Page 57 of Sunburned

Outside, the night was quiet after the booming bass, and I immediately felt less dizzy with the breeze off the water cooling my skin, though no less stupid for allowing myself to get swept away tonight.

I followed the sidewalk along the harbor to the line of taxis waiting in the street and climbed into the first available cab. “Le Rêve,” I told the driver.

“One hundred euro,” the man said.

“Seriously?” I asked, taken aback. “It’s five minutes away.”

“Is going rate,” the man said. “All driver tell you same.”

I was too tired to argue. “Okay,” I said, resigned.

There was a tap on the partially open window, and I looked over to see Cody outside. “Can I join?”

I nodded, relieved I wouldn’t have to foot the exorbitant bill for the taxi, and he opened the door and slid in next to me. “Where’s Jennifer?” I asked.

“She left with Allison an hour ago.”

I tilted my face toward the air rushing through my window as we turned up the hill that led out of town.

“Did my brother scare you off?” Cody asked.

I nodded. “What happened to him?”

“I think you know what happened to him,” he said meaningfully.

“But you went through worse and you’re not a dick.”

He rested his head against the cracked pleather seatback. “I don’t have the emptiness inside that he does.”

“How do you stand him, day in and day out?”

“I didn’t have a choice at first. Not a lot of companies hire felons for high-level jobs. Now…I guess I feel a responsibility to the company. And there’s an element of timing involved if I want to exit.”

I looked over at him. “I’m so sorry, Cody.”

“Don’t be.”

“I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll never forgive myself for what you went through because of me.”

“No,” he said. “Don’t do that. You were careful, you would never have been caught. It was Ian’s fault. He was the one that turned mein.”

I lowered my voice. “You heard about his foot?”

He nodded, eyeing me. “I thought it was awfully coincidental Tyson invited you down right after it washed up.”

“Did he tell you why he invited me down?” I asked.

“He wouldn’t talk about it.”

I took a breath. I knew I was playing with fire by telling him, but it was time I made sure Cody was on my side. “Someone sent him the newspaper article about it,” I whispered. “He wanted me to find out who.”

He furrowed his brow. “And he didn’t think this should involve me, too?”

“He wasn’t sure it wasn’t you.”

“Why the hell would I—”

“I know. He accused me of it as well, if it makes you feel any better. And I think you deserve to know what’s going on. Whoever it is, they’re now demanding half a million to show their hand.”

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