Page 12 of Isla by Any Other Name

“Let’s work out an escape route just in case we are breached by Hernandez’s henchmen. My cabin is three miles from here. It’s a straight run through the woods. There are only three other cabins in the vicinity and those are summer residences; they’ve been closed for the season. I know the owners and they’re summer residents. We can pull my personal ATV from my property and stash it close to the house. I keep an eye on one of the cabins closest to this compound; we can store the ATV in their shed. If we need to move quickly, we can bring Molly to my cabin and transfer her from there. I’ve got a root cellar under the hall floor. If need be, we can hide there till we get the all clear. My Jeep’s in the garage since I’ve been using the company SUV. If we have to move, we can meet up at a designated location. I know that trail like the back of my hand. I’ve used it for years to meet up with Curt. I could navigate it in the dark if need be.”

“It sounds like it would work,” said Dirk. He looked around at the others. “What do you think?”

Colt chimed in. “I think it would too. If we move now, there’s a chance that we’d call attention to ourselves. Hernandez isn’t dumb. He has connections with the underworld we probably know nothing about. If we did, he wouldn’t be as powerful as he is. I say we get Ryder Blackson out of town. That would solve the problem of him keeping his mouth shut. Maybe we can set up a hunting trip for him and his father out of state, on us.”

“Then are we all for staying here?” Mitch questioned.

Everyone at the table agreed.

“Now that’s settled, Lara, are you any closer to finding the mole?” Mitch asked.

Lara put down her fork. “No, but someone’s been snooping into your personnel file. It said ‘last opened’ yesterday. Are there any red flags we should be aware of?”

Mitch answered, “The director thought it’d be best if it looked like I applied for a leave of absence. That’s what they would find if someone were looking.”

“Is it possible that they could find out that you own a cabin in the vicinity?”

“No, the cabin’s not in my name. It was owned by my maternal grandfather and the deed’s in his name. There wouldn’t be a paper trail because the electric and gas receipts are in my sister’s married name. I made it so no one can find the place. In this business, you want a safe place. There’s always a possibility someone’s out for revenge. I may be paranoid, but I’d rather be safe than sorry. Lara, stay vigilant. Someone’s on our scent and I don’t like it.”

Lara took a sip of coffee. “I’m on it,” she said. “And who knows, I just might be able to pinpoint our informant. Every hacker thinks they’re the best—including me.” She gave a sly grin and the mood lightened just a bit.

“Breakfast is ready,” Isla said as she opened the fridge to get the syrup and the butter. “Anyone want juice?”

Lara jumped up from the table. “I’ll get it, Molly. You’ve done enough. You don’t need to do everything on your own.” Isla didn’t want to tell them that it had always been that way. She did everything on her own—it’s just how things were.

Instead, Isla pulled the platters out of the oven and set them on the kitchen island. “I don’t mind, really. Now eat!” The agents stood and filled their plates.

In between mouthfuls, Colt said, “I’m taking the ATV out and checking out the perimeter. One of the cameras needs adjusting on the south side of the property and I want to make sure we haven’t had any more visitors we weren’t aware of.”

“Thanks, Colt,” Mitch said. “I’m going to work out at the gym. I’ll check out things there. Molly, would you like to come? Curt has everything a first-class gym has and then some.”

“I’d like to,” she said. “I was going to the gym three times a week before this whole debacle. I could destress a little, that’s for sure.”

“Will ten minutes be enough time to get ready?” Mitch asked.

Lara stood up. “Molly, I’ll clean breakfast. You go.”

Isla smiled. “Thanks, Lara. Give me five, Mitch.” She ran upstairs to change.

Isla walked out onto the deck in a pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt. Maybe a workout was what she needed to get the cloud of doom surrounding her head out of her mind. Her body was wound so tight right now she felt like she was ready to break.

Mitch stood studying the landscape. He turned and smiled that lazy smile Isla was becoming addicted too. “Let’s go then,” he said, then turned and walked down the stairs. “It’s this way, on the other side of these trees. Wait till you see this place. It’s better than any gym I’ve ever seen, even when I was in the Navy or training for the Agency. When I’m here on vacation, Curt lets me use the facility. You’re going to enjoy this.”

“So, you were in the Navy?” Isla asked. “Were you a SEAL, like Curt?”

“Yeah, that’s where we became friends,” Mitch answered. “I knew him before, but he was younger than me by five years. I hung out with his brother, Kane, growing up. When he joined the Navy, I took him under my wing as a favor to Kane. We got really close, especially when he became a SEAL. We worked on the same team till I retired.”

“Why’d you retire?”

“On my last assignment, I got shot for the third time in my career and survived. Thank God it wasn’t life-threatening. I thought I was pressing my luck, so I retired. Then after a year of feeling sorry for myself and not knowing where I was going with my life, I got a call from a buddy who I’d worked with in the beginning of my career. He encouraged me to join the Agency, so here I am. Growing up, being a special agent was cool—I wanted to be like James Bond.”

“I’m glad you did. I feel safe with you,” Isla said shyly.

“Molly, I won’t let anything happen to you. I give you my word. I’d rather die than let that bastard get to you.” The last sentence came out in a growl that surprised Isla.

“Thanks, Mitch, but I don’t want anyone getting hurt or killed because of me. I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you or anyone else. Just…promise me you’ll be careful.”

They stood in front of a large, rectangular building made entirely of logs. Mitch turned to her. “We’ll be careful, Molly. We won’t take any unnecessary chances. Our main concern is your safety. Let us do our job. Okay?” He threw his arms wide. “Here we are. What do you think?”