Chapter 16 Eve #2
Nolan was wearing the one suit he’d brought. It was dark gray, with a white shirt and no tie with the top button undone.
“Where are you taking me that we’re so fancy?” Mia asked.
“I told you, it’s the best upmarket restaurant in St. Augustine,” Nolan grinned, offering her his arm and a single red rose. “This is for you.”
“It’s beautiful,” Mia said, her smile softening. She stepped back into the room. “Let me put it in some water quick.”
She disappeared for a few moments and returned, slipping her arm through his.
They headed downstairs, and Nolan felt the now-familiar weight of the situation pressing down on him. He was taking her on a date. A real date that he hadn’t been on for so long, he was guaranteed to mess it up somehow.
They reached the lobby, and Marcus was behind the desk, looking up with a pleasant smile.
“Ah, Mrs. Gray-Duncan and Mr. Pierce,” Marcus said. “If I could please have a moment of your time.”
“Of course,” Mia said, slipping her arm from Nolan’s.
The loss of contact made Nolan’s chest ache in ways he didn’t want to examine.
They approached the desk.
“A guest found this this morning,” Marcus said, reaching behind the desk. “I’ve been asking all the guests if it belongs to them.”
He handed them an envelope.
Mia took it and opened it, pulling out a photograph.
Her eyes widened.
She went pale.
Gasped.
“You know the photo?” Marcus asked.
“Where did you get this?” Mia’s voice came out low and hoarse.
“A guest found it on the floor of the dining room,” Marcus told her.
“Which guest?” Mia asked, urgency creeping into her tone.
“I’m not sure...” Marcus looked apologetic. “I’ve only just come on duty, and there was a note asking me to check with the guests...”
“Mia,” Nolan said, concern flooding through him. “What is it? What’s the problem?” He looked at her. She was holding the photo against her body so he couldn’t see it. “Can I see it?”
Mia nodded numbly and handed it to him.
“Marcus, can you find out who left this here, please?” Her voice shook slightly.
“Of course,” Marcus said, concern filling his eyes and voice.
Nolan took the picture and froze.
His gut clenched, and his throat went dry as his eyes widened.
Two children beside a pond. A boy and a girl, maybe six or seven. The boy had his arm around the girl’s shoulders.
“Mia,” Nolan looked at her, his mind racing through implications and dangers and every protocol he was about to violate. “Do you know who these people are in this photo?”
“I’m not sure about the little boy,” Mia told him, her voice still hoarse. “But I know who the little girl is.”
Nolan felt his blood starting to run cold. “Who is she to you, Mia? How do you know her?”
Her eyes held his as she answered in a soft voice. “Me. It’s me.”
Nolan felt like his world had just tilted. “This is not good,” he muttered.
“Nolan...” Mia’s eyes widened, and now she was looking at him suspiciously. “Did you leave this picture here?”
“No,” Nolan shook his head firmly and pinched the bridge of his nose.
He was about to violate every protocol. About to get himself in more trouble than he’d ever been in.
But Mia was in danger. Real danger. And that trumped everything.
He turned to Marcus. “What did that note of yours say, Marcus?”
“That I was to show guests the photo and report on who claimed it,” Marcus told him. “Well, I was just going to leave a note behind the desk on who claimed it.”
“Listen to me very carefully, Marcus,” Nolan said, fishing in his pocket. He pulled out his US Marshal badge and held it up. “You can’t tell anyone who I am or that the girl in this picture is Mia. Do you understand?”
Marcus’s eyes went wide, staring at the badge. “I... yes.”
“Don’t worry,” Nolan assured him quickly. “You’re not in trouble. But if anyone asks, tell them it was one of my photos and that I claimed it. Can you do that?”
“Yes... Yes, sir,” Marcus said. “You can count on me.”
Nolan pulled out his wallet, grabbed a wad of bills, and held them out. “For your trouble.”
“No, I can’t take money to protect someone,” Marcus told him, his voice firm. He smiled at Mia. “I’d rather just help.”
“I insist,” Nolan said.
“No,” Marcus refused, pushing the money back. “I’d rather just help.”
“Thank you,” Nolan said, genuinely impressed by the man’s integrity. He pocketed the cash and held Marcus’s gaze. “Let me know who comes to ask about it.”
“I will do, sir... Mr. Pierce.”
Nolan pocketed the photo and turned to Mia. “We need to go. Now.”
They walked quickly toward the exit, Mia’s heels clicking on the floor.
Outside, Nolan’s car was parked near the entrance.
“You’re an undercover agent?” Mia hissed as soon as they were in the open air.
