Page 51 of An Epic Voyage

“Hey, it’s Decker.”

“How’s it going?”

“Good and bad.”

His boss grunted.“Give me the good first.”

“The impending hurricane has caused the island to evacuate.”

“That’s a best-case scenario, assuming you live through it.”

Smartass.“I found the storm cellar slash panic room where I’ll ride it out.”

“Good.What’s the bad?”

“I’m not alone.”

“Well, that’s inconvenient.”

Griff’s smile was wry.Understatement.

“Who is he?Don’t tell me it’s Van Houten.”

“It’s not Van Houten, nor a he.”

“Damn it, Decker, you’re on an assignment.Can’t you keep your libido in check?”

He bit back a sharp retort, remembering he was talking to his boss.“I didn’t invite her, if that’s what you’re implying.She got stuck on the island when the yacht departed for Miami.”

“Will you be able to do your job?”

“Of course.”He’d never failed on one yet.

“Give me her name and I’ll run a check.”

“It’s Indigo Adair, and I already did.She came up clean.”

Papers rustled in the background.“Adair.She’s the substitute makeup person for Jinger, filling in for someone named Penny?”

“Pammy, and yes.”

“Has she given you reason to suspect her?”

She had, but he kept that to himself for now.“No.”

“I’ll dig deeper anyway.Keep me posted when you can and stay safe.”

“Will do.”

Griffin disconnected and found another serving cart.Then he raided the standing and walk-in refrigerators, pillaging the perishable goods.One thing was certain: the storm might get them, but they wouldn’t starve to death.

#

Indigo waited untilGriffin left and the door sealed itself shut before she glanced around the room.The thought struck her that this would be the perfect place to hide a nuclear weapon.Steel-reinforced and concrete-encrusted walls, ceiling, and floor, buried behind so many hidden doors.It would take an escape artist to get out.

She didn’t think Griffin would leave her, but she didn’t know him at all.Maybe she should’ve left breadcrumbs.Although, Indy had no doubt she could find her way out if needed.She’d watched Griffin and had committed the sequences to memory.A cursory internet search gave her Van Houten’s birth date, so she knew the password.

If Benedict Van Houten were this security-conscious, it would make sense that he’d store his most valuable asset in the safest place on the island.The cave had been her first thought, but the tides and salt water made it less than ideal.