Page 69 of Hiding Rose
“Niko is working on it. The trail ended there, but he can’t be staying here alone. He either has help or is camping out. He’s not in any hotels as yet, but we will find him. He can’t stay hidden forever.”
All the poems he’s sent ran through my mind. A shiver skittered down my back. “He could be in Maui already. He could have jumped any number of boats and be lurking here somewhere.”
Gideon nodded, shrugging his shoulders. “He could be. Like I said, Niko is working on it, but I want you to be extremely careful. With any luck, this will be over quickly and we can capture him. Then we can all move on with our lives.”
I swung my head back and forth. “I don’t think so, Gideon. I’ll have to go back to Snowberry and testify against him,” I whispered.
Sawyer kissed my temple and enveloped me in his arms. “I’m going to be here for you, Rosie. He won’t get away with it. If you have to testify we can arrange to do it from here, so you don’t have to be in the courtroom.”
I stared up at his handsome face. “We can?”
Gideon spoke from behind me. “Victims who have been brutally assaulted by the accused get any accommodation they need, sweetheart. All they want is your testimony to put him away for good.”
“You’re stronger than anyone I know, Rosie,” Kate said standing. “You got this. Don’t let him play games with your head. He’s the one going down and you’re the one about to live your dreams. Remember that.”
I stood up and straightened my spine. “You’re right. I got this. Thanks for the pep talk,” I said, hugging her, then Gideon. “We’ll head back to the hotel so you can sleep. Better take advantage of Hope being out.”
They both smiled sleepily and nodded. “I want a text from you when you’re safely in your apartment and then I’ll sleep,” Kate promised.
Sawyer opened their front door and shone a light up and down the beach. “Looks clear, but we’ll be on our toes.”
I waved as we left and wondered if tonight was the beginning of the end. Jarrett’s arrival to the island could mean my days are numbered.
