Jacqui swallowed and blinked rapidly. “You never said you were assaulted.” Her gaze hit the floor and her lips tightened.

“What did you think happened!”

Jacqui looked shocked by Darby’s outburst.

Darby closed her eyes and Eban had to fight the urge to go to her. She would want to face this on her own.

“Imagine your worst-case scenario, multiply it by a thousand and add in the knowledge that the nightmare wouldn’t stop until you were either dead or rescued—and that rescue was very unlikely.”

Jacqui’s arms tightened around herself and she mumbled, “What are you planning to do now?”

“Like I said, grabbing my stuff so I can work from home for a few days. The media is trying to hound me and no way am I talking to them.”

This wasn’t the first time they’d chased her for a story. Eban wasn’t looking forward to what they’d say about this latest event in Darby’s life. Everything that happened last summer would once again be dredged up and recycled, which would not only remind Darmawan Hurek that Darby was alive, but also tell him exactly where she lived.

Eban didn’t think the international terrorist would risk losing his freedom in order to inflict some weird version of revenge on her, especially when he hadn’t been involved in her physical assaults. But Darby feared he might come after her and Eban hated adding to her fear. Shit. Eban did not like what this meant for Darby’s overall security.

“Who is he?” Jacqui indicated Eban with a nod of her head.

Had Darby mentioned him to her associates here? He wondered what she’d told them.

Darby met his gaze and something silent passed between them. “A friend.”

He felt like so much more and yet couldn’t claim any other status. He frowned.

“I’m almost done. I only need to download some data,” Darby told him, turning to a desktop computer and quickly logging in.

“Hurry.” Eban didn’t like being in one spot for too long. It gave the press the chance to catch up. Not to mention the killer.

“Excuse me.” Jacqui hurried out of the room.

Darby stared after her and then shrugged resignedly. “I guess we won’t be sharing a tent on the next field project.”

She was trying to make light of it, but he knew she was hurt by the other woman’s mistrust.

“They’ll all get over it once the real story comes out.”

“If the cops figure out what actually happened.” She sent some data to her email and logged off. “Otherwise, I’m always going to be viewed with suspicion. Maybe I should have gone to Hawaii where my co-supervisor is based.”

“You chose Alaska over Hawaii?”

She forced a laugh. “Crazy, huh?”

Eban smiled back, but they both looked away from one another. He wanted to promise her that they’d find the person who had done this, but nothing was a given. Hopefully, the evidence being examined would reveal something to point them to the killer. DNA, footprints, fingerprints, electronics. Maybe a witness would come forward or something would be obvious from the photos of the event. Or the killer would give himself up—stranger things had happened.