“Yes,” Nolan admitted. “But I’m also a photographer.”
“So what are you really doing here?” Mia asked, stopping by his car. “And why are you so interested in my picture?”
Her eyes were wary now, guarded, and Nolan hated seeing that look directed at him.
“We need to go,” he told her. “I can explain on the way.”
“On the way to where?” Mia asked, stepping back from the car.
Nolan saw it in her body language, the way her weight shifted to the balls of her feet, the way her eyes darted toward the Inn entrance.
She was about to bolt.
“Mia, please... I know this is a shock for you,” Nolan said carefully, keeping his voice calm. “But I have to get you away from here and now.”
“No!” Mia’s voice grew anxious as she backed farther away from the car.
He had to tell her something. Had to give her a reason to trust him.
He walked around the car slowly. “Mia, I can’t explain here. Please.”
“Am I your assignment?” Mia’s eyes widened in realization. “You arrived the same day I did.”
“What?” Nolan’s brows creased. “No.” He shook his head firmly. “No, Mia, I’m here trying to find out who a very bad person is.” It was part of the truth. “We believe they’re staying at the Inn.”
“So what am I then?” Mia’s voice was sharp now, hurt. “A decoy?”
“No,” Nolan told her, stepping carefully closer.
“You’re someone who took my breath away when you walked through the door of the dining room on the first day I arrived here.
” The words came from somewhere deep and true.
“Then you stole my heart when I came upon you staring out at the sea as if it held the answer to all the problems in the world. And then you became someone I know I never want to be without, the more time we spent together.”
Mia stared at him, distrustful and poised for flight.
“How can I believe anything you say now?”
“Because it’s the truth and I’m about to get into a world of trouble,” Nolan told her honestly.
“But seeing this picture of you, Mia...” He ran a hand through his hair and blew out a breath.
“Please. You have to come with me. You are in danger here.” He held out his hand.
“Look, I have a gun in the glove compartment of the car. You’re welcome to take it as soon as we get in and keep it on me.
But I need you to come with me. I have to take you somewhere safe. ”
“Why?” Mia asked, looking at his outstretched hand.
“I can’t tell you that,” Nolan admitted. “But it will all become self-explanatory when we get there.”
“Mia?” A deep voice came from behind them.
They both turned to see Calvin Strand standing near the entrance, his expression pleasant but his eyes sharp.
Nolan felt Mia stiffen beside him, then automatically step closer to Nolan.
“Is everything alright?” Calvin’s eyes assessed the situation.
“Oh, hello, Calvin,” Mia said with a stiff smile. “Yes, we’re fine. Nolan wants to drive, but I prefer to do the driving.”
Calvin laughed, the sound easy and natural. “Men don’t like women driving.” He waved. “Well, good night.”
“Good night,” Mia and Nolan said in unison.
Nolan watched the man disappear into the Inn, his instincts screaming.
Where had Calvin come from? How much of their conversation had he heard?
Nolan knew he had to get Mia out of here. Now. Whatever it took.
“Are you coming, Mia?” He held his hand out one more time.
“I...” Mia turned to look at the Inn.
Nolan took a breath, stepped up to her, and pulled her to him.
He kissed her.
When he pulled back, her eyes were dazed, her lips parted.
“Please, Mia, don’t make me do this the hard way,” Nolan said softly. “But you need to come with me.”
Dazed, she nodded.
They got into the car. She buckled up, and as he started the engine and pulled away from the Inn, he watched the mirrors carefully.
Mia opened the glove compartment. Found the handgun. Didn’t take it out, but closed the compartment again.
“Just in case,” Mia told him.
Nolan smiled despite everything. “Fair enough.”
He drove away, constantly checking to see if they were being followed.
“I know you can’t tell me why I’m in danger,” Mia said after a few moments of silence. “But can you tell me why you’re really here?”
“Not really,” Nolan admitted. “What I can tell you is that there’s a very dangerous person who sells bad things to other bad people. My boss and I have been tracking them for a very long time.”
“And you think they’re staying at the Inn?” Mia asked, her eyes wide.
Nolan nodded. “We have intel saying they are.” He glanced at her. “We don’t know who they are just yet.”
“Being a photographer is a great way to take pictures of things and people,” Mia said slowly. “To get faces. To run recognition on.”
“Yes,” Nolan confirmed with a proud smile. She was smart. They drove in silence for a few minutes, Nolan taking back roads and checking mirrors obsessively.
“Why am I in danger?” Mia finally asked, her voice small.
Nolan swallowed hard.
“Because I have very good reason to believe the person I’m looking for is connected to your past.”