on his shoulder, and squeezed until it hurt.
“Are we having fun yet?” T.J. said, his eyes sparkling.
Jason licked his parched lips and discovered he’d been holding his breath, so let it out and took in another. “Mother of God. Did we just steal a cruise ship, T.J.? Is that what we did?”
“Nah, we just borrowed it for a bit. We got a little rendezvous all scheduled with the U.S.S. St. Louis in about three hours. All is well. You did good, kid.”
Chapter 18
Andy was not happy with Kiley’s decision to return to Oregon without Jason.
“You’re being short-sighted, Kiley. I’d go to the sheriff here.”
“And get arrested? Sent back there in handcuffs?”
“But, Kiley, the more you try to do on your own, the worse it’s going to look for you,” he added.
She was getting angry. “Andy, I don’t think you understand. I have no options. I have to go back.”
“You’re relying on a couple of phone calls. These are not people I know or would put any trust or faith in. They may be good people, but, Kiley, we’re talking about a murder investigation, and the possibility that you may be a huge target. It’s like just walking in and saying, ‘Here, take me.’ That isn’t smart. You’re giving up.”
“I am not giving up!” She stood, pushing back from the table laid out with her breakfast Aimee so lovingly arranged. A breakfast her stomach wouldn’t let her touch. “Are you saying you won’t take me to the airport? Because I’m going. I’ll take an Uber if I have to.”
“I’d rather take you to the sheriff’s department, Kiley. That’s where you need to be right now. You have nothing to hide. What could be the harm?”
“Because after they’re done with me, maybe they won’t let me leave—”
“Yeah, for good reason,” Aimee inserted.
“It’s for your own good,” pleaded Andy.
“But what about the women I exposed? I won’t get there in time to help find them. Carmen? Should I just turn my back on everyone? The paper?”
“You’re not thinking straight, Kiley,” whispered Aimee. She came around the table to give her a hug.
“Don’t!”
Aimee backed up, her palms stretched outward. “Okay, do it your way, Kiley. We just want to make sure you stay safe. Jason would want that too. You know he would,” she continued. “Christy said—”
“So my conversation’s been bantered all about then. The personal things I said to her were revealed to you.”
Andy stood, yelling, “Stop it. You’re only thinking about yourself and your own guilt. What about us, Kiley? Have you even thought about what all this could do to us? You staying here has involved us, and I’m not allowed to get involved. I’d like to pass this off to the proper authorities, but you won’t let me. And just like your friends back in Portland, you’re going to go streaking out on your own with no consideration for anyone but yourself. You lied to them. You lied to us. Worst of all, you lied to Jason. He believed you when you told him you’d wait for him to return. Doesn’t that count for anything?”
“I don’t want him risking his career to help me. I got myself into this mess; I’ll get myself out of it.” Then she addressed Aimee. “And, my feelings don’t have anything to do with it. I’m sorry I ever embroiled any of you in this.”
Aimee hung her head, silver tears coursing down her cheeks. Andy placed his arm around her, sat beside her, and gave her a hug. Finally, he looked up, and asked, “At least can I make some phone calls? We’ve got contacts in Portland. Maybe they can help you.”
“What do you mean?” Kiley asked, returning to her chair.
“One of my buddies, Tyler, he’s over there with Jason right now, is from Portland. We have another Team guy, Trace, his brother-in-law, who married Tyler’s sister. She still lives in Portland. Tyler’s parents are still there. And…”
Andy waited until Aimee looked up at him. “Should I get him involved?” he asked her.
“Better he than putting this on the Grays or Gretchen’s family.”
“Through another one of our guys, there is a man there who might be of some help. He’s a billionaire whose daughter we rescued his daughter last year, from pirates doing the same thing you’ve run into. Who knows, maybe they’re all connected. Jason spoke to me about this even. I’m assuming he’s talked to Kyle. But I think if it’s protection you need, this Colin Riley could be of help. He’d like