“Which members of the Hellenic Police Force are involved in the sting? We’ve had no word,” he said to Sister Dawn.
Sister Dawn brushed his words away with an almost dismissive gesture. “I’ll forward you full documentation.”
“Regardless,” said Commander Liourdis, “we have medical supplies on board. We can attend to this group and take them with us, allowing you to finish your investigations here.”
I turned and watched her stare at him, unblinking, as if calculating her next move.
“What you can do is help us secure the prisoners here on the island,” she said. “Please, we’ll show you the way up to the vineyards.”
“No!” I whirled around to the commander, electricity firing across my skin and scalp, no longer measuring my words. “It’s a trap. They’ll kill you. They’ll be waiting in ambush. They’ll kill you and kill us. The truth here will never come out.”
The muscles in the commander’s jaw pulled taut. “Enough!” he told Sister Dawn. “What we saw when we arrived was a situation out of control in every which way. We’re taking control. We are escorting this group to the mainland under armed guard and delivering them to the police.”
A silent message passed between Brother Sage and Sister Dawn.
“Very well,” said Sister Dawn. “You go ahead and do that, and I’ll coordinate things from this end.”
“Okay, people,” barked another member of the coast guard. “Hands on heads and walk to the shore. Anyone who takes their hands from their head or attempts to run in any direction will risk being shot.”
“Commander,” said Sethi. “There are people up on the cliff with semi-automatics. It’s not safe to proceed. You should move your men. They’re already at risk.”
“Lieutenant Georgiades, can you assure me of the situation at hand here?” The commander studied her face.
“Of course,” she replied, turning and raising an arm straight above her head.
Immediately, the air filled with the rattle and roar of gun blasts. Two of the coast guards fell on the sand.
Commander Liourdis turned on his heel and scanned the cliff above, shock registering on his face. He made a call to his boat.
Gray sprinted to grab my hand, zigzagging with me back to the cliff base.
Harrington stood his ground, shooting at the coast guards, while Brother Sage and Sister Dawn ran for cover.
“No, you don’t get to get away! This is for Noah.” Jennifer followed them.
“Jenny!” Sethi charged after her.
Jennifer made a grab for one of the guns that we’d been forced to leave behind.
Sister Dawn shot at Jennifer, one of the bullets hitting her in the chest. Flung back on the ground, Jennifer shot back before she collapsed unconscious. Her third shot made contact with Brother Sage, and he grabbed his shoulder, wincing in pain.
Roaring, Sethi leaped to the ground and rolled, snatching up a gun and firing at Brother Sage and Sister Dawn.
A bright red patch bloomed across Sister Dawn’s white shirt. She doubled over then tumbled to the ground.
The boom of the machine gun from the coast patrol ended it.
The Saviours that lined the cliff edge vanished.
The beach fell silent but for the rush of the ocean.
Sethi turned his head, crying out at the sight of Jennifer lying on the driftwood. Rushing to her, he gathered up her limp body in his arms.
Brother Sage came staggering towards us, one hand up in surrender.
“Thank God.” Brother Sage had his other hand clamped onto his bleeding shoulder. “I was that woman’s captive. She told me she’d shoot my wife and daughter if I didn’t do as she said. They kept us chained up and drugged here. We’ve been hallucinating for days.”
Kara walked steadily towards him, stopping immediately before him. “I am not your daughter.” In a swift, tight movement, she plunged a knife deep into his stomach.
He stared back at her, his eyes glazed with astonishment. As he grasped Kara’s arms, his knees buckled.
She pushed him back roughly, his blood spilling red onto the white sand as he fell.
82. I, Inside The Walls
I CAUGHT SIGHT OF THE SHOCKED faces. My mother and Cormack, mouths open, unable to conceive of the girl who just killed. Girls don’t kill. No one thinks they do.
Until they do.
I let the knife drop from my hand as I watched a boat row out from the shore.
It’s Santiago.
He’s finally leaving the island I brought him to so many years ago. He waved at me.