CAN'T IMAGINE

CHAPTER 9 - "YOUR HUSBAND MADE SOME DANGEROUS FRIENDS"

It was the hijacker. He stood in the middle of the room, wet and filthy, stained with blood from various wounds, his left shoulder strapped and a makeshift sling supporting his arm, the other hand holding the gun, the same one from the plane. He was pointing it at Camila. Jenny and Hannah were hiding behind the kitchen island. Where was Tom?

"Dad?" a voice whispered behind them. Shawn turned to see the young boy, he had the basket they used to collect the eggs.

"Go to the henhouse and stay there," Howard said firmly. "Don't come out no matter what you hear, I'll come get you when we've sorted this out."

Tom nodded and shot off into the night. Shawn heard him enter the coop, relieved the boy was now safe.

"Well, look who's here," the man said in Spanish. Shawn knew enough to be able to understand.

"Hablas español?" Howard whispered to Shawn.

"Un poco," Shawn whispered back, holding up his thumb in finger to show a small amount.

"He recognises her, he says he had been hired to make sure she didn't make it to Cuba," Howard translated. "Do you know what that means?"

"He's the hijacker, the one who caused the crash," Shawn said quietly, and Howard nodded, comprehending immediately. "I don't know why he would be hired to hurt her though."

Anger was sitting like a cannonball in his gut, growing bigger by the moment. He wanted to run at the guy, tackle him to the ground. He wanted to know what he was talking about.

"Camila said she didn't know what he was talking about," Howard said, but Shawn understood what she had said.

"We don't, we have no idea," Shawn confirmed. He heard words he recognised and knew they were talking about him. "What did he just say?"

Howard was quiet for a moment then turned to look at him. "He said, your husband made some dangerous friends."

Shawn frowned, not knowing what that could mean at first, until it suddenly dawned on him. How angry Yuri had been when he didn't want to take him up on some of his suggestions before talking to Camila. He saw she was getting in the way, so he decided to get rid of her. Shawn felt like throwing up. He would never have guessed Yuri was that kind of man, but now he knew his criminal past, and the type of people he hung around with, he didn't question it at all. This was all Yuri, he knew it. He clenched his fists and as he did so, he knocked over the broom that was propped against he wall. The man spun to look in his direction. Gesturing to Howard to keep down, he stepped out, hands up in surrender and walked toward Camila. She looked relieved and scared at the same time.

"Let her go," he said. "Take me instead." Shawn reached Camila and faced the man with the gun. His face was flushed, his hair damp and dank around his face, sweat beading his brow. Makeshift bandages were caked with dried blood on his arms and legs, he was barely standing upright. Shawn realised he was sick, the wounds or more likely an infection, and he could probably tackle him with no trouble, but the risk of the gun going off and hitting someone, Camila, Jenny or one of the children, even Howard, was too great. He could risk his own life but he couldn't risk theirs. He needed to get the guy out of here, away from everyone, and then he could take him down.

"Why should I?" he was panting, his voice was strained and he was waving the gun around wildly. "I have you both now."

"What are you going to do with us? We're all trapped here on the island together."

"I heard a plane, I know one landed somewhere...."

"How did you get here?" Camila asked in a gentle voice. "Where did you land after the crash?"