found yet?”
Kiley hesitated. “Just the four.”
“It’s a very bad idea to go back to Portland,” he whispered. “Promise me you won’t do that, not until I get back home.”
“But you said—”
“I said I couldn’t interfere. And I can’t. But I can keep you safe. Don’t you see the problem?”
“Yes, you’re halfway around the world.”
“Exactly.”
“But I gave my word, and besides, everyone’s pulling in the same direction. The police are on board. All the research has been done. Now I just have to give them what they need to launch their investigation.”
“You’re still in danger.”
“But that was only until the report was filed. Now that it’s out, the public knows. It’s like shining a light on it. I think all the pressure was to stop the publication of my report. That’s been done. The cat’s out of the bag.”
“Except you said you needed to help them with their investigation. You honestly think you’ll be able to be involved in that? The police don’t work that way, Kiley.”
“But I have the notes, the interviews.”
“Correct. And that puts you in danger.”
“Well, I’d just be helping them. All I would do is show them my findings.”
“Which was not in the paper. Not all of it, right?”
“Right.”
“So it sounds to me that if Carmen were somehow interfered with, someone didn’t want that research to go forward.”
“But she never had all the information.”
“And don’t you suppose they know that by now?”
It hadn’t occurred to her that Carmen’s status, if she was in harm’s way, was altered by the fact that the paper published Kiley’s article. A wave of ice water filled her veins and caused that familiar shiver down her spine.
“Who has that information, Kiley?”
“I do.” She didn’t want to admit it, but Jason was right. And then she thought about her phone. “I should at least talk to the police in Portland, though.”
“Probably. They’ll find you, if you don’t.”
“Through my cell. I have to get rid of the cell. I gave that number to the chief.”
“Look, Kiley. Wait until I get back. Hopefully, it will be just a couple of weeks. We’re not expecting to be here long. I’ll ask Kyle tomorrow if I can have leave after we return stateside. Then I’ll accompany you. But wait until I get that permission, okay?”
“What are you going to tell him?”
“The truth, or what I believe you told me was the truth. The missing girls, especially the new one. We can look the articles up online. I can’t break any laws, and I can’t interfere with local law enforcement. But I can protect you. We do that all the time. We protect State Department officials, embassies, traveling heads of state.”
“Okay. I’ll do it. I’ll wait here. And I’ll get rid of the cell.”
“I think that’s wise.”
Jason’s silence made her nervous. “What are you not telling me, Jason?”
“As much as I hate to say it, I think you should tell Andy. I’d like to hear what he has to say about it. Have him call me if he needs to. But let me ask you one question first.”
“Okay.”
“Were you absolutely certain you were being followed or that the thing with your cat wasn’t just some random act of violence? Were you convinced someone was out to scare you off the story or, worse, silence you permanently?”
It was an easy answer. “Yes, Jason, I was. The letters and the phone calls I got at the paper. And I still am, now because of Carmen. There are too many women missing.”
“It has to be someone you exposed or partially exposed in your articles. As long as you can still hurt them, you’re in danger. If it ever was real, it still is real. Understand?”
“Yes, I do.” She was completely deflated.
“When you set up your new voicemail on the new number, don’t use your voice for the message. You have to be careful, Kiley. You know this. Let’s be smart.”
These were going to be the longest two weeks of her life. Things were spinning out of control, just like Jason said. Just when she thought she had a plan, the goalposts changed the game. He was right. Maybe she shouldn’t have assumed her plan would work. She started to doubt herself and feel the burden of what she was putting others through.
Aimee opened the slider, poking her head out. “Everything okay?”
Kiley had been staring off to the horizon. She wanted to go home, have a couple glasses of wine in the bathtub, and go to bed early. But there was a