Chapter 10 #2
“That’s not rumor. That’s public information, as we both know.”
“Of course,” he replied. “But your conclusions are… ambitious.”
Wyatt’s jaw ticked.
“Ambitious,” Letty scoffed. “You always did have trouble with data you couldn’t manipulate.”
Cal chuckled. “Zing, one for the Doc.”
That made Wyatt smile as he held his posture until they got inside to the guest conference room.
Will grabbed a seat. “You’re drawing lines between dock permits and financial advisory firms.” He glanced around. “It’s… creative.”
“You were here the morning of the training drill,” she said.
He didn’t blink. “Yes.”
“You told people you were in Charleston.”
“I was.” He grinned. “I checked in early. Left. You know how conferences are.”
“Convenient, if we believe him,” Cal said.
Wyatt kept his face still, not wanting to give away his earpiece.
Letty nodded. “You met with Driscoll.”
Will tilted his head. “Driscoll?”
“You don’t know him?”
“Should I?”
Wyatt crossed his arms, staring down at him from his standing position. “You were photographed together.”
“Am I under surveillance now?” Will asked with a furrowed brow.
Letty didn’t take her eyes off him. “You were near the Palmetto Royale before the fire.”
“It’s a marina.” He paused. “Boats are common.”
She held his gaze. “You consult for Bayfront Risk Advisory.”
He didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“Which is financially tied to Hargrove.”
“And?”
“And the Palmetto Royale is tied to Hargrove.”
“And?”
Wyatt almost admired the composure as Will folded his hands loosely in front of him. “You’re building a narrative,” he said gently. “But correlation isn’t causation.”
Letty leaned back in the chair she took across the table. “The dock permit had your name on it.”
Will scoffed. “And you believe I orchestrated a fire because I understand marine infrastructure?”
“I believe you understand fire behavior.”
A pause, and then Will’s mouth ticked. “I volunteer with fire services,” he said. “As you well know.”
“Advanced arson identification courses,” she added.
His eyes flicked to her. “Yes.”
Wyatt studied him. Will isn’t rattled, nor defensive. Fuck, he’s amused by Letty. His eyes shifted to Cal as he nodded.
“You’re reaching,” Will hissed.
“No,” Letty replied. “I’m connecting.”
“Disaster research is dangerous when you misread the pattern.”
Wyatt smirked. There it is. A soft, measured dig disguised as concern with a hint of insult. Wyatt felt his temper spike. “Is that a threat?” he asked.
Will looked at him mildly. “Of course not.”
“It sounded like one.”
“It’s advice.”
Letty didn’t break eye contact. “You’re implying I’m wrong.”
“I’m implying.” Will smirked. “Once you decide on a hypothesis, you tend to force the data to align.”
“That’s not how I work.”
“That’s how everyone works.”
Silence. Wind off the marsh shifted across the dock. Wyatt stepped a tad closer to Letty without meaning to. Fucking annoys me how calm he looks, and that familiar tone he has with her…
“You’re overreaching,” Will snarked. “There’s no benefit for me in burning a casino boat.”
“Jealousy.”
Will’s gaze snapped to Wyatt briefly. “Jealousy?”
“You applied for the grant.”
Will smirked. “And didn’t get it.”
“You resented that.”
“Professionals experience disappointment,” Will said smoothly. “We don’t commit felonies.”
“You met with a felon,” Letty replied.
“I consult in risk assessment, and sometimes that means speaking with people who’ve made poor choices.”
Her expression isn’t changing even though he’s gaslighting her. But she’s holding the line. Pride swelled in Wyatt’s chest.
“You arrived in Tidehaven the morning of the training,” she said.
“I was invited to review coastal response infrastructure.”
“By whom?”
“Private client.”
“Hargrove?”
“Confidential.”
Wyatt’s hands clenched as he watched the two banter. Were they always this combative? Is it foreplay? His jaw tightened. This is the life she could have chosen.
