Page 67 of Blind Trust
“Your cryptologist, Kekoa Young.” R.D. pinned Lyla with a knowing look. “I know he’s been working those tattooed muscles pretty hard to figure me out. You can let him know I appreciate the interest, but I’m already spoken for.”
Lyla’s cheeks burned with indignation, wanting to defend both Kekoa and Elinor, but Nicolás was already talking in her ear.
“Ask her what she wants Kekoa to do.”
“Why do you want to disappear?”
“Because you found me.” She looked over her shoulder, and Mason picked up the newspaper but didn’t read it. His eyes moved a slow circle around them.
“You mean, you found us.” Lyla eyed Mason. “I didn’t arrangethis meeting, which means you must need us more than we need you.”
R.D. pursed her lips and sighed. “You’ve read my articles, so you understand that my job doesn’t exactly win me favor with the people I’m investigating. I’ve managed to stay under the radar...mostly. But a week ago my water and electricity were shut off. The companies said I was delinquent in payment.” Her jaw tightened. “I wasn’t. I pay ahead because I never know if I’m going to have access to the internet to make payments when I’m on assignment. And then my bank called and said I’ve been bouncing checks and they’re closing my account. Nearly thirty-seven thousand dollars”—she snapped her fingers—“gone.”
“Kekoa’s checking,” Nicolás said. “Her name is Randy Darryl. She’s telling you the truth. He said it looks suspicious.”
“You think someone is coming after you?”
R.D. checked her watch. “I know someone is.”
When the woman looked back up, Lyla saw worry hanging in her features. Real worry. The kind Lyla had seen in her own reflection recently.
“They want the information I have, the information I’m willing to give to you if you help me disappear. The second I get on that plane, I want my name removed from the passenger manifest, all video footage from the cameras your Hawaiian friend is likely watching me on erased. I need to fall off the grid until you guys do what you do.”
There wasn’t any hesitation in R.D.’s request. Only confidence to suggest she’d done her homework on their agency and expectation that she’d get what she wanted.
“Tell her Kekoa will help her.”
“Not until I know what she has,” Lyla slipped, answering Nicolás. R.D.’s brow lifted in a way that said she knew.Nice, Lyla. “My friend will help you, but I need some assurance that the information is worth our time.”
R.D. looked around them, and Lyla did as well. No one seemedto be paying any attention to them. Most were enjoying private conversations and their meals. But that didn’t mean anything.
“Kekoa’s running the customers through his program. Everyone is clean so far.”
The sound of Nicolás’s unshakable composure always had a way of reinforcing her confidence—like he could read her mind and know what she was thinking. Proving he was always right there for her. What would it be like when that was gone? Whenhewas gone?
“Mason said you’re looking into my article on Ammar El-Din, right?”
R.D.’s question pulled Lyla back to their conversation. “Yes.”
“Well, if you’re hoping to find him, you’re too late. He’s gone.”
Lyla frowned. “What do you mean he’s gone? He’s in a prison in Lebanon.”
R.D. shook her head. “Not anymore. I reached out to a source before I arranged this meeting with you, and they said El-Din was transferred out of Roumieh two days ago.”
How did they not know this? “To where?”
“I don’t know, but we can assume it wasn’t an early release for good behavior. Men like him, men claiming to know scandalous details about the United States’ role in criminal activity, only disappear for one reason.”
Lyla’s heart dropped to her stomach. Had someone gotten to him like they had Jerry? Two seconds passed, and Nicolás came through.
“Kekoa’s working to confirm.”
“Who’s your source?”
Irritation colored R.D.’s expression. “Did you not hear me when I said someone is coming after me? You think I’m going to give up my source so they become the next target?”
“The next target?” Lyla gritted her teeth. “A woman was killed. My colleague and I were attacked. You might think it’s honorable to protect your source, but I’m trying to protect someone else from being killed, which, from the sound of it, could be you.”
