The Lost Bones (Widow's Island #8)(27)

“I won’t.” Cate glanced back at Adam, who had returned to sitting in the shade of the tree and closed his eyes. Henry stood a few feet away, his arms crossed in annoyance.

She ended the call and approached Henry. “Tessa and Logan are coming. If we can get Ashlee away from Rich, we can take her on the sheriff’s department boat.”

The words were barely out of her mouth when she heard voices in the woods. But they weren’t coming in their direction. She met Henry’s gaze. He nodded, and together they silently moved into the woods. She followed the sounds of arguing, keeping herself hidden behind tree trunks and thick bushes. The voices continued to move away, and she and Henry moved faster through the woods. Finally two men came into sight.

Rich.

He had a large plastic case and a bulging garbage bag with him as he argued with the second man. The two of them were on a path that took many minutes to lead out of the woods and into a cove. Cate and Henry reached the edge of the trees and watched the two men approach one of the boats on the “marina” dock that Cate had seen from the air. The second man carried two fishing poles and another garbage bag in his hands.

Michelle’s husband.

“He’s leaving,” Cate whispered to Henry. She couldn’t hear what the men were quarreling about and didn’t care. She just wanted Rich as far away as possible when they went to get Ashlee.

The two men loaded their things into the little boat as Cate and Henry hid behind trees. Rich jumped in and fussed around with the engine while the other man waited on the dock, watching.

Cate wanted to tell them to hurry up and leave, but she and Henry had no way off the island with Ashlee until Tessa arrived. Rich’s lingering with the boat was probably in their favor.

Rich got out of the boat and raised his arms as he continued arguing with Michelle’s husband. The second man kept pointing back at the boat and shaking his head.

Just leave.

Rich stomped by Michelle’s husband and headed back up the beach toward the woods.

Shit.

She and Henry scrambled to hide behind a huge dense rhododendron bush and held their breath as they heard Rich pass. Jogging footsteps sounded, and the second man ran after him.

“Is there something wrong with the boat?” Cate whispered.

“I don’t know,” said Henry. “But he left the fishing poles and tackle, so I assume he’s coming back.”

“Good point.” She shifted into a more comfortable position to wait. “I want to strangle Adam.”

“Get in line.”

“Earlier I was so pleased that he seemed on his best behavior today.”

“I think this is his best behavior.”

“What if we’d needed to leave in a hurry?” she fumed. “I trusted him.”

“He’s a good pilot . . . he’s pretty much the only pilot. Maybe next time search him for pot before riding with him.”

“I’m sure he’d find some other way to disappoint me.”

Henry took her hand and squeezed it. “Forget him. As soon as Tessa gets here, we’ll get Ashlee off the island. You did good today. Probably saved her life.”

“The medical supplies were your idea. I don’t know what I was thinking—that I would just show up looking for a pregnant woman?”

“You would have figured something out.”

“I still want Rich,” Cate stated. “He’s so close. He’s right within my grasp. And he’s going to answer for what he did to Jade.”

“He will. But Ashlee needs to come first.”

“Yes.”

Several minutes passed, and then Cate heard something. “Listen.”

“They’re coming back,” said Henry.

Cate listened harder. “That’s a woman. And she’s upset.”

Moments later Rich crossed Cate’s line of vision, and she caught her breath.

No.

He had Ashlee’s hand in his and was yanking her along the trail. Ashlee stumbled after him, her other hand under her huge belly. She was crying, begging him to slow down. Michelle’s husband followed several feet behind, also telling Rich to slow down.

Rich halted and spun around. He pointed at Michelle’s husband. “Do not tell me what to do with my wife.”

The man stopped and held up his hands. “You’re hurting her, man.”

“Mind your own business! She’s just seeing me off.” He gave Ashlee’s arm a shake and stepped close, putting his face close to hers. “Just like any good wife should do when her husband is leaving.” His cocky grin made Cate want to hit him.

Ashlee looked ready to collapse. Cate caught her breath as a ripple across Ashlee’s belly showed through her shirt, and the woman winced in pain.

“Jesus,” Henry muttered. “We’ve got to get her.”

Cate weighed her decisions. She was armed. She could order Rich to stop and release Ashlee. What she didn’t know was how he’d react. This wasn’t a man who listened to law enforcement orders. He did as he pleased. There was a good chance he was also armed, and based on how he’d treated Kori and Jade in the past, Cate worried for Ashlee’s safety.

Cate had no doubts he would hurt or even kill Ashlee to save himself.

“He’ll hurt her,” Cate whispered. “We stay back until he takes off.”