“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.”
Henry nodded.
Rich pulled Ashlee across the beach and onto the dock. Michelle’s husband followed them. He was silent, but Ashlee continued to plead with her husband to slow down or let go. “The baby’s coming,” she begged. “I need to lie down.”
“Shut. Up.” Rich pulled her along the flimsy dock.
“He’s going to put her on the boat!” Henry said.
Shit.
Rich shoved Ashlee into the boat, and she nearly toppled into the water. He jumped in and started the engine.
Cate stepped out from the woods and started to sprint across the beach, Henry close behind her.
Rich threw off the lines as the engine sputtered and gave off a loud whine before continuing. Rich stepped back to the wheel. The boat roared and lurched away from the dock.
Cate leaped up the steps to the dock, but Michelle’s husband put out his arms, stopping her.
“He doesn’t want his wife to see a doctor,” he told her.
“I’m not a fucking doctor,” Cate yelled at him, furious that he was defending Rich. She watched Rich’s boat speed farther and farther away. He looked back, and even though he was too far away to make eye contact, Cate felt his stare burn through her.