Redemption (9 page)

“So you did. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.”

“Then why were you in my closet?”

“I was waiting for you, but I didn't want to blow your cover if he came into the room with you so I hid.”

Her eyes turned to slits, her voice angry. “Why would I invite him in?”

“I don't know. I just wasn't sure what was going on. Besides, I wanted to be here in case he wouldn't take no for an answer. After all, nice or not, he's a man. And believe me, I know what men are like.”

Her gaze moved up and down him as if assessing his truthfulness. “Hmm. Likely story.”

“It's true. I was worried. There was no way I could go back to my clean, beautiful-smelling hotel room until I knew you were back in this pathetic, smelly place, safe and sound.”

“It does smell. I can't argue that.”

“So, did you find out anything?”

“Not really.”

Not really. Interesting answer. That was not a definite no. “Too bad. I guess that means another night in this stinky room.”

“I guess so.”

He'd give her another chance to come clean. “So, did you find out anything at all that might be helpful?”

“Not really.”

Mmm. There was that phrase again.

“Actually, there was one thing,” She sighed. “He did mention he had a friend whom he'd gotten involved in a bad situation. I think he meant Michael. So you might want to check out Ryan and see what he's into these days. It might lead to something nobody knows about. As far as I can remember his name wasn't in any of the reports I read about Michael.”

“He admitted that to you?”

“Sure, why not? I'm not a cop. I'm just a chick he wants to sleep with.”

“Kinda crass, don't you think?”

“Well, it actually was sweeter than that, but still...anyway, checking into Ryan might lead back to something they missed in the original investigation.”

“We know he was busted for drugs. Maybe he got Michael involved in them, as well. It's hard for some people to resist the easy money of selling drugs. Thanks, I'll check into it.” He stood up to leave. “By the way, why did you come into the room, and then leave again?”

“I gave him the Bible that was in the room. I'm sure the Gideons wouldn't mind. That's why they put them in there.”

“A Bible?”

“God came up in our conversation today and I…I wanted him to have a Bible. You know, so he could read about…God.”

“Wow, I wasn't expecting that. A Bible? You really do believe in second chances.”

She nodded.

“Only you would give your mark a Bible. Well, when will you see him again?”

“I'm not sure. He probably wants to wait until my sunburn gets better.”

“And when will that be?”

“Oh, my sunburns have been known to last for weeks.”

 

****

 

Jamie closed the door.

Enrique hadn't wanted to leave until he was sure Ryan was truly gone.

She'd voiced the idea to walk to the ice machine to make sure Ryan wasn't lurking around. He wasn't. And now she was alone.

Finally.

Jamie knew she should have shared the phone number with Enrique. If the number did belong to Zink's ex-husband, then she wanted to find the location and get there without any complications.

Without Enrique. In the meantime, he could do more checking into Ryan and his friends. It actually could produce a lead.

Guilt pricked her conscience. It's not as if she'd actually agreed to work with Enrique every step of the way. Being undercover was difficult enough, but trying to stay undercover and stay in contact with other people was almost impossible and dangerous. The more people involved the more problems arose.

Enrique had the impression that she'd agreed to a complete partnership. The only thing she'd agreed to was giving him the information she discovered at Michael's parents' home. Enrique might be a good agent, but he'd almost messed up her chances here.

And then there was the emotional situation. It was obvious she wasn't quite as over him as she'd believed.
Stop over-thinking, Jamie. Stay focused. Finding Andrew is the only important thing.
Her broken heart was irrelevant.

Hopefully, this would be her last hour in this room. She went to get her luggage out of the closet. She'd be long gone before Enrique had an inkling that she'd moved on to stage two of her investigation—without him.

 

****

 

Jamie walked down the aisle of the airplane looking for her seat number. She slid in, grateful to find the other seats in the row empty. If she was lucky, it would stay that way and she could sleep all the way to Wyoming.

That was the area code of the number on Ryan's phone. She wasn't quite sure what part of the state since it covered a large area, but she could work on that later. For now, she'd decided to fly into Cheyenne. And for the next few hours she could relax. No complications from Enrique. Of course, it was nice to have someone worrying about her. Someone to have her back. Making sure she was all right. Or it would be, if the person wasn't Enrique.

To be fair, he'd been sweet to her and even proven to be capable as a partner. She sighed. Why was she even thinking about Enrique? She checked her watch. Why hadn't they left? The plane was scheduled for takeoff ten minutes ago.

“Hi.” Enrique grinned down at her. “I guess you were going to call me in the morning to tell me where you went. You must have wanted me to get my beauty sleep. You are just too nice to me, Jakowski.” He slid a bag in the overhead bin, and then sat down in the aisle seat, leaving a space between them. “It was so thoughtful of you.”

“What are you doing here?” Her voice actually squeaked in shock.

“I could probably ask you the same question. You should be more careful about checking for tails when you're working.”

“I wasn't driving. And the taxi driver was about eighty years old.” She tapped a finger on her watch. “I'm guessing you're the reason the plane is running late.”

“Being an FBI agent does have its perks.”

“I cannot believe you followed me,” she hissed through clenched teeth.

“And I cannot believe you didn't share your information with me. That's not very nice. Especially after we had an agreement.”

“That's not true. I only agreed to give you the information I got from the Zinklemans. I never said we were partners.”

“I suppose that's technically true, but still...”

“How did you know?”

“There was a definite twinkle in your eye in the motel room. Can't hide that twinkle, Jamie.”

“I suppose not.” She laid her head back against the seat. “I am definitely losing my mojo if you were able to figure that out from a twinkle in my eye.”

“Not really. I'm just that good.”

“If you say so. I'm sleeping now, so don't bother me.” She arranged a pillow against the window.

