"We'll bring him extra brownies. He'll be fine."
"Sounds like a plan."
Chapter 8
Knox wanted to appreciate the picturesque sunset over the ocean waves. But he was too distracted. And frustrated.
Jason handed him a slice of pizza and plopped onto the beach chair next to him, keeping his voice low. "Just because they weren't using the ATVs to launch a heinous scheme today doesn't mean these guys are innocent."
"They'renotinnocent," Knox growled.
Jason sighed and shoved his bare feet in the sand, balancing the pizza box on his lap. "Pizza on the beach isn't having the calming effect on you I was hoping for. Relax. Watch the tide roll in." He squinted at the ocean. "Or roll out. I have no idea when high tide is."
Knox took a bite of pizza, but he didn't feel relaxed. "If anything, I'm more suspicious of Rafael than before. I think today was a planned distraction. We wastedhourswatching them."
Their plan to spy on the ATV activity from the drone had been a bust. Fishing.That's allthey did with the ATVs. Rafael and one of his buddies went fishingall day long.Apparently,they needed the ATVs to reach a secluded beach inaccessible by roads.
"We're not backing off Rafael. We'll stay on him. And the other guys Rowan ID'd. But it's possible he was taking a break today. Even nefarious villains occasionally leave their evil lairs to relax."
"You might think I'm crazy, but I'm telling you that fishing trip felt contrived. Why fish from those rocks all day? They didn't catch much. They could've easily rented a boat and gone deep-sea fishing. You can fish for marlin around here. And huge tuna." He picked a piece of pepperoni off his slice and popped it in his mouth. "It was a distraction. They wanted us watching them. They pretended not to see the drone."
Jason finished his slice and picked up another one. "Maybe. But what were they distracting us from? If they thought they needed a distraction, they think we know more than we do. We watched the warehouse. No action there."
"We should have kept an eye on the property where they shot down the other drone. Something might have been going on there."
"Maybe." He raised one eyebrow with a mock glare. "Unfortunately, we're short a drone for now."
"For now? Did you request another one?"
Jason shook his head with a humorless laugh. "Requested? Yes. Are we getting another one? No word yet. We may need to get by with the one we have left."
Laughter in the distance preceded a familiar voice. "You started without us?"
"Hello, ladies," Knox said, standing to greet Tayla and Allie.
He watched the women step onto the sand from the sidewalk that circled The Mandeville. Shoes and bags in hand, they were both smiling.
Jason held up his current slice of pizza. "This is just an appetizer. I ordered three large pizzas. There's plenty."
The women continued to look amused by whatever had caused their laughter during their walk to the beach.
"What's so funny?" Jason asked.
They exchanged a look. And mischievous grins. "Nothing," Tayla answered. She bumped her shoulder against Allie's. "We only met an hour ago, and we're fast friends." They exchanged another look, and apparently, some private joke passed between them because they both started laughing again.
"Wow," Jason said. He looked at Knox and jabbed a thumb toward Allie and Tayla. "That happened fast. Why do I feel worried?"
"Because they could gang up on us. Keep your guard up. They're dangerous in numbers."
"Very funny," Tayla said. She looked around at the quiet beach and their semicircle of Adirondack chairs under a cluster of palm trees. "This is really gorgeous." Her gaze landed on Jason. "Thanks for letting me join. I know you three need to talk about work."
"Not all evening," Jason said. "Besides, some people," he pointed to Knox, "need to relax a little bit."
Knox ignored the comment and turned to Allie. "What's in the bags?"
She raised the plastic bags in question with a grin. "I ordered fruit and cookies for us from the café in the lobby."
"And I brought drinks," Tayla said, handing Jason an insulated bag. "Some bottled lemonade from the snack shop and some water bottles. They're still cold."
