Step 1: Understand the given phrase.
“To leave a place suddenly and secretly” means to depart quickly and quietly, often to avoid trouble or attention.
Step 2: Examine the meanings of the options.
Scare: to frighten someone — incorrect
Linger: to stay longer than necessary — opposite meaning
Decamp: to leave suddenly or secretly — correct ✔
Loiter: to stand or wait around without purpose — incorrect
Step 3: Final conclusion.
The word that best matches the given meaning is decamp.