Will turned back to Letty. “You’re talented, but you don’t have to manufacture conspiracy to validate your research.”
Her eyes hardened. “I don’t manufacture anything.”
“Hm.” He held her gaze. “And that’s what worries me.”
The subtle shift in tone tightened something deep in Wyatt’s chest.
“Meaning?” she asked.
“Meaning you don’t stop once you’re convinced.”
“That’s called integrity.”
“That’s called obsession.”
Wyatt stepped fully forward. “Watch it.”
Will didn’t retreat as his lips pulled up into a knowing smile. “You seem very invested.”
Wyatt didn’t answer. He didn’t need to.
“You’ve always had a talent for drawing strong personalities,” Will said to Letty.
“You’re not one of them,” she replied evenly.
That little jab made a hit. Will offered almost a cringe in the flicker of his eye. She cracked his demeanor, and Wyatt smelled blood in the water.
“I came as a courtesy,” he said. “Before this spirals into something damaging.”
“To whom?” Wyatt asked.
“To her reputation.”
Letty inhaled and then scoffed. “You’re worried about my reputation.”
“I’m worried about your trajectory.”
The words sounded benevolent but everyone knew they weren’t.
She stepped forward. “I am none of your business.”
His smile thinned. “I’m trying to protect you.”
Wyatt nearly moved as Cal’s hand landed on his arm.
Will rambled. “The fire was tragic. Accidental, according to the Deputy State Fire Marshal.”
“Incompetent,” Wyatt muttered.
Will ignored him. “You’re letting proximity cloud your analysis.” Will paused. “You always get… attached to the field.”
Wyatt saw it then. The reason she didn’t choose Will. He is a misogynist. He could never give her the opportunity to be his partner. Wyatt smirked. “You don’t know her,” he said flatly.
Will’s eyes slid back to him. “I know her work.”
“She’s not your project.”
“I never said she was.”
“You implied it.”
Will exhaled. “This isn’t productive.”
“No,” Letty agreed. “It isn’t.” She stood up next to Wyatt. “You didn’t come here to help.” Her voice was calm, like a mother who had finished scolding her child.
“No.” Will glared at Wyatt.
There it is. Wyatt crossed his arms. “Then why are you here?”
His eyes softened, staring at Letty. “Because you’re misreading the pattern.”
“And what’s the pattern, Will?”
“Escalation.”
The word hung between them as Wyatt willed Letty to feel his strength and belief in her.
Will continued. “You think you’re close to something.” He taunted. “You think someone is orchestrating this.”
“I know they are.”
“And you believe it’s me.”
She didn’t answer. She waited, baiting the hook as Will studied her.
“Be careful, Letty. Mistakes can damage more than your reputation.”
This time it didn’t sound like advice; it sounded like inevitability.
Wyatt took a step forward. “You done?”
Will held his gaze. “For now.” Tipping his head at Letty, he got out of the chair to step out without a care in the world as he walked back to his SUV. The engine started as gravel crunched, and Letty let out a breath as he drove away.
Wyatt watched the road long after the SUV disappeared.
“He’s not rattled,” Cal grumbled.
“No,” Wyatt replied.
Letty bit her lip. “He expected us to know.”
Wyatt turned to her. “What?”
“He didn’t try to deny the advisory link.”
“He controlled it,” Wyatt said.
“Yes.” She looked out at the road. “He thinks he’s ahead.”
Wyatt’s jaw hardened. “He’s not.” But in the back of his mind, something unsettled him. Because Will hadn’t come to panic. Wyatt took a breath. He’d come to measure. Wrapping his arm around Letty, he pondered. “So, what’s his next move?”
“He’s escalating,” she breathed.
“Yes,” Wyatt replied.
“And so are we.”
He looked at her. “I won’t let him corner you.”
Her eyes met his. “He won’t.”
But the calm of the day had been destroyed, and they all knew somewhere beyond the marsh road, someone was setting the next piece in motion.