Page 82 of Wait for Me

Catching Buchanan was the only way her family could be safe.

However, Marie had given her word to Logan and Jonas that she would be with them until Sunday before going back to work. The only way she could go with Esperanza once they dropped off the two of them was to get Mrs. Ping to fly home today as well.

I hate to spoil her garden walk with her new boyfriend.

“I thought you wanted to spend the weekend with your family,” Esperanza added.

“I’ll talk to Logan.”

Esperanza took a deep breath. “Let me handle Mr. B. If you get involved, your boss is going to ask questions.”

“Then I’ll quit and go with you.”

“You won’t have a job when you come back though.”

“I’ll find work. I’ll get a teaching certificate and teach foreign language at a school somewhere. Maybe even Jonas’s school.”

“You’ve thought about that, haven’t you?”

“I’ve thought about many things.”

Esperanza smiled. “Go get your family. I’ll wait in the vehicle.”

“Is it safe for you to sit out here?”

“Bulletproof.”

“Seriously? How did you get this SUV on the island?”

“Borrowed it from a friend in Vancouver. He ferried it over this morning. I need to return it by noon. He wants it bleached-cleaned. Can you believe it? Where does he think I’m going to find the time?”

It was ironic to Marie that Esperanza could say that even as her cargo pants still had streaks of blood on them.

Esperanza must have seen what she was staring at.

“It’s Zaid’s blood,” Esperanza assured her. “He’s healthy and has no diseases.”

“How did you—never mind. I don’t need to know.”

“You do know. All the photos and videos you sent from the cruise ship helped us to identify who they are, but not until last night.”

“That explained why you came to get us in person.”

“Well, I wanted to be sure your family is safe. If they’re safe, it will make it easier for me to offer you a job.”

“The same one you tried to offer me three years ago?” Marie asked.

“I’ve fired too many people since then,” Esperanza said. “That position now belongs to you, should you decide to take it.”

“Can I take a raincheck? I need more time to think about it. This has been an interesting week.”

“Sure thing. Fortunately, nothing happened to your family today. I pray that the outcome will be good for the royal family too.”

Marie nodded. “Let me run back to the ship to shower and change?”

“Meanwhile I’ll check how the car chase is going.” Esperanza was already on her phone. “Don’t take too long.”

“I won’t.” Marie walked back to the ship while texting Logan.

---