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Back Blood in the Water Save as PDF
Chapters (82)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Notice
  3. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  4. ONE
  5. TWO
  6. THREE
  7. FOUR
  8. FIVE
  9. SIX
  10. SEVEN
  11. EIGHT
  12. NINE
  13. TEN
  14. ELEVEN
  15. TWELVE
  16. THIRTEEN
  17. FOURTEEN
  18. FIFTEEN
  19. SIXTEEN
  20. SEVENTEEN
  21. EIGHTEEN
  22. NINETEEN
  23. TWENTY
  24. TWENTY-ONE
  25. TWENTY-TWO
  26. TWENTY-THREE
  27. TWENTY-FOUR
  28. TWENTY-FIVE
  29. TWENTY-SIX
  30. TWENTY-SEVEN
  31. TWENTY-EIGHT
  32. TWENTY-NINE
  33. THIRTY
  34. THIRTY-ONE
  35. THIRTY-TWO
  36. THIRTY-THREE
  37. THIRTY-FOUR
  38. THIRTY-FIVE
  39. THIRTY-SIX
  40. THIRTY-SEVEN
  41. THIRTY-EIGHT
  42. THIRTY-NINE
  43. FORTY
  44. FORTY-ONE
  45. FORTY-TWO
  46. FORTY-THREE
  47. FORTY-FOUR
  48. FORTY-FIVE
  49. FORTY-SIX
  50. FORTY-SEVEN
  51. FORTY-EIGHT
  52. FORTY-NINE
  53. FIFTY
  54. FIFTY-ONE
  55. FIFTY-TWO
  56. FIFTY-THREE
  57. FIFTY-FOUR
  58. FIFTY-FIVE
  59. FIFTY-SIX
  60. FIFTY-SEVEN
  61. FIFTY-EIGHT
  62. FIFTY-NINE
  63. SIXTY
  64. SIXTY-ONE
  65. SIXTY-TWO
  66. SIXTY-THREE
  67. SIXTY-FOUR
  68. SIXTY-FIVE
  69. SIXTY-SIX
  70. SIXTY-SEVEN
  71. SIXTY-EIGHT
  72. SIXTY-NINE
  73. SEVENTY
  74. SEVENTY-ONE
  75. SEVENTY-TWO
  76. SEVENTY-THREE
  77. SEVENTY-FOUR
  78. SEVENTY-FIVE
  79. SEVENTY-SIX
  80. Praise for Blood in the Water
  81. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  82. Newsletter Sign-up

“Trust me,” Cormack said. “I know how to make a commotion when I want to.”

FIFTY

Cormack climbed out of the entryway on the southeastern side of Fort Strong and moved as quickly as he could through the trees, down to the waterline. He didn’t like being out in the open, but he could move much more quickly around to the northern tip of the island picking his way around the rocks at the edge of the shore. Besides, the vegetation that had reclaimed the exterior of the fort was so thick he couldn’t have moved through it without making such a racket that he would have been announcing his approach to any guards stationed outside the northern entrance. He stayed close to the trees on the shoreline in the hope that they would provide some cover and prevent anyone higher up on the hill from spotting him.

The cold bit through the neoprene, and his feet felt like chunks of lead in his lightweight boots. They were supposed to be waterproof, but the ice stuck to them and Cormack could not feel his toes anymore. He put that out of his mind, though, and continued his trek as quickly and quietly as he could. He had to step carefully, as the rocks were also covered in ice, and one wrong step could send him crashing into the shallow water, alerting anyone keeping watch from the fort’s northern entrance.

He was surprised at how quickly he was able to round the northeastern corner of the island. Now, he knew, he was more exposed. The trees still provided some cover, but it was more likely that there would be guards in spots where they could see through the snow-covered brambles. He slowed his pace and kept his eyes on the hill above him, searching for the entryway.

He saw it through a break in the trees a few moments later. It was around twenty yards to his west, and about twenty yards up the hill. He froze when he saw it because he could clearly make out three armed men milling around the cement ledge outside of the entryway. They were lookouts, clearly, though Cormack suspected that the cold had sapped much of their attention. They stood close together, whispering quietly, shuffling their feet back and forth. They were carrying what looked like assault weapons, though, and even in their inattentive state Cormack recognized that they posed a significant threat. One idle glance in his direction, and they would have a clear shot at him.

He pulled back slowly from the break in the trees, so that he could no longer see the guards, and they would no longer be able to see him. He took a moment to assess the terrain as he debated the best approach. He felt through his vest and found the three flash-bangs. He also had his two loaded pistols and two spare clips.