think she was being super cautious. “He started for the path that leads to the beach, but he saw me. I fucked up. He turned and walked the other way.”
“Patrick is finishing up his last drink, and it looks like he’s going to try to get laid,” Drake said. “I think he’s a bust. I’ll try to see if I can follow Jordy. Sandra, switch with me and make sure Patrick goes back to the hotel.”
“I’m moving into position,” Sandra replied.
“Drake, if you take the path to your left, you’ll move in behind Jordy.” Hutch’s voice was perfectly calm, though Nina knew they were moving into a danger zone.
Chaos was the enemy.
She strode quietly down the path that led to the largest of the pools. She stopped at the edge of the patio, keeping behind the big bushes that surrounded the space, giving it an illusion of privacy. Deanna was pacing, staring down at her phone as though it was some kind of a lifeline. She had a big beach bag on her shoulder, and she’d changed from her cocktail dress to black jeans and a T-shirt, trainers on her feet and her hair in a ponytail.
She looked like she was ready to run if she needed to. In the short time she’d known Deanna, the woman had always been dressed in a completely professional way, even in a casual setting.
Then again, she also hadn’t seen Deanna looking anything but confident, and that was not how she looked now. She put the phone to her ear.
“Jay? Yeah, I’m going to do it.” She was quiet for a moment. “I know. I know. I don’t care. He owes me and I’m going to collect. After this, there won’t be any way I don’t get what I want. I’m done playing by his rules.” She went silent again. “I don’t care what he thinks about it. He can fire me. I’m done waiting. Like I said, if this doesn’t work, nothing will.”
Shite. She moved back and touched her earpiece. “I think I’ve got our traitor. It’s Deanna.”
“I haven’t been able to dupe her phone yet,” Hutch admitted. “So I don’t know who she’s talking to, but she’s moving. She just hung up and she’s walking your way. Nina, she’s going to see you.”
Nina moved in between two high bushes. They were covered in fragrant flowers and provided adequate concealment. And scratches to her arms, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle. She pushed her body further back and went completely still.
“I’ll be careful,” Deanna was saying as she walked by. “It’s okay. I’ve got a gun. I’ll use it if I need to.”
And now she had to deal with an armed Deanna.
“Nina, you’re in the clear,” Hutch said. “But she’s not going where I thought she would. She’s moving back toward the main building. Stay out of sight. I’ve got her on camera.”
Nina moved out of the bushes and back onto the path, adrenaline starting to thrum through her system. This was going down here and now. They had apparently been wrong about the beach, though.
“Hey, my guy is about to get into a cab,” Drake said.
“No problem,” Hutch replied. “I rented a motorcycle. Sandra’s got a key and it’s in the parking spot right off the main lot. The cab will have to stop at the main gate to the resort. I’m in control of that gate. I’ll keep you close. You okay following him on your own?”
“I can be there in two minutes,” Sandra replied. “Patrick has his tongue down this chick’s throat. I think it’s safe to say he’s going to her room for the night.”
Nina didn’t like the idea of letting one of their suspects go, but she also didn’t like Drake being out on the island without backup. The only thing worse than him betraying the team would be getting himself killed. “Sandra, go with him.”
She didn’t like the feeling in the pit of her gut. Something was going on here and she was missing it.
“I’ll keep eyes on Patrick,” Hutch assured her. “Nina, Deanna’s going into the hotel and she’s heading for the elevator. Her room’s in the other wing, so we know she’s not going there. There’s only one elevator working right now. You’ll have to take the stairs.”
She slipped through the door to the building and immediately into the stairwell. “I’m going to level three. Tell me when she gets out of the lift.”
She jogged up the stairs, wanting to be somewhere in the