“While I don’t expect you to be my personal protection detail, Braden, I appreciate it.” Cressida smiled, then entered her room.
He turned to walk the hall to his own room, then spotted Hawk heading for him.
Braden met him halfway. “So, the stalker?”
“He left early on,” Hawk said. “He’s staying at the Forest Trails Inn in Forestview. You want us to pay him a visit?”
“Thanks for the intel. I’ll meet him myself,” he said. Cressida had an idea who he was working for. Braden had suspected as much, too, and would find out.
“This is my busy season with helicopter tours,” Hawk said, “and Cole is heading to Spokane for a job in a few days, but if you need help, please just say the word.”
“I will,” Braden said.
“What’s this about, really?” Arms crossed, Hawk leaned against the rail.
“I’m not entirely sure.”
Hawk studied him, but Braden felt sure he understood. “I have to write up my reports, so better get to my room. I’ll send them in online when I get internet.”
Hawk grinned. “Yeah, about that. Secretly, I can give you the connection, which is hidden from anyone searching for it.”
“Text me the information so I can find it.”
Braden decided against going to his room just yet. He needed to make a phone call and didn’t know if anyone could hear him through the walls, so he bid Hawk good night and said he needed something in his car. He got inthe vehicle and steered out of Cedar Trails Lodge until he got a signal, and then he stopped on the side of the road. If he spent too much more time here, it might be time to get a satellite phone, but even those had issues here.
Octavia answered immediately and sounded like she was still awake. And he started right in.
“Did you send someone to follow her?” he demanded.
“Yes.”
“You didn’t trust me?”
“You can’t work two jobs. I was getting worried.”
“Well, now he has caused a problem. Look, why don’t you just make up with her, and then I can tell her that I’m here for you?”
“That’s just not possible. I’m sorry.”
“Things have escalated. Someone was killed tonight, and we believe it’s the very man who attacked her when she got here.”
Octavia gasped. “You think it’s related?”
“You tell me.”
“Braden—”
“She needs to know everything. She needs to know you think she’s in danger. Tonight, she learned from Diggins that her father could have been murdered. This is all getting out of hand. You haven’t been up-front with me.”
“You can’t tell her about your connection to me. She’ll never speak to you again.”
“And that’s why you sent the other guy. In case I blew it. The only problem is, she would eventually learn he was from you too. So call her. Make amends.”
“You don’t understand. I destroyed any vestige of our relationship.”
“You want to tell me how?”
“Not that it’s your business.”
