Isaac showed her the different communications earpieces and listening devices that they used in the field. There were even mini cameras small enough to fit on contact lenses.
“This is incredible,” Jinx said, holding up the case containing the contacts. “I haven’t seen these before.”
“So, what about us going out after work and grabbing some dinner? I know a great Decaros restaurant with amazing steaks.”
Jinx set the case down on the table and turned to look at Isaac. He was very attractive. But Jinx didn’t have the same instant heat flame up with Isaac as she did whenever Drake was around. Jinx needed to find a way to turn him down without offending him. Using her rule about not dating coworkers was starting to seem like a pretty stupid rule.
“I heard that you were not available.”
He looked away from her and went to his computer. “What exactly have you heard?”
“That you were married and that your wife went missing years ago. That you have been searching for her ever since.” She noted that he hadn’t denied any of it. “If you have a wife, why would you want to go out with me?”
He sighed with weariness that she could suddenly see in his eyes. He hid his true feelings with easy going attitude and quick smiles. “I will not give up my search, but there are times that I get lonely and want to share a dance or a meal with a pretty woman.”
“That’s understandable. What happened with your wife?”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
He shut her out just like that. Isaac went from warm and funny, to cold and removed. She prayed he found what he was looking for, but what you found isn’t always what you had been looking for. She worried Isaac would get more than what he had bargained for. Jinx knew this from experience. She had once searched for her birth father. The more stuff she dug up, the more questions she had. The places and people she turned to for answers were as shady as they came. After a few years of pointless wasted summers, she gave up the search. Her life was in the here and now and the past should remain in the past.
“Isaac, I’m here if you want to talk about it.”
“We’re done here,” was Isaac’s only response.
“Okay, thanks for the IT education. I appreciate it.” She left his office noticing that he was already into whatever he was doing on the computer. Jinx felt a little guilty. Maybe she should have had dinner with him. He might have opened up to her about his wife. Talking to someone about it might help him work it out of his system. But clearly Isaac wasn’t ready to talk to anyone.
She walked over to her desk and frowned at the huge stack of paperwork waiting for her. At least she was able to get the desk cleaned. Her cell phone vibrated, letting her know she had a message. It was probably her mom, wanting to see when she could come down for a visit. Pulling it out, Jinx frowned at the name that popped up on caller ID—Steve. She wasn’t going to call him while she was working. He would have to wait.
She got lost in the sorting and completing of the documentation. It was kind of soothing in a way. Before she knew it, Shy was standing at her desk.
“Ready for lunch?”
“Sure, just let me finish this up.” She glanced over and noted that Drake wasn’t at his desk. Where had he gone? She must have asked the question out loud because Shy answered her.
“He’s working with Asia to bring in one of her perps.”
She wondered if Drake ever dated any of the female bounty hunters. They were all gorgeous and smart. Shy was built like a sex bomb. Her hips should be classified as lethal weapons.
Jinx closed the file she just finished and grabbed her purse. “Okay, I’m ready to go.”
Shy linked their arms together and almost skipped to the door. She couldn’t help but laugh at the woman’s antics. “So, what should we get for lunch?”
“Do you like pasta?”
“I love pasta.”
“There’s this great pasta place, you can pick the pasta, toppings and sauce.”
“Mmm...sounds delicious.”
Jinx noted that on the way to the waiting taxi shuttle, many of the men they passed almost hurt themselves trying to get a glance of her ass in the tight leather pants Shy was wearing. Jinx wanted to be like Shy.
When they got outside, she noticed a hover taxi was waiting on them. “That’s quick.”
Shy shrugged, “This is a prime spot for taxi pick ups. You’ll be able to catch one every hour. There’s also a taxi pick up and drop off where we got one this morning in front of our building. It makes it easy to get around town without having to get your own vehicle.”
“That’s convenient. Personally, I don’t like driving myself if I can help it.”
