“Rachael, what the hell does, ‘Will you stand in the doorway while I hear the mission bell’ mean?”
Rachael thought,That’s a reference to ‘Hotel California’.Jake’s testing me, he thinks something’s wrong. If I answer with something else, he’ll know for sure.
“Sounds like code,” Sheriff Stevenson said.
“He’s always saying weird shit like that.” Rachael hoped the rest of the room couldn’t hear her heart beating like a jackhammer. “He likes that it makes me laugh. Tell him, L-o-l what? Yeah I guess I’ll stand in the door.”
Daddy raised an eyebrow but typed in her response. “Better hope his next message backs up your story, little girl.”
Ding. Daddy looked down and read the text.
“What did he say?” Rachael held her breath while trying to look calm.
“Says, ‘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.’”
“See, I told you! He’s just being weird. He thinks everything is fine. He’s on his way. Please don’t hurt Tina.”
Daddy and the sheriff looked at each other. “What do you think, Wilbur?”
The sheriff grinned. “I think your dumbass daughter found herself an even dumber boyfriend’s what I think.”
Rachael hid her smile.I know who’s dumb and who’s not. Sound asleep, Jake Spiro’s still smarter than both you jackasses put together. And so am I. Rachael parsed through Jake’s return message. Bob Marley—Jake’s promise that he’d come running when she was in trouble. That he had friends…
Rachael’s heart stopped. The other part of his message referenced a Police song.
Oh, God. Was that his big secret? Was Jake undercover law enforcement?
The edges of the room wavered as she saw flickering spots before her eyes.I can’t pass out. Not here, not now. Rachael calmed her breathing once she realized she was in danger of hyperventilating. She needed to be sharp, to think of all the things she could do right now that would help Jake when he arrived.
Figure out where Tina was and if she was okay.
Let Elena know help’s coming.
Keep Daddy, Hank, and the sheriff in the dark.
Find a weapon. Any weapon. There had to be a ton of things she could use in the kitchen, even if the sheriff removed all the knives.
And don’t think about the possibility that the man she loved could be the one to put her behind bars and take away her freedom for the rest of her life.
Twenty-Five
Elena’s house looked innocent enough with Rachael’s car parked in the driveway and the smells of good cooking drifting out through the screened windows. Maybe there was a chance that everything was fine, that Tina had the sniffles and Elena and Rachael were right now in the kitchen laughing and drinking wine, waiting for Jake to show before plating up dinner. Cozy, just like a verse out of “Summer Breeze.”
Not likely.
Especially when Jake walked past Rachael’s car, and in the evening’s fading light, saw her songbook lying out in plain view on the back seat.
That’s where she sat as Deal drove her here,Jake thought as he quickly scanned the interior of her car.I wonder how the big fuck managed to squeeze behind the wheel? Oh, he didn’t drive—the passenger seat’s the one pushed all the way back. So there are at least two men waiting inside. My guess would be Deal and the ever good and upstanding Sheriff Wilbur Stevenson.
Jake smiled. Two birds with one stone.
He’d dropped Camden off on the street behind Elena’s house and Jake figured his partner was in her backyard by now. Camden would scope out the situation from there, make sure there were no additional surprises. Jake wished he had a whole SWAT team at his beck and call, but then again, they sometimes got in the way of a delicate situation like this one.
Besides, Camden alone with nothing but a toothpick was as good as a whole team. All SEALs were.
Just before he hit the porch, Jake whispered, “Brother?”
“Here.” Camden’s voice came loud and clear through the tiny communication device tucked in Jake’s ear canal. “Looking through the window, I see a target standing in a girl’s room. Male, medium-build, not Deal…looks like that guy Hank. What the fuck? Thought you took care of him.”
