Reed I’m not sure about.
When we get him back, I’m going to make sure he knows how I feel, even if he doesn’t feel the same.
I rake my fingers through my hair, feeling completely useless. Tearing around in the growing dark isn’t going to help Reed or Ashley. I’m no good at the waiting part of any mission. If a plan is made, it needs actioned.
Priest looks up.
I stop pacing and force myself to sit.
Hargrave is up at the mine with a couple of other guys asking the miners if they’ve heard anything or know of any illegal mining operations. The men who took them didn’t want Reed. They wanted Ashley. I don’t let myself think what that means for Reed. I’m not ready to face that reality. But since there’s been no ransom, it’s about emeralds.
Why else would someone take them?
The police have been notified. The big boss has been told.
But with the storm closing in, no one is flying in or out of the area. And getting out by road is a real pain in the ass—literally and because it takes hours along winding roads in poor condition. The rain isn’t helping any.
“You got something to tell me?” Priest says as if I’ve somehow made an error of judgement. I’ve never seen him lose his temper. I don’t lose mine in public. Not anymore.
“No. Why?”
“Because you’re acting as if it’s your missus that was taken.”
I stare at him, rake my fingers through my hair again, and rest my elbows on the table.
He continues, “And since Ashley made a point of not hooking up with anyone on site, I can only assume it’s Reed.”
I’m about to agree that it’s Reed. My mouth opens, but that isn’t what comes out. “How do you know Ashley isn’t interested in anyone on site?”
“That’s not what I said.”
I press my lips together in a thin smile. True, that wasn’t what he’d said. “You tried to hook up with her.”
“I asked her if she wanted to grab a drink. She said she doesn’t date on site.” He tilts his head as if to note the end of that conversation. “So you and Reed? How long has that been going on?”
I shrug. “It’s casual.”
That’s a lie. I want more than casual, but until today I’ve been too scared to say anything. Reed will be pissed that I’m telling anyone. He likes to keep things quiet. I did too. Not anymore. I can’t change it what people think, so why should I care?
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“Why does it matter?”
“Because I don’t want you on the rescue if you’re going to be a mess.”
“I’m fine…” Also a lie. “It’s the waiting. I’d rather be out there. Doing something. You know what I mean?”
Priest turns his attention back to the map in front of him that shows the area, the mine, the camp as well as the other sites. Dotted on the map are also the small mines, and the ones the company closed because they are on its licenses.
He’s placed a pin where the vehicle was found.
Most of the surrounding area is jungle. An army could move through it and the chances of finding them would be slim.
“We aren’t going anywhere until we know where we are going.”
I grit my teeth, even though he’s right. “And what if we never hear anything? We pretend as if they never existed and get on with it?”
We can’t do nothing.
