Page 63 of Four Cards Exposed

Shit.

Where the hell did she go?

It’s like she disappeared.

Blood bubbled on the surface of his shoulder, making a disgusting, squelching sound. He didn’t want to think of what the knife had done to his shoulder.

James ignored it.

He kept his gun in his hand—safety off—as he ran through the next door.

He strained, listening. He could no longer hear the constant, throbbing sound of the engines.

Did the FBI shut down the engines, or did the storm take them out?

Can a storm sink a boat this size?

He realized he had no idea what it took to sink a boat, but he’d seen Titanic.

He had to get Susan out of here.

But to do that, he first had to find her.

The ship rolled again, slamming him against the corridor wall.

The boat was getting hammered.

James held on to the handrail with his good arm, his right arm hanging loosely by his side.

An officer ran in the opposite direction to him, carrying an armful of life jackets. His dark hair was dripping wet, as if he’d been out in the storm.

“Help me!” James said urgently. “I’m looking for a dark-haired woman who came this way just seconds ahead of me.”

“Get out of here, man,” the officer said, his eyes round and crazed. He jumped back as far as he could as he passed James, as if whatever James had was contagious. At the last moment, he turned around and pushed a life jacket into James’s arms.“We’re sinking.”

James held back a groan.

What are the fucking chances?

“Shit!”

That was his partner’s voice on the radio.

“Lorraine?”

“Shit. Shit. Miguel Mendoza and one of his men just fell into the sea.”

“You have Ernesto?” James held his breath.

Please tell me you have him.

Tell me this hasn’t all been for nothing.

“Ernesto is secure.” Lorraine paused for a second. “James! Where the hell are you and Susan? We need to get out of here right now!”

I’m looking for her.

“Give us a minute,” he said, struggling in a hallway that was no longer horizontal. He climbed, even though he knew in reality he was heading down—towards the engine room.