“Doesn’t matter,” Natalie fumed. “Jake Spiro’s a wanted man now.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Depends if they want to keep things on the lowdown. Good news is, they’re after Jake Spiro because they think he has the accounting book. Deal put Rachael’s phone back in her tote and she grabbed it. Last night I sent him a text telling him that we have the book and will negotiate terms in a couple days. JakeCollinsis still undercover and on the job.”
“For about the next thirty seconds. I should pull you. I shouldfireyou.”
“Whatever you need to do, Nat. But first, I have some new information. We’re gonna need a team out here. I know where Agent Smiley’s buried. Rachael told me.”
Natalie shook her head. “Like father, like daughter.”
“You’re dead wrong there. She gave up the information willingly. Nat, she was eight fucking years old when her dad pulled her out of bed one night to help him bury a goddamned body.”
Natalie paled. “Dear fucking God.” She looked down and rolled her lower lip in.
“She remembers the spot. The timeline coincides with Smiley’s disappearance. I need a team out here to do some literal digging.”
Natalie frowned. “Why would a grown man need an eight-year-old girl’s help?”
“He didn’t. It was all about intimidation. Her mom had just run off, so he told Rachael he was making her commit a crime so that she could never leave him. Told her if she tried, she’d be arrested for murder and put in the electric chair.” Jake shrugged. “She was just a kid, so she believed him.”
“But, since then? Why didn’t she ever come forward once she grew up?”
“She tried before then. About a week later, that little girl went to everyone’s favorite small-town sheriff and confessed. He told her now that he had her confession on record, she was doubly-fucked if she ever tried anything. Natalie, she grew up in Gaslight City, U.S.A.. She was so beaten-down and scared growing up, she didn’t know where to go, who she could talk to. When she got older, Deal told her he had people in the FBI on his payroll who would make sure she was silenced if she ever went to them.”
“But that’s bullshit.”
“It wasn’t to her. She was afraid I was one of them.” That had been the worst—Rachael waking up but still half-dreaming and crying in his arms with relief when he assured her he wasn’t.
Natalie looked to the side and blew out a breath. “So let’s see. You need a team to find the body, and you’re going to need protection for her, and most likely for Elena and her little girl, before and after the trial, if we even get that far.”
“Witness protection, if necessary.”
Natalie raised an eyebrow. “You’d never see Rachael again.”
“I don’t care.”
Nat rolled her eyes. “Please. That’s even bigger bullshit. You saying this to keep your job?”
“I’m saying this because I’ll do anything to keep her in the world.”
Nat’s lips flattened to a straight line before she said, “I don’t know how I can defend you this time.”
Jake pounded his fist on the bedside table. “Fuck my job. Just let me finish the mission and I’ll turn in my resignation.”
“Jake.Fuck,” his boss whispered under her breath. “This job’s meant everything to you.”
“Nat, it’s okay. I haven’t been a good fit for a long time, we both know that. I’ve been the biggest pain in your ass, I’m surprised you can sit down without jumping back up.” He watched Natalie swallow a smile.
“I don’t like this, Jake. You know I’d still go to bat for you.”
“And you’d lose, and your reputation would suffer for it. You worked hard enough to get where you’re at. Fuck me if I’m the one who brings you down, and for no good reason. Just let me resign, get out of everyone’s way, nice and neat. But, please, I’m begging you, let me do it after this job. Let me get Rachael out of this and somewhere safe.”
“Okay, Jake.” Natalie pressed her lips into the thin line that always meant she’d made her decision. “Well, if that’s the case, you’ll need to get your woman some professional help when this is over. You need to support her in every way you can. She’s got a rough road ahead of her.”
“I know. I’ll do everything I can.”
“Goddamn. Despite being a pain in my ass, I’m going to miss you, Jake.”
“I’ll miss you too, Nat.”
