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She sighed. Jessica would want to know that as well. Better to recall it as soon as possible rather than later. They still needed to check the flight manifests and see if that name lined up with anything documented.
“Gerald? George something?” A lightbulb went off, and she sat up a little straighter. “The last name was Patel.”
Harper leaned toward her. She had his full attention now. “What did you do with the copy of his phone?”
“I gave it to Jessica.”
His eyes went wide. “What? When?”
“I left it at reception for her at the Pearl and she went by and grabbed it.”
“Already? Are you sure?”
“Yeah, I turned my phone off after she confirmed she had it.”
“Damn,” Harper muttered.
Was that a damn of admiration? Or something else?
He reached over and took her hand. “And he found you? Going through his stuff?”
“Yeah.” She clutched his hand. “It was so scary. He’s always calm and soft-spoken. Harper, he was like a completely different person I’ve never met before.”
The worst part was she’d gone from firmly believing Uncle Daar would have paid someone to murder Mom to realizing he could have done it with his bare hands.
Harper pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Shit, Robin… I wish you would have told me this in the beginning.”
“I don’t think it’s safe for me to go back. I told Uncle Daar I didn’t have any money and was just trying to steal a little cash to buy you a present, but one chat with Dad and he’ll know that’s not the case. Dad won’t cover for me.”
“What can I do to help? I have friends. I know people. Let me help you,” Harper said.
No more questions, no second-guessing her, or doubting her story, just faith in her.
Guilt rolled up in her. And here she’d been wondering if Harper was someone she could trust.
“I… I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I feel like things just got very real.”
“What if I put some of my contacts in touch with your friend, Jessica? What if they could help her analyze the phone data? Where does she live in Miami?” he suggested.
“Oh, Jess doesn’t live in Miami.” Robin shifted and didn’t meet his gaze. “She flew in to help me figure out a way to copy the phone.”
“Christ,” Harper muttered.
“I think the rest of that is something I need to talk to Jessica about. My head’s not clear. I keep having these moments of panic and…”
Her throat was so tight she couldn’t get a squeak out.
Harper reached across the center console and wrapped his arms around her. “You’re amazing, you know that? You’re so fucking amazing.”
“But I’m not.” Yet more tears leaked out and she hated herself for being weak. “I’m scared and I regret ever saying anything now. I’m just so scared, Harper. I’m scared.”
“Hey?” He bent his head, so she had no choice but to look at him. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, got that? It’s me and you now, and I’m not going to let that piece of shit lay another finger on you ever again.”
His violent words shouldn’t warm her insides, but they did. He was fierce and wonderful and there for her.
She should have never doubted him. This wonderful man.
Wednesday. Key West, FL.
