Page 269 of Hidden Depths

Ward was out there.

The marina had gone strangely quiet.

The gulls had disappeared.

Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Then...

A single metallic clang echoed from somewhere behind the neighboring bait shop.

Ben looked toward the sound.

Too obvious.

Ward didn't even glance that direction.

Instead, his eyes shifted toward the opposite side of the dock.

Thomas smiled almost imperceptibly.

"They're testing you."

Ward answered without taking his eyes off the water.

"They're testing all of us."

Ivy carefully peeked through one of the dusty windows.

"The fishing boat..."

"It's gone."

My stomach tightened.

"Gone?"

She nodded.

"It backed out."

Ben frowned.

"No."

"It repositioned."

He lifted a pair of binoculars hanging beside the door.

"There."

Nearly half a mile offshore.

The same white fishing boat sat motionless beyond the channel markers.

Watching.

Waiting.