Page 102 of Emergency Exit
“My priority is Harper. I want her back, and I want her safe. You were already on the case. It seemed like our goals aligned.”
Detective Caine nodded. “Mm-hmm. Very efficient,” she said.
“Ma’am, I’m not trying to be a problem,” said Ash, hoping the contriteness would buy him some goodwill.”
“I’m getting that, actually. You just can’t help yourselves.”
“Not really? Well, Rowan and Forest usually can. They’re usually very normal and polite, I promise.”
This time, Detective Caine really did laugh. “And you’re therebel?”
“Well, I try very hard not to be.”
“Thanks for the effort. OK, we’re going to have eyes on you at all times. Give him whatever he wants, but try to hold off until we have Ms. Smoak back on dry land.”
Ash nodded.
“Whatever happens, they won’t be getting off the property. We’ll have the parking garage locked down and plainclothes officers in the plaza.”
“Got it,” said Ash.
She checked her watch. “They should be arriving shortly. Remember, just because you can’t see us doesn’t mean we can’t see you. Just stay calm.”
Ash wanted to point out that he was fine, but nothing sounded more aggro than yelling that he was cool.
“Ah,” he said. “That’s why women hate that.”
“What?”
“Women don’t like being told to calm down,” said Ash. “I just realized it’s because the person who has to say they’re calm always sounds like a liar.”
“So you’re calm, is what you’re saying?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Right. Just wait here. Officer Sanchez is playing Marty, and he’ll show them in.”
Ash took a glance at the arguing knot of officers. It was possible that Officer Sanchez had won—he couldn’t tell. The cops began to disappear, scurrying away, and Ash felt an undercurrent of nerves as the space emptied.
He glanced at his watch. The minutes ticked up to the meeting time and then a minute past. Then, another minute.
Then his phone rang.
“You’re late,” said Ash, picking up.
“We’re on the pier,” said Mason. “Come out and meet us.”
“On the pier? When did you get here?”
“Right now. It’s a pier. You just need a boat.”
“Right,” said Ash, realizing that the cops in the parking garage weren’t going to do a damn bit of good.
He hung up and then began to head for the wide exit to the exterior pier. On the second story mezzanine, he saw Detective Caine glaring down at him. He gave a shrug and kept walking.
Outside, rain was spitting down in intermittent, hard, stinging drops that matched his mood but didn’t improve the situation. The pier was concrete and built for the tall cruise liners, but a metal floating dock at the end allowed access for normal-sized boats.
Dressed in a North Face windbreaker, Mason waited for him at the top of the gangplank. Ash could see a speedboat with two men in it down in the water.
