Page 120 of See How They Hide

“You’re not going to Havenwood,” Dean said. “It’s not safe.”

Kara looked at Riley. Someone was going to have to watch her—Kara recognized the girl’s stubborn streak because she had one of her own.

Fifteen minutes later, Kara met Dean in the lobby. The kitchen was still closed but the staff had put out coffee and pastries for the FBI. He was drinking coffee and staring at the dark outside. He’d texted her to come down and talk to him.

“You wanted to see me,” Kara said.

“I hadn’t wanted you to go to Havenwood because it’s clear to me that there’s something between you and Agent Costa and that might put you in a compromised position.”

“Have we acted in any way unprofessional?”

“No. I wouldn’t have guessed except for Riley.”

“Her drawing.”

He nodded.

“Matt and I have a personal relationship,” she said, “and it has never gotten in the way of our work. The team knows about it, we don’t discuss it because it’s none of their business, but they deserved to know so if we cross a line, they’ll call us on it. We haven’t. Tony knows because he’s the boss, and I guess there are FBI rules that relationships are accepted as long as it’s known.”

Dean smiled slightly, and Kara continued.

“It started before we worked together on the MRT and it is what it is. I want to go because Michael and I are partners. Matt and I too, but Matt is the boss and Michael and I have worked together more in the field. I wasn’t lying—I trust him. Matt trusts him. And Michael is having a difficult time right now because he was there when Matt was taken. I know him—he’s running through every scenario in his head to figure out what he did wrong. I need to be there for him, and yes, if Matt is injured, I need to be there for him, too. But mostly, I’m a good cop. I may not be FBI, I may not have a psych degree, but I know people. I will be valuable on the team.”

He nodded. “You don’t need a psych degree to understand people. I read your file when I couldn’t sleep. Youarea good cop. But you also take risks.”

“Doesn’t every cop?”

“No.”

“I don’t take unnecessary risks.” She got up and said, “I’ll meet you upstairs.” As she left the lobby, she saw Ryder crossing the space with Sloane. Sloane gave her a hug and said, “You good? Michael?”

Kara nodded. “Thanks. I’m glad you’re here.”

“I need to brief Agent Montero,” Ryder said. “We have some new information and it might change our plans.”

44

Havenwood

Matt dozed on and off through the night, unsettled by the complete silence. He’d been camping before, mostly when he was younger, but it wasn’t a regular occurrence in the Costa household. They usually spent their vacations—rare as they were—at the beach or going fishing before his dad died. The ocean was never silent, and the stillness here was eerie. He heard the occasional coyote, and before dawn he heard the squawk of birds closer to the village. But mostly, nothing. There was not even a wind to rattle the windows or trees.

Someone unlocked his door at 5:45 a.m., according to his watch—the one thing they didn’t take from him. It was Anton.

“Breakfast.”

He stood in the doorway, filling the narrow frame with his bulk.

Matt used the washroom, splashed water on his face, and put on his shoes and jacket, since he’d slept in his clothes. Anton just stared at him.

Matt’s head pounded from the concussion he was certain he had, but his vision had cleared and the lump on the back of his skull had gone down by half. But it was still tender to the touch. He felt cuts on his face, and one that bled onto the pillow kept opening up.

Anton led Matt downstairs to where Calliope sat at a large dining room table. Anton was one of four men in the room and Matt wondered if they were all Calliope’s partners. Matt recognized Garrett, and the other two he had seen last night, Evan and Marcus. The table was full of food that smelled just as amazing as the dinner before.

Evan looked like he hadn’t slept for days. He seemed ill.

“Sit, Mathias,” Calliope said and motioned to the seat next to her. “Today is a big day. My daughter is coming home.” She smiled and waited for him to sit.

He didn’t.

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