Page 62 of Critical Doubt

"How long are you in town?"

"As long as I need to be."

"You really think something else is going on?"

"I do," Ryker replied.

Hank thought for a moment. "All right. I can meet you at seven tonight. There's a bar down the street—Holstein's. If you want to keep talking, we can do it there."

"Great. We'll meet you then."

They followed Hank out to the lobby. He disappeared into the fitness center while they walked out to the car.

"Hank really doesn't like you," she commented, as she slid into the passenger seat.

"No, he doesn't."

"And the feeling is mutual, right?"

"Probably not as much as it should be." He paused, mixed emotions in his eyes. "Behind Hank's anger, there was pain. I let him down. I let them all down."

"Maybe they let you down, too. It's not like anyone drove down to see you, did they?"

"No, but I made it clear I wasn't up for visitors."

"Well, like I said, it's not really about the past, it's about what's next."

"You did a good job of bashing our heads together," he said with a small smile.

"You're welcome."

"I'm running up quite a tab when it comes to thanking you, Savannah."

"I'm keeping track, too. I intend to collect at some point."

"I hope you will. I don't like to be in anyone's debt." He started the car. "Time to track down Mason."

"Maybe we can get him to meet with you and Hank tonight. It would be good to get the team back together."

"At least, what's left of us," he said heavily.

As Ryker drove out of the parking lot, she pulled up the address for the weapons manufacturing company where Mason worked. It was in Bethesda, Maryland, a suburb of DC and about thirty minutes away. Hopefully, Mason would give Ryker a better reception than Hank had. She'd thought Ryker was their beloved leader, but it seemed like the men were all blaming him for abandoning them.Was it really just that he'd been distant and out of touch since their tragic ambush? Or was there more going on that she didn't understand?

"Who was your best friend on the team?" she asked Ryker.

He raised a brow. "Why do you want to know that?"

"Just curious."

"As to why everyone hates me?"

"Yes."

He gave her a hard look. "Your honesty is not always appreciated."

"And you haven't answered the question."

"I thought I was close to everyone, except Hank."

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