Now he didn’t care if he got caught or not. The important thing was to keep up with her. Not let her stretch out ahead and run smack into danger.

The tall trees blocked out most of the sun, leaving the area underneath shaded and the sounds inside muffled. He slid on the slick forest floor of moss and dead leaves. But he could see a break in the branches ahead and a pool of light. Picking up speed, he slipped through the opening.

It took him a few seconds to get his bearings but then his sense of direction kicked in. From this position, he hid in the trees off to one side of Holloway Harbor. He could see the marina attached to the Yacht Club in the distance and the dock for the ferry in front of him.

Workers bustled on the pier. He knew from experience the ferry from Seattle would pull in there today on one of its two weekly runs. The loading and unloading lasted less than a half hour. Then the ferry took off again, hitting two other islands before setting back for the city.

The ride to Whitaker had been frigid but scenic. Water lapped against the sides of the boat and the view from the open deck gave way to a vast sea of blue with tiny dots of land that grew bigger the closer you got. Most people sat inside, gathered around the small snack bar. Despite the wind and pelting of water droplets, he viewed being trapped in there when he could be out here, around all of this, a waste of a ride.

“What are you doing?” Her voice rang out from behind him.

He almost jumped out of his skin. “Jesus, woman.”

She stepped in front of him with a scowl that suggested he tell the truth. “Why are you following me?”

No, he refused to play this game. He wasn’t the one who should be answering for their behavior today. “Why did you pretend to go to work, then sneak out?”

“I do not sneak.”

He refused to dignify that. “Who’s answering your calls?”

She stared at him for a few seconds, not saying a word. “The woman who covers for me and handles Mondays so I can have a day disconnected from the table and phone.”

“Did you tell her in advance that you needed the morning off to run around the island but then forget to tell me?”

“I don’t like being tracked.”

As far as dodges went, she’d done better, but he let it slide . . . for the moment. “I don’t like being lied to.”

“You have an answer for everything, don’t you?”

“No, because I have no idea what you’re doing.”

She sighed at him.

He sighed right back.

“Fine.” She threw up her hands. “Checking.”