“I need you to keep an eye on three guests who checked in a few days ago.” David moved to the window, looking out at the woods that surrounded his cabin. “Dr. Eve Reynolds and her niece, Mia, and Mia’s daughter, Lila.”
The pause that followed was longer this time. Too long.
David frowned. “Are you still there?”
“Yes,” his contact said finally. “Not a problem. I know who they are and will keep eyes on them.”
Something in the tone made David uneasy, but he pushed it aside. “I can send backup if you need it.”
“Not a problem,” his contact assured him. “I actually have eyes on one of those guests right now. They’re at the same place the potential target is.”
David went cold. “Are they in danger?”
“No,” came the quick response. “Well, I don’t think so right now. But I’ll keep a close watch.”
“Good,” David said, his voice tight. “Keep me updated.”
The line disconnected.
David stood there for a moment, staring at the phone in his hand, that uneasy feeling still churning in his gut.
Mia
Mia couldn’t believe how quickly the day had flown by.
The morning had started before sunrise, meeting Nolan in the Inn’s parking lot with travel mugs of coffee and the kind of excitement she hadn’t felt in months. The nature reserve had been beautiful, all salt marshes and winding trails and birds she couldn’t name but had tried to photograph anyway.
Now, walking back toward his car in the late afternoon light, she felt exhilarated in a way that had nothing to do with exhaustion and everything to do with being fully present in a moment for the first time since that night in the operating room.
“Look at this one,” Nolan said, angling the camera so she could see the screen. “You caught the heron mid-flight. That’s really hard to do.”
Mia leaned closer, studying the image. The bird’s wings were spread wide, frozen in perfect detail against the blue sky. “I got lucky.”
“Luck is just preparation meeting opportunity,” Nolan said with a grin. “And you’ve been preparing all day.”
Someone slammed into Nolan from behind, nearly knocking the camera from his hands.
“Hey, buddy, be careful,” Nolan said, his free hand moving to gently maneuver Mia out of harm’s way.
“I’m so sorry,” the man said, his voice breathless. He looked at them in surprise. “Oh... I know you... both... well, not exactly know...”
Nolan frowned, but Mia smiled, recognition clicking into place. “You’re staying at the Christmas Inn.”
“Yes,” the man nodded, holding out his hand. “I’m Calvin.”
“Mia,” she said, shaking his hand. Her eyes dropped to his well-worn hiking boots, caked with mud and dried leaves. “Ah, you’re a hiker.”
“Observant,” Calvin said with a smile. “Yes, I love hiking, and Mrs. Christmas said this was one of the best places around St. Augustine.” His eyes moved toward Nolan, and Mia frowned as she noticed how Nolan was staring at Calvin, mistrust evident in his expression. “Did you get any good pictures?”
“Some,” Nolan told him stiffly.
“Well, I’d best get going,” Calvin said, already stepping back. “I don’t want to get stuck in the woods when it gets dark.” He looked at Mia with a warm smile. “Great meeting you, Mia.” His gaze moved to Nolan, one eyebrow raising pointedly. “And you...”
“Nolan,” Nolan said reluctantly, extending his hand for a brief shake.
“Nolan,” Calvin repeated, as if weighing the name up in his mind. “Well, I’ll see you around at the Inn.”
He turned and walked off, disappearing into the reserve.
