The Big Bad Wolf

CHAPTER 104

I JOINED THE FRANTIC search in the waterway and the rest of the neighborhood, but it

was already dark. Mahoney and I raced up and down narrow estate-lined streets. Then we

drove along nearby Las Olas Boulevard, hoping that someone had spotted two men in

soaking-wet clothes. But no one had seen the Wolf or his bodyguard.

I wouldn’t give up. I went back to the Isla Bahia estates area. Something was wrong. Why

hadn’t anyone spotted two men fitting that description? I wondered if they had diving gear in

the cellar alcove. How thoroughly had the Wolf planned his escape? What precautions had

he taken?

Then I let my mind go in a different direction: He’s arrogant and fearless. He didn’t believe

we’d find him and come here to take him down. He didn’t have an escape route! So maybe

he’s still hiding in Isla Bahia.

I passed my ideas on to HRT, but they’d already begun to go door-to-door at the estates.

There were now dozens of agents and local police combing the exclusive neighborhood in

Fort Lauderdale. I wouldn’t give up, wouldn’t let the others quit. Whatever drove me

perseverance? stubbornness? had paid off before. But we didn’t find the Wolf, or anyone

who’d seen him in Isla Bahia.

“There’s nothing? No sign? Nobody saw anything?” I asked Mahoney.

“Nothing,” Mahoney said. “We found a cocker spaniel on the loose. That’s it.”



“We know who owns the dog?” I asked.

Mahoney rolled his eyes. I didn’t blame him. “I’ll check.” He went away and came back

after a couple of minutes.

“It belongs to a Mr. and Mrs. Steve Davis. The Davise’s live at the end of the street. We’ll

bring them their dog. Satisfied?”



I shook my head. “Not really. Let’s the two of us return the dog,” I said. “I don’t know why a

dog would be loose this late at night. Is the family home?”



Doesn’t look like it. The lights are off at the house. C’mon, Alex. Jesus. This is hopeless.

You’re clutching at straws. Pasha Sorokin is gone.”



“Let’s go. Get the dog,” I said. “We’re going to the Davis house.”