“Me either. I was pretty sure Zoey’s picture would be out on the web, but Zoey and Jennie together? Makes me wonder.”
“Exactly. This isn’t the same man who communicated with Zoey.” Brandon’s gaze met his. “You tell Jennie, yet?”
“No. Haven’t had the opportunity. I was a little busy helping her dodge falling boulders on Saturday. Besides, I wanted to study the photos before I came to any conclusions.”
“You better tell her, or something tells me she’ll bite your head off if she finds out you’re hiding something from her.”
David lifted his mug and saluted Brandon. “Right you are.”
“By the way, how’s she doing?” Brandon slid his cup in a circle on the table.
“It shook her up a bit, but she’s tough.”
“What about you? How’s your arm and back?”
“Not gonna lie, I’m sore, but it could have been a lot worse.” His skin burned where the cuts rubbed against his shirt. Living alone had its drawbacks, one being no one to help with unreachable places.
“Very true.” His partner tipped his mug, emptied it, then raised it to the waitress.
The server placed a coffee pot on the table. “There ya go, boys. You look like you need it.”
“Thanks,” they said in unison as she walked away.
The two continued to update each other on their open cases and status of the current search warrant requests. Several cups of coffee later and their task list ready for action, a flit of blonde hair captured David’s attention. Jennie stood at the entrance, scanning the room. He narrowed his gaze. The dark circles under the woman’s eyes and her drooped shoulders concerned him.
Brandon shifted and looked around the edge of the booth. “Ah, my signal to leave.”
“You don’t have to…”
His partner waved his hand at him. “I’ve got to get busy anyway. And you have information to share with a very tired looking young lady.”
“You noticed that too, eh?”
“Hard to miss.” Brandon slid from the seat. “See ya later.”
Jennie said hello to Brandon on his way out then her eyes met David’s. She ambled to his table.
“Please. Have a seat.” He motioned to the bench Brandon had vacated.
“Thank you.” Jennie lowered herself to the seat and in one graceful movement slid her legs under the table.
“Coffee?”
“Yes, please.” She tucked a strand of loose hair behind her ear.
David motioned the waitress for another cup. “Where’s your friend?”
“Tina’s at my place. She had work to do. As a graphic designer, she can work from anywhere. I’m heading home after I run a few errands.”
“She seems nice.”
“Very much so. I don’t think I would have survived my past if it hadn’t been for her.”
He pondered her statement. It only confirmed she continued to hide something from him.
Jennie exhaled. Her entire body slumped.
“Looks like you had a long night.”
