"Does Rafael know there are trackers on the ATVs?" Knox asked.
Henrik held up a paper with Rafael's signature at the bottom. "It's in the fine print on the contract. He signed it, but he didn't read it. They never do."
"Perfect." Knox felt they just caught a break. And he knew to savor it, because good fortune never lasted long. "We have a friend named Rowan who will be in contact with you about tracking those ATVs tomorrow."
Henrik looked confused. "I can track them from my computer." He pointed toward his office.
"I know," Knox said. "Rowan can connect with your computer. Don't worry. He knows what he's doing. Just do whatever he says if he calls or stops by."
The overly eager, spy-wanna-be spark returned to Henrik's face. "Sure, sure. No problem."
Knox exchanged a please-try-to-calm-him-down look with Allie.
"Henrik," Allie said. "The reason we came back today was to caution you about your cameras. We don't think Byron is worried about you yet, but if they notice how many cameras you have, they could take an interest in you. And that could be dangerous."
"I don't think they realize you have an abnormal number of cameras," Knox said. "And we need to keep it that way. So, don't touch them. Any of them. For any reason. If they see you fiddling with cameras hidden in your potted plants and on your dumpster out back, they're going to get suspicious."
"Oh. Okay. Yeah, I can do that."
"And just treat Rafael like a regular customer tomorrow. Don't tip him off. Don't put yourself in any unnecessary danger, okay?"
"Of course. Right. Okay." Henrik nodded his agreement, but his chest swelled like he was thrilled to be assisting with whatever he thought Knox and Allie were doing.
Knox set six protein bars on the counter. He wasn't sure if Rafael or anyone else was watching, but they needed to leave Pelican Rentals looking like paying customers. Besides, you can never have too many protein bars on hand, especially since Jason might assign him to stake out one of the Byron properties at some point. "I'll take these," he said, pointing to the bars.
Allie tossed two more bars on the counter. "And these too."
"Sure," Henrik said. He rang up their purchases and Knox paid with a credit card. "Sorry, I don't have cash."
"No problem." He tossed their protein bars in a bag with 'Pelican Rentals' emblazoned on the side. "Anything else?"
"No. Just remember—don't touch your cameras, treat Rafael like a regular customer, and don't go snooping around. Leave those Byron guys alone."
"Don't worry. I'll play it cool. Very cool."
Knox worried about how Henrik might define 'playing it cool.' But there wasn't much more he could say to the shop owner. He prayed Henrik would heed their warnings.
Allie stared at the gentle waves lapping around the ferry pier from the rooftop seating above Island Coffee. Downstairs, the small coffee shop overflowed with customers, mostly waiting for to-go orders.
A minute ago, the bustling crowd in the cafe had been getting on her nerves. Then, when a man reaching for extra napkins on the counter accidentally stepped on her foot, she told Knox she'd find a table upstairs while he waited for their drinks.
Only one other couple had retreated to the peaceful rooftop. She chose a table near the edge and breathed in the salt air. None of those people below her feet knew what they were missing. And she didn't feel like telling them. She needed to breathe and take in the beauty around her for a few minutes.
The ride to Pelican Rentals had been brutal. She'd fought back tears most of the way. She had to swipe two away, but she didn't think Knox noticed.
When she'd seen the hurt on his face, she'd regretted what she'd said about needing to prove herself. But only because it upset him so much. She still believed it. How could she simply 'move on' when her actions were responsible for a man's deathand Leo's escape? Not to mention nearly getting Knox killed and endangering his career—all because she didn't trust Knox's instincts about Leo?
That's what she'd done wrong; she hadn't trusted Knox that night. If she had, no one would've been shot. Herself included. And Leo would be in custody where he belongs. Maybe her parents too.
The thoughts about her family didn't bother her like they did at first. She'd accepted Leo's guilt. And her parents' guilt. What bothered her now was that she'd hurt Knox. Again.
If not trusting him was her mistake last time, shouldn't she trust him now? Why did that feel so hard? She knew she could trust him more than anyone else on earth.
She'd prayed about all of this. Many times. Why did God feel silent? She knew he was there. She knew he loved her. Why did a wall of guilt stand between her and Knox?
Between her and peace?
She assumed she needed to prove herself to Knox as penance, more or less. But after the past two days . . . why did that assumption feel wrong?
