Read The Tide: Deadrise for Free Online Page B

Rachel’s simple question.
    But that didn’t mean he would give up trying to do the right thing. “Until we clear our names, I doubt Kinsey or the CIA will be sympathetic to our cause. We need to do what we can, though.”
    Rachel perked up. “And if we can’t stay in Kent or Fort Detrick...”
    “Then we’ll have to join the Hunters.”
    ***
    A lexandria was a wasteland. There was no easy way to put it. From his roost in the destroyed building, Dom surveyed the once-charming Old Town, which had been lined with restaurants, bars, art galleries, and niche shops. Through his night-vision binos, Dom could make out the occasional silhouette of a Skull lumbering through the ruins. He had a difficult time estimating the number of deformed creatures meandering the streets. There were no good sightlines given the jumbled madness of crumpled vehicles and uneven brick walls that had been blasted to oblivion.
    “It’ll be hell trying to make it through the city,” Dom said to Meredith. She crouched beside him. “Fastest route is definitely going to be the river.”
    “I didn’t see many Skulls out for a swim,” she said.
    “That’s true, but it’s not Skulls I’m worried about.”
    Meredith arched an eyebrow. “There’s a marina just over there.” She pointed to a small dockyard filled with sailboats. Many listed in their slips, but a few masts stood upright, apparently ready to sail. “Find a working boat and sail it to Mt. Vernon. Couldn’t be any easier, right?”
    “Wishful thinking.” Dom nodded to indicate a scattering of lights across the river. These were no random fires but electric lights. “That’s Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling. Kinsey mentioned he’d be mustering troops in strategic locations around DC.”
    Meredith sighed. “Not a bad place to have under his control.”
    “Right. Based on how they tried to stamp out the Skulls in Alexandria and Dulles, I’m guessing there are a few soldiers over there.”
    “Okay, sure,” Meredith said. “But it’s not like we’re going over there and ringing their doorbell like a couple of Mormon Elders. I say we take a boat, right now while it’s dark, and shoot straight south. They won’t have to know it’s us on the boat.”
    “I don’t think they care who’s aboard. They aren’t taking any chances.” Dom gestured toward Alexandria and the evidence of haphazard bombing that had taken place. He recalled the images of bodies, Skulls and humans, they’d seen in the streets outside Crystal City, too. Judging by the look on Meredith’s face, she understood his point. “They’re a bit overzealous. A boat would be great. It just isn’t wise to sail right next to a military base.”
    Meredith chewed her bottom lip, and her brow creased in thought. “Wish we didn’t have to decide whether it was safer to risk bullets or Skulls coming our way.”
    “Me too,” Dom said. “But maybe we can test the waters, so to speak.”
    “What did you have in mind?”
    Dom went over his idea for a plan with Meredith. Together, they worked out a few kinks, and they decided it would be worth the gamble. Taking a boat was too good of an opportunity to pass up and would ensure they didn’t waste precious hours and even days trekking across dry land to reach their objective. He couldn’t wait to reunite with his daughters, his crew, and his ship.

-5-
    ––––––––
    D om pressed the binos to his eyes. He first spotted Glenn and Miguel waiting in the woods bordering the marina. The duo was crouched behind a pair of tree trunks with their rifles at the ready. Jenna and Andris guarded the pair from any potential Skull attacks from the city. Ahead of the group, Meredith and Renee prowled near the edge of the parking lot leading to the docks.
    “How are they doing, boss?” Spencer asked. The man had stubbornly refused to rest, insisting that a little pain wouldn’t keep him from helping out.
    “Almost there,” Dom said, never taking the binos from his