Page 2 of Wild Temple
"Perfect! I'll see what I can do. I'll be in touch shortly. Thank you, Tyson. I know how close you two are. She trusts you with her life. I can't think of a better person to look into this."
"I'm just glad you called."
Talia was about to disconnect when she said, "Oh, and one more thing.”
2
"Idon't need to tell you this," Talia said. "But she's already been missing a few days. In these scenarios, we typically have 48 to 72 hours to find a missing person. After that, it gets exponentially difficult. We’re already past that.”
"I'm aware," I replied.
"I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound negative. I'm just worried.”
"Me too.”
She ended the call, and I dialed Jack. He was seven hours ahead of Coconut Key time. I knew he'd still be up at this hour, but his state of mind might bequestionable.
He answered after a few rings. "What the hell are you doing? When are you coming back here?”
"I'm not. At least not right now.” I filled him in on the situation.
“Are you sure something’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure of anything.”
“Isabella knows how to take care of herself. Maybe she’s just taking a little me time,” he said, trying to be optimistic.
“No. Something’s wrong.”
It was a frightening thought. If someone could get to Isabella, they could get to anyone.
"I'll be there as soon as I can," Jack replied.
There was no way JD would let me handle this alone. The guy was solid as a rock. Ride or die.
I told him I was catching a plane to Tanjung Sur in an hour.
“I'll meet you there,” he replied. “But I might be a little behind you.”
“No worries.”
I told him I’d be in touch, then ended the call and started packing.
We’d be flying solo on this mission. Talia would provide a little support, but she didn't have access to the resources that Isabella had. I didn't know if she could coordinate local assets, supply weapons, and provide fake IDs.
I had an old contact in Tanjung Sur. But I hadn’t talked to him in years. We served together in the Navy and those ties ran deep. Hell, I didn't know if he was still in the area—or if he was still even alive. Rex was an adrenaline junkie, just like the rest of us. That’s an addiction that can often lead to life-threatening situations.
I didn't have a current phone number for him. Last I heard, he was running a bar in Jatala. A quick online search and Ifound the place. There was even a phone number on the contact page.
I thought about calling but then thought better of it.
This might be a situation where showing up out of the blue was the best option. We hadn’t always seen eye to eye. But if there was anybody in Tanjung Sur who could get weapons and intel, it would be Rex.
My next call was to Teagan. I needed somebody to take care of Buddy and Fluffy while I was gone. She loved the animals, and I knew it wouldn't be an imposition.
I grabbed Buddy’s leash and Fluffy’s travel case and loaded the little furballs up. Teagan was working the bar at Diver Down. She was not displeased to see her new roommates when I brought them in.
“Where are you off to this time?” she asked, then sassed, “Or is that classified?”
