Page 29 of Callous Shot

“No. Stay the fuck away from the river. If you fall in, you’ll drown. The current’s too strong,” Ryker bit out.

“But—”

“I’m not fucking joking, Dan. It’s a tidal river. We haven’t even been able to bring the smaller boats into the port this week because of the rain. We have to wait for the water levels to drop.”

I swallowed. Why didn’t I know when to shut up? “Oh. Okay. Sorry.” I glanced around us wildly, jabbing my finger towards a tangled mess of branches and brambles. “Uh…what if one of us hides behind those shrub things?”

“That works. I’ll go to the boat. You go there. Jay, you’re behind the hedge. Keep your phones on you.” Ryker jogged away, and I breathed a sigh of relief, ducking down behind the shrubs as Jay disappeared behind the hedges that lined the open area we’d been standing in.

Now, we had to wait and hope Jay’s family accountant showed up along with some other shady characters who might have some answers about this whole fucked-up mess we were in.

We didn’t have to wait long. My phone buzzed with the group chat Ryker had set up just before we left the hire car.

Nova:

Grey Nissan Juke just parked on other side of bridge

Me:

Could be our man

King:

Can you get a visual?

Nova:

I’ll try

A picture came through of a balding man in a suit clutching a leather folder to his chest, almost immediately followed by an affirmative from Jay. It was him. Jay’s family accountant.

I shifted in my spot, waiting. Bloody hell, it was bleak here, with all this rain and the churning river, crouching in the mud while branches whipped at my face. Good thing I had a mask on, or my face would be looking a lot less pretty after this.

The same man from the picture came into view, hunched over against the rain and wind, sinking onto the bench in the centre of the clearing. Ducking down, I held myself as still as I could, straining to hear anything above the rushing water and pattering of rain, when I caught a low whine in the distance. I stiffened, holding my breath, but the rain was too loud for me to make out what it was, until three dirt bikes came into view.

They screeched to a halt in the clearing in front of me where the accountant was waiting, and my phone began vibrating against my thigh. I fished it out of my pocket, doing my best to shelter it from the rain as I read through the messages. Right. We were supposed to be filming and taking photos.

I quickly flipped to my front camera, hitting the button to record. One of the bikers seemed to be in discussion with the accountant, and after a couple of minutes, they exchanged a small backpack for the folder the accountant had been holding. The second the exchange had been made, the accountant legged it out of the clearing, leaving the three bikers in the centre and the three of us hiding around the edges. What now?

My phone buzzed in my hand, still recording, and I wiped at the rain on my screen so I could swipe open my group chat.

King:

Nova. Accountant heading your way. Don’t be seen. Everyone hold your positions

Nova:

Got it

Jay:

We need to find out who these people are. Can’t hear anything or see anything identifiable

Me:

Yeah. I can’t pick up anything

King: