Incriminating Evidence (15 page)

Jessica realized that she was digging her fingernails into her clenched fists. She needed to stay alert and help Zach. But to do that she had to stay calm. The wind started whipping up, and she pushed her hair back out of her eyes.

She looked down at the tracker. “Ana’s getting closer.”

“Yeah. I’m going to stop right here for another minute.”

They waited for a few minutes, and then Jessica got the first glimpse of Ana’s yacht coming toward them. Two other boats were close by.

“What do we do now?” she asked.

“We need to get closer. But ideally we want to stay under the radar. Get the evidence we can with our night-vision video. We really don’t want to engage with them. Once we get the footage we need, then I’ll call in backup when I’m sure that the evidence will actually be on the yacht. Because even if there is a turncoat in one of the agencies, they couldn’t have infiltrated the entire FBI and the Miami PD.”

They moved slowly and quietly toward Ana’s yacht. Now there was a lot of activity as the two other large boats got closer.

Jessica found herself holding her breath as she watched the men on the first of the boats start to unload crates and pass them over to the yacht as both ships stilled in the water. She didn’t waste any time and started taping the events playing out right before her eyes. The lights from the yacht were bright enough that she felt the footage was going to actually be better than expected. “Can we get any closer?” she asked.

“I’d rather not risk it.”

“Just a little bit. If we do, I’m confident we’ll get what we need.”

“Okay,” Zach said, relenting.

But before he could start the engine back up, gunshots rang out through the night.

* * *

Zach instinctively dove toward Jessica when he heard the gunshots. He realized that there was another noise that was even more troubling—the unmistakable sound of a boat’s motor.

The other speedboat was racing toward them with guns blazing. Not wasting another moment, Zach kicked his engine into high gear. Since they were obviously made, the noise didn’t matter. What did matter was trying to get away and getting Jessica to safety.

He was thankful for his college boating days, because he felt comfortable driving in the dark. Yeah, he and his buddies had done some racing years ago. But he’d never been in a high-speed boat chase with a gunman before.

“Stay down low, Jess!” he yelled over the sound of the water splashing up against the side of the boat. He looked back and realized the other boat was gaining ground on them quickly. Luke’s boat was no match for the top-of-the-line speedboat chasing them.

Zach tried to think quickly about what their options were, but unfortunately it didn’t seem as if they had any. If that boat got to them, they would most likely be killed.
Lord, I need Your intervention right now. Because I don’t think I can get us through this on my own.

“Zach,” Jessica screamed. “They’re almost on top of us.”

He contemplated his next move as beads of sweat mixed with the salty ocean water fell down his face. Maybe if they surrendered, there would be a chance to negotiate for Jessica’s life. If he kept trying to outrun them, the gunshots would continue and they both could get shot. Or alternatively, the moment he slowed down they’d both be dead anyway. He did what he thought was best and kept racing forward, but made his course directly toward the yacht. Maybe if they could get on that boat, they’d have some type of chance of getting out alive through some sort of stall or negotiation tactic. Which made him realize that they really needed backup.

“Jess, text Luke and let him know to call in backup ASAP.”

“Doing it now.” Jessica stayed crouched down low in the boat and used the burner phone to text Luke.

Zach just prayed that some type of help would get to them in time.
Dear Lord, please step in now.

Suddenly, the boat chasing them started slowing down, but Zach didn’t know why. He stayed the course toward the yacht.

“Jess, how good of a swimmer are you?” he asked.

“Not good,” she said.

He was hoping as a backup plan he could have her jump out of the boat and just wait for help. But if she wasn’t a good swimmer, he couldn’t do that. The yacht was absolutely huge. That was their best option.

“Jess, when we get close, I’m going to help you get onto the yacht. Then you need to hide and stay hidden until backup arrives. That’s our only chance. We may get a little wet, but I’ll be by your side.”

“I’ll be okay. Where did the other boat go?”

“I’m not sure. Something had to have spooked them. They may have picked up the call for backup. They have to realize we’re cornered.”

Zach pulled up to the backside of the yacht. The other two boats were at the front. He couldn’t tell yet if anyone on the yacht or the other two boats knew they were there. And he had no idea who was all working together and communicating on this op.

“Bring your Glock with you.” He idled the boat and got it as close as he safely could. “We’re going to have to swim for the boat. I’ll have you each step of the way.”

“I know you will.”

Once again, even though she had admitted that she wasn’t a good swimmer, she wasn’t showing an ounce of fear. It was at that moment that he realized how much he loved Jessica.

* * *

Jessica took in a huge gulp of salty water as they jumped out of the boat, and she went under for a moment before Zach’s strong hands were around her lifting her up. She had been truthful. She wasn’t a strong swimmer. But beyond that, she was pretty much a nonexistent swimmer. There had been no family trips to the beach when she was little because she’d never had a real family that cared enough about her to do that. Or anyone to ever teach her how to swim.

But Zach was there as always, providing strength when she was weak. She refused to give up. She knew the Lord would protect them and that His will would be done. Even if that meant that tonight was to be her last night on earth.

“See those rungs over there? I’ll boost you up and then I’ll follow. But be careful, because once we’re on this yacht, we’re literally on Ana’s home turf. Have your Glock ready and don’t hesitate if you feel like your life is threatened. Do you understand?”

She nodded. “Yes. I got it.” What had started out as a campaign to gain evidence to prosecute Ana Hernandez had turned into a night where they were fighting for their lives.

As Zach pulled her through the water, she did her best to help, but it seemed as though it would be easier for him to just drag her along than for her to attempt to swim and fight against him. When they got to the edge of the yacht, she looked up at the expansive ship. At least there would be a good possibility she could find somewhere to hide once she got on board.

At this part of the yacht there were different levels, and once Zach hoisted her up she was able to climb up the rungs without much difficulty.

She took a moment to catch her breath to wait for Zach to join her, and that’s when she heard the sound of more gunshots.

“Run, Jess!” Zach screamed.

She didn’t want to leave him there, but she knew better than to not listen to him. She had to be alive to try to save the both of them. So she ran across the deck and took the first stairway she saw leading down to the next level of the ship.

Her heart pounded as she jogged down the steps and into what looked like a large dining room. Everything was immaculately decorated in navy and ivory surrounding a large table in the center. Jessica needed to find a closet or other hiding place. She couldn’t just stand out there like a sitting duck. Her thoughts went to Zach, and she wondered if he was okay.
Lord, please protect Zach.

There was no closet in the dining room, so she quickly proceeded down the corridor, desperately looking for somewhere to hide.

When she rounded the next corner, she ran right into a man who grabbed on to her arms. She let out a breath when she looked up and saw who it was. “Thank God, it’s you. I don’t know how you got here so fast, but we really need your help.”

As his grip tightened on her arms, she tried to take a step back. He stopped her.

“You should’ve stayed out of this, Jessica.”

As she looked into Ford Cox’s eyes, she realized she was staring at the enemy.

FOURTEEN

“F
ord, what is going on?” Jessica asked. Although she greatly feared that she knew the answer. He was a dirty FBI agent. And not just any agent, but the special agent in charge of the Miami field office.

“Come on, this way,” Ford said.

She cringed as he grabbed tightly on to her arms. Vivid flashbacks of her childhood once again threatened to overtake her. She fought to keep them out of her mind. Now wasn’t the time to freak out and lose her cool. He hadn’t killed her on the spot, so maybe there was a shred of hope that there was a way out of this.

He led her down another hallway that opened up into a living room. She sucked in a breath as she entered the room and saw that Luke Hernandez was sitting in a wooden chair tied up. This was getting worse by the moment. And she had no idea what had happened to Zach. Was he even still alive?

“What’s going on, Ford?” She was going to give it her best shot to keep him talking instead of acting. Luke’s dark eyes met her own, and she could tell that he was worried.

Ford sighed loudly as he pulled a gun out of his waistband and pointed it at her. “Take a seat in that other chair. No sudden movements.”

She did as he asked because now wasn’t the right time to try to make a move. He opened up one of the closet doors and pulled out more rope. She cringed thinking about being tied up. It was too much to handle, and she knew she was on the verge of a panic attack or worse. Once again her past was coming back and threatening to win the battle of wills.
Dear Lord, I need Your strength right now to prop me up. I absolutely cannot do it alone. I’m not strong enough, God.

She took a few deep breaths as Ford took the rope and secured it around her tightly ensuring that her arms and legs were immobile. Once again she tried to start a conversation with him. “Ford, please. Just tell me what’s happening?”

“I tried to keep you out of this, Jessica. I ordered Zach off the case and talked Ian into removing you. I have no idea why you were so insistent on continuing with this vendetta against the Hernandez family.”

The Hernandez family must have Ford in their back pocket. “Why are you working with them? They’re criminals and you’re the head of the FBI field office.”

He looked at her with a frown pulling down on his lips. “You are so naive and young. You have no idea what it’s really like to do my job day in and day out. Things are never so cut-and-dry like you want to think. Like all the useless stories and ideas they pumped into your head during law school. This is the real world. And this is business. It’s not personal.”

It felt highly personal to her at the moment, but she was at least getting him to talk so she wanted to keep going. “And Luke?”

“He was a convenient setup that allowed me to meet multiple goals at one time. You and Zach were supposed to focus on him so I could work with Ana and her team. But you decided to go against everything we told you to do. And I hate to say it, but now you’re going to have to face the consequences. As much as Ana loves this yacht, there’s going to be an unfortunate accident on here tonight.”

“But what about the drugs?” she asked. “If you do something to the boat, you’ll lose your product.”

“We never actually transferred the product onto the yacht. I was prepared for all contingencies. You and Zach just couldn’t stand down.”

“You know that you can’t keep this up forever.”

He cocked his head to the side. “You’re right. I retire in two years or less. So that’s all I need. And once all the dust has settled, it will appear that Luke here is the one who killed you and himself.”

“Please, Ford. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

He walked over to her and knelt down in front of the chair. “There isn’t any other option.”

“You’re making a mistake,” Luke said loudly.

Ford stood up and walked over to him. “You realize nothing you could possibly say right now is going to change my mind.”

“You think that you’ve got this all figured out. But you’re a loose end, Ford. My father will have absolutely no problem killing you after you kill us. My father always likes to tidy things up.”

“Why would he do that? I’m the best thing he has going.”

“For now. But you’re expendable just like the rest of us.”

Ford punched Luke in the face, and Jessica gasped. She struggled against the ropes, but there was no way she could free herself.

“Enough.” He turned his gun directly on Jessica, and she screamed. This was it. She was going to die. A loud gunshot rang out.

* * *

Zach acted on pure instinct as he pulled the trigger. The gunshot hit Ford in the side of the head. When Zach had seen Ford pull the gun, he couldn’t believe his eyes. Ford Cox was working with Ana Hernandez? It was unfathomable. But he’d have time to deal with those details later. He had to free Jessica and Luke right now.

He ran over to where Ford lay on the ground, lifeless. He hadn’t had any choice but to take the kill shot. It had either been Ford’s life or Jessica’s.

Zach ran over to her and started trying to untie her. Just as that was happening, mass chaos broke out as FBI and Miami PD descended on the living room of the yacht. There was yelling and confusion as to why Ford was lying on the ground, shot dead.

It took a few minutes to sort through everything and convince the FBI and Miami PD that Luke and Zach were still the good guys. Once that was settled, Zach turned all his attention to Jessica. The look in her eyes was one of pure terror, and his heart broke for her. He knew she had to be in complete shock after having stared down the face of Ford’s gun.

“Jess, are you with me?” he asked as he finished untying the knots.

She nodded and then stood up and threw her arms around him. “I thought I was going to die.”

“I know it was terrifying. I’m just so thankful I got in here when I did. I got detained by some of Ana’s men outside. But once backup started to get close, they all bailed on one boat to try to get away.” He wrapped his arms tightly around her, hugging her close to his body. This woman was everything to him.

“Please don’t let me go, Zach.”

Nothing could’ve been sweeter than hearing her say those words. “I’m right here.”

“I know I’m a mess and that I’ve got issues. But if you’re willing to work through them with me and be patient, I want to try.”

He looked down into her beautiful green eyes and knew his life would never be the same. “It’s even more than that, Jess. This has been a crazy journey we’ve taken together. But in the midst of the danger, we’ve formed a friendship. One that I value so much. I realized today that I feel much more than friendship for you. I’m totally and madly in love with you, Jess.”

Tears started to roll down her cheeks. “Zach, I never thought I’d be able to say this, but I love you, too. With all that I am.”

“We need to talk to you,” one of the police officers said.

He knew it was important to give his statement, but there was one more thing he had to do first. He leaned down and kissed Jessica, pressing his lips against hers. Knowing that he’d found the love of his life.