He turned around and faced the room. “You said he might convince her to help him leave the island.” He glanced at Jenna. “Is there a way off near the prison?”

“It’s rocky, but yes. It’s actually the hardest part of the island to patrol and watch over.”

Sylvia shook her head. “What am I missing?”

That had to be it. For the first time in the last hour Connor felt a bit of hope. “Evan trained her how to hide. Maddie staked out the island and picked the prison ruins as her ultimate hiding place. She knows that ground. If he has her there, she might have an advantage.”

Ben opened the door. “Let’s go.”

Chapter 32

Snow fell as they drove through the center of town. Winter had held off but now set in, blanketing the sky in a soft gray. The unseasonably warm temperatures of a few weeks ago broke, and frigid air circled around them.

The car windows fogged and she used the side of her gloved hand to clear a patch for her to see through. Evan had locked the doors from the inside. But it didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to run. Not when he bargained with Connor’s life.

As Whitaker passed outside the window she looked around for any familiar face. If she saw one, she didn’t know what she could do. It’s not like she would endanger someone else to save herself. She could try to convey a message but Evan sat next to her, watching every move as his gaze switched back and forth between her and the slick road.

The car ventured out of the more residential area and through the towering trees. Even without their leaves, the massive trunks blocked what little light managed to break through the clouds. Neither of them said another word for ten minutes.

With every mile they drove, her mind raced to come up with a plan. She was bringing him out here because it was the one place she knew better than others. And she’d talked about it with Connor. If he could work out that she was missing and in trouble, he might think about the prison and get Ben out there. But there were so many ifs and maybes, and really she just wanted to stall until a better plan popped into her head.

The one wild card sat next to her. She had no idea what Evan was thinking. She now knew that was always true.

“There.” She pointed to the turnoff for the prison. The sign had been torn down long ago but locals knew. She found the place on a map and spent hours investigating.

“Excellent surveillance.”

That’s what she was to him, a mix of skills and training. A prize that he plucked out of danger and shined to his satisfaction.