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“Ready?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “Let’s get this over with.”
“Do you know what you’re doing?” he asked.
She hadn’t talked to him much. Just texted him this morning and said that after work she wanted to meet with Mike. That Griffin was right and it was best to catch Mike unaware rather than wait for Mike to make the move.
She believed beyond a doubt Mike knew she and Josie were on this island and she wasn’t going to live her life in fear or waiting.
“Sort of,” she said. There was some silence as he started his truck and they pulled out. She appreciated he wasn’t pushing her. “I want to see how it plays out.”
“Okay,” he said.
“I was going to offer him money to go away, but you’re right. I’m not.”
“Good,” he said.
“I want to ask him why he wants Josie. I think that is a fair question,” she said.
“What if he says he wants to get to know his daughter?” he asked. “That he made a mistake signing his rights away.”
“I don’t think he’ll say that. And if he does, then I’ll know if he’s telling the truth or lying.”
“How is that?” he asked.
“I remembered last night. Actually it was a dream I had of Colleen. It was something she’d said and I woke up and it occurred to me. She said she always knew when Mike was lying to her about something. He’d rub his thumb with his finger. Like a nervous movement of sorts.”
“Do you believe he wants to be in Josie’s life?” he asked.
“No. But I want him to look me in the eye and lie. Then I can call him out on it.”
Not that she thought it’d make much of a difference, but she wanted to see how this all played out, as she’d said.
They’d be in a public place. She knew she was safe. Not only because Carter was with her, but Griffin would be close by too.
She’d tried to tell herself she could do this alone, but the truth was, she realized that she didn’t need to.
That was a hard pill for her to swallow. She’d make sure Carter understood this all too.
They drove to the casino in silence after that. She was used to it with Carter. There were plenty of times he was at the house and they didn’t talk. Just watched TV or played a game with Josie.
She didn’t expect him to be someone he wasn’t and she was going to make damn sure he got that too.
They pulled into the casino, parked and got out. She’d already texted Griffin they were on the way.
“He’s in the casino,” Griffin said when she walked in the door after Carter had opened and held it for her.
“Okay,” she said. “I want to go up and sit by him. See if he recognizes me.”
“Do you think he won’t?” Carter asked. “I don’t like this.”
“I’m not sure he’ll remember me. He knows my name, but he’d only met me a few times. He’s not going to do anything to me with you two there.”
“Let’s go,” Griffin said. “And don’t worry, Carter. Avery is right. He won’t cause a scene. I’ve been watching him for the past two days.”
“Has he been drinking today?” Carter asked.
“Yes, but not much. He’s been winning today. He’s feeling lucky and maybe cocky.”
