She would not be pushed to the side again when it came to Kam. "Sir, Kam King is a patriot who has done more than his share for his country." She saw Davin move closer to her, but she wouldn't stop. "I will not stand down while you drag his name through the mud."
"Schulz, get your agent out of here before she finds herself behind bars for impeding an investigation." He turned back to Taylor, "You had better hope King shows up with the Russian."
"Then let me find him." Taylor stood to her full height. She would not be railroaded like she was before because losing Kam wasn't an option this time.
Hollands looked from Taylor to Davin. "Schulz, you don't let her out of your sight. I want King brought in. He has some explaining to do." Hollands dismissed them by getting in the first car and leading the caravan with Dasha and her henchman in custody.
They had all the evidence they needed to clear her name. Kam had sacrificed his entire cover to save her reputation. Now she needed to do the same. But first she had to find him.
CHAPTER 17
How was it that Paul was in the hospital so soon after he had just recovered the first time? Taylor rested her head against the wall behind her, keeping an eye on the rise and fall of Paul's chest. A small reminder that he was, indeed, still alive.
The surgery had taken two hours and the doctors said the next twenty-four hours were the most critical with a recovery that could take up to two months. Nalani had dragged the large plastic cushioned chair, intended for those who stayed overnight, next to the bed. How anyone could sleep in one of those things was a mystery to her. Nalani had one hand holding a blanket to her chin and the other holding on to Paul.
Paul had woken up a few moments ago, but drifted back into sleep, mumbling incoherent words. Taylor continued to silently pray for her friend. She saw how the first hospital stay haunted him, to come so close to death a second time would mess with anyone.
A cup of coffee appeared in front of her, filling her nose with the nutty smell of her favorite brand. "You snuck out to get this." She took the offered cup from Davin. The rich flavors dancedacross her tongue as she took a fortifying sip of the Americano. "I thought you weren't supposed to leave me out of your sight."
Davin took a sip of his own brew. "I figured you wouldn't leave Paul's side until we knew he was out of danger." He was right. There was no where she would be until Paul woke up and she saw for herself that he would be okay. "Besides, I thought you and Nalani could use a distraction."
He handed his coffee to her to hold while he pulled the bedside table over in front of her then proceeded to get two computers out of his bag. "I know you can't go chase down leads, but we could use your skills in finding those leads." Davin opened the computer and turned it toward her.
He took his coffee from her and nodded towards the computer. "Do what you do best. Find him."
Taylor's eyes stung, but she swallowed the well of emotion down. She could do this. She'd find Kam and prove to Hollands that he was wrong.
"Would you like some help?" Nalani stretched from her perch next to the bed.
"I wouldn't turn it down. Kam has perfected the art of not being seen unless he wants to be. Let's just hope that we find him before Katarina decides to kill him." Taylor started with the few public cameras they had in Seward.
An hour later she had nothing. How could God not give her something? Anything. There was grit in her eyes and exhaustion weighed her down. The pixels were starting to blur and caffeine was of no use anymore. Taylor rubbed her eyes, maybe she should set up a scan and take a quick power nap. She was no good to Kam if she was too tired to even look at footage.
"I've got something." Nalani sat up in her seat. Davin stirred in the chair next to her. "Pull up the camera footage for the docks at 0500."
"The only cameras we have there are private owned. The best I can do is in and around the National Park Office." Taylor pulled up the cameras. "What did you find?"
"There was a radio call from a fisherman about a man adrift on a jet ski. They were bringing him in at 0500 this morning."
Taylor's eyes were focused now. "Come on. Come on," she whispered.
At 0530, a man dressed in dark clothes appeared from the ramp behind the visitors center. He looked straight at the camera. Kam was alive, but why didn't he contact her? Kam's attention went to something off screen. He exchanged a few words then looked right back at the camera. "I love you. Trust me," he mouthed the message before slipping into the shadows.
"You're not going to find him." Davin flew to his feet putting himself between the visitor and the rest of the room.
"Relax, Davin." Nalani stood behind him. "This is Amelia. The one who we told you about on Unalaska."
"If you know where he is, you need to tell us. He has some questions that he needs to answer." Taylor winced at Davin's words.
Taylor stepped around her boss. "Can you give us an update on Kam, please? I just need to know." Her voice broke on the last word.
Amelia's eyes softened, but her body remained on high alert. "He is alive and working to track down Katarina."
"So, she got away?" Davin interjected.
Amelia turned slowly towards Davin, "Unfortunately, Kam pushed his jet ski too hard and the engine choked out. He was adrift for hours before a fishing charter found him. She was last seen heading toward Fourth of July Beach."
"But where is Kam now?" Taylor folded her arms across her chest.
