Page 36 of Enigma (Pros and Cons Mysteries #6)

“ F ormer Police Chief Daniel Patterson. He retired two years ago, but he was here for thirty years. If anyone has any knowledge about criminal activity in this area, he’d be the one.” Dean stood. “But I wouldn’t recommend waking him up in the middle of the night. Wait until morning.”

“Of course,” Jason said. “Thanks for the tip.”

They gathered their belongings—phones, wallets, Jason’s lock-picking kit—and prepared to leave.

At the front desk, Dean pulled Jason aside. “I’m talking to the police chief and trying to convince him to give you the benefit of the doubt. But he’s not happy. I would keep a low profile if I were you.”

Jason nodded. “Copy that.”

Dean paused, his lips tugging down in a frown. “Should I call Chelsea? Let her know you’re in town?”

Jason hesitated.

Olive knew Chelsea would want to help, but she’d also worry.

“Can you wait?” Jason finally asked. “I’d like to tell her myself, but I want to have more answers first. I don’t want to scare her unnecessarily.”

Dean nodded. “I understand.”

As another officer drove them back to their rental SUV, Olive felt the weight of how close they’d come to losing everything.

But neither Olive nor Jason spoke about any details until after they were dropped off and inside the Tahoe.

“I remember Patterson,” Jason murmured. “He was tough but fair. Dean is right—if anyone would know about criminal activity connected to Dad’s practice, it would be him.”

“Do you think we can trust him?”

Jason shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.”

Olive and Jason said very little on the drive to the hotel. They were both seemingly lost in their own thoughts. Olive knew she was.

There were so many unanswered questions, and she just wanted answers.

But answers, as always, felt just out of reach.

Maybe a good night’s rest would be just what she needed.

They arrived back at the hotel and went to their room.

As soon as the room door clicked shut behind them, Olive knew something was wrong.

The air felt different, disturbed, like someone had been moving through their space.

Cologne, Olive realized. There was a faint scent of spicy cologne in the air.

Jason must have smelled it also. He instinctively reached for his gun. In one smooth motion, he had the weapon drawn and scanned the room.

That’s when they saw him.

A man sat calmly on one of the beds.

His hands were visible and empty, and his posture relaxed despite the weapon now aimed at his chest. He had curly blond hair and a wiry build—exactly as Olive remembered him.

“Simon?” The name escaped her lips before she could stop it.

Jason’s aim didn’t waver, but his eyes flicked to Olive in confusion. “Who’s Simon?”

The explanations Olive had never given, the secrets she’d kept—even from Jason—weighed on her as she looked between the two men—Jason tense and ready for a fight, Simon appearing completely unbothered by the gun pointed at him.

“It’s a long story,” she murmured before turning toward the man on the bed. “It’s about time you showed up.”