Missing in Mudbug (Ghost-in-Law #5)(44)

“Yeah. I haven’t been out here to work at night yet. I was waiting until I knew my way around a bit better, but I need to be able to identify the sounds.”

“That’s a good idea. Most of your work will happen or can be put off until daylight hours, but you never know when you will have to venture out at night. Sometimes we get a kid who doesn’t listen to his parents and wanders off into the swamp.”

“Ugh. I hadn’t even thought about that.”

“It’s not as bad as it sounds—from your end anyway. The town pulls together on that sort of thing, so there’s never any shortage of volunteers. All of them know these swamps like their own backyard, and we never travel in singles. Not at night.”

Colt stepped into the boat and moved to the steering column. As Jadyn started to step in beside him, a gunshot ripped through the night air and a split second later, she heard a bullet whiz by her head.

Immediately, she jumped off the side of the pier opposite the shot, and sank up to her chest in the shallow water and mud. The gun fired again and she heard a large splash on the opposite side of the pier.

Colt!

A burst of panic raced through her as she worried that the shooter had hit his mark this time. She crouched behind one of the huge pylons and peered under the pier, trying to see something in the inky dark. She’d dropped her flashlight when she jumped—not that it would have done her any good soaking wet, and it would have given away her position—but she still felt more vulnerable without it. Her gun was still strapped to her waist, but the rounds were saturated and useless.

Bottom line—she was trapped.

She felt something bump against her leg and barely stifled a scream. What if that sound hadn’t been a bullfrog after all? She’d seen the boat’s spotlight reflecting off gators’ eyes on the way to Bart’s camp, the number increasing as they wound deeper and deeper into the swamp. Could she risk leaving the water? What if the shooter had a night vision scope? A second later, the water erupted and something large burst through the surface right next to her.

Before she could scream, a hand clamped over her mouth and Colt said, “It’s me.”

Relief rushed through her so strongly that she felt slightly weak. She clutched the pylon to keep her balance with one arm and wiped the water from her eyes with her free hand.

“Were you shot?” she asked.

“No. I dove just as the second round came. It’s a good thing. I think he would have gotten me.”

“Can you tell where he is?”

“Not for certain, but based on the direction of the shot, I’d say down the bayou to the right.”

“Where he can sit calm and wait,” Jadyn said. “We’re totally screwed. There’s nothing to stop him from paddling right on top of us and we’d never see him coming.”

“We’d hear him, but yeah, it’s not optimal.” He peered under the dock. “My rifle is on the side of the boat next to the steering column. I have enough room to maneuver under the pier without getting it wet.”

“It’s too dangerous. He’s got to have some sort of night vision to make those shots. He’ll see you reach over the side.”

“We don’t have another choice,” he said and ducked down under the pier.

Jadyn crouched lower, trying to watch his progress, but she may as well have been looking into a black hole. The sounds of lightly splashing water were the only indication she had of his passage. It felt like forever, but finally, she heard a thump, probably Colt grabbing hold of the side of the boat. She closed her eyes and said a prayer that the shooter didn’t see him reach for the gun, but before she could even finish the thought, another gunshot blasted through the silence.

Involuntarily, she ducked lower and squeezed more tightly behind the pylon. Had Colt been hit? Without knowing how close the shooter was, did she dare call out?

Taking a chance, she whispered, “Colt?”

Only the sounds of swamp creatures answered her. “Colt?” she whispered a bit louder.

Again, no response.

Should she go look for him? The tide was going out. If he was unconscious, he’d be swept away from the dock and then impossible to find. Before she could change her mind, she ducked under the pier, but before she could take a step, her face slammed into something hard.

“Jesus,” Colt said. “What are you doing here?”

“I was afraid you’d been shot.”

“Damned close. The bullet grazed my arm as I was pulling the rifle over the side of the boat. Did I hit you?”

Jadyn rubbed her throbbing nose. “Yeah, but I’ll live.”

“Then let’s get this show on the road before he moves closer. He can’t be far away.”

They slid out from under the pier and Colt crept up the bank until he could balance the rifle across the pier.

“Come as close as you can without exposing yourself,” he said. “I’m going to fire in the direction I think he’s in. I don’t expect to hit him, but I’m hoping to scare him enough to leave. If you hear his boat fire up, then run for the camp.”

“And if there’s two of them?” One could easily reposition the boat while the other kept watch for any sign of movement.

“Yeah, I’m not willing to consider that.”

“Okay.” Jadyn wasn’t thrilled with the thought either. What he suggested was very dangerous, but they couldn’t stay where they were. If the shooter didn’t get them, something even worse was likely to.