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But the past had followed her, as it always did. And now, she was dragging Fenn down with her.
She closed her eyes, sending up a silent prayer.Lord, please help me end this. Help me find a way to make things right. Before it’s too late.
The tavern seemed to fade away around her, the laughter and chatter receding into the background. All she could hear was the pounding of her own heart, the rush of blood in her ears.
When she opened her eyes, Fenn was watching her, his expression unreadable.
“We’ll figure this out,” he said, his voice low and reassuring.
Kate nodded, swallowing past the lump in her throat. He wouldn’t say that if he knew what she’d done. Why Loaita Cay was a such a poisonous memory.
6
Kate pushed her plate away,the remnants of her meal growing cold as she scanned the crowded tavern. The knot of tension between her shoulder blades refused to ease, despite the warmth of the room and the laughter that filled the air. She needed to move, to do something, anything to keep her mind from dwelling on the note and the implications it held.
Her gaze landed on the pool table in the far corner, the green felt illuminated by a low-hanging lamp. “Come on,” she said, nudging Fenn with her elbow. “Let’s play.”
Fenn glanced at the table, then back at her, a slow grin spreading across his face. “You sure about that? I don’t want to embarrass you in front of all these fine folks.”
She snorted, already rising from her seat. “Please. I could beat you with my eyes closed.”
“Care to make a wager on that?” Fenn waggled his eyebrows, his smile turning mischievous.
She laughed, shaking her head. “Not a chance. I know better than to bet against a hustler.”
They made their way to the table, the alternative of returning to their cramped, soulless rooms making her shudder. Sheneeded this, needed the distraction and the company, even if it was just for a little while.
As Fenn racked the balls, she chalked her cue, the familiar motions soothing in their repetition.
He pulled the wooden triangle off the balls and set it aside. “I’m going to need details about this mission. Whoever left the note’s obviously connected to it somehow, whether directly or not. It’s the only place to start.”
Kate’s hand stilled, her grip tightening on the cue. “Not gonna happen. I can’t. Plus, I don’t know as much as you think.”
He frowned, his brow furrowing. “Why not?”
She sighed, feeling the weight of the past bearing down on her. “The mission was too complicated. I was never aware of all the players involved. The writer could be connected to the handful of players I was aware of…but most likely not.”
“There’s no other way to dig into this,” Fenn insisted, his voice low but urgent.
This was the time to double down. One sign of weakness and Fenn would keep at her until she caved. She met his gaze with a determined look of her own. “The best thing to do is figure out who left the note and trace things back from there.”
Fenn held her gaze for a long moment, his jaw clenching with frustration. But finally, he nodded, his shoulders slumping in resignation. “Fine. We’ll do it your way. For now.”
“We could start by questioning the staff at the hotel,” Fenn suggested, watching as she broke the formation, sending the balls scattering across the felt. “Maybe someone saw something.”
“Or maybe whoever left it is an employee.” Kate straightened, her mind racing with the possibilities.
Fenn nodded, moving to take his shot. “In which case, I’m confident I’ll be able to tell. I’ve got a nose for liars.”
Kate watched as he sank two balls in quick succession, her eyebrows rising in grudging admiration. “Looks like you’ve got a nose for pool, too.”
He winked, a patented expression that never failed to make her stomach flutter. “I’m a man of many talents.”
They continued their game, the easy banter flowing between them as they traded shots and theories. But as the minutes ticked by, it became increasingly clear that Fenn was utterly dominating the table.
“How are you doing this?” she demanded, watching as he sank yet another impossible shot. “Are you cheating?”
He raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Cheating? I prefer to think of it as creative problem-solving.”