“He needs a few people. Ones he can trust, who can think on their feet but won’t go overboard.”
“Not sure I wanna go undercover or overseas anymore, especially if it means Rachael has to worry.”Listen to me, talking like we’re already married.
“No need, bro. My buddy needs a profiler and you’ve got the knack. Surprised you haven’t gone that direction already.”
“Always felt like I needed to be on the front lines.”
“Sounds like that’s changing. Jake, brother, there’s room on the team for you. I’m tired of the bureaucratic bullshit too. There’s another way. A better way. Let me introduce you to the guys. And the dogs.”
“Dogs?”
Camden laughed. “Just wait. The dogs run the show.”
“So if you’re fed up like me, how come you haven’t bounced?”
Camden chuckled. “Had to make sure my partner was gonna be okay first.”
Jake looked out at the vast emptiness of the prairie. “Don’t know what to say, brother. Thanks.”
“Just make me your best man at the wedding.”
Jake laughed. “Done. But if I’m gonna have a chance at getting married, I need you to start your best man duties for me right now and set up a safehouse for me and Rachael. Shit’s about to move fast and we’re gonna need one.”
“Done. I’ll let you know the details.”
“I also need you to find me someone’s cell number, sooner the better.”
“I can do that, too. Just give me the deets. Oh, and Jake?”
“Yeah?”
“Do. Not. Fuck. This. Up. I don’t want a new partner, either at the Bureau or my buddy’s company.”
“Roger that.”
* * *
It’s no big deal to find a cell phone number when you work for the FBI, and Camden got Jake the one he wanted before the end of his shift at the meatpacking plant. Jake called the number and got the pushback he’d expected. But in the end, he set up the meeting he wanted for late afternoon so he ducked out of the plant early. Now as Jake rode his Indian west into Colorado, he thought about Rachael the entire ride.
After their mind-blowing night together, Jake had spent the next day watching a different side of Rachael emerge at the plant. She kept her head held high instead of staring at the floor in front of her as she walked. Shoulders back, she strode confidently like she owned the place. She didn’t cower or smile in an attempt to deescalate the assholes who bothered her. She threw their insults right back at them, which confused the hell out of the idiots. By the end of the day, the guys who typically gave Rachael trouble gave her a wide berth instead. Jake had never felt so proud, seeing his woman stand up for herself and brooking no shit from nobody.
He wanted to take credit—getting rid of Hank and then showing her how special she was certainly opened the door. But in the end, he knew today was all Rachael, her bravery and refusal to live in the shadows another minute. And that boded well for both her and the case he was building against Deal.
Jake pulled into The Hideaway’s parking lot. He hoped this meeting would be the beginning of Rachael’s eventual freedom from the hell that was Ross, Nebraska. The hell that was Daddy Deal. And the hell that was her own past.
Camden came through with the safehouse and a promise that he’d see them there. After this meeting, Jake would rendezvous with Rachael at their motel, and he’d come clean with who he really was, then take her there and make sure she was tucked away safe and sound while he took care of business. His laptop and the few items of personal clothing he brought from California rode in the Indian’s saddlebags. Along with his Indian and his guitar strapped to his back, Jake had everything he needed—Daddy Deal could keep the rest.
Well, he had everything he needed except Rachael, but that would change tonight. Forever.
He could have set the meeting up somewhere else, but he thought this would make Connie feel the safest. Even so, as he walked in the door he watched her fidget with a paper napkin, shredding it into strips that she laid beside a plate holding her untouched food. Denise waved from behind the bar and had his favorite beer ready before he got there. He grabbed it, thanked her, and approached Connie’s table. He knew from talking to her earlier that Bill wouldn’t be in—Jenny’s team had an away game several towns over and they weren’t due back until around ten.
“Thanks for seeing me,” Jake said as he took a seat.
She looked up from the shredded napkin, her mouth a straight line. “You gave me no choice once you told me who you really are and what you do.” The smile she gave him held nothing but bitterness. “And here I thought Rachael was trouble for hidingheridentity.”
Here we go. “Connie, I am truly sorry for the deception, but you understand it was necessary.”
Connie shrugged in half-hearted acknowledgement.