Enrique had followed her. He might have changed, but not enough. Enrique wanted to advance in the Bureau, and the only way to do that was to follow the rules. Rules worked, but not necessarily for undercover operations. And he would choose the rules over what was right.

He'd managed to ruin the first and last undercover operation they'd worked together. They'd only known each other for a few months back then. Posing as brother and sister the two of them had infiltrated a drug and gun running operation.

To stay alive she'd slept with the leader. When she'd found God, past sins weighed on her heart until she'd asked for forgiveness. But she still had regrets about her past.

Due to his own jealousy, Enrique went over her head and called in reinforcements without her knowledge. She was caught in the crossfire and held hostage for two days while the leader negotiated with the FBI. In the end, the leader had gone free and Enrique had broken her heart.

Enrique tapped her shoulder. “What did you do about Ryan? Or did you do nothing?”

“I told him I had an emergency. My mom was wiring money to come back home.”

“How'd he take the news?”

“Just the way you'd think. He wasn't very happy.”

“I'm sure he wasn't.”

“Now let me sleep.” She rattled off a number. “Make yourself useful and see if you can find out whose phone number it is. I used the area code to book my flight, but maybe you can narrow down the area or even get the name. Figured I'd get myself in the general location and then go from there.”

“Yes, ma'am.” He saluted her. “Sweet dreams.”

 

 

 

 

18

 

Jamie was surprised at how well she'd slept, considering she was half-laying, half-sitting against the plane's window. She twisted slightly to release an ache in her back.

People lined up waiting to get off the airplane.

“Good morning, sunshine.” Enrique stood above her, all smiles.

“There is nothing good about it. My neck hurts, and I have a pain in my...never mind.” Jamie stretched one way and then the other.

“I can see you aren't a morning person.”

“I am a wonderful morning person. Just not after a three hour flight in the middle of the night. Were you going to let the whole plane empty before you woke me up?”

“Actually, I hadn't planned on waking you up at all. It was to be your punishment for not telling me you were leaving.”

“Nice.” Sarcasm colored her tone.

He stood and opened the bin above her. “Is this yours?”

“It is. I can get it myself.”

“I'm sure you can.” He pulled the luggage out and set it down. After retrieving his own bag, he walked down the aisle not waiting for her.

“Hey, Ricky. How do you happen to have your luggage with you? You certainly didn't have time to go back to the motel and get it.”

“Very observant, Jakowski. I always put my luggage in my car when I leave my motel room. Experience taught me that I never know where I might end up at the end of the day. I got tired of buying new clothes.” He stopped and turned back. “By the way, I got the information on that phone number like you asked.” He started whistling as he sauntered away.

The man was insufferable. Why had she ever thought she was attracted to him? Of course, she'd been younger—and more stupid. Maybe he hadn't been so arrogant back then.

Jamie pulled her luggage forward. Not fully awake she stumbled her way down the aisle. When she got close enough she poked him in the back. “What did you find out?”

He turned with a smirk. “Tell you over breakfast. And you're paying.”

 

****

 

“I'm starving,” Jamie said.” Let's eat here in the airport.”

“Fine.” Enrique decided to be agreeable.

They ordered and found a place to sit.

“Like a little waffle with your syrup?” Enrique asked as he dipped a bite of pancake in the circle of syrup on his plate.

She shrugged as she doused more syrup on her butter-laden pancakes. “What can I say? I have a sweet tooth.”

He wouldn't know it to look at her. Jamie was in her thirties, but he'd put her up against any of the twenty-something agents he'd worked with.

“I can't believe that's all the information you got.” She pierced a bite of pancake and swirled it on her plate. “Just a general location. No name. No address. I could have done that much myself.”

“Not true.” He swallowed his bite. “Jackson Hole is much more specific than the area code. We would have needed a lot more to get a warrant allowing us to find out the name. Besides, I couldn't ask you anything because you seemed as if you needed the sleep.”

“That motel room didn't allow for quality sleep. Not to mention the sunburn and spending the day at the zoo.”

He grinned at her over his coffee cup. “Admit it. It felt good to know someone had your back for a few moments so you could relax.”

She stared at him. “Maybe.”

He set the coffee cup down and folded his hands. “So, I guess Jackson Hole is next on the agenda.”

“We can't travel together.”

“You aren't getting rid of me, Jakowski. Haven't you figured that out yet? We're a team whether you like it or not.”

“I get it. And to tell the truth the idea of a partner is growing on me.” She smiled. “You've actually been useful except for the bar incident.”

Enrique stared at her, surprised she'd relented so quickly. “Really?”

“Really. I felt bad last night when I didn't tell you what my plans were. But I did give you a lead to check into about Ryan, so I thought you could check that out while I checked out the phone number.”

“I suppose. And I'm having someone do that even as we speak.”

“Good. Ryan knows a lot more than he was willing to tell me. He was definitely involved with Mike Zinkleman in some way.”

“What are you saying, Jakowski? That he was immune to your feminine wiles?”

“Don't worry about my feminine wiles, Ricky. They are working just fine.”

“Oh, I can see that, Jakowski, but you should know I am immune to them just like Mr. Mattson. So if this supposed truce is another trick it's not going to work.”

“No trick. I'm giving up trying to get rid of you. But you know as well as I do that we can't be seen together. There is no such thing as part-time undercover. You go under and you stay under. Breaking character can get you killed.”

“I've worked undercover before. I know the rules.”

Ignoring him, she continued. “It's never safe to break from the character. You never know who will see you at any given time. Even now we shouldn't be eating together.” She took a last bite of her pancake and reached for the icy, cold milk. “But I was hungry.”