She turned quickly and dashed out of the room.
Jack stared at the void and wondered what he might’ve said if she’d stayed. Relieved that he didn’t have to face that issue in that moment, he picked up the phone beside his bed and dialed.
A gruff voice answered on the second ring. “Detective O’Brien here.”
“Hey Liam. It’s Jack Fialko.”
“What’s going on? I thought you were taking some vacation time?”
“I was. Some ass-wipe of a stalker has been after my…girlfriend. Tried to run me off the parkway yesterday to get to her. Probably saw it on the news?”
“Shit. You okay?”
“Yeah. I’m heading back to New York and could use that new super-computer you guys installed when we get there. I’ll have Josh send you everything I know.”
“Sure. Give me a shout when you get to town.”
“One more thing?”
“Yeah?”
“Josh is going to be arranging more security. Can you let NYPD know the situation?”
“That can be arranged. Anything else?”
“Yeah. Pray we get this guy before it’s too late.”
Chapter 23
High up in the Hummer Josh rented, Jack drove while Zoe studied the road's reflection in the passenger side mirror. In her mind, the dark SUV barreled towards them, intent on death. In the real world, Jase followed three car lengths behind.
Zoe shuddered. “You should've stayed in the hospital for another day.”
Jack chuckled. Today his light brown eyes flashed with golden flecks, reflecting the sun, and the stripes in his silk tie. His dark pants held a sharp center crease and an expensive navy blazer hung under plastic in the back. She missed beach-bum-Jack, but go-to-work-Jack would've had her creaming, if it weren't for the sense of danger she couldn’t shake.
He smiled her way as if reading her mind.
“How do you know we’re safe? That stalker could be anywhere.” Zoe wished she was home already. Her stomach was tied in knots.
Jack patted the steering wheel, and smirked. “He’s no match for the two of us and this big baby.”
Zoe glanced over her shoulder at the raven-haired teenager in the backseat. The girl gave her a tentative smile, then looked back out the window. Jase had found her wandering the parking lot after the explosion. Apparently, she was the girl Kyle had convinced Jack he’d mated with. Zoe shuddered, she couldn’t have been more than thirteen. Zoe had tried to have a conversation with her, but the girl’s English was limited to two-word sentences. All Zoe really knew about her was that her name was Erina.
“Why are you bringing the girl back to New York? I thought she was staying with your parents.”
Jack frowned and his eyes flickered to the rearview mirror. “Josh thinks she might have something to do with the Russian. We'll keep her safe, find out what she knows, where she came from, then send her back home.”
The girl tapped Zoe on the shoulder. With eyes wide, she shook her head back and forth and mouthed the word,no.
Zoe nodded, made a calming motion with both palms down, and said to Jack, “She understands us, you know. Did you find out anything more?”
“She was supposed to end up at a Pennsylvania bible camp but our stalker friend apparently arranged a detour.” Jack maneuvered their mammoth vehicle easily in and out of the fast lane.
“And?”
Jack’s expression turned grim and he swiped a hand across his face. “She and several other girls were no doubt packing heroine in their stomachs on the trip over from Europe.”
“No way. That is so not right.” Zoe clenched her fists.
