Page 98 of Hidden Ascent

“What do you want to know?” Charlotte said.

“For one, I take it you guys aren’t connected to law enforcement in any way?”

The twins looked at each other.

“Peter, I told you—”

“I know, I know. But you can trust these guys completely, and they have promised not to speak to anyone about any of this. Also, they were available on short notice. You’ve gotten yourself in deep enough to garner some help if we’re going to pull this off.”

Will entered the room. “Hey, guys, sorry about that.”

Peter stood and shook Will’s hand. “Don’t worry about it. It’s great to see you again. Everything okay with Kelly?”

“Yeah, she just needs to be reminded of who she really is.”

“Who’s Kelly exactly?” Isla said.

“A woman I’ve known for a long time. She was kidnapped years ago into a sex trafficking ring. We rescued her recently.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Pretty intense. She’s got a strong mind though. Probably the reason she survived so long.”

“All right, listen,” Isla said, pressing a hand to her forehead to try to ease the headache there. “I’ll give you all a chance if you will not keep me out in the cold.”

“I made a deal with Sharpe,” Jay said. “I told him I could give him Lloyd Whitlock.”

“You mentioned that before. But you said you needed me to do it.”

“And I told you we can work around that.” He nodded toward the twins.

“What exactly do you mean when you say you’ll give him Whitlock? Does Whitlock know you plan on handing him over?”

“Not yet.”

“I assume you don’t plan to actually do it? My life’s not worth that.”

“I’m going to make it look like I have evidence that will give Sharpe the control over Whitlock that he wants. These guys are here to help me sell the ruse.”

“A ruse that involves me and yet I cannot be a part of?”

“I told you, you should take the time to rest and recover.”

Isla laughed in disbelief. “You really think that will happen while you guys are out putting your lives on the line? No way.”

“Isla, it’s too risky to keep you involved. I’m not going to put your life in danger again.”

Isla pressed her lips together and looked around the room. “Would you all excuse us for a moment?”

She led Jay into the kitchen and rounded on him. “What is it that you’re really doing?”

“Keeping you safe.”

“No. That’s not it. Is it because you don’t trust me? Okay, fine, don’t put me in undercover, but you can’t keep me here and force me to put my feet up.”

“That’s not what I’m doing.”

“That’s exactly what you’re doing. You don’t think I can be a part of this, but three strangers can?”

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