Halsey’s eyes went up and to the right. Which—as you know, Matt—is a surefire tell that he’s accessing visual memories. Something he saw.

“Yeah,” he said. “I’m sure. Now let me go.”

I released my grip on his wrist. As Halsey rubbed it, some of the arrogance returned to his face. He was thinking he was back in charge again. A brat like him couldn’t stand the idea of being bossed around by a “chick” like me.

“When I tell my father what just happened, he’s going to go nuclear on you.”

I smiled. “Who do you think sent me, dumbass?”

Halsey’s jaw popped open. I just blew his mind. “Wh-what?”

“Listen to me, Jamie. For your own good. I know that what happened was probably an accident, and it would be very smart if you told the truth now. Things will go a lot easier on you. If you don’t, and they pull that poor girl’s body out of the sand…well, there’s nothing even I can do for you. And let me tell you, if they sent me, it means your daddy pulled strings at the highest of levels.”

Matt, the look on his face at that very moment is what convinced me. This little brat did it. Or at the very least, knows what happened to Paige.

Chapter 13

KATE (continued)

After leaving Halsey quivering in his Armani boxer briefs, I went looking for his head employee—Captain Jacob Kurtz. Maybe he’d spill a detail or two that would cement the case against his employer.

Didn’t take long to track him down. I selected the most ridiculous bar in the vicinity and listened for the sound of a man bragging. I elbowed my way through a force field of drunk women until I finally reached the bar, where Kurtz was sipping fruit juice and rum cocktails and holding court.

What is it about women and certain uniforms, Quinn? Put somebody from our old army unit in that same bar and I guarantee you he’d be drinking alone, unless there were other soldiers present.

But Kurtz? I had to fight to get anywhere near him. Yet all I saw was some overtanned blowhard in a yacht captain’s uniform—complete with his white cap tilted to one side, like he was going to be performing with Toni Tennille later that evening.

He noticed me right away, though. At first I thought it was because he sensed I wasn’t like the other women looking for a little vacation fling.

“You, young lady, embarrassed the hell out of my crew,” he said. “I think we ran out of ice tending to their bumps and bruises.”

“Where were you, Mr. Kurtz?” I asked. “Kind of wish you’d been part of the action.”

“Belowdecks. I’m a lover, not a fighter. A seafarer, not a war-wager.”

Oh, boy. I decided to get to the point or we could be here all night.

“But are you a killer, Mr. Kurtz?”

The captain smiled. Genuine amusement lighting up his eyes. “Oh, I like you. I had no idea government agents could be so much fun. Come, let’s go somewhere a little more private.”