Page 28 of Riptide

“I don’t know what it means, do you?” Seth asked.

Kaimana shrugged and shook her head.

“Evan worked on a lot of projects over the years. Maybe it refers to one of them. Or someone who worked with him. I can run it through all our company records. See if we get any hits.”

“Maybe Amelia was one of the girls. The fourth Amelia? I don’t know.” Kaimana sighed.

“Not sure. We’ll have to think on it,” Garrett replied as he struggled to cover up a yawn.

“Maybe we should go get some more rest. We leave tomorrow morning, yeah?” Seth asked.

“We can all drive to the airport in my car,” Garrett told them. “The jet will be ready.”

“But the auction—” Kaimana began. “Joli said it was going to happen this weekend. But I don’t know where it is.”

“We’ve still got five days. If we find the mole, we might be able to shake them down for the location of the auction. We probably should make a visit to this club here.” Seth waved the matchbook cover in the air. “Don’t worry. We’ll come back. I promise.”

“I don’t know if I should leave my brother.” Kaimana wore a sad expression, her lips drawn tight.

“Your brother is getting the very best care,” Garrett told her. “And he’s protected. I’ve got a private security detail on him. Whoever is looking for you is going to keep looking. It’s not safe to go to him yet.”

“We should be good in San Diego. I’ve got a penthouse in La Jolla. Private entrance and elevator. It’s an investment property I picked up a few years ago. I’m dead now so hopefully it won’t be a problem getting in.” Seth racked his brain, attempting to regain a sense of time. “How long have I been dead?”

“About ten days,” Garrett said. “Your lawyer might have already notified them you were dead…funeral was last week.”

Seth gave a small laugh. “Dead ten days. It’s pretty fucking weird to think you guys had a funeral for me. Regardless, the penthouse should still be doable. I don’t think my family would have changed the security codes for my properties just yet.”

“We had a paddle out. Lots of leis and flowers. Luncheon afterwards.” Garrett shrugged with a grin. “It was nice.”

“Sounds like it was.”

“I’m just glad you’re alive.”

“So am I.” Seth glanced to Kaimana but quickly refocused on Garrett. “So yeah, I guess that solves that. We’ve got a safe place to stay.”

“Okay,” Kaimana nodded in agreement, her voice quiet. “I’m ready to do whatever it takes to find Evan and put these monsters away.”

“You sure you got this?” Garrett asked Seth.

“You know it. Let’s fucking go.”

Chapter Six

“Are you sure we’re going to be safe tonight?” Kaimana asked as she looked through the sliding glass doors and up to the full moon.

“Yeah, we’re good.” Seth set his glass into the sink. “We’ll leave early in the morning. We can do a video call from the plane so you can talk to your brother.”

“They’ll come for me again,” she told him. “I know Garrett said those guys on the yacht were pirates, but I don’t believe in coincidences. It makes me sick they killed the crew. It’s my fault.”

“It’s not your fault. You were careful. Besides I know Evan. Evan knew some pretty dangerous people long before you met him. And I’m sure the people who worked for him, for you…they knew the danger they were getting into at sea.” He shrugged. “And yeah, Evan was living above it all but when you do work like he did, some people hold grudges.”

“They were shooting at me in the woods. One of them must have seen us get on the yacht. I thought I’d hit the guy who was shooting at me, but I guess I didn’t kill him.”

“They could have had eyes on the yacht the whole time. Again, not your fault.”

“You know, I blamed myself for the longest time. I told myself it was my fault for helping that guy. For surfing alone. I shouldn’t have stayed out there by myself.”

“Lots of people go surfing by themselves.”