Ever Hayes - Redemption

“I understand. But what do I do about Danny?”

“Danny’s going to have to take care of himself,” Twix replied. “Trigger and I have to head out to Redemption for a few hours. It’s almost dark now. Do you promise you’ll stay here?”

“Yes.”

“Sir?”

“I said yes. I promise.”

“Okay.” Trigger stared him down. “Your wife could still be alive. You leave, and you will kill her.”

“I got it, damn it.”

They finally turned away and walked to the door. “Oh, and”—Twix turned back to the governor—“anything I ask or tell you to do—from here on out—you do with no questions. Is that clear?”

“Crystal,” Barnes replied tersely. “Crystal clear.”

Trigger and Twix exited the governor’s mansion and headed for their truck. “What was up with all that weatherman meteorology bullshit back there?” Twix shoved Trigger’s arm.

“Nothing wrong with getting a little education while we’re here, is there?” Trigger smiled. “That Damien is an interesting guy.”

“So he’s a meteorologist?”

“Among other things.”

“Who knew?”

Trigger opened up the passenger door. “Think the governor will sit tight?”

“If he has any brains at all.”

Along with major flooding, a big hurricane would typically bring mass power outages. Twix and Trigger were counting on that combination to provide the perfect cover for a rescue. But it could also present an opportunity for those who held the governor’s wife to make another move. If the Hexagon knew the storm was coming, the Qi Jia operatives at the Marine base did as well. They could anticipate a breach. They could easily take countermeasures or even move the prisoners. This was a blindfolded chess match. Neither side had any idea which pieces were being moved or to where. But someone was going to win…and someone was going to lose.

Deacon told me about the hurricane that was approaching Hawaii. Using satellite imagery at the Hexagon—and knowledge from an online meteorology degree he’d gotten from Penn State a few years back—Damien had been able to measure the storm at about 1,050 miles wide, traveling at approximately seventy miles per hour. He was already calling it a Category 4—and it was still growing. The eye was nearly one hundred miles wide itself and appeared as if it would pass directly over Hawaii late tomorrow. There would be tons of rain and ferocious wind—maybe even hail as it had formed way south in the eastern Pacific. No one on Redemption had ever experienced a hurricane, but Deacon claimed the last Category 4 to hit Hawaii was thirty years ago and it slammed Kauai with 150 mph winds. “That’s what Damien told me anyway.”

“Could it turn into a Category 5?” I asked.

“Doubtful,” Deacon shook his head. “According to Damien fives don’t form out here and almost never hit land as a five. It’s been over a decade since one even passed close to here—Hurricane Rick.”

That, at least, was some good news . Given what he’d told me, I knew we were already feeling the first effects of the storm. The light rain and wind had started over an hour ago. We were rather exposed on Redemption, so we were likely going to feel all of it. A storm of any magnitude would pound our houses—or worse. With its elevated structure, the Big House was the most exposed to the winds that would only increase as the hurricane approached. Deacon suggested we consider temporarily moving to the Hexagon. Only problem was we didn’t have a plane. We’d have to take a boat. I told him I’d discuss it with the others.

I gathered everyone in the kitchen of the tree house—Tara and Oliver, Kate, Jenna, Dad, and Kaci. Deacon and Royce stood against the back wall. No one had any objections to moving to Oahu—though Tara was worried about the safety of the trip with Oliver. Kate’s sensitive stomach—she had severe morning sickness—was also a concern, but everyone was up for trying.

I wasn’t meant to hear about the planned rescue attempt, but I was in the bathroom when Deacon and Royce passed by, and I remained silent so I could hear every word. Apparently, big hurricanes here brought major flooding, so much of the entire pink house property on Kauai could end up underwater. That was the one flaw in the captors’ defense system—the low elevation of their compound. Trigger and Twix were planning on being on Kauai when the hurricane hit—supposedly they were already on their way there—as close to the property as they could get. They wanted to make sure the captors didn’t move the prisoners—or flee without them—in the wake of the approaching storm. Damien was going to cut the power to all of the islands, including the Hexagon—tomorrow evening—so no one would have an eye on the scene, and Trigger and Twix would then try to breach the house. I heard Deacon say it was their only hope. I wasn’t convinced.

I could only imagine what could go wrong. I envisioned Trigger and Twix being seen somehow and Emily being killed—Abbey and Reagan too. I wanted to step out of the bathroom and tell them I thought it was a mistake… but I didn’t. What if it works? What if this is the only reasonable chance we have?

I exited the bathroom and found Dad in the kitchen. I told him what I’d overheard, and none of it surprised him. His only advice was, “Don’t say a word of this to Tara.”

I went back to our cabin, where Tara was busy packing for Oahu. I agreed with Dad that I shouldn’t say anything to her, but I also knew she didn’t trust me. How would she feel if she found out I’d kept this from her? It was her daughter whose life was at stake.

I decided—against all instincts and wisdom—to test the waters. “Tara, what do you know about hurricanes?”

“They’re big storms.” She basically ignored me.

Duh . “Yeah, I know. I mean, is there a lot of flooding with hurricanes? Are there tsunamis?”

“Sometimes… maybe… Ryan, I don’t have time to play twenty questions with you right now. What’s your point? What’s with this crap?”

Don’t be an idiot, Ryan. Don’t say it . “Sorry, I don’t know. I guess I’m just nervous.” Don’t say it . “I’ve seen videos of other hurricanes, and thought if there were big waves and flooding maybe…”

She walked out of the room, and I didn’t get to finish my sentence. I walked over to my closet and pulled out an overnight bag. I opened a drawer and grabbed a pair of jeans. Then I heard her voice behind me. “Maybe what?”

She startled me, and I glanced back. She was no longer moving around. She was standing still in the doorway, staring at me with a serious look on her face.

“I don’t know.”

“Ryan.”

I hate that look. Don’t say it . “Well…” Don’t say it . “The property where they are—where Emily is at—it’s not that far above sea level.”

“And?”

I sighed deeply. Don’t say it . “So… what if it floods? What if the house—” I saw her face blanch. You idiot .

“Can it—” She stopped herself. I nodded. “Ryan… what if it—”

I shrugged. “I don’t know, Tara.” She looked even more worried now. Didn’t think that was possible. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Tara didn’t disagree. Instead she turned around, calling over her shoulder, “Watch Ollie.” And she ran out the front door.

Crap.

She came back twenty minutes later. I tried to decipher her expression. All I saw was concern.

“What’d you find out?”

“You’re right. If this storm is anywhere near a Category 4, there will probably be major flooding. There always is on Kauai. That compound will probably be underwater.”