“You don’t understand. I came to warn you.” She explained Eric’s conversation in the parking lot.
“Wait. You heard him telling someone on his phone that we were here?”
“Yes, and that whoever-it-was needed to create a distraction. And he took Rowan’s headset, so Rowan couldn’t radio you. Have you seen Eric yet? He left the hotel several minutes before I did.”
That didn’t make any sense. Why would Eric . . .
Leland’s vague suspicions about Eric echoed in his mind. He needed to find out what was going on. He prayed there was a redeeming explanation for Eric’s actions but, until he knew for sure, he couldn’t trust his boss tonight. That thought cut painfully deep.
“Jason, I’m so sorry.” He was still holding her hands, only now, she was the one holding his. She squeezed his fingers and her compassion washed over him. It wouldn’t solve anything, but he was surprised how much he appreciated the genuine angst in her voice—as if she was hurtingfor him.
“Thanks. But right now, you’ve got to get out of here. Where’s the car?”
“Way down the road. I didn’t want anyone to see me coming.” She pointed to the south. “But wait, did you see that the guy in the baseball cap—”
“He was on the video, yeah, we know.”
“Not just that. His name is Dylan Kitts. Rowan’s face recognition software identified him. He’s Eric’s cousin. And Eric saw him on the video but acted like he didn’t know him.”
That bombshell siphoned the air from his lungs. “Dylan Kitts? Are you sure he said ‘Dylan Kitts?’”
“Yes, positive. Why? Do you know him?”
“Never met him. He died five years before I started working for WhiteRock.”
“Died? Um, okay. Look, all I’m telling you is what Rowan—”
“Rowan knows his stuff. He’s probably not wrong.”
Dylan Kitts. Eric’s presumed-dead cousin was allegedly responsible for Gus’s death? Jason’s head was about to explode. He rubbed his temples, took a deep breath, and forced himself to refocus. “Weneed to get moving.”
He scanned the area. He wanted to get Tayla back to the car as soon as possible, but apparently, Eric poked some holes in his plan.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“If Eric has Rowan’s headset, I can’t radio Rowan to come pick us up.”
She looked confused. “Why do that? I’m already here with the car. I’ll drive you guys back.”
He knew she’d say that. He took another breath and prayed for a safer answer to his predicament.
She cocked her head. “I get it, Jason. You don’t want me helping. You want me out of the way. But I’m already here. It wouldn’t make any sense to—”
“Itwouldmake sense for you to go back to the hotel and send Rowan to get us, if we had more time. That would be safer. But we don’t have that kind of time.”
“I can help, Jason. Tell me what you need me to do.”
He ran a hand down his face.Dear God, please keep her safe. If anything—
Knox’s voice sounded in his ear. “Smoke, Jason. On the pier. You seeing this?”
What?“Not there yet. Hang on.”
He turned to Tayla. “Stay down. Don’t move. I need to check on something.”
She nodded.
“I’ll be right back.” He squeezed her hand, and—because the thought crossed his mind—he reminded himself not to kiss her.
