“You were right. About everything.” The line went dead.

In the bathroom, he brushed his teeth, rubbed a wet washcloth over his face, and made his way out to the elevators. About to press the button, he stopped. No cell phone. He went back for it. During the elevator’s descent, he thought about Holly, what her last twelve hours must’ve been like. He shook his head as the elevator dumped him into a deserted lobby. The clerk behind the counter smiled as he walked past. Holly Simpson entered the hotel three minutes later. Her white shirt was tucked into blue jeans secured by a silver-and-turquoise Indian jewelry belt. Even exhausted, she looked beautiful.

He stood as the automatic glass doors pulled open.

“Hello, Holly.”

Her expression told all.

“Oh man.” He held his arms wide open.

She moved forward and embraced him. Tightly.

“Rough day?” Nathan felt her nod and rested his chin on her head. He needed this hug as much as she did.

“What happened to your hand?”

“The bathroom mirror lost an argument.”

“You okay?”

“Just embarrassed.”

She released him and stepped back. “Look at me, some professional.”

“Nonsense, you’re a human being with deep feelings.”

She managed a smile. “Thanks for the hug, I really needed it.”

“Me too.”

“You saved our lives at the farmhouse last night.”

“The light switch.”

“It was rigged to several claymores concealed in an empty toolbox. If Bruce had flipped it, we would’ve been killed. He’s really torn up over it, threatening to resign.”

“Don’t let him quit.”

“I won’t.” They sat down, facing each other. “There’s more. The Bridgestones killed our two techs in the surveillance van. Tortured them first, like Ortega. We found them in the farmhouse, both shot in the head. Everything was recorded. The machines were running when they grabbed them. It was horrible.… Their screams.”

“I’m sorry, Holly.

“That’s not all, Nathan. They know about you. They know you’re the one who killed their little brother at the compound. They also know who your father is.”

He just stared. How the hell could they know that? His mind raced with possibilities, all of them bad.

“We can protect you, put you in the witness security program.”

“Forget about it. I’m not hiding from those two mutts.”

“But everything’s changed. They know who you are.”

“I’ll be okay. Come on, let’s get out of here.”

Outside, she asked if he didn’t mind driving. He tucked her into the passenger seat and walked around the front of the SUV. Moving the driver’s seat all the way back, he climbed in and reached for the keys. They weren’t there.

“Sorry.” She reached into her purse. “There’s a piano bar not far from here. It’s open for another hour.”

“Sounds good. You go there often?”

“When I can’t sleep. How did you know about the garage switch?”