Page 97 of Hidden Ascent

She followed him out.

“I’m sorry,” he said before opening the door. “We needed more help.”

“Then why not use me?” As Jay pulled the door open, she stepped back and reached for her gun, still not on her hip.

The group outside was not what she expected. Two identical-looking women faced them. One was smiling. One was not. And a man paced in the yard behind them. He was on his phone.

“Who are you?” Isla said, crossing her arms.

“Who are you?” the frowning twin said.

The smiling twin gave her a nudge and said, “We’re here to see Peter Black. He asked us to come. I take it you’re Isla?”

Isla lifted her gaze to the man on the lawn. “And him? Who’s he talking to?”

The smiling twin said, “An old friend of his, Kelly. She’s had a rough life and needs encouraging once in a while. I’m Charlotte, by the way. This is my sister, Maddy. That’s Will back there.”

“You made it,” Peter said from down the hall. When he reached them, he put a heavy hand on Isla’s shoulder to hold her in place. “You got here sooner than I expected. I haven’t had time to explain. Why don’t you guys come in?”

The twins entered the house, leaving Will on the lawn with his phone call.

After Peter ushered them into the living room, Isla stood next to the fireplace while everyone else sat.

“I can’t help but get the feeling that I’ve been swindled out of my own operation,” Isla said, looking coldly at Jay.

“If we’re going to pull this off, I need help,” he said.

“I’m not good enough for you? Why the sudden need to take me out of the picture? You afraid I can’t do the job? I’ve been—”

“Hang on, Isla,” Peter said. “That’s not what’s happening. But when Jay filled me in on his plan—”

“Hisplan? What aboutmyplan?”

“I thought we were working together on this,” Jay said.

“Apparently not,” Isla huffed.

“This has gotten bigger than we expected,” Peter said. “I thought you needed more hands on deck. These guys bring a lot of skills we need.”

“Such as?”

“They’ve had several very successful undercover operations.”

“That’s it? Because I’m no good at acting you’re kicking me out?”

“Ouch,” Maddy said under her breath.

“Shut up,” Charlotte said. “I thought now you were fully recovered, you wouldn’t be so grumpy.”

“Fully recovered from what?” Isla said.

“I was beaten to a pulp,” Maddy said. “Long story. I had a lot of broken bones that are now good as new.”

“‘New’ is probably not the word I would use,” Charlotte said.

Maddy shrugged. “Same difference. Listen, I realize there are some hurt feelings, but time’s wasting. You going to share what this elaborate plan is?”

“Hang on,” Isla said. “I haven’t agreed to this yet. I don’t even know who you guys are or if you can be trusted with this. You guys are acting like this has nothing to do with me, and yet, I’m the whole reason everyone is here right now.”

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