Page 20 of Isla by Any Other Name

“Yeah, I’m just glad we’re home.” She smiled. “I can breathe again.”

Mitch smiled and pulled her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

They pulled into the garage. Mitch got out and opened her door, then helped her out. “Let’s get you inside. We’ll all have lunch and while the team and I debrief, you can go up and take a nap. You’re exhausted and don’t say you’re not. The dark circles under your eyes don’t lie.”

“I could probably sleep the rest of the day away. But promise you’ll wake me at four. I want to start dinner.”

“You don’t need to make dinner. One of us can make dinner.”

“Mitch, I need to make dinner. Promise you’ll wake me.”

He looked like he wanted to say something to her. Then he shook his head and said, “Okay, I promise.”

The last SUV pulled into the garage and they all went into the house. Sledge and Kip were sitting at the kitchen island.

“So, how did it go? Any problems we need to know about?”

“All’s well. We’re not aware of being followed. Can the two of you stay for our debriefing? I’d like your input on a few things.”

“We’re all yours. How are you, Molly?” Kip asked.

“I’ll be fine once I get some sleep.”

Kip nodded. “Stella sent over lunch—grab some goulash before you sleep.” He turned to Mitch, saying, “Jax and Nick are on the ATVs, scouting the area. They should be here soon.”

“Perfect,” Mitch said. “When this is all over, drinks are on me.”

Isla mouthed a thank you to her team, then went upstairs to recharge.

Chapter twelve

Mary Carlson sat at her computer looking for anything that would appease Hernandez. She had a threatening call on her voicemail last night and his henchman had informed her that she better find something or else. She knew what “or else” meant. Hernandez was sitting in a federal prison awaiting trial and every day he was there was a day closer to a hit being put out on her if she didn’t deliver.

She couldn’t find anything. Whoever was on Isla Pierce’s case was good. She wasn’t buying that Larkin was out on family leave. Where was his team? They had all disappeared as well. She knew they were on this case. Now she needed to find out where Larkin was, and she would find out where Pierce was.

She had spent the last two hours trying to hack into Larkin’s file. This shouldn’t be so hard, she thought. She’d gotten into his file just last week. Someone was building these walls and she needed to start taking them down or she was a dead woman. This wasn’t as exciting as it used to be. Her life depended on getting Hernandez this information. She needed more time.

“Hi Mary, another early morning, huh?” Steve asked as he sat down at his desk.

“Yeah, I’m getting close to clearing my desk. But it looks like it’ll take another few days to get it done.”

“Do you want to get lunch together? I didn’t make a lunch today. The cupboards are bare. All I have in my fridge is sour milk and a six pack,” he laughed. “My wife is visiting her folks with the kids, so I’m on my own.”

Mary nearly turned him down out of habit. But maybe she should take the time to go to lunch with Steve. He and Mitch had hung out a few times when Mitch was in town. They were both Eagles fans and had gone to a few home games together. She could pick his brain. Maybe he knew where Mitch was. She turned back to Steve, “You know what, Steve—sure, these reports can wait. Where are we going?”

“I thought maybe that Mexican restaurant on East Street.”

“Sure, why not?” Mary said, doing her best to seem nonchalant.

Four hours dragged by. Mary and Steve entered the restaurant and were seated right away. The server came over with chips and salsa. They placed their orders quickly. This was a work lunch—fast and simple. Mary had only forty-three minutes to get some information out of Steve.

“Any vacation plans for you and the family this year?” she asked, deciding to start with something personal. Something to make it seem like she cared.

Steve brightened. “We’re taking the kids to Disney in the spring. It’s a big one. The kids are finally old enough to remember. Tyler’s eight and Devon is ten. What about you, Mary?”

Mary was flustered by his question. She wasn’t used to people asking about her life outside of work. “I really haven’t thought about it. Maybe I’ll take a camping trip this spring.”

“I would have never taken you for a camper,” Steve laughed.