Page 35 of Hidden Ascent

“Yes, I am.”

“You said you’d get me a ticket. I don’t need you to be there.”

“I think it would be a good idea if Jay went along,” Peter said.

“Well, I don’t. I can do this on my own.”

“Isla, going in there will be like an undercover operation.”

Peter gave her a look like there was more to the story.

“All I need to do is find Whitlock,” Isla said.

“And remain unnoticed.”

She grunted. “Jay, I take it you have undercover experience?”

“I do.”

“Fine. You can come. I’m going for a walk to clear my head.” Isla left the room and slammed the door when she went outside.

“Don’t make any snap judgements,” Peter said. “She’s under a lot of pressure.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“I can see it on your face. I’d be disappointed in her myself if I didn’t know what she’d been through.”

“Maybe, but she’s already made up her mind about me.”

“Give her time. She has a tendency to see the world in one way and doesn’t do well in the gray areas of life. She grew up with a lot of uncertainty. Her way of making the world make sense isn’t always the right way, but she can learn. You’ll be good for her. Thank you for sticking around.”

“Let’s just say Isla’s not my worst client ever. I went to the ocean for a reason.”

“You know what they say about opposites? You’ll make a great team.”

“Or the worst. Let’s hope God knows what He’s doing.”

“He does. But that doesn’t mean we get it right.”

“That doesn’t fill me with a great deal of confidence moving forward.”

“Just stay focused on Him, and you’ll be fine.”

“What does that mean?”

“You’ll figure it out as you go along.”

“I sure hope so. Hey, what was that look you gave her about this fundraiser being an undercover operation?”

“That’s not for me to tell.”

“So there is something.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Chapter9

Isla paced backand forth across the living room, pressing the pads of each of her fingers against her thumb and then back again. The swish of the dress was a distinct sound that reminded her of how her gear sounded when she was at work. Except her gear made her feel confident, and right now, she’d never felt so naked.

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