Page 58 of Island Rescuer

Still Knox was unsettled.

According to her schedule, Harper had another thirty minutes in the conference room. He thought about interrupting her, but called Jenna instead. “Hey, are you on top of this emergency call near the Ellington downtown?”

“Yes,” she replied immediately. “No vehicles involved. Sounds small. Like maybe someone threw away a lit cigarette or deliberately set a trash can on fire.”

“I don’t like that.”

“I knew you wouldn’t. I’m already scouring all available surveillance video in and around the garage.”

“Any sign of our guy?”

“Not yet.” She cleared her throat. “I know it’s pointless to tell you this could be unrelated.”

“Yup. While you’re looking things up, why don’t you check and see the last time there was a similar incident nearby.”

“I’m sure it happens,” Jenna said. “The Ellington isn’t the only business with contracted space in that garage.”

“Run it anyway.”

“On it.”

He had a clear target. If he could nab Walker, Harper could resume her normal life. “We’ve gotta get this guy,” he said, mostly to himself.

“I’m aware,” she said.

He wasn’t implying any fault. “Jenna?—”

“Hold on.”

He held back the torrent of questions while listening to her fingertips flying over a keyboard.

“Got him.”

On reflex, Knox started moving toward the parking garage before he caught himself. He couldn’t leave Harper alone. “Call hotel security and get somebody up here to cover Harper.” He couldn’t let an opportunity to drop a net on Walker slip through his fingers.

“No, no. Past tense,” she clarified. “He was a block away before the fire started.”

“How long before?” Had they finally caught him in the act? He waited through more tapping.

“Two minutes,” Jenna said. “I have him in front of a store on King Street when the security guard calls the fire department.”

Walker had timed it well, letting himself get caught on a street camera to have a tentative alibi. Trouble was the store was only a block away. “Where is he now?”

“No idea,” Jenna admitted. “He goes into a shop.” Knox waited through her long pause. “Never comes out. At least not yet.”

“Do me a favor, call the police and report it.”

“Sure thing. Be safe,” she said, ending the call.

Knox wanted a location on Walker, ASAP. The jerk was playing games now, but Harper would not be his prize.

He wished Bruce was on site. Maybe with that kind of backup he could convince Harper to stay put while he investigated. Not an option right now. His primary assignment was to stick close to her, so that’s what he would do.

He kept the radio on, only turning it off when the door opened and the people she’d been meeting with filed out. Still tense, he walked inside and caught her smiling. Her eyes were glowing. “Guess I don’t need to ask how it went,” he said.

She dropped her gaze to the stylish tote that served as her briefcase. “What do you mean?”

“Come on.” He leaned against the edge of the glossy table. “It’s all over your face that you won.”

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