Page 57 of Only the Hunter

He swallows. “That’s why I agreed to meet with you.”

Finally, Evie nods. “Thank you.”

“That’s it?” he asks, startled.

“Do you have the address?”

“No.”

“Then that’s it. For now,” she says. “Thank you for coming here. You did the right thing.”

He stands, already backing away. “If anyone asks—you didn’t hear this from me.”

“We won’t mention your name,” she says.

He leaves without finishing his drink.

I signal the bartender and order wine. Something Swiss.

Evie exhales slowly. “That confirms it.”

“Yes,” I say. “We’ll get more tomorrow.”

The wine arrives, and she lifts her glass and takes a small sip. Her hand trembles just enough that I notice. “You okay?”

She nods. “I will be.”

“We’re going to find her.”

“You can’t promise that.”

“No,” I admit. “But I can promise to stay by your side.” Her expression softens—gratitude, maybe, or relief. She doesn’t say anything, but her hand moves across the table, just enough that her fingers brush mine. I don’t pull away. Neither does she.

We sit there a moment longer, the city murmuring outside the windows, the restaurant a hum within the walls.

“Tomorrow,” she says, setting the glass down, “we follow the money.”

I don’t correct her.

But it’s clear. We already are.

We’re sitting in one of the most expensive hotels in Geneva, drinking wine on a chilly, hazy afternoon, while somewhere in this city a woman is being kept quiet by people with enough power to make prosecutors back off and witnesses disappear. Evie knows it. I know it. And neither of us is walking away.

“Tomorrow,” she says again, softer this time.

Tomorrow, we find Lina.

Tonight, I keep Evie safe.

It’s not much of a plan. But it’s all we’ve got.

Chapter 14

Evie

In the morning, I wake with a start. Sunlight glimmers through the bottom of the bedroom door, and panic that I’ve horribly overslept has me throwing the covers back and flinging the door open.

I squint into the bright light. Yes, it’s a gray, January sky, but the contrast between the darkened bedroom and the bright living area is startling. The sofa bed is made, and a silver pot of coffee with dainty coffee cups awaits on the round dining table, along with three folded newspapers.