“We don’t know her story about the beating was a lie,” Luke says.

“So we know she was beaten up?” Cole asks.

“Or Jordy threw her face-first into a tree by the scruff of her damn neck. Knuckle patterns aren’t the point, and you know it.”

“No, the point is, Charley needs to be resting and recovering, and instead you’ve got her all caught up in amateur detective hour.”

As soon as Luke’s mouth opens, Charley cuts him off. “They’re screen caps because she was afraid and didn’t have experience with what she was doing. She just grabbed what she could off his computer and ran.”

“Screen captures can be altered,” Cole answers.

“OK. So we can’t trust her because she’s not CIA, but now she’s able to alter screen caps?” Charley asks.

Her question hangs over them for a few seconds, during which Cole sets the laptop on the bench next to him and folds his hands over his lap. “I am recommending patience and deliberation. That’s all. Due process. Remember it? It’s something we used to have before social media.”

“Due process, huh?” Luke asks. “Awesome. So you’re taking this right to the feds?”

“I don’t want any of you starting forest fires because of the crazy ramblings of a young woman who lies, abuses drugs, and drops something like this in your lap and then runs for the hills. This flash drive is . . . is a jumble of I don’t know. Take away your interpretation and it’s nothing.”

“Fine,” Luke says, “let’s find her and talk to her.”

“Perhaps I will,” Cole says with a smile. “I’ve already started looking for her.”

Marty and Luke look as surprised by this news as Charley feels.

“All right,” Luke says. “Good, I guess.”

“You guess? I thought that’s what you wanted.”

“Well, it’s part of it,” Luke says.

“Part of it?” Cole asks.

“I’d like to interview her myself, but something about your tone tells me that’s not going to happen. What with your concern for due process and all.”

“I’m sorry, Luke, but if this is really what you describe, how long do you think the Altamira Sheriff’s Department is going to be able to handle it on its own?”

“Well, at least we’d end up contacting the right people. That’s probably why she came to us in the first place. But you, on the other hand, you’ll probably just . . .”

Luke falls abruptly silent.

Cole raises his eyebrows and smiles. “I’d just what?” he asks.

“I don’t know. Throw them all in a cell in some lab somewhere.”

“Right. Just like I did Charley when I found out she was the only person in whom Zypraxon actually worked. Could you maybe give me a little more credit here?”

Marty says, “You could stop talking to us like we’re nine and see how that goes? Just a thought.”

“Ah,” Cole says, “Marty and his thoughts. Look, I realize this is a highly unusual arrangement, and that it’s also new, which means we’re sort of figuring things out as we go. So allow me to say, quite clearly, good job! This was the perfect way to handle this.”

“I’m sorry . . . what?” Charley asks.

“Bringing this to me like this.”

“We didn’t bring this to you,” she says. “You eavesdropped on our conversation and made us bring it to you.”

“Either way, the end result’s the same.”

“How’s that?” she asks.

The only things she can see in his glasses are her own reflection, the blue sky overhead, and some of the expanse of glittering black water behind her. But she’s pretty sure he’s staring right into her eyes.

“I’ll handle it,” Cole says. “You don’t need to worry about it anymore.” Only then does she realize he’s got the flash drive in his right hand. When he notices her looking at it, he closes his fist around it. “I want you to get some rest and find some pleasant, quiet ways to occupy your time. Do you have any hobbies? Sketching? Knitting? Kickboxing? You know, when you can’t accidentally kick someone’s head off, I mean.”

Charley just glares at him.

“There she is,” Cole says with a smile, “there’s the Charlotte Rowe I know and love. OK. Everyone. Good talk! I’ll be in touch.”

When Cole stands and starts back up the dock, Charley feels the men on either side of her go tight as guitar strings. She doesn’t blame them. The sudden tension in her own chest feels like it’s headed for her throat.

“That’s it?” Marty calls out.

It’s enough to stop Cole in his tracks.

“You’re just going to leave him like that?”

“Leave who like what?”

“Luke,” Marty says. “Exposed.”

“Exposed?”

“Henricks is working for these people, and Lacey’s missing. Where do you think that leaves him if they ever figure out Lacey left a gift behind at the station?”

Cole turns to face them, but he doesn’t move to close the distance. “You all are safer here than you know. Safer than most people are . . . well, anywhere. I know it sounds cold, but Charley is very valuable to me. And I protect what’s valuable to me.”