“What in tarnation is going on?” Jessie asks. “We weren’t supposed to meet for another hour, and Harper refused to tell us anything over the phone.”
“Take a seat. I’m about to begin the briefing,” I tell everyone as Ethan’s and Ben’s faces fill the screen. “No sense in telling the story twice.”
“Good morning, all. Roger, per your instructions, Jessie informed me of the events that unfolded last night and your intent to go to the coordinates that you received in a text message,” Ethan says.
“That’s correct. I was instructed to come alone. The rendezvous point is two miles offshore, halfway between here and Barracouta Key, so they’ll be able to see if anyone is with me from a distance,” I reply.
Harper leans her head in front of me so that I’m blocked from their view. “You aren’t going to let him go alone, are you, Ethan? Ben?”
Ben answers before Ethan has a chance. “Yes, but not without backup close by. We redirected Carter’s flight to Key West instead of Marathon, and he should be landing soon. Harper,Carter will stay with you while Jessie and Elijah pick up two jet skis we’ve reserved. Jessie, Elijah, you will follow Roger and hang back roughly one thousand meters. You are only to approach if Roger gets into any trouble. Otherwise, let him handle it.”
“Got it,” they say in unison while Harper folds her arms across her chest defiantly. She’s clearly displeased with their decision to let me pursue this lead.
Ben notices the grim lines marring Harper’s face and explains further. “I was an Army Ranger and know how these guys think. They don’t expect Roger to come unprepared or without using caution.”
I cringe a little because that’s exactly what I was prepared to do. I wasn’t willing to leave Harper without protection, even if it meant giving up my own. I had planned to leave either Jessie or Elijah behind. Ethan smiles at me. “I know what you’re thinking, Roger, and I would have done the same thing in your place.”
“I’m glad you redirected Carter to come and help because we discovered something else.” I relay the new information regarding the blueprints we found and the implications.
Ethan rubs his temples, and his mouth turns upside down. “This is beyond the scope of our capabilities, and under normal circumstances, I would call Finnegan for assistance. We need to turn over the documents to the FBI and let them take custody of the evidence. Call Simms, update him on the new development, and give him the blueprints.”
“Copy. I’ll update Carter upon his arrival,” I reply solemnly. The last thing I want to do is turn over the evidence to the FBI, knowing that it’s just another piece of ammunition that can be used against my friends. But no matter how much I want to protect Robert and Eloise, I can’t ignore the glaring truth in front of me. “Please have Patrick or Savannah continue to monitor our camera feeds.”
Ethan and Ben both agree and sign off. I close the laptop and run to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I splash cold water on my face and run my fingers through my hair. I’m gone less thantwo minutes, but when I return, it’s just Harper and I in the living room. My head is on a swivel, looking for the dynamic duo.
Harper waves her hand toward the door that I never heard open or close. “Jessie and Elijah are heading down to the rental shop to pick up the jet skis. I’m not happy with the game plan, but I feel a smidge better that the two of them will be close enough to provide you support and that they’ll be armed.”
“I’m not exactly over the moon about it either, but it’s a calculated and necessary risk. You’ll also be there with me in spirit because you’ll be able to listen to everything that happens, Angel.”
I give her a perfunctory kiss, but that’s not enough for her by a long shot. She grabs my T-shirt, which I really ought to change, and pulls me so that my body is flush with hers. “I’m not going to let you walk out that door until you give me a kiss that promises you’ll come back.”
What a lady wants, a lady gets.
I’m busy making “promises” that I don’t know if I can keep when I hear the sound of jet skis getting closer. I draw in a deep breath and pry my lips from Harper’s but manage to get in a quick nibble on her lower lip before Jessie comes barging through the door. They taste like raspberries, yet she smells like peaches. It’s a tempting morsel for sure, but better saved for later.
I’m not opposed to showing affection, but I prefer it to bewithout an audience. That’s the main reason why I take a step back and put a foot of space between us. It’s for the best, although I could spend all day kissing Harper. I hope that one day I’ll have the opportunity because I’ve been dreaming about doing just that for seven years. Yet, “dreaming” and “doing” are two very different things.
“Yoo-hoo! We’re ba-ack!” Jessie singsongs before pounding on the door. “And we have a present!” she adds.
I stroll over to the door to open it and find Jessie and Elijah standing there wearing neon yellow life preservers, both looking like drowned rats. Carter is chuckling behind them and pointing down at the top of Jessie’s head. “This one thought it would be fun to do a 360 when coming to a stop. She doused Elijah but lost her balance and fell in.”
One corner of Elijah’s mouth lifts in amusement. “I love my wife, but sometimes she reaps what she sows.” He tilts his head toward Jessie. “Case in point.”
Harper scampers off, and a few seconds later, she returns with a couple of towels. “You’re way more daring than I am. I’d be the chick on the back, holding on for dear life. Not the one doing flips and wheelies.”
Jessie takes a towel and laughs as she wipes her face and squeezes the water from her hair. “I’ve been called ‘daring’ a time or two.”
“Or a hundred,” Carter jokes.
Carter steps inside while Jessie and Elijah remove their life jackets and dry off to the best of their abilities. I take a few minutes to explain everything and instruct him to hand over the sealed tube to the federal agents who are bound to show up. “Agent Simms and Agent Monroe are Whitman’s right-hand and point-men for this case. They should be here to pick this up. Do not hand over the documents to anyone other than those two without verification from one of our teammates or Whitman himself.”
“Understood.” Carter removes a small black case from his pocket and inserts the small device in his ear. The rest of us do the same and go through a series of communication checks to ensure they are all working properly.
Jessie and Elijah remove their Glocks from their holsters, disassembling and drying them off. The process doesn’t take very long, and after a quick function check, we’re ready to go. Jessie claps her hands together and opens the door. “We’re locked, cocked, and ready to rock!”
Harper hugs me and kisses my cheek. “Be careful.”
I return the embrace and croak out, “Always.” Usually, I’m the first one to volunteer for an assignment or the first one out the door, but this is the first time I’ve had someone waiting for me to come back.
