“No. The other had a heavy smoker’s voice, though.”
“Did you smell cigarette smoke?” asked Cate.
Julie tipped her head to one side as she thought. “No. But they did smell like they hadn’t showered in a few days. Their pants and boots were dirty.”
“Maybe living rough,” said Tessa. “I requested both marinas to pull up video for the last few hours. Kurt and Bruce will let me know what they find.”
“At least no ferries until midday tomorrow,” said Cate. “If they’re leaving the island, it will have to be by private boat.”
“Boating in the dark,” Tessa said grimly. “Not the smartest move.”
“None of what they’ve done is smart,” said Cate. “Except wear the masks.” She rubbed at the back of her neck.
Is Henry all right?
“They move with confidence . . . how were they when they confronted you in the office?” asked Tessa.
“The same,” said Julie. “They had me turned around and a gun at my head before I could think.” She paused. “The only time I saw doubt or uncertainty was when Henry told them to get the injured guy to a hospital. He’d been shot in the stomach and was running a fever. The second man—not Scott—seemed to waver and want to go to the hospital.” Julie glanced at Cate. “Scott said that if the other man dies, he’ll kill Henry.”