When Jake finally reached him, they exchanged a few words, too quiet for Claire to hear. She held her breath, her fingers gripping the strap of the bag tightly.
And then, to her surprise, Jake nodded. He gestured for the man to follow him, and they both walked toward the cottage.
Claire's pulse quickened as they approached. She could see the look on Jake's face now—calm, but cautious.
"This is Adam," Jake said when they reached her. "He's... an old friend."
Claire blinked in surprise. "A friend?"
Adam smiled faintly, though there was something unsettling about it. "We go way back," he said, his voice smooth. "Jake and I used to run in the same circles."
Claire glanced at Jake, confusion swirling in her mind. Jake had never mentioned anyone named Adam before. But the look on his face told her that this wasn't the time to ask questions.
"Adam's passing through town," Jake explained. "He's staying for a night or two."
