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It surprises him.

For most of my life, I have carried guilt as though I could prevent every bad thing by taking responsibility for it first.

Dad.

Grandpa.

Mom’s grief.

My sisters’ safety.

But Naomi’s kidnapping is Simon’s fault.

What happens next will be his fault too.

That doesn’t mean I can do nothing.

“I’m not offering myself because I feel guilty,” I tell Ben. “I’m offering him the one thing that may bring him close enough to make a mistake.”

Ben rubs a hand across his jaw.

Scott steps into view beside him.

“She has a point.”

Ben turns on him. “Choose your next words carefully.”

“I’m only saying Simon expects us to refuse. That makes the offer believable.”

“I don’t like you right now.”

“I’m comfortable with that.”

Marquez moves toward the navigation map.

“If we make the offer, we control the meeting location.”

“Simon will try to change it,” Keating says.

“Then we make the location part of the bargain.”

Storm points toward the channel ahead of the Argent Star.

“There’s a narrow section between two islands. Simon will have to slow down to enter it.”

Keating studies the depth markers.

“He can’t take that ship through the eastern side. The water is too shallow.”

“He has to pass the old ferry landing,” Thomas says.

A concrete dock extends from the western island.

It is abandoned but still stable enough for a small boat.

“We tell Simon Calle will wait there with the compass,” Marquez says.

“No armed escort visible. A helicopter drops the decoy compass to her before leaving.”