Page 74 of Hidden Tide
The thought makes my stomach tighten.
My compass points home.
Whatever that means, someone else may now be able to follow it.
Keating’s phone rings.
He answers and listens.
“Understood. Keep searching.”
He ends the call.
“The response boat found no sign of the vessel. It most likely passed beneath the Golden Gate Bridge before they reached the channel.”
“They got away,” Storm says.
“For now.”
Another officer enters carrying the tracker inside a clear evidence bag.
“It’s a common magnetic GPS unit,” he says. “No serial number. The data transmits through a prepaid cellular account.”
“Can you trace it?” Ben asks.
“We’ll try, but whoever purchased it knew how to hide their identity.”
“Fingerprints?”
“The surface was wiped.”
Keating points to the evidence table. “Log it and send it to the federal team.”
The officer sets the bag beside the other evidence.
His radio crackles.
He listens for a moment before looking at Keating.
“Commander, the deputies at the beach house are asking for instructions. The three Sinclair sisters are packed and ready.”
“We move them separately,” Keating says. “One deputy vehicle at a time, different routes. No destination transmitted by radio. The lead officers receive sealed instructions after they’re underway.”
“Where are we taking everyone?” Mom asks.
“Secured Coast Guard housing here at Fort Baker. The buildings have controlled access, and we can protect you without moving you across the bay.”
Storm walks to the window.
Through the glass, San Francisco’s lights flicker on the opposite shore.
“We can see home from here, but we can’t go there.”
Ward moves beside her. “Only until this is over.”
“What about my restaurant?” Willow asks through the phone. “I have a kitchen full of employees expecting me tomorrow morning.”
Keating’s gaze shifts to Ward’s phone.
