“He’s not a celebrity,” Adam said.

“Not anymore,” Elle said. “But he wouldn’t have been moved if he was dying, and certainly he’s not dead. That would have hit the media.”

“Agreed. The news cycle isn’t concerned with him as an injured person, but they would report his death.” Adam stared at the screen and sorted his thoughts. “I don’t know how to interpret this silence.”

“How would you assess my situation? Am I anonymous here in Gothic? Not at risk? Or am I a sitting duck for Penderghast’s assassins?”

Adam considered her in surprise. “Why would you think he has his own personal assassins?”

“Do you think I’m exaggerating his power, his reach or his corruption?”

“No. You suffered at his hands—and died.”

“Temporarily,” she reminded him with a smile.

“Temporarily,” he agreed, but he didn’t smile. His expression promised trouble for Penderghast if Adam had the chance. “I doubt he has his own personal assassins, although...it’s possible. More than that, wealthy men can manipulate perceptions.”

“And hire assassins.”

“Not if he’s dying or in a coma, and his financial team doesn’t want to say for fear his company’s stocks will drop.”

“I don’t know about that.” Elle could barely wrap her mind around the thought. “I didn’t think about the consequences of his death to his financial worth. I don’t think that way.”

“That’s why you’re not a billionaire.”

“Is that why?” Elle asked with wry humor. “I thought it was because I chose to become an archaeologist.”

Adam paid no attention to her wit. “You think you hurt him badly.”

“I promise you I did. I wish I could forget how it felt when I grabbed him with the hook and sunk it into his flesh. It was—” she felt queasy “—gross.”

“But you don’t think you killed him right away.”

“He stayed on his feet, ripped the hook out, stalked toward me like Frankenstein’s monster.” She could remember so clearly now. “He saw me jump off the ship.”

“All right.” Adam faced her. “I would not dream of assuring you that you have no reason to be afraid. I suggest caution and vigilance in every move you make.”

“But you always suggest caution and vigilance. That’s who you are.”

“Since you arrived, we’ve had one occasion of gunfire with one person hurt.”

“You!” She lightly touched his arm.

“If that shot was fired by a Penderghast assassin, he missed his target, and he hasn’t followed up on his failure. Therefore, the shot wasn’t aimed at you, and for the moment, we’re not going to law enforcement. There’s too much about this situation they’re ill-equipped to handle. I’m afraid they’d want to take you into custody.”

“Because I attacked Stephen Penderghast. Or killed him?”