He wished he’d never introduced the archaeologist to the SEAL, because if Xavier had lied about Audrey…that was unforgivable. No way could he defend his friend. And if Audrey really had denied the permit simply because she’d been rejected, well, he couldn’t hold a grudge against Xavier for sidestepping her authority in this.

There’d been nothing he could do to ease the situation between them.

Until now.

He could enter the park and get Audrey out of there before she landed in jail. He could vouch for the issue with the cameras and explain why the site was important—to Audrey, to the tribes, to the park.

He had legal right of entry and a role to play. As a law enforcement ranger, his job was to document the crime and search for the looters.

Plus, Jae hoped to move up into the investigative unit for the National Park Service. If he failed to do his job to protect this cultural heritage site, it wouldn’t look good on his application when a position opened up in the unit.

He might get in as much trouble as Audrey for interrupting the training, but he could justify his actions and maybe save Audrey or Xavier from theirs. He donned his wide-brimmed ranger hat and climbed from the vehicle. Rain pummeled him, having picked up in the minutes he’d sat in the car making calls and debating his course of action.

He crossed in front of his headlights and pulled out the key to the heavy-duty lock. He would drive to the lodge, find Audrey, and extract her from the training.

It was the right thing to do and a good plan.

A great one, even. Except he hit a major snag: his key didn’t work.

He studied the key and the lock. Had the Navy gotten a concession from the park on the gate lock after all? Or had the Navy changed the lock without permission?

But if they changed the lock, then Audrey didn’t have a key either and couldn’t have entered the park. At least, not on this road. And there was no other road to the lake or lodge. It was a dead end with only jeep trail spurs in a few places along the winding eighteen-mile stretch.

One way in, one way out.

Well, except for the SEALs, who were probably parachuting or being helicoptered in. Jae presumed they’d be airlifted out as well.

He returned to the vehicle, taking shelter from the rain as he considered his options. He couldn’t ask about the gate lock over the radio because the exact timing of the training was secret—no details were to be broadcast over the radio. He would check in with park management about the gate at the end of his shift tonight.