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“Don’t worry about the money. It’s on Arrow.”
“Thanks, but?—”
“Really, don’t think twice about it. We’ve got you.” Her hand falls to the doorknob. “I’m not sure what your schedule’s going to be like while you’re here in Santa Barbara, but if you ever want girl time. Walk on the beach. Glass of wine.” She lifts her shoulders as if conveying she’s good for whatever.
“I don’t drink. It’s my…” The butt of my hand rubs over my scar. A subconscious movement. “But I appreciate your offer. And you know what, we can meet for drinks. Lots of delicious mocktails these days. Or a walk. I walk at least three miles a day, so that, I can definitely do.”
Stella beams. “Tomorrow morning? These loons get up before the crack of dawn. I could meet you and we could walk the dogs.”
“Millie would probably like that.” Knox might think she needs more training, but from what I can tell, the Lab is dog perfection.
“I’ll bring you coffee. Do you drink caffeine?”
“One cup.” I don’t overdo coffee and eat like a pregnant woman, mainly avoiding unpasteurized cheeses, but there are mixed studies on coffee. I choose to believe the positive research. And my life is all about moderation.
She walks around to her side of the desk, grabs a pad of paper, and scribbles away, filling the pastel stationery with Knox’s address, which I had, but also Arrow’s address, the best grocery store, coffee shop, best pizza and delivery options, and her favorite clothing stores. She reaches into a drawer and digs out a tourist map of Santa Barbara. By the time I leave Stella’s office, I have everything I need to subsist while hiding out in this seaside town.
* * *
A light breeze wafts through the open window. Knox was apologetic when he explained the windows needed to stay open during the heatwave, as the unit doesn’t have air conditioning.
Millie stretches out on the floor, tongue lolling out of her mouth.
“She had a big day, huh?” I ask Knox.
He’s resting on the sofa. There are three bikes parked in the alcove that’s designed to hold a dining room table. Three rubber trunks line the back wall behind the bikes. Shelves on the wall hold bins, and there are a couple of gun cases, the cloth kind, perched against the corner.
“She’s acting like it. But I have to imagine at the training facility she had full days. Unless they let her sleep a lot of the day.”
I crawl down on the floor beside her to scratch her ear. There’s a pillow and blanket neatly stacked on the floor beside the sofa. I didn’t notice it this morning.
“I can’t…you need to help me find a hotel. You’re doing too much. All the guys are doing too much.”
“No, we’re not.”
“Yeah, you are. I don’t think Sam was expecting this…”
“Maybe he was.” He folds his arms over his stomach. “I’ve been thinking about the duffel he packed for you. I have a theory.”
“Yeah?” I take a seat on the sofa beside him. Any theory about Sam is of interest to me.
“I think Sam might’ve been doing some additional work on the side.”
“Sam wouldn’t break the law.” It’s the second time today someone has implied my siblings are criminals.
“I agree. I was thinking more on the covert side. Like you said. Opportunities come up. At any rate, it would explain why he gave you and your sister such explicit instructions. And options. If he got found out, he might’ve been worried someone would come for his family.”
“Like who?”
“Cartels are notorious for it. The CIA has been known to poach our men. Others, too.”
“You think this has to do with Sam and not Sloane?” It’s what I secretly hoped, but…I also recognize that no one buys into my hope. He squints and stretches out his arms. I can’t tell if he’s thinking about the answer or about how to answer me.
“We need to find your sister. There’s no question that’s a priority. I suspect this isn’t the scenario your brother was planning when he prepared you. Obviously, we’re light on intel, but my hunch is what’s going on has nothing to do with Sam. But Sam prepped your sister too. Which means she could be hiding under an alias. She could be safe. Maybe she hasn’t reached out because she can’t. Or because she’s afraid of bringing the danger to you. But wherever she is, she’s probably scared.”
“And she’s probably not in the United States.”
“There’s a good chance she’s not.” He clicks his tongue. “There’s also a good chance she discovered something in that lab that someone wants to keep quiet.”
