Page 121 of Hidden Depths

Or perhaps...

Like a promise.

Far beyond the horizon...

Hidden behind the curve of the sea...

A black RHIB idled with its engines barely above a whisper.

A man lowered a pair of military-grade binoculars.

"So..."

He murmured.

"Hale finally showed himself."

Another man checked the suppressor on a compact rifle.

"What are your orders?"

The first man never looked away from Sea Whisper.

"Wait."

A slow smile crossed his face.

"Let them tell each other the truth."

He raised the binoculars once more.

"It'll hurt a lot more that way."

22

Ward

I've interrogated terrorists.

Negotiated with warlords.

Sat across tables from men who smiled while planning murders.

Nathan Hale wasn't any of them.

The first thing I noticed...

Was his eyes.

Old.

Tired.

Honest.

But honest men can still carry dangerous secrets.

Storm stood quietly beside me.