Page 85 of The Viper
Noah frowned. "What do you mean?"
"When I’m on an impossible mission," I said, the words coming faster now, "and I can’t figure something out, I'd go back to the beginning. Retrace the steps. Find the first domino."
Noah's frown deepened. "Okay, but what's the beginning here?"
"When I first got to Charleston," I said. "When I first met Lexi."
His eyes widened slightly. "Pelicangate."
"Exactly," I said, feeling the pieces click into place. "The bar. The Navy aviator. The guy who tried to drug her."
Noah's expression shifted, understanding dawning. "You think he's connected?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "But it's the first thread. The first time someone made a move on Lexi. And we never followed up on it because the guy disappeared before the cops could grab him. You think the mayor can help track him down?"
"Between her contacts and Dominion Hall's resources?" he said. "Yeah, I think it's possible. If we can find him, maybe we can get answers. Figure out if he was working alone or if someone sent him."
"Okay," I said. "And I'll call Ethan. Give him a little earful about keeping his dating life secret."
Noah smirked. "He's going to love that."
"He'll get over it." I paused, then added, "We should include Lexi, too."
Noah looked up from his phone, surprised. "Why?"
"Because she's in the middle of everything," I said. "She was there that night. She might remember something we don't. And who knows—maybe a little star power can help grease the wheels."
Noah considered it, then nodded. "All right. But we keep her close. If these guys are escalating, I don't want her exposed."
"Agreed."
We headed back outside, the team already regrouping by the SUVs. The sun was starting to rise now, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. It should've been beautiful. Instead, it felt like a countdown.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Ethan. It rang twice before he picked up, his voice calm but probing. "Lucas?"
"We need to talk."
There was a pause, then a sigh. "About what?"
"About the fact that you're dating the mayor of Charleston and didn't think to mention it."
Another pause, longer this time. Then, "Noah told you."
"Yeah, Noah told me," I said, my tone sharper than I meant. "What the hell, Ethan? You couldn't have mentioned that when you were dropping bombshells about Dad?"
"It didn't seem relevant," he said, his voice defensive now.
"Not relevant?" I let out a harsh laugh. "We're dealing with threats, surveillance, people breaking into houses, and you didn't think it was worth mentioning that you're dating someone with access to city resources?"
"I didn't want to complicate things," Ethan said quietly. "Natalie's got her own life, her own responsibilities. I didn't want to drag her into our mess."
"Well, she's in it now," I said. "We need her help. And we need you to set up a meeting."
There was a long silence. Then Ethan said, "What kind of help?"
"The kind that involves tracking down a Navy aviator who tried to drug Lexi Montgomery at a bar the night I got to town. Think you can make that happen?"
Another pause. "Yeah. I can make it happen."
