“And lost your job? Perhaps gone to prison?”
“In hindsight, that may have been preferable.”
“A moot point at this stage. Are our January 2 and 3 target dates still workable?”
“Yes.”
“Some personal reconnaissance in advance to ensure the area is clear would be advisable.”
So there was a connection between Stephanie Laurent’s disappearance and whatever illegal activity was taking place on Ivy Hill property.
His heart stuttered, and fear congealed in his belly. “I don’t make a habit of tramping around the grounds. It would look suspicious.”
“You have a perfect excuse. In light of the disappearance in October, you think it makes sense to have physical eyes on all parts of the property rather than rely on a few security cameras. Add a day and evening circuit of the grounds to the routine—and schedule yourself for the night shift on certain dates.”
Stomach churning, Will slid onto a stool at the counter and dropped his head into his hand.
Leaving a duplicate key under a rock for the lock on the gate to the remote dirt access road and dealing with the security camera for that entrance were one thing.
A physical patrol in that area, however, put him too close to the scene of whatever was taking place.
If only he could rewind the clock, refuse the lifeline that had been offered.
But desperation could short-circuit brain cells.
Logic should have told him that once his so-called savior had blackmail material, the persecution could go on forever. That he could be forced to continue aiding and abetting whatever illegal activity was taking place.
Making the lifeline he’d welcomed an ever-tightening noose.
“Will? You with me?”
He filled his lungs. “Yeah.”
“I can count on you?”
What choice did he have? He was in too deep to backtrack.
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
The line went dead.
After a moment, Will stabbed the end button.
What was he going to do?
If Suz ever got wind of how he’d managed to meet her ultimatum, she’d never come back to him.
And he couldn’t handle that. After twenty-six years of marriage, life without her was empty. Living in this cramped apartment, eating frozen dinners, going to bed alone night after night—it stunk.
Their six-month trial separation would be up in five weeks, and he couldn’t risk exposure at this stage or he’d lose her forever.
Meaning he had to do what his anonymous rescuer demanded.
And really, even with an added patrol, his part in whatever was going on was minuscule. How accountable could he be for the nefarious activity taking place? He knew nothing.
Except that a girl—and her boyfriend—were missing.
A tremor snaked through him, and he reached for the bottle of gin again.
Hesitated.
That might not be the best idea. It would be too easy to start relying on booze to smooth out the rough edges in his life.
And he sure didn’t need to add another vice to the one that had plunged him deep into the murky waters of deception—where he was sinking fast.
3
WHAT IN BLAZES was Cate Reilly doing at Ivy Hill Academy?
Sucking in a breath, Zeke took a quick step backward, around the corner in the hall. Dropped to one knee on the pretense of tying a shoelace. Leaned forward slightly until the woman with long auburn hair and her middle-aged male companion standing near the reception desk in the distance were visible.
Could his eyes be deceiving him?
Was that Cate?
He squinted at her profile, tracing the aquiline nose, strong chin, graceful neck.
She wasn’t wearing her usual ponytail—but yeah. It was Cate.
Eight years may have passed since he’d last seen her, but a man didn’t forget the only woman who’d ever managed to infiltrate his defenses and make him second-guess his choices.
But why had he run into her here, of all places?
And how was he supposed to play this?
“Everything okay, Zeke?” Richard clapped a hand on his shoulder as the other faculty members spilling out of the conference room detoured around them.
“Yes.” He finished retying his shoe and stood, shifting into wing-it mode. “Lace came undone. I wouldn’t want to trip in front of my new colleagues and lose face the first day.” He called up a grin.
Richard chuckled. “I hear you—but they’re a forgiving bunch. Are you joining us for lunch?”
That had been the plan. If he wanted to get to know his coworkers, begin laying the groundwork for relationships that could produce useful information, he should take advantage of every opportunity for social interaction.
Except a more urgent priority had arisen.
“I hope so, but I have to deal with an issue my new landlord texted me about during the meeting.” The lie tripped off his tongue, deception second nature to him after all these years. “May I join you in progress if I can resolve this quickly?”
“Of course. I’ll be delayed myself. I have to do a meet-and-greet with a new student. No one will mark you tardy if you’re late.” With a wink and a grin, he continued around the corner, out of sight.
After a few moments, Zeke checked on his progress.
He was heading toward Cate and her companion.
As he watched, Richard shook hands with the man, then with Cate, and motioned them down the hall, toward his office.
Toward him.
Zeke backtracked to the deserted conference room, slipped inside, and shut the door behind him, replaying Richard’s words.
A meet-and-greet with a new student.
Not computing.
Unless Cate had a daughter she’d never bothered to mention, that story didn’t add up.
He needed answers.
Keeping tabs on the closed door, he pulled out his cell and keyed in the contact number reserved for emergencies.
Like this one.
Because unless he could find out what was going on and take proactive measures to protect himself, Cate Reilly could ruin everything.
She did not want to be here.
Heaving a sigh, Cate plopped onto the twin bed she’d been assigned in a dorm room, scooted back against the wall, and wrapped her arms around her knees.
At least the meeting with the president yesterday had gone well. He’d seemed to buy the story the fellow detective posing as her father had told him.
Now all she had to do was figure out what had happened to Stephanie.
Piece of cake, right?
Ha.
Despite Sarge’s reassurance, this could end up being a long gig.
And until there was a break in this case that would let her get back to her normal routine of homicide and murder investigations, she was stuck here.
So what could she do to expedite the process?
Unfortunately, not much today other than wander around and get the lay of the land. Classes didn’t start until Monday, and most of the students wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow.
She wiggled into a more comfortable position, tension thrumming through her nerve endings.
Strange to be at loose ends on a Saturday. If she was home, she’d either be working or catching up on all the personal errands that got relegated to the weekends. Sitting around felt wasteful. Unproductive. Frustrating.
She drummed her finger against her knee and surveyed the leaden sky through the window.