Page 50 of Deception

Nova scrambled out after her. “What are you doing?”

“One of the cases I worked required me to act as a mechanic.” Olive popped the hood. “I learned quite a bit.”

“Enough to get us going?”

“Let’s find out.” Olive let out a breath. “But I’m pretty sure the rental agency isn’t going to be happy about this.”

CHAPTER 27

Olive was thankful to be back at the hotel.

She’d managed to start the engine after discovering the fuel hose had been dislodged—probably from all the ruts in the road and their sudden stop. Olive had fixed it and then gotten the Jeep back on the road.

It had been a windy ride back, and pebbles of glass occasionally flew down from the broken windshield and hit them in the face. At least the weather was warm.

Olive had looked for Motorcycle Man as they drove but hadn’t spotted him. She didn’t think he’d be back tonight. He’d already made a statement.

All things considered, she and Nova were doing remarkably well.

But anger surged through Olive every time she thought about the confrontation.

That man must have followed them to the house and waited with his bike in the woods until they left. Then he’d decided to strike.

Olive should have been sharper. She should have seen him earlier. Should have been a more defensive driver.

Was she too distracted by her past to be on this assignment? Too preoccupied with thoughts of her family? She had to be stronger than that.

Thankfully, she and Nova were okay. This was just one more headache to deal with as she tried to find answers about Rebecca—this and that note she’d found that read, “Like father, like daughter.”

Her gut tightened at the memory. Who was playing these games with her?

Olive wasn’t sure, but she didn’t like it.

Then there was the man in the woods. The photo someone had sent of Olive and Mitzi. The message left on her hotel room mirror.

With her hair still wet from her shower, she leaned back in bed and crossed her legs at the ankles. Maybe a good night’s sleep would help.

Then her phone rang.

She glanced at the screen and saw it was Jason.

A surge of excitement rushed through her, followed by a frown.

Keep your distance, she reminded herself.

Since Jason had hired her to do this job, she couldn’t very well ignore his calls. Was this going to be an every-night thing?

Part of her liked that idea.

Olive swallowed hard before answering.

“Hey, Ollie.” Jason’s voice rumbled over the phone line.

Instead of feeling stressed, a wave of relief washed over Olive. He’d always had that effect on her. He made her feel safe—and that wasn’t a feeling she took for granted.

“Hey, you.” She settled back into her pillows. “How’s it going?”

“With me? Fine. I’m much more curious about how it’s going with you.”