“Time Zoey doesn’t have.” She exhaled slowly as if all the fight had gone out of her. “So, what do you want to do next?”
“I want you to pull yourself together and be the truth finder I know you to be. You and I are going back to the resort.” He thought about the image Kelvin had sent. “I learned something earlier today. Enzo Astor and Malcom Fox could be connected.”
She sat up taller. “What?” She asked the question as if confirming she’d heard him right.
He slowly nodded. “This gets more complex by the day.”
She rubbed her forehead. “I hope you’re wrong about that connection.”
“Me too. But unfortunately I don’t think I am.” Liam showed her the image Kelvin had texted him.
“Why do you want to go back to the resort?”
“We’re chipping away at this, hoping it will lead to Zoey. Astor had his clandestine meeting with the masked man at the resort. He’s invested in it. Maybe we’ll spot some other kind of activity there. Maybe we’ll run into the masked man or find him following us again.” And this time, Liam would face the man and get answers.
“Activity. You mean trafficking?”
“Yes. That’s one possibility. Let’s stake out the resort while Astor’s gone. In the meantime, we can hope Detective Moffett finds something. We can work all angles while at the resort too. You can contact Reggie, and I’ll work things on my end while watching the goings-on.” Liam remembered Brad’s text. He needed to give him an answer. “I didn’t tell you this before, but a longtime friend is running the place, and he offered me a job as head of security.”
Her eyes widened. “What are you going to do?”
“If it’s not too late, I think I’m going to take the job.”
She frowned. “You’re quitting on me?”
“Whoa. I never said that. Let’s call it working undercover. I could freely get into suspicious areas and look around. It’s an idea. Unless you have a better one.”
Rae hesitated, appearing to measure her next words. “Liam, I hate to bring this up, but you don’t suspect your friend is part of a trafficking ring, do you? I mean, why would he hire you, an ex-cop, if he was?”
“Believe me, I’ve considered that possibility, but I don’t think so. I’ve known Brad for a long time. Sure, people change. But he approached me, knowing my background. I’m sure he wants to make sure it never happens. I can do that for him while we look for Zoey and at the same time clear the possible link between Enzo Astor and the resort involving money laundering or trafficking.”
“Or confirm it.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you think you should talk to him about what’s going on?” Rae held his gaze.
Right. His first thought had been to use the job opportunity to work undercover. Brad couldn’t be involved, and Liam should be up front with him. “Thanks for that.”
“For what?”
“For suggesting that I should try trusting for a change.” He and Brad had been best friends, and the guy had found a way to fulfill his dream. Brad wasn’t the type to get involved in illegal matters, and that was one reason why he wanted someone like Liam on board. Liam would hold on to that thought.
“You’re welcome.” A small smile lifted her lips. “If you’re going to work for him, then get me a job there too.”
“Wait, so you can work undercover? What about your ethics as a journalist?” Liam arched a brow. “That aside, I have no intention of leaving you unprotected.”
“As for my ethics, as Astor pointed out to me this morning, I’m not actually employed by a news organization.”
“Let me talk to Brad and maybe we can work something out, so we can accomplish all our tasks.”
“Are you going to call him?” she asked.
“We’ll go there in person.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Are you going to tell him the truth?”
“Yes. I think I want this job, Rae. After this is over and you’ve gone home, I still have to figure out what I want to be when I grow up.” He grinned, hoping to lighten things up.
“You can’t get it out of your blood, can you?”
He knew exactly what she meant. Though Kelvin had reminded him that the door was open for him to return to the DEA, Liam couldn’t see going back. But he obviously hadn’t given up the idea, and now he finally understood why not. He couldn’t let law enforcement go completely. He couldn’t wrap his mind around being the guy at the