Buck and Aspen are staying in a suite at a posh hotel.
Me?
I’m moving into one of the furnished apartments in the building that houses Derek Wolfe’s victims.
Why? I don’t know. It’s not like they need additional security. But after the meeting, Reid took me aside and asked me to do it.
“I want someone watching after Kelly in particular,” he says. “I’m not exactly sure what’s going on with her. Whether Brindley McGregor is threatening her or not. I need you to talk to Brindley, have her answer some questions.”
I furrow my brow. “You mean no one has talked to her?”
“Just a police officer Kelly called after she got the first text. She called the cops before she called any of us.”
“And?”
“It went as you would expect. Brindley denied any wrongdoing. She even let us look at her cell phone. But as you know, she could be using burners.”
“Kelly is…” I shake my head. “Something’s not right there.”
“We’re not privy to any of her records from the treatment center on Wolfe Island,” Reid says. “Doctor-patient confidentiality and all. But her doctors did say she was ready to leave the retreat center and come home.”
“Where is home for her?”
“Phoenix, Arizona.”
I raise my eyebrows at the word Phoenix. It’s my Navy SEAL name. But I’m not from Arizona. I’m from Texas. They gave me the name because I was so good at getting out of scrapes—like a phoenix rising from the ashes.
I am pretty good at that. That last scrape, though? Only Buck and I got out alive.
“So the cops didn’t do anything?”
“What could they do?” Reid shrugs. “Her phone was clean, and Brindley hasn’t gone anywhere. She’s still getting acclimated. Security footage shows she rarely leaves the building.”
“Aspen says Kelly was different on the island,” I tell Reid. “She said she would actually get jealous when one of the other girls was picked over her.” I shake my head. “I can’t imagine why. Aspen and Katelyn both say they considered it a reprieve when they weren’t chosen.”
Reid closes his eyes for a second. “I can’t imagine what those ladies went through. And Zee… It was almost her too.”
“The only one that got away.”
“I thank God every day.” Reid rubs a hand over his face. “I can’t even imagine what Buck is going through with Aspen.”
“Aspen’s in a good place, I think. So is Buck. They’re good for each other. It’s like they complete each other, and I don’t mean that in a ridiculous romantic way. I mean it in a truly symbiotic way. They’re like yin and yang.”
“They do seem to be well matched,” Reid agrees. “I’m happy for them. You know how much you guys mean to me. You’ve helped me out for the last couple years, helped me solve this mystery to begin with.”
“You seem to be in a good place now.”
Reid smiles. “I am. With Zee and little Nora. But still, it wasn’t that long ago when we were searching those caves under the church. It’s crazy what was going on, and my siblings and I had no idea.”
“Not even Riley?”
“Riley had her own problems with our father. I think she was probably on that island, but it sounds like he kept her drugged up. And of course, she was his little princess. He never would’ve put her out on the hunt.” Reid grimaces. “God, I can’t even think about it.”
“It’s tough for sure. But don’t you worry about Kelly. I’ll keep my eye on her.”
“She’s a handful, I’m afraid.”
“She’s nice to look at, at least.”
“All those women are beautiful. My father wouldn’t have had it any other way.”
“Buck was telling me how both Katelyn and Aspen got taken. Aspen was screwed over by members of her own volleyball team, and Katelyn by her cousin. God knows what these people were paid to provide beautiful women for abduction and transport to that island.”
“I know. Katelyn’s cousin is rotting in jail, and everyone behind Aspen’s abduction is either dead or in prison. I wish I could say the same about all the men who were on that island. Some of them disappeared into thin air.”
“Having billions at your disposal gives you opportunities most of us don’t have.” I widen my eyes, realizing my implication. “I didn’t mean anything by that.”
“I know that. Most of us billionaires aren’t assholes. We don’t use women. We don’t traffic women. We run our businesses ethically and legally. My old man?” Reid shakes his head. “I have no idea what was going on in his head, and I don’t even want to know. I hope this apple falls very far from that tree.”
“And all the others. What you’ve done on that island in such a short time is amazing.”
“The retreat center and the art colony are doing well, and the resort will open soon. I hope you’ll join us down there for the grand opening.”
“That’s probably above my pay grade, buddy.”
“Are you kidding? After all you and Buck have done for our family? You’ll be our guests, all first-class accommodations, gratis.”
“I may take you up on that. In the meantime, I’ll make sure Kelly Taylor’s taken care of.”
“You’re a good man, Leif. Or should I call you Phoenix?”
“Leif is good. Buck goes by his SEAL name because it was always his nickname anyway. The rest of us go by our regular names.”
Flashback then…to my dead buddies. My heart races. Why did I use the present tense.
“The rest of us went by our regular names,” I clarify. “Buck and I are the only two left.”
Reid says nothing. What can he say?
We head into the building and stop at the security desk.
“Mr. Wolfe,” the guard on duty says.
“Good afternoon, Royal. This is Leif Ramsey, and he’s going to be taking apartment 405. He’s on my personal payroll, security duty. He’ll be watching specifically over Kelly Taylor.”
“Excuse me?” An angry female voice says. “He will be what?”