Page 48 of Enigma

She smoothed her hair and straightened her clothes, trying to look like a normal traveler instead of someone who’d just choked a woman unconscious in the bathroom.

Elena would wake up in fifteen or twenty minutes, but by then their flight would be boarding.

Olive walked out of the bathroom as calmly as possible, her heart hammering against her ribs. The corridor was still quiet, no sign that anyone had heard the struggle.

She made her way back toward the gate, scanning every face for signs of Elena’s backup.

Because there was always backup.

CHAPTER 31

Jason looked up as Olive approached, and concern flashed across his features. “What happened?”

Olive slipped into the seat beside him and leaned close, keeping her voice barely above a whisper. “A woman just attacked me in the bathroom.”

Jason’s eyes widened, and he straightened. “What?”

Olive glanced around the gate area, noting every person within earshot. “Before she did that, she offered me two million dollars to walk away and forget about your father.”

“What?” His voice climbed. “What did you tell her?”

“I didn’t tell her anything. I choked her until she was unconscious and left her in a bathroom stall.”

Jason stared at her. “Youwhat?”

“She was armed, and she threatened me. It was self-defense.”

Before Jason could respond, an announcement reverberated through the gate area.

Their flight was boarding.

“We need to get on that plane.” Olive stood. “Elena won’t stay unconscious forever, and when she wakes up, she’s going to call for backup. That is—if someone doesn’t find her first and call security.”

As they joined the boarding line, Olive couldn’t help but look over her shoulder.

Somewhere in this massive airport, a very dangerous woman would soon be waking up with a serious grudge and the resources to act on it.

But they also had Elena’s phone, which might contain the answers they’d been looking for.

The question was whether they’d live long enough to find them.

“Welcome to Texas,” Olive murmured as she squinted against the late afternoon sun as they walked from the terminal.

She and Jason made their way to the rental car counter. Oasis was a good hour’s drive from here, so they’d need a vehicle.

Both of them scanned the busy pickup area for any signs they were being followed.

Elena Vasquez would be awake by now, and Olive had no doubt that backup was already being mobilized.

While Jason secured a vehicle, Olive’s phone buzzed.

It was Tevin.

She stepped away from the counter to answer. “Please tell me you have something.”

“I do, and it’s big.” Tevin’s voice carried the excitement she’d come to associate with his breakthrough discoveries. “I’ve been digging deeper into those financial transfers to Lloyd’s accounts. The routing numbers trace back to a business account that was set up ten years ago.”

Olive’s breath caught. Ten years—right around the time her family had lived in Oasis.