Caleb filed that away.She'd accessed surveillance footage that had been deleted.Serious skills or serious connections.Maybe both.
"You have names," he said."Suspects."
She weighed it.He could see the calculation happening—the risk of trusting him measured against the cost of continuing alone.
"Warren Caldwell was one.But you already took him down."
"Caldwell was middle management.He didn't have the reach."
"I know.Which leaves two."She took a breath."Douglas Sattler.Commercial real estate.Sits on the hospital board, library board, and every civic organization that matters.Clean on paper, but his properties keep showing up in shell company transactions."
"And the other?"
"Harrison Montgomery."
"Montgomery Lighting," Caleb said.
"You know him."
"I know of him.Philanthropist.Donor.Gets buildings named after him."
"And he's on the board of three regional media companies.Not majority stakes—just enough influence to kill stories before they run."Her voice had an edge now."That's the same pattern Isak was tracking.Media control.Information suppression."
"That's not proof."
"No.It's a pattern."She stepped closer."I saw him today.Supper club on Second Street.He looked at me like he was memorizing my face."
Caleb's hand closed at his side."He saw you?"
"Just a look.But I've been running long enough to know when someone's paying attention."
"Could be a coincidence.New face, small town."
"Could be."She didn't sound convinced.
Headlights swept across the parking lot behind the bar.
They both froze.Caleb's hand moved toward his waistband on instinct.Harper took a step back, angling her body toward the path.
The car pulled into a space near the building.Engine cut.A man climbed out, stumbled slightly, and made his way toward the bar's back entrance.Just a customer.Probably had a few too many and was coming back for his wallet.
They both exhaled at the same time.Harper noticed.The corner of her mouth twitched.
"Jumpy," Caleb said.
"Alive."She turned back to face him."There's a difference."
"Fair point."
The waves rolled in.Somewhere down the beach, a dog barked twice and went quiet.
"If Montgomery is the one at the top," Caleb said, "then you walking into his town is exactly what he'd want.Draw you out.Identify you.Handle you like he handled Isak."
"I know."
"And you came anyway."
"I'm done waiting to die."Her chin lifted."I'd rather go down swinging."
