“Is it? You’re both willing to compromise your principles to avoid consequences you can’t accept.” George’s gaze moved to Joe. “What about you, writer? How far would you go to get a story that would make your career? How many people would you betray for a byline in a major publication?”
“I wouldn’t betray anyone,” Joe said, but his voice lacked conviction.
“No? Not even if it meant getting out of this little town, getting back to the big leagues where you belong?”
“I chose to move to Irma.”
“Did you? Chose or were forced? Didn’t you burn one too many bridges on the West Coast?”
“What are you talking about? How do you know anything about me?”
George chuckled. “You think this is the first time I’ve seen your little running group? How do you think I’ve been getting the information? At first, I didn’t put it together. I was told when and where to pick up the information. During the dead of winter, I simply found the drive and went on my way.”
He shifted his gaze to Kelsey. “But as the weather improved, I started showing up earlier, staying later. Eventually, I realized the drops were happening in the same area as a group of runners always managed to be.”
Gina’s head snapped toward Kelsey. “You’ve been using the running club for your illegal drops?”
“You don’t understand— ”
“Oh, I think I do. I understand you made a choice that put all of us in danger. Why in the world would you even think about using Bearwater for this? Why not stick with drops at home?”
Kelsey shook her head. “I wanted to make them work for it. They keep asking more and more of me. It’s getting too dangerous. I told them this was the last time—and it is. But I decided they’d do what I wanted for a change. It was revenge, I guess.”
George laughed again. “Revenge? That’s rich. As I said, I didn’t know who in the running club was the mole, so I investigated each of you.”
He turned to Brooke. “I know all about your coffee shop and how you borrowed from not only the bank but private investors to get the funding. Investors who are just as shady as the people I work for, so you seemed like a logical candidate.”
His gaze shifted to Joe. “I know all about you and the trouble at your old job. How you scooped the wrong person and ended up being an outcast.”
George was systematically attacking each person’s vulnerabilities, and Gina could see it working. The trust that had held their group together was cracking under the weight of his psychological manipulation.
“And you, Nick?” George continued. “You’re new to this little club, aren’t you? I’ve never seen you with them before, but I can tell you’re a man with nothing to lose and nowhere to go. What wouldn’t you do for a chance at stability? A real job, a real life, maybe even a real relationship with someone like Gina here?”
Gina felt her chest tighten as George’s words hit home. Nick was exactly what George described.
“What are you saying?” Nick asked.
“I’m saying that everyone has a price. Everyone has something they want badly enough to compromise their precious moral standards.” George’s smile was predatory. “Kelsey’s price was avoiding public humiliation and keeping a career she’d worked hard for. What’s yours?”
The question hung in the air, and Gina studied Nick’s face, looking for any sign that George might be right about him too.
“Well?” George pressed. “What’s your price, Nick?”
“I don’t have one,” Nick said firmly.
“Everyone has one.”
“Not me.”
George laughed. “Right. The noble drifter with nothing to lose. Very romantic.” His gaze shifted to Gina. “What do you think? You believe him?”
The rational part of her brain screamed the answer. Nick had shown up when it mattered. Had made good decisions under pressure. Had protected her, worked with her, kissed her like she was something precious.
But Kelsey had seemed trustworthy too. A true friend. And Kelsey had been lying to all of them for six months.
She’d kissed Nick. Hours ago, outside by the vehicles, she’d made a choice. Had let herself feel something she’d sworn she wouldn’t feel again. Had started to need someone, which was infinitely more dangerous than simply trusting them.
Trust could be rebuilt. Need was a weakness that never went away.
