Page 63 of Enigma

“How so?” Olive asked.

“We’re small enough that strangers stand out, but not so small that a few new families would seem unusual. We’re close enough to major highways for easy transportation, but far enough off the beaten path that federal law enforcement doesn’t pay much attention.”

“Do you think any of those people are still here?” Olive asked. “People who worked with my father?”

Patterson’s expression grew grim. “That’s a good question. And to be honest, I’ve had my eye on Dr. Schmitt since he moved here.”

“What?” Jason blanched. “Why?”

“I happen to know he paid cash for his house. He also keeps to himself—he hasn’t made much of an effort to integrate, if you know what I mean.”

Olive exchanged a look with Jason.

What if Dr. Schmitt strong-armed Lloyd into taking over Lloyd’s practice? What if that was all part of some kind of grand plan someone had put into action?

She knew Jason was thinking the same thing.

“I’ve been keeping my eyes open. I’ve seen vans going through the area at night. I’ve seen people from out of town arrested and acting like they’re out of their minds.”

Olive’s breath caught. Acting like they were out of their minds?

She remembered the mind-altering drug she’d discovered while researching a children’s home in Maine. Anton had been behind it, using students as test subjects to perfect his drug.

What if he’d already put that drug into use?

The thought of how dangerous that could be made her shudder.

“One more thing.” Patterson shifted closer to them. “I’ve had suspicions that someone at the police department may be in on this also.”

Olive’s breath caught.

Dean. Could it be Dean?

What if he was part of all this? What if he’d married Chelsea to get close to Lloyd? If he’d become a cop so he could manipulate evidence or turn a blind eye to illegal activities?

She didn’t want to think that could be true, but she’d be a fool not to examine every option.

Patterson gave them a sharp look. “And I think you two need to get out of Oasis before someone decides you’ve learned too much.”

CHAPTER 42

The silence in the Tahoe felt heavy as Jason pulled away from Patterson’s house.

Olive stared out the passenger window at the Texas Hill Country landscape—gentle slopes covered with live oak and cedar, rocky limestone bluffs catching the morning light, and winding creek beds lined with cypress trees.

“So my father might not have been in this alone,” she finally said. “Maybe my father and your father were actually working together. Oh, and this whole town might be compromised.”

“That’s a lot to digest.” Jason’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “The question is whether Patterson is right about Dr. Schmitt and someone in the police department.”

“You don’t think . . . ?” She couldn’t bring herself to say Dean’s name, to put Jason in that position.

“That my brother-in-law is involved?” He sighed and shook his head. “I want to say no, but I don’t know who to trust right now, to be honest.”

Several seconds of silence passed.

Olive turned to face him. “Jason, what if Simon was telling the truth? What if my mother reallyisalive?”

She’d been holding onto that question since last night.