Page 24 of Hidden Ascent

“We don’t know. That’s why I’m here. But you’re obviously skeptical, so if you want out, say so. I won’t put Isla’s life at risk.”

Jay walked to the front of the car and leaned on the hood, staring out at the ocean for several minutes. Peter hoped he was praying.

“All right.” Jay pushed up off the car and walked over to him. “Here’s the deal. The only reason I’m even considering this is because this night is about as strange as it gets, and I’m not ready to discount anyone or anything. I am someone who can handle a job like this, so I’m willing to move forward and see how things progress. But I want you to guarantee that I can get out at any time if I’m uncomfortable with what’s going down. I’ve made enough mistakes in my life. I don’t need to add to the pile. You might trust Isla, but I have no reason to. If I suspect she’s on the wrong side of this, I’m done.”

“You come home with me, and I’ll give you twenty-four hours to decide.”

“No time limit. I want this open-ended.”

“That’s out of the question. If I could help Isla myself, I would. But there is no way I’ll put her in a situation where you might bail on her at any moment. If you’re going to do this, then I need to know you’ll see it through to the end. You come with me, and you have twenty-four hours to change your mind. Then, you decide if you’re in or out. Or walk away now.”

“There’s no point arguing with you, is there?”

“Nope. Take it or leave it.”

“Okay. Twenty-four hours.” Jay held out his hand. “Deal.”

Chapter7

The canopyof tree branches that arched over the long, rutted driveway gave Jay the impression that they were entering another dimension.

It should have made him nervous, going into such a secluded property with a man he’d just met, but the anxiety wasn’t there. Maybe it was the words he’d spoken to God back at the beach before he’d agreed to come with Peter. He didn’t know if he was doing it right. Praying was never something he’d attempted until today, but his fumbling words must have been heard because he’d received such a strong sense of peace about coming here that he’d had little choice in the end.

After Peter parked the car at the side of the house, Jay got out, brushing his seat off.

“I think I may have ruined the upholstery.”

“Don’t worry about it. We’re close to the same size. You can have a shower, and I’ll find clothes you can change into.”

“This is a nice place you’ve got here.”

“Thanks. This has been our home for a lot of years.”

“Our?”

“My wife and I.”

“Kids?”

“We would have liked to, but it didn’t work for us. That’s not to say there aren’t a lot of people out in the world who we love like they’re our kids. God’s given us those He entrusted us to look after. Isla’s one of them.”

“No wonder you’re so protective of her.”

Jay followed Peter up to the porch and looked out across the property.

“Who’s that? Is that Isla?” he said when he spotted a figure sitting on a blanket at the edge of the far side of the lawn.

Peter looked. “No, that’s Jemi. My wife. She shouldn’t be out there.” He unlocked the door, then jumped off the porch. “Go ahead and make yourself at home. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Jay watched as he jogged across the lawn. The woman turned and waved.

If God was behind this whole thing, He’d dropped Jay into a very odd situation. This cozy house in the woods with a DEA operative on one side and a frail-looking woman lounging on the lawn on the other. Maybe he was still on the beach, unconscious, and stuck in a dream he couldn’t get out of.

He scratched at his torso, itchy with salt water and sand. That certainly felt real. So did the headache. Dream or not, he was ready for a hot shower.

After brushing off as much sand as he could, he entered the house, and his eyes slid closed as the warmth hit him. The house smelled like pine and cinnamon. If cozy were a place, this would be it. He’d experienced nothing like this in his entire life.

But standing in the entryway wouldn’t get him clean. He closed the door and wiped his bare feet on a rug.

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