She studied Jonathan. How had it come to this? How had she not had a clue what he was up to? Her parents loved him. Even her dad, of all people, one of the smartest and most savvy people she knew, didn’t know this side of Jonathan. At least she didn’t think so. He was all about her marrying Jonathan. If he’d known this about him, he certainly would have said something.
She folded her hands together tightly and rested them in her lap. Questions screamed in her head. How was Jonathan still alive? He wasn’t a strong swimmer, and with how fast the large rolling waves came with the storm, how had he managed to get to shore, and with nobody noticing? The Coast Guard, Sturgeon Bay Police, the dive team, and she and her friends. It seemed impossible. Most importantly, what was it she and Jonathan were about to do to save Carly?
One of Jonathan’s hands gripped the steering wheel, and the other held the weapon. She’d hoped he’d set it down. The way he waved it around sometimes, she worried he’d pull the trigger accidentally.
Minutes later, they were back in town, nearing the city park with a boat ramp where Jonathan’s truck was parked.
He drove past the police station. The building was completely dark. As they crossed the bridge, she could see his truck illuminated by the parking lot lights. She wondered if there were any security cameras in the park. Surely, there must be. When Cap discovered she was missing, and Jonathan’s truck was gone from the parking lot, he’d surely look at the footage to see who took the truck. Jonathan must have thought of this as well. Yet, he parked next to his truck, which was in the farthest stall from the launch ramps. There had to be at least fifteen trucks and trailers already parked in the lot. That didn’t fully surprise her because the early morning charters would already be on their way to their hot spots, if not already trolling.
“I need the keys,” he said as he reached toward her.
She pulled them from her purse and dropped the fob into his hand.
Jonathan fumbled for the door handle and slipped out of the car. Though he’d killed the engine, he left the keys in the ignition. It crossed her mind to quickly slide over and peel out of the parking lot, but with Carly’s life in her hands, she thought better of it.
Jonathan opened her car door, gripped her arm, and pulled her out. Then, he walked her to the driver’s side of the vehicle.
“You’re driving,” he said, but didn’t hand her the fob.
“First, I need to make a call, then I need to get something out of the back. Give me your phone.”
“Where’s yours?” she asked.
“Somewhere in Lake Michigan. When you let those assholes toss me overboard, I lost my phone and keys.”
Emma lifted her chin. “I hardly think it is my fault you had a run-in with your drug dealers and they tossed you into the lake. And I think you owe me an explanation.”
“I don’t owe you shit. Phone. Now!”
She pulled her phone from her purse, which sat on the floor, and handed it to him. Her gaze landed on the gun. Where did that come from? Certainly, he didn’t have it while on the boat, or he would have pulled it out at some point. And if he had, wouldn’t he have lost that, too, when he was thrown overboard?
Jonathan stepped to the back of his truck and lifted the tonneau cover. Something slid in the truck’s bed. Then, he shut the cover. In the rearview mirror, she saw him tap the screen of her phone and then press it to his ear. The conversation was short. He hustled over to the passenger side of the vehicle, opened the door, tossed a black bag onto the seat between them, and then belted himself in.
“You found the bag?” she asked.
“No, thanks to you. This is a different one.”
How many drug deals did he have going down? Who was this person?
“Start the car. We gotta go.”
She felt frozen, studying the man—the drug dealer she’d thought she once loved.
“Emma! Carly’s life depends on you. My life depends on you, and I shouldn’t have to explain this to you, but your life depends on you right now!”
Her quick intake of breath caused her to choke. She coughed and coughed until her eyes watered so much that she could hardly see.
“Start the damn truck, Emma!”
She sniffled and swiped her arm over her wet eyes and cheeks. Then, she put her foot on the brake and pressed the engine start button.
“Where to?” she asked
“To the highway. Take a left out of the parking lot. At the highway, take another left.”
She did as he instructed.
“Slow down!”
