“While I know you wanted to go home as much as I did, you’re in for a real treat. Diesel’s parents’ lake house is really nice.”
“It was built in the twenties,” he said. “More of a house than a camp. It has seven bedrooms and is fully winterized.”
“Wait until you see it. It doesn’t have a dock; it has a pier.”
Maisie’s eyes opened wide like they had before, but this time she was smiling. “I can’t wait to see it.”
I hoped Diesel wouldn’t mind if we still went there, even if we did get clearance to return to Canada Lake. It would be a nice divergence.
Fortunately, when I’d asked Doc to ask Maisie’s grandparents to bring her a change of clothes and toiletries, they brought more than one, and Merrigan even thought to pick up a few things for me from my camp. If necessary, Diesel could wear some of my clothes. It certainly wouldn’t be the first time we borrowed from each other.
“I doubt there’s food at my parents’ place, but there’s a restaurant nearby called the Boathouse. I don’t know about you two, but I’m starving, and they have great food.”
Diesel pulled in when we said we were hungry too. I immediately knew it would go on Maisie’s list of places to emulate, and I was grateful to my friend for giving her the distraction.
While we were sitting at the bar, waiting for a table, Maisie got up to look at some of the historic photos hanging on the wall.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” I said to Diesel.
“Yeah?”
“My gut told me you shouldn’t be on the transport team.”
He raised a brow. “No shit?”
I shook my head.
“Fuck. Well, thanks.” He raised his beer to mine, and we toasted.
“Not the first time it’s happened between us.”
“No, Ranger, it sure isn’t.”
“Have you heard anything from Onyx?”
“Rodriguez.”
“Condition?”
Diesel shook his head.
“Damn. I didn’t know him very well, but whenever we lose one of the good guys, it always sucks.” I brought my beer bottle back to his. “To Rodriguez.”
“Agent Davies was also hit.”
My eyes opened wide. “Condition?”
“Still in surgery.”
The way he said it, sounded more personal than I’d expected. “Sorry to hear that, man.”
He looked out the window into the darkness. “Thanks, Range.”
“Listen, I know I’ve been pretty self-involved lately. I want you to know I’m sorry.”
Diesel laughed. “It’s all good, buddy.”
Maisie returned to the bar but didn’t take a seat. Instead, she stood behind me and draped her arms over my shoulders. I turned my head, and we kissed.
“Your table is ready,” said the bartender who came out from behind the bar with menus in her arms.
“Looks like it’s kind of slow tonight. If it would be easier on you if we sat at the bar, we’re happy to,” offered Maisie.
“I was just going to seat you over here.” She pointed to a table a few steps away from where we were.
Diesel nodded.
“We’ll stay put,” I told her. I knew exactly what Maisie was up to. If we sat at the bar, she could pick the bartender’s brain. And that meant her mind wouldn’t be on Maxim or any of the other shit she’d gone through.
We ended up staying at the Boathouse until closing time, but the house where we were staying was within walking distance—if it wasn’t the middle of winter. So, in this case, it meant a quick drive. When we walked inside, there was a fire going and several of the lights were turned on.
“Caretaker lives over the garage,” Diesel explained.
I opened the fridge to put away our leftovers from dinner and saw it was well-stocked. “Looks like we’ve got the makings for breakfast.”
I looked over when Diesel didn’t answer and saw he was reading something on his phone.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Bryar is out of surgery, and her condition has been upgraded to stable.”
Bryar? Oh! Agent Davies. “That’s great news, man.”
“Onyx says we’re clear to return to the lake whenever we’re ready.”
While I might’ve suggested we stay on a couple of days so Maisie could see more of the area, I sensed Diesel might want to get back as soon as possible.
“We can skip breakfast if you want to get on the road earlier tomorrow.”
Diesel was still looking at his phone. “Nah, we can have breakfast.”
“I’m supposed to meet with Patricia tomorrow. I completely forgot,” said Maisie.
“I’m sure you could reschedule for later in the day or the following one. I can give her a call and leave a message.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“Calling? Of course not.”
I hung up after leaving the psychologist a voicemail telling her we needed to change the meeting time and saw Maisie yawn.
“You’re probably exhausted. Let’s find our room and call it a night.”
“Second door at the top of the stairs,” said Diesel, getting a beer out of the fridge.
“See ya in the morning.”
“Yep.”
“Is he okay?” Maisie asked once we were in the room.
“The FBI agent who has been working with us was one of the people shot earlier today. Diesel was her point person, so it probably jarred him.”
“It seems like more.”
I pulled her into my arms. “Tell me why.”
She shrugged. “He looked at his phone a lot during dinner. It seemed unusual.”
“I picked up on a little something when he told me she was out of surgery.” I wiggled my eyebrows, and Maisie smiled, but it faded quickly.
“Ranger, I’m not sure about…you know.”
I led her over to the bed, sat on the end, and pulled her onto my lap. “We are going to take this slow, Mrs. Messick.”
“But—”
I shook my head. “You are here with me. I get to hold you in my arms. Do you know how happy that makes me?”
Maisie wrapped her arms around my neck, and I could feel the dampness of her tears. “If it weren’t for you, I might’ve…”
“Shh. You’re here now. That’s all that matters.”
Maisie and I had spent several nights together, but even in the hospital bed, she hadn’t clung to me like she did last night. I didn’t mind. It seemed to help with the nightmares or, as either the doctor or Fasano—I couldn’t remember which—had said, they were happening less and less frequently as time went on.
“I’d like to come back to this area sometime,” Maisie said when we were getting in the SUV.
“I think that could be arranged.” I winked.
“You can sit in front with Diesel if you want. I’ll be okay.”
“Heck no! I’m the boss, remember? I’ve waited a long time to have someone chauffeur me around.”
Diesel laughed and shook his head. “You’re so full of crap.”
While I wished I could put it off, Maisie needed to know about the three other kidnappings that had taken place within the Adirondack Park and also that the women abducted were murdered. I’d planned to tell her once we returned to Canada Lake yesterday, but my gut was telling me I shouldn’t wait any longer. Who knew how long it might be before the media got a hold of the story, as well as Maisie’s. That is not how I wanted her to find out.