Page 183 of Hidden Tide
“I never wanted anyone hurt.”
“You broke into Ivy’s studio,” Storm says.
“Simon had Peter. He told me where to find the camera and said Peter would die if I didn’t remove it.”
“The camera was already gone,” Ivy replies. “You stole a replica.”
Elliot looks confused.
“I didn’t know it was fake.”
“Who replaced it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did Simon order you to go to the roof?”
“No. I heard the police and panicked.”
Marquez looks toward Ben.
Simon expected Elliot to be caught, but not necessarily on the roof.
“He was cleaning up his operation,” I say. “He took Peter so Elliot would enter the studio. Then he had Elliot taken before the police could question him.”
“Why rescue him if Simon wanted him dead?” Hazel asks.
“He didn’t rescue him,” Ben says.
Elliot’s face drains of color.
The vehicle around him suddenly feels less like safety and more like the place where he nearly died.
“Simon’s men were taking me to the warehouse to kill me.”
“And Peter,” Ivy says.
Elliot nods.
The fishing boat wasn’t transporting them somewhere else.
It was taking their bodies into the bay.
Ben’s voice softens.
“You and Peter are safe now.”
“You don’t understand Simon.”
“I understand him better than he thinks.”
Ben looks toward Scott.
“Stay with Elliot. Don’t let anyone transfer him without Marquez’s personal authorization.”
Scott nods. “I’ve got him.”
Ben, Mark, John and Piers continue toward Blue Lantern.
