Page 70 of Chain Reaction

Some of Jake’s excitement dimmed.

It’s none of your business, he reminded himself.She’s not yours, and she never will be.

He had to move past this jealousy he felt—jealousy he had no right to feel.

Another ding sounded. It was his phone this time.

An address appeared on his screen.

This guy was staying only a few blocks away from Raven.

Jake stood. “I want to go talk to this guy. He may not be guilty of leaving that bomb. But that comment he made on Eleanor’s Facebook post definitely makes it sound as if he knows more than your average Joe.”

“Not only that, but the fact he’s here in Lantern Beach? That can’t be a coincidence.” Raven stood also, excitement bubbling in her voice. “I’m going with you.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Jake hated thinking about putting her in harm’s way again. The thought of it made tension weave through his muscles.

Her gaze locked on him. “You don’t have to take me with you. But I’m going to be there one way or another.”

He heard the determination in her voice and knew she wasn’t bluffing. She wouldn’t sit back idly as if she didn’t have a stake in this.

“Fine,” Jake told her. “But I’m leaving in five minutes.”

She gave him a confident nod. “I’ll be ready.”

CHAPTER 33

Raven’s heart throbbed in her ears as they pulled to a stop in front of a small beach house that looked similar to the one where she was staying. This one wasn’t located on the ocean, but four houses back instead, right off the main highway cutting through the center of the island.

A maroon-colored sedan was parked in the driveway, indicating someone was there.

The place looked unassuming, not like the type of place that housed a terrorist.

IfThomas was a terrorist.

It was still unclear what his connection to all this might be—if he even had a connection. But that Facebook post did make it sound as if he knew something. The fact he’d posted it so long after the accident happened made it sound as if he’d wanted someone to find him and ask questions.

Or this could be a setup.

They climbed from the SUV, and Jake turned toward her. “Stay behind me.”

“You won’t get any arguments from me.”

She wasn’t even sarcastic as she said the words. She wasn’t a soldier or the soldier type, and she knew that. Being in the line of fire wasn’t her forte.

They climbed the steps to the front door of the stilted house. Just like Raven’s place, a deck ran along the perimeter of this place with stairways on each side.

Jake headed to the front door and knocked.

No one answered.

He knocked again.

Again, there was no answer, and Raven sensed Jake’s growing agitation as his movements became faster, jerkier.

“Maybe you should announce yourself,” Raven suggested.

“It might scare him away.” He moved from the door and peered through the closest window, squinting as he did.