Page 48 of Wired Courage

“What happened?” Sophie could hardly bear to ask. “How are you still here?”

“Connor and the man they call the Master revived me.” Jake cleared his throat again. “I’d been drowned in a tub of dirty water. Not a good way to go. My lungs and throat are still a little wonky.”

“That evil bitch!” Sophie balled her fists. “I’m planning to try to bargain with the CIA to trade Pim Wat for Hamilton. Regardless, my mother will never breathe free air again.”

“Hamilton. Now there’s an interesting situation.” Jake’s voice had gone silky, casual. “Did you know the guy has blue eyes? And blond hair?”

Sophie went very still. Her hand massaged the scar on her cheekbone. Her mouth worked, but nothing came out.

“Without his glasses, contacts and hair dye, Hamilton, or Connor, as he tells me his first name is, bears a striking resemblance to your old boyfriend, Todd Remarkian. I don’t know how you’ve kept all those identities straight. Downright confusing for a poor jarhead like me.”

“Oh, Jake.” Sophie shut her eyes, rubbed them. “I wanted to tell you. He wouldn’t let me.”

“And you had to listen to him?” Jake’s voice rose. “You had to lie to me? Choose loyalty tohimover me?”

“It wasn’t like that. It . . .” Her throat worked. “It wasn’t my secret to tell. There were reasons. Big reasons.”

“Don’t worry, Sophie, the Ghost is out of the bag. I outed your boyfriend to the CIA. McDonald is collaborating with your FBI friend Marcella to put a case together. It’s all going to come out in the wash, as they say. If Connor, or whatever his name is, ever gets out of the Yam Khûmk?n compound, he’ll have a cell waiting for him.”

“What have you done?” Sophie unwound her legs, stood up. She paced back and forth, tugging at handfuls of her hair. “Oh, Jake! Connor does good in the world! What have you done?”

“This is what’s always been there. The bomb I was waiting for.” Jake blew out a breath. “I knew it was too good to be true, that you chose me, that we were together. There was something off about Hamilton, but I didn’t have all the pieces. I just couldn’t put it all together. Then, when we were on the mission and captured, I thought Connor . . . was a friend. I tried to save him from torture, tried to help him.” Jake’s pain throbbed in his words. “And all along, you two were together. Conspiring. Keeping secrets. Were you sleeping with him?”

“No. It wasn’t like that.” Sophie raised her voice.He had to believe her!“Yes, I knew who Connor was, but he betrayed me when he faked the Todd Remarkian death. It killed my trust, killed my feelings for him. He tried to win me back, I’ll grant you that, but it was you, Jake,youthat I chose.” Tears that felt as thick as oil welled in her eyes. “Don’t make me regret that choice.”

“I already do. Did you read my letter? Look at the box I left you on the bedside table?”

Sophie shut her eyes. “I did not. I was too upset about you both marooning me on the island. I just wanted to focus on getting Momi back. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry.” Jake’s voice strengthened. “I’m glad you didn’t read my sniveling protestations of love. When you get back to the island, throw that letter in the shredder, will you? But mail me back the ring—I’m going to our Big Island office from here, so you can send it to me there. It’s my grandmother’s ring, and my mom will want it back.”

Sophie’s voice caught in a sob. “Really? After all we’ve been through? This is how it ends?”

“Yep. This is how it ends. But here’s something to make it easier for you—I slept with two hookers last night, and drank a fifth of Scotch. I don’t regret a thing.” Jake ended the call.

Sophie collapsed on the bed, muffling her weeping into her cousin’s pillow.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Day Twenty-Eight

Sophie dug her way into her cousin’s bed and buried herself under the covers. A stretch of dim and horribly painful time went by. The depression’s jaws clamped down on her shredded throat, and she didn’t even try to fight it.

Eventually, she felt her aunt’s hand on her shoulder. “Sophie. Whatever is going on, your daughter needs you.”

Momi’s wails penetrated the fog that had settled over Sophie. She took the child into her nest of covers, cuddling and soothing her, but Momi arched and fought, inconsolable.

“She seems colicky,” Armita said from the doorway. “I had to get a different brand of formula this time, and it doesn’t seem to agree with her.”

“I’ve put out the word we’re looking for a wet nurse,” Malee said. “I think human milk would be best for her. In the meantime, I ran a bath for you two in our big whirlpool tub. The hot water might help.”

“Where’s Pim Wat?” Sophie could barely open her swollen eyes.

“Tied up and secure,” Armita said. “Did you think we’d let her get away? I’ll kill her myself, first. Come, Sophie. Get in the bath. You and your baby can cry together in there, if it makes you feel better.”

Sophie gave a wet chuckle. “Jake and I broke up.”

“Your boyfriend? Oh dear, that’s too bad,” Malee murmured, but her eyes were on her phone. “He’s not much of a gentleman, dumping you at a vulnerable time like this.”

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