The helicopter blades sliced through the night air as Roman scanned the coastline below. Searchlights swept across the dark water, illuminating nothing but empty sand and restless waves.

“East sector clear,” the co-pilot reported through the headset. “No movement along the shoreline.”

Roman pressed the receiver closer. “Expand the search radius. Check the cliffs and every cove.”

“Copy that.”

His hand remained braced against the console while his eyes searched every shadow under them. Every passing second stretched unbearably long. Each dark shape on the beach made his pulse spike before dissolving into nothing.

His personal phone vibrated in his pocket, but he ignored it. A moment later, it vibrated...