6

 

Jamie walked out of the Zinkleman house. She wrinkled her nose. She reeked of cigarettes, but the feeling of dirtiness wasn’t from the foul odor. It came from dealing with Michael’s father. What a slimeball. Sold out his son for five thousand, and then had the nerve to try to double it.

Jamie hadn’t even bothered to take the pictures of them. And they hadn’t reminded her either.

It had been a business transaction pure and simple. With a father like that, it wasn’t surprising Michael hadn’t turned out to be the man Zink thought him to be.

The mother was a different story. His mother had sat there rocking and wiping away the tears.

Jamie’s heart broke for her.

Mrs. Zinkleman had not had an easy life.

Maybe, she should have agreed to the extra money to find out where Ryan Mattson was. But she didn’t like Mr. Zinkleman, and she didn’t want to give him another penny of her money. Thanks to her past investments she had plenty. And it pleased her to use some of it to find Andrew Zinkleman. Jamie turned the corner.

Enrique opened his car door and stepped out.

For a second Jamie was surprised to see him there. She’d forgotten he was waiting. Or that he’d been listening to the whole encounter at the house.

“Hey, Jamie. Good job. You did in ten minutes what other agents couldn’t do in two years.”

“I suppose, but it’s only a lead. There’s no guarantee this guy has any idea where Michael is.”

“That’s true, but at least it’s a start. Let me give you a ride back to your hotel room.”

“I’ll take the bus.”

“Don’t be silly. You got the name so your job here is finished. And it’s not like they even believed your cover story—at least, not by the end. There’s no reason to take the bus. I can drive you back. And like it or not we’re working together.”

“That is not what we are doing. I told you I’d give you the information I discovered at the Zinklemans’ and I did. I never said we were partners for this whole operation. I kept my word and now we’re done.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but apparently changed his mind. He opened the passenger side of his car and motioned for her to get in. He turned serious. “Look, Jamie. The past is the past. I want to find Andrew Zinkleman as much as you do. This isn’t about us. It’s about bringing a little boy back home to his mother and putting away a bad guy. Together we can do it. I know it.”

Jamie felt the heat rising in her cheeks as memories rushed in—why did she have to be a blusher? She met his gaze straight on. “There is no us.” Keeping her spine straight, she walked past him and towards the bus stop.

Back in her hotel room, Jamie pulled off the wig, changed into more suitable clothes, and then sat at the cheap pressed-wood desk. After she turned on her laptop, she walked over to the heating/AC unit attached to the wall under the window. It was turned all the way up. The room was hotter than outside.

Jamie swore she could smell the unseen mold and mildew in the room. Maybe, she’d go to a different motel for the night before she started phase two. A clean one with real air conditioning and fresh sheets. She plopped on the end of the bed and stared at the laptop’s screen. As she waited for it to connect to the Internet guilt nibbled at her for being so childish. She was letting her past—and Enrique’s—interfere with the present.

Enrique had access to all sorts of information she couldn’t get to any longer now that she’d severed her ties to the FBI. Of course, she could call Marcus. He would probably eventually give her the information, but Enrique would have instant access.

She sighed.

Time to put aside her hurt feelings or whatever they were and stay focused on Andrew Zinkleman. Finding Zink’s son was more important.

And like Enrique said, the past was the past.

Besides, a good-looking guy like him would have moved on. By now he certainly had a girlfriend, if not a fiancée, somewhere.

If he could act like a professional then so could she. She picked up her purse. Putting her mouth close to the microphone she whispered, “OK, Ricky, you win. I’m at the Shady Rest on High Street. Room 114.”

 

****

 

Enrique smiled as he heard Jamie’s whispered words. He pretended he didn’t like her calling him Ricky, but the truth was he didn’t mind it at all. It reminded him of better times with her.

He was already parked in the Shady Rest’s parking lot. Putting the car in gear, he coasted towards the side of the building where Jamie’s room was located. He’d known Jamie would reconsider. That was one of her most awesome qualities. She thought things through even when she was angry and worked out the best path.

He didn’t blame her for not wanting to work with him. The last time had been a fiasco—both professionally and personally. But thankfully, he’d changed since then. He’d grown as an FBI agent, a person, but more importantly, he’d returned to his Christian roots. He was a different man. If only he could show her just how much he’d changed. Before, Jamie would have never called him—never given him a second chance. If she was giving him a second chance professionally, she might be willing to do the same personally.

He prayed she would. He’d fallen hard for Jamie but he’d blown it. And time had not healed his heart. He’d called in every favor to get assigned with her again. With God’s help, he and Jamie would bring Andrew Zinkleman back to his mother. And maybe he could heal his broken heart and be with the woman he loved. Enrique turned off the car and stepped out into the brutal heat. A moment later, he knocked on the door of 114.

“That was certainly quick.” Jamie gave him a suspicious look as she opened the door.

“I followed the bus and you.” He shrugged. “Just doing my job, ma’am.”

“I should have known.”

“Why are you staying in a dump like this?”

“Well, I could say because I’m paying for it with my own money, but the truth is when I play a character, I play it all the way.”

“Oh, a method actor. I see.”

“I suppose you could call me that.”

“Well, you got what you needed at the Zinklemans’, so can we move to a slightly nicer hotel? Or are you going back to Suzanne’s?”

“We are not moving anywhere together. And no, I’m not going back to Zink’s. She’s out of the loop for now. I can’t have her interfering with my investigation. She’s too emotionally involved. If I need her I’ll call.”

“That makes sense. Speaking of emotionally involved maybe we should clear the air.”

“Not going to happen.”

“Jamie, we need to—”

“We need to what, Ricky? Talk it out. Have a heart-to-heart? Lay our souls bare? I don’t think so. You made it very clear to me the last time what you thought of me.”

He hadn’t meant the words yelled out in anger. “Jamie, I didn’t mean—.”

“Why not? They were true. You were right. What I did was disgusting—I agree with you.”

“Well, I don’t agree with you. You are an amazing and brave woman whom I admire more than you can imagine.”

Her eyes grew wide and tiny diamonds glistened in them. For a moment he thought she was ready to listen, but the moment dissolved as she turned. He touched her shoulder.

She shrugged his hand away, and then whirled back. “There is nothing to discuss. I’m a professional and so are you. Let’s work this case so we can both get back to our own lives. Our separate lives.”

It was true; words could never be taken back. But it was not the time to argue. It was early in the game.

At least, he was on the playing field and he knew his goal. The heart of Jamie Jakowski.