Page 113 of Hidden Depths

“It was.”

“And now we get to talk about a fresh start for me, right?”

“More or less.”

“What does that mean?”

He looked out the window. “It’s complicated.”

Peter came in and leaned on the doorjamb, crossing his arms but not saying anything.

“Complicated how?” she said, leaning forward.

“Because of Lansky. They haven’t found his body.”

“Because it’s probably at the bottom of the ocean.”

“Probably. But it’s not a sure thing.”

“You’re telling me there was a chance he not only survived the explosion but also survived going for a swim in that ocean? In that storm? I’m a good swimmer, and I could barely keep my head above water.”

“You had a bullet in your arm.”

“So did he.”

“Still. He could have gotten away. There would have been life preservers on the boat. He may have staged the explosion as a last ditch effort to escape undetected, which means he could still be after you.”

She rested her head in her hands to regain her composure. “Okay, for argument’s sake, let’s say he’s still miraculously alive. What does that mean for me, exactly?”

“We think it would be best for you to go into witness protection.”

She clenched her jaw as frustration, and something bordering on fury stung hard. “What if I don’t want to?” she said through her teeth.

“That’s why I’m here.”

“To convince me?”

“Yes.”

“Good, ’cause I’ve got Peter here, and I don’t think he would agree.”

“I do,” Peter said softly.

“What?”

“I’m sorry, Sara, but we both agreed we have to keep you safe, and this is the best way. At least for now. It doesn’t have to be forever.”

“What does that even mean? How long is not forever?”

“We don’t know,” Tom said. “It could be six months. Or it could be years. It depends on what we can find.”

“And what if you find nothing? No sign of Lansky ever. Does that mean I’ll have to stay in witness protection for the rest of my life?”

“We’ll address that issue as it arises.”

She scoffed. “As it arises, huh?”

“I know this isn’t what you wanted.”

---