“Well, I guess you shouldn’t expect to make friends when you threaten existing power structures.”
“I guess I should be thanking you,” I said. “I know a lot of operatives who have relied on your platform for secure communications. People that would have been killed if they'd been discovered or identified.”
"When I built the platform, I was just trying to give back privacy and control to the people. Something that is increasingly under attack.” She paused. "When you say operatives, I take it you're talking about clandestine ops.”
I smiled. “I can neither confirm nor deny.”
"A spy. That sounds intriguing.”
"It had its ups and downs."
"And you left it behind?"
"For the most part.”
"You can never really walk away from something like that, can you?"
"Echoes of the past. Sometimes they never fade.”
"I suppose you make a lot of enemies in this type of work.”
"Along with some lifelong friends.”
Madelyn smiled. She had a nice smile. "You and JD are lifelong friends.”
"Like brothers.”
She frowned. “Well, not like my brother.”
"Sometimes family can be a challenge," I said.
She agreed.
We returned to the boat, and I told Madelyn I was going to call it an early night. It had been a long day. She took my hand, lifted on her tiptoes, and kissed my cheek. "Thanks again. For everything."
Her warm breath tickled my ear, and her presence elevated my heartbeat. She had an uplifting effect. With that, she spun around and darted below deck.
I retired to my stateroom and got a half-ass night’s sleep. Never quite here, never quite there. The threat of an attack was ever-present in my mind.
I didn't think anyone had followed us back to the boat. Nobody knew Madelyn was here. I intended to keep it that way.
I was up bright and early the next morning. I stumbled down to the galley after my routine and grilled breakfast. I put on a fresh pot of coffee, and the smell of java swirled. I clicked on the flatscreen to see what was happening in the world.
My phone buzzed with a call. I swiped the screen and held the device to my ear.
"Deputy Wild, this is Jenna Keating returning your call.”
"Thank you for getting back to me.”
"If I understood your message right, you’re saying that Ray Corbin was still alive until recently.”
"It appears that way.”
She hesitated a moment. "I don't know what to make of that. I thought he died. You say he had a completely new life?”
"Yes, ma'am.”
She sighed. "I just don't know how to feel about that. It's both terrifying and maddening. That man put me through three of the most horrendous days of my life.”
