“Like I said, Agent Collins, Ernest Deal gets into your soul and dirties it up. Linda Deal musta had a compelling reason to abandon Rachael. Beats me what it was, though.”
“Beats me, too.” But Jake had his suspicions.
He glanced at his phone and noticed the time. He needed to wrap this up. Rachael would be leaving the plant shortly. She’d promised to text him once she got in her car just before hitting the road. No text yet.
Jake was glad he’d insisted on her bringing the photos of her mom and her songbook, knowing those were her most prized possessions. He was certain now that Rachael would not be going back home after tonight and she’d want them. He’d meet her at the motel like they’d arranged, but instead of having a conversation there, he’d take her straight to the safehouse and explain everything once he knew she was secure. He didn’t want to do things that way, especially since Camden would be present. He wanted to get an immediate read on their relationship after he dropped the undercover agent bomb at the motel, so that she wouldn’t feel suddenly trapped in a strange house with a couple of FBI agents—one of them a stranger and the other a stranger she thought she knew. Loved, even.
But her safety was more important than his feelings. It would kill him to walk away, but he would if it meant she’d have a chance at a real life.
Jake stood up and extended his hand to shake Lewis’s. “Thank you for talking to me, Deputy Broggart. You’ll be contacted again, of course.”
Lewis stood and shook Jake’s hand, then he let Connie fold him into her arms. “Thank you for doing this, Louie. Now maybe our family can heal.” She looked over Lewis’s shoulder at Jake and mouthed, ‘Thank you.” He saw forgiveness in her eyes, and smiled back.
As Jake watched them, his phone buzzed. He saw that Rachael had texted:
Hey instead of the hideaway can you come to Elena’s? Tina’s sick and I’m helping
The Hideaway? They were supposed to meet at the motel.This isn’t right. Jake’s heart sped up. Maybe it was just his paranoia, but his instincts told him Rachael was compromised. He had to be careful, let her know he understood she was in danger without tipping anyone else off.What’s a no-brainer song reference she’d get right away…motel…hotel…of course!
He texted back:
Will you stand in the doorway while I hear the mission bell?
Jake held his breath until his phone buzzed with her reply. The only text that would put him at ease were the words, “Hotel California.” He’d text back, ‘got it in one’ and then go get his woman and take her to safety.
Lol what? Yeah I guess I’ll stand in the door
Shit.
Deal had Rachael. Probably Elena and Tina, too, if that’s where he wanted Jake to meet up.
“I gotta go,” Jake told Connie and Lewis. He bolted out the door. When he got to his bike, he regretted the way things were going down even as he texted:
I know, I’m being weird and not making sense as usual. Don’t worry about a thing because every little thing you do is magic. I love you, Angel. See you soon!
Jake felt his heart implode. This was not how he wanted Rachael to find out about him. But he hoped if Deal let her see the final text, that she’d get both the Bob Marley reference from that morning—along with the Police reference and understand that he had her covered. He had reinforcements, ones that would change everything. He just prayed they wouldn’t change her love for him.Trust me, Rachael. Please, Angel.
Next, he called Camden.
“What’s up, brother? You guys on your way over from the motel?”
“Big fucking change of plan. You’re coming with me. I’ll tell you where. And bring your piece, brother. We’re going up against Deal.”
Twenty-Four
Hank and Daddy marched Rachael to her car outside the plant. She was not surprised when Daddy pulled out his own duplicate set of car keys. Hank drove. Rachael sat in the back seat, practically rocking the whole car with her shaking. They’d taken her from the plant—the last place where Jake knew she was—which meant her danger level just increased. Where were they going? How would he find her? How could she let him know he was in danger if he did? At least she could surreptitiously hide the photos and notebook under the seats. That gave her a little relief, at least.
Daddy scrolled through Rachael’s phone looking for God-knows-what.At least I was smart enough to delete Jake’s texts as they came in.And Elena’s. But she’d never thought about her father going after her friend. She cursed herself for the hundredth time for letting Elena get involved. It would be all Rachael’s fault if anything happened to her or Tina. Rachael held back tears thinking of the little girl, barely five, who was probably terrified right now.
Tears won’t help them. I have to be strong. Stay alert. Show no fear.
Rachael sat up. “I want my phone back now.” She kept her voice calm and even. Just another performance.
Daddy held up the phone. “You’re not getting this back. It’s too useful.”
“For what?”
“You’ll see.”
