“At an orphanage? On the island?” asked Tayla.
Jason shrugged. “I assume so.” He looked at Leland. “He sent this three hours before his scheduled check-in with WhiteRock.”
Leland nodded. “He’d already missed a call with me. He didn’t trust the phones anymore.”
Tayla’s hand flew to her chest. “Oh, I’m so sorry! If I’d checked my email earlier, I could’ve sent you the messageyesterday. We lost so much time. And he . . . “ Her words flowed faster than her mind could process the situation. Until the grim reality hit her. And the unsettling conclusion tripped out of her mouth. “He never emailed again. And he didn’t come back to the hotel. Jason and I checked the security footage. I saw him leaving . . . but not returning.”
Jason handed the phone back to her. “It’s not your fault. You didn’t even know Gus was missing until I told you in the security office.” The tenderness in his deep voice—uncharacteristic, judging from the entire hour she’d known him—calmed her racing mind. But had the opposite effect on her pulse.
She hadn’t figured out Jason Bridger. And she shouldn’t try. Sometimes, the pain in her past retreated so far in her review mirror that she could forget it happened. For a little while. But it was always there. Sneaking up and pouncing on her courage anytime she thought she could possibly connect with a person. She needed to let that fear shred her thoughts about Jason. Before they drifted any further.
“Tayla,” Leland’s voice pulled her back into the conversation. “Do you have a room here at the hotel?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Go back to your room. Lock the door. Stay put until we get back. Jason and I are going to check this out.”
“Hang on,” Jason interjected. “Let’s play it safe. She’s checked in under the name Faraday. If anyone is looking for you,” he inclined his head to Leland, “she would be safer staying here, in my room.”
Leland finished his water and pointed the empty bottle at Tayla. “Yes, that’s a better plan. Stay here. Bolt the door.”
Panic crawled up the back of her neck. “Wait, wait, wait. Do you think I’m really in danger? I don’t have anythingto do with whatever is going on. I just came here to check on you, and warn you about those guys who came to your house. They didn’t see me. They don’t know anything about me.”
Leland’s face softened. “I know. We’re just being prudent. No reason to take any risks with your safety.” He gestured toward the sprawling living area. “It’s a nice suite. Relax for a while. We’ll be back soon.”
“Okay, but . . . “ She didn’t want to waste time if Gus needed them, but all the holes in her perspective of the situation were driving her mad. “I still don’t understand what it is you do for a living.”
He genuinely looked perplexed. “What? What do you mean?”
“What do I mean?Leland, a few hours ago, I thought your job was working on spreadsheets, or something, for a security alarm manufacturer. Now, you’re acting like you’re James Bond. What is WhiteRock, really?What do you do?”
Leland hesitated. And snapped his head to the huge grin on Jason’s face. “What’s so funny?”
“I may start calling you 007.”
He scowled at Jason, who held up both hands in surrender, and retreated to the kitchen. Leland turned to Tayla, looking frustrated. “I owe you an explanation. I know. But right now, we need to find Gus. I’m afraid he’s in trouble.”
She wanted answers. But he had a point. She didn’t want to delay aid to Gus any longer. “Okay. For Gus.” She shoved her cell in her back pocket. “But when Gus is safe and sound, we’re having a talk.”
“We will.” He gave her a quick hug. “Thank you.”
Jason returned with a black backpack and holding a piece of paper. “Do you have a pen?”
“Um, sure.” She pulled a pen from her purse and handed it to him.
He jotted down a chain of numbers. “I have a satellite phone. If you need us, dial this.” He handed her the paper. “Once we leave the resort area, we won’t have cell service.”
“Okay, thanks.” She gripped the paper like it could protect her.
Jason walked to the door, Leland one step behind him. Her uncle, who was, apparently, some kind of secret-agent-spy—or something—called over his shoulder, “Remember, bolt the door behind us. We’ll be right back.”
They walked out, leaving the cavernous suite uncomfortably quiet. She snicked the bolt and leaned her back against the door. The emotional exhaustion of the past hour taking its toll. “Gus thought he’d be right back too,” she whispered.
Jason slid behind the wheel of the courtesy SUV provided by Alec Drakos.
“The orphanage is at the far end of the island,” Leland said, climbing in the passenger side. He looked down at the map on his phone. His reading glasses had finally materialized in one of his pants pockets. “It should only take about twenty minutes. Isadora isn’t a large island.”
Jason dipped his head toward Leland’s cell. “Which phone is that?”
