Flashback (Kendra Michaels #11)

“Yeah, sure. I’ll keep an eye on that boat and call you if they seem to have an agenda or destination you might be interested in.”

“Great idea. Naturally I’ll do the same. Have a good day, Victor.” He hung up the phone and picked up his binoculars and once more trained them where Kendra was sitting on the deck. He much preferred watching her to baiting Victor Krebb. Though Krebb might be future amusement. What he was going to do with that smart, glowing bitch was the stuff his dreams were made of…

CHAPTER

17

It was just before sunset and the waters were choppy as Lynch piloted the boat toward a mountainous, green-sloped island.

“What’s this?” Kendra said.

“Another one of the Channel Islands.” Lynch looked at the navigation screen. “San Clemente.”

“I’ve never been to that one.”

“Most people haven’t. It’s administered by the navy. They took control of all of these islands during World War Two. They used some for bombing practice ranges, and others as outposts to monitor possible foreign invasions. Most have been turned over to the park service in the last few years.”

“What’s this one used for?”

“I honestly don’t know. Probably training, but from this map, it looks like the few structures are clustered on the island’s north side.”

“Is that where we’re headed?”

“No. It looks like we’re going to a cove on the south side. Williams steered this boat there, then went back to Catalina about ninety minutes later. We’ll go there and take a look around.”

“What if the navy objects?”

“It’s a fairly big island, and it looks like Williams was almost twenty miles away from the only active installation. We should be okay, but I’ll steer clear until after dark.”

Forty-five minutes later, Lynch steered the boat toward the isolated cove, which was home to four dilapidated buildings made of corrugated tin, a loading dock, and the remnants of an antenna that once towered over the complex. Vines now covered much of the area.

Lynch pointed toward the antenna. “This looks like one of those old monitoring stations I told you about.”

“Well, it kept the homeland safe during World War Two. But I’m not sure why Williams would bring the Morgan sisters to a place like this.”

“To seal them off from the world. Or, more importantly, to seal the world off from them. I can’t think of a better place. I actually feel good about having you here right now.”

“If you’re having thoughts about leaving me here, forget it.”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

Lynch eased the boat up to the loading dock and cut the engines. Kendra tied the landing ropes to the cleats. Only when Lynch turned off the deck lights did she realize how incredibly dark it was out there. There were no lights and no power at this long-abandoned installation, and the only sounds were of water lapping against the nearby rocks.

Lynch handed her a flashlight. “I think you’ll need this.”

Kendra, Lynch, and Harley left the boat and walked across the boarding dock, which creaked and splintered beneath them. Kendra could feel herself wincing with each step. Was this thing going to hold?

They finally made it.

Lynch aimed his flashlight beam toward the right, at a building that appeared to be living quarters. “Let’s start there, and we’ll work our way to the left.”

“No.”

“No?”

“It makes more sense for us to separate and start on each end. We’ll work our way to the middle, so we won’t miss them if we send them scurrying. I’m sure it’s what you would have done if you were here with anyone else.”

“I don’t like it.”