Page 31 of Enigma (Pros and Cons Mysteries #6)
J ason 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. “You what ?”
“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.
“What kind of business account?” she asked.
“Stewart Medical Associates. Registered address is 847 Commerce Street in Oasis, Texas.” Papers rustled on Tevin’s end.
“Olive, this account has been moving money for nearly a decade. Not just the recent deposits to Lloyd’s personal account, but hundreds of transactions. We’re talking millions of dollars.”
“That’s Lloyd’s old medical practice,” Olive whispered, watching Jason sign rental papers twenty feet away.
“It gets better—or worse, depending on how you look at it. The account shows regular deposits from Northwood Investment Group.”
The name hit Olive like a physical blow.
Northwood Investment Group—the same organization her dad had been involved with.
Was this the link they’d been looking for?
Olive glanced back at Jason as he talked to the rental car agent. “Tevin, are you absolutely sure about this?”
“I’ve triple-checked everything. Olive, whatever Lloyd was involved in, it didn’t end when he left Oasis. It’s been continuing this whole time.”
After ending the call, Olive rejoined Jason at the rental counter.
Her mind was racing. Connections tried to form, but part of her didn’t want them to.
Because the implications felt too big, too serious.
When they got to their SUV—a black Tahoe that looked like it could handle whatever Texas threw at them—she filled him in on Tevin’s discovery.
“Northwood Investment Group,” Jason repeated, starting the engine. “I had a feeling we’d hear that name again.”
“Me too. I’m still trying to figure out how all this fits together, however. I need more connecting pieces.”
They drove in silence for a few minutes, both processing the implications.
Finally, Jason spoke again. “So, as far as our plan once we get to Oasis . . . my dad told me one time that he kept a hidden safe in his medical office. He even showed me once. Said he kept important documents there, patient records he said were too sensitive for the regular files.”
“Do you think he might have kept information about all this? Evidence of what he was involved in?”
“It’s worth investigating,” Jason said. “Although, I don’t know how he planned to get back into the office to access that information. Maybe he just kept paper copies there in case things went wrong.”
“I’m sure he could have thought of an excuse to get back inside if he had to.” She shrugged. “Maybe he even kept backup records of his secret financial accounts.”
Jason’s lips tugged down into a frown. “I hate to even think about that. But we need to know the truth—especially if my dad is in trouble.”
“Unfortunately, you’re correct.” Olive could only imagine how he was feeling right now.
He blew out a long breath as if gathering his wits. “But first, we need supplies. Clothes, basic toiletries, maybe something to eat that isn’t airport food.”
“We do,” Olive agreed. “Then we jump in. There’s no time to waste.”