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Simon is inside it.

Marquez hands me a waterproof radio.

“You stop at the yellow line.”

Simon ordered me to the end of the ferry landing. The yellow line is thirty feet short of it.

“He’ll tell me to come closer.”

“You tell him to release one hostage first.”

“He won’t.”

“Make him.”

I glance at her.

“You sound like Ben.”

“No. Ben sounds like me.”

A voice speaks through my earpiece.

“I heard that.”

Relief moves through me so powerfully that I almost stumble.

Ben.

“Where are you?”

“Working.”

“That isn’t an answer.”

“It’s the only one you’re getting.”

“You’re injured.”

“I’ve been informed.”

Piers’s voice follows his.

“Repeatedly.”

“Are you aboard the ship?”

Silence.

I picture Ben limping behind Scott, Mark, John and Piers as they climb the eastern rocks.

“Ben.”

“Trust me, Calle.”

“I do.”

“Then walk.”