3

Jamie looked at her reflection in the mirror. Wearing too-tight jeans and a flimsy T-shirt, she felt as cheap as the hotel room she stood in. No more Jamie Jakowski. Instead, Lauren Robinson stared back at her.

Jamie didn’t know everything about Lauren, but it wasn’t necessary this time. Lauren would exist for a few short minutes, and here she had to look different from Jamie or any other character she might become during this job. She pinned her hair up and slipped on the black, long-haired wig.

Just in case the parents compared notes with anyone else, she didn’t want to be recognized. She made a face as she stared at the mirror.

Mmm. Not quite right. Lauren was a bit sexually provocative.

She slipped off the t-shirt, took off her bra, and then replaced the shirt. Looking in the mirror, she nodded with satisfaction. Now it was right. Too little clothes and too much make-up. The perfect combination.

Time to go to work.

Jamie left the hotel room and walked down the street to the bus stop. Since Lauren was only in town for a few days, she had no car. That meant the bus. At the bus stop, she stood with two other people, one a man.

He moved closer to her.

Jamie resisted the urge to elbow him but just barely. She prayed for the bus to get there soon. When the bus arrived, she waited for the man to get on and then picked a seat as far from him as she could get. Getting off the bus, she headed to the elder Zinkleman’s house.

As she neared the house, a man opened the door of a car near the curb and got out. “Hey, Jakowski. I wondered when you were going to show up here. Going for the easy, sleazy look, huh? You nailed it.”

She glared at Enrique Rodriquez. His dark brown eyes sparkled as he smiled with perfect teeth. He must bleach them every night. “What are you doing here?

“You didn’t think you could get rid of me that easily, did you? It was common sense you’d show up at the parents sooner or later.” He winked at her. “Almost didn’t recognize you.”

She couldn’t believe he actually did recognize her in this getup. “We are not working together.”

“Look, we can cooperate with each other, or I can drive you nuts by following you everywhere you go. Your choice.”

She put her hands on her hips. “What part of no don’t you understand?”

“Oh, I understand all of it. But I also like my job. And I always follow orders.” He grinned.

“Don’t I know it?”

Enrique’s cheeks turned a bit red, but he kept smiling. “Following you is my order. So like it or not we’re stuck together. Of course, I didn’t know you’d show up looking like this. It’s a good look for you. I’m quite enjoying it.”

She fought the urge to cross her arms over her chest and hissed through clenched teeth. “You can’t be here. Anybody could take one look and know you’re a cop. I can’t do my thing if they think I’m a cop.”

“But you’re not a cop.”

“Exactly.” She rolled her eyes. “Go away, please. The last thing I need is some cowboy riding in on his white horse to rescue me.”

“Don’t worry about that happening. I’m no cowboy. I’m a city boy. Horses and me don’t get along. I won’t be dashing in on the white horse to rescue you.” He stared and his voice was quiet when he said, “But seriously, I think that’s exactly what you need, Jakowski.”

Jamie ignored the flutter in her heart. “Don’t presume to know what I want or need, Ricky. I only have one chance to get the information. If you go with me, they won’t tell me a thing and you know it. Go away.”

“I don’t know what to tell you. I’ve been given an assignment, and I plan to do it.” He shrugged. “Whether you like it or not. Now, if I knew you’d keep me in the loop I could sit back in my car with the AC cranked up high while you went in there without me. Otherwise, I’m your shadow.” His deep chocolate-brown eyes twinkled. He was enjoying this.

“Fine.”

“What does fine mean, Jamie? Could you clarify that for me?”

“I’ll tell you what happened when I’m finished.”

He held up his hand as if giving an oath. “Promise?”

She rolled her eyes. “I promise.”

“And you wouldn’t lie to me, would you? Since you are a Christian.”

The nerve of him—to throw that in to the mix. “Don’t throw that Christianity stuff at me. I will not be manipulated by you because of my religion. I’m not one of those turn-the-other-cheek Christians.”

He rocked back on his heels with a shocked expression on his face. “Really? I didn’t know there was any other kind. Those are Jesus’s words, not mine.”

Shame burned. That hadn’t come out the way she’d meant it. “Never mind. I said I’d tell you and I will.”

He held out his hand. “Wanna shake on it?”

He obviously wasn’t the gullible rookie he’d been the last time they’d worked together. She smiled and stuck her hand in her jeans pocket.

“Guess not.” He put his hand down. “I don’t know why we can’t be friends, Jamie. What happened was a long time ago.”

“Not nearly long enough.”