I chuckled. “A legend.”
“In many ways,” she replied, and, when I cocked my head, added, “He came in around the holidays with a tree-shaped ornament stuck in a place it didn’t belong.” Now it was my turn to raise a brow. “Like I said. An ER legend.”
“I usually pick something more innocuous, but I thought you’d enjoy it,” I said and immediately tensed. Why would I admit to that—to using the main character’s name from the novels she’d mentioned reading?
In the retrieval business, it was pretty standard to use an alias for one reason or another. I had several, with varying degrees of credibility, but for a phone call, I could pick anything.
“So, is the singles’ program two weeks long and then it’s couples after that? Because it’s been longer than two weeks since I’ve heard from Rachel ...” Lara pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, her focus back on the brochure like it could tell her something new.
“Let’s see what Callum can find, and if we have a location—”
“I’m going to call them again.”
“For ...” My protest faded because her cell was already at her ear.
Regardless of the retreat’s intentions, they weren’t going to give out any more information on their clients, no matter what she asked, but maybe she’d feel less helpless finding that out for herself.
Opening my message to Callum, I sent a string of question marks, hoping to urge him along. If he didn’t respond by the time she was off the phone, I’d call him. When I looked up again, Lara gave me a thumbs-up, which I guessed to mean the receptionist had answered.
“Hi, Brielle, my name is Lara Croft.” Our eyes connected, hers mischievous. “I’m calling because I picked up one of your brochures, and I’m interested in your program.”
I frowned. Tomb Raider ...more like troublemaker.
“I see. That sounds wonderful. When is the soonest I could join the retreat?”
My head jerked up, shaking wildly as I mouthed,No.Lara turned away, presumably to ignore my warning.Dammit.
There was no way she was joining the program. That wasn’t the solution.
“Lara,” I warned low, knowing she could hear me.
Going undercover for information was risky and unpredictable, especially with no confirmation Rachel was even there. The safest, surest plan was to get a location for the retreat and surveil it for any sign of Rachel.
“So the singles’ introduction to the course started two weeks ago, and you can’t join afterward?” she confirmed to the woman for my benefit.
I let out a tight breath.Good.
My phone buzzed. Callum had texted back.
Two minutes.
“Oh, so the couples are just joining the program now.”
“Lara,” I growled and reached for her.
The wild woman scampered around the other side of her car like this was some kind of game.
“Yes, I’m sorry. I misunderstood the process. Silly me.” Lara faked a laugh, but her eyes were as serious as sin the way they pinned mine. “Correct, it’s not just me. My boyfriend, Calder, and I would like to enroll in the couples’ portion of the retreat.”
Boyfriend.
Couple.
A red fog came over me, whatever she said after drowning in the drone of my furious pulse.
“Lara ...” Her name cracked from my chest as soon as she ended the call.
“They bring singles into the retreat for two weeks and then add in people who are already in relationships,” she said, defending her rash decision. “It was the only way for us to get in.”
