Bruce Webb arrived home after a long day sitting in his car outside an attorney's office. He had been assigned by his agency to stake out the man and follow him, because his wife suspected him of seeing another woman. It was a bust. The lawyer came to work and didn't entertain any lone female clients. He didn't go anywhere, not even to lunch, and drove straight home to his wife at the end of the day.

Webb threw his keys on the kitchen counter and found Bonnie heating some leftovers on the stove. "A few more days on this assignment will drive me stir crazy."

She eyed him. "At least you come home every night."

Bonnie remained suspicious about his disappearances during his time watching over Casandra.  Now that his every move was being monitored by his old crew, he hadn't contacted her in any way for a month. Bonnie's sore spot resulted from him refusing to say what it had all been about. If he told her the truth, she'd think he was crazy. She also didn't like how Tipstaff Security kept watch over them all day, every day. It gave her the creeps. She had called the cops on them, but as Webb suspected, the police told her they could do nothing as long as the men appeared to be minding their own business and not making any overt threats.

Webb took perverse pleasure in it. His old colleagues were wasting their time and had to be getting even more bored than he was. An unusual occurrence happened today, though. The person assigned to be his watcher abruptly drove away a little after noon and hadn't returned.

It made him wonder. He walked to the living room window and looked out. No Tipstaff Security goons were in sight.

"Bonnie, when did our babysitters leave?"

"Sometime after lunch and good riddance. You know I'd sleep easier knowing why they are stalking us."

Why would Doctor Armando call off his contractors now? He had a sinking feeling. "They must have found her."

"What?"

"Nothing, Bonnie, I need to step outside a minute to make a phone call."

"Dinner will be ready in five minutes. When you're done with your call, tell Brandon to turn off the television."

Webb hadn't paid attention to what she said and walked out the front door. He sat on the front step and punched in Cassandra's cell phone number. He didn't think Tipstaff had the ability to monitor his cellular calls, but out of an abundance of caution, he had avoided calling or texting.

His call went to voice mail. "Cassandra, it's Webb. I need to know you're safe. Please call me back or text me."

Not good enough. Was there anyone else he could contact? He had a hunch and phoned the harbormaster's office at Tarpon Springs marina. "Ah, yes, I'm trying to reach anyone on the Argyros sponge diving crews. Is there any chance any of them might still be hanging around?"

Webb was relieved when the man at the other end didn't question his unusual request. "Ordinarily, the two crews depart early in the morning and are back by lunch. This morning, the Coast Guard shut down the harbor due to the accident investigation out in the Gulf and the strange sighting." He paused to chuckle. "Those spongers got a late start and didn't leave until noon. I expect them back any time now."

It explained why Cassandra didn't take his call. She had been out of range in the Gulf. He wondered about the accident and strange sighting. What had that been all about? "Thank you, I'll try calling them later." He ended the call.

When he returned to the kitchen, Bonnie was setting the table. "I told you to get Brandon."

"Yeah, I will. Do you know anything about a boating accident in the Gulf near Tarpon Springs?"

She scoffed. "It's been on the news all afternoon about the sea creature. The story went nationwide. I can't get Brandon away from the TV. He's fascinated. That's why I need you to get him. He's not listening to me."

Webb could scarcely breathe as he made his way to the living room.

"Hey, Dad," his son said and pointed to the TV. "Check it out."

Cell camera footage shot by a half dozen people from different angles showed a barely visible, fog enshrouded female floating on her back in the water, waving an arm.

Brandon giggled. "She's naked, Dad, but you can't make out anything because of the fog and bad lighting. Her body is all fuzzy."

Webb sank to the sofa beside his son. "Cassandra, what have you done?"

The news commentator reported how the water creature warned the crew on Senator Farley's party boat about their impending collision with the breakwater. The senator's political opponents were calling it a publicity stunt to shore up the man's falling approval ratings and insisted the footage was obviously fake.

"Tipstaff Security must be sending everyone to Tarpon Springs," he mumbled.

Webb jumped from the sofa, snatched his keys from the kitchen counter, and burst out the door.

Bonnie called after him, "Bruce, dinner is on the table. Where are you going?"

"It's an emergency. I'll tell you about it later." How much he'd be able to tell her was questionable which would further anger her.

Webb didn't know how many traffic laws he broke while speeding to Tarpon Springs. He had to get to Cassandra before Tipstaff did. They would only know she was sighted in the general area, but he knew exactly where to look. That was his edge.

He drove one-handed while punching up her number in case she made it back to port. Voice mail again.

As he entered the city limits, Webb gawked around for any evidence of Tipstaff Security. They could be driving anything. They could be anywhere. He had picked up no obvious tail but cursed himself for not taking Bonnie's car. They all knew his vehicle and would spot him right away.

Knowing that, he veered off the main drag and drove side streets toward the marina. He parked in an alley two blocks away, pulled a ball cap down over his eyes, and walked in the direction of the harbormaster's office.

He tried calling again and nearly choked with relief when she answered.

"Mister Webb, I was going to call you this evening—"

"—Where are you?"

The line went quiet for a heartbeat. "Why are you so gruff?"

"There's no time for pleasantries. You're in big trouble. Can I assume since you are in range that you're entering the harbor?"

"Yeah. What's going on?"

"Have you seen the news?"

"No. We've been on the water since noon."

"Listen to me, Cassandra, turn around and head back out to sea. A whole squad of hunters is descending on this town."

"Are you serious? Oh, what should I do?"

"Is there someplace else you can go to lay low?"

He heard her talking to someone in the background. She came back on the phone. "Rafe is going to pull his boat up alongside ours. His crew will transfer to Ofelia's boat and return to port. I'll get on Rafe's boat and we'll go to Anclote Key. Can you meet us there to explain what's going on?"

"Yes, if someone can shuttle me out to you."

He heard Cassandra talk to the other woman. "Ofelia will do it, but she wants to know what's going on too."

"I'll tell her. Ask her to drop off the crew at the dock as usual but have her pick me up someplace else. I can't risk being seen."

"Uncle Milos has a private pier at the end of Roosevelt Boulevard. Can you meet her there?"

"Yes, I passed Roosevelt Boulevard on the way in and know where it is."

He heard her breathing heavy from the other end. She was frightened. "How bad is it?"

A van crawled by with a Verdanx Pharmaceuticals logo on the side. The driver and passenger were scanning passersby. Doctor Armando apparently had sent company employees to assist Tipstaff with the search. Webb casually strolled into a fish market before they could spot him.

"It's bad, Cassandra. As bad as it can get."

Question - The hunters are closing in! What can Webb do to stop them?