But so far, it’s proven trickier than I thought it would be since medical records are confidential and multiple “Jane Does” were admitted into Chicago hospitals around the time she disappeared.
After how defensive my questions made her before, I haven’t tried broaching the subject to get more details again—so I didn’t have a lot for Howard to go on when I asked him to look into it.
But I have to know.
“I’m still trying to narrow down which one is our Jane Doe, and while I’ve confirmed with several hospitals that the woman we’re looking for was not in those locations, a few others are being sticklers about the whole HIPAA thing.”
“Merda,” I growl. “Keep trying. Break in to get those records if you have to.”
“That’ll cost you extra.”
“You know I’m good for the money.”
Howard gives a grunt of acknowledgment. “I’ll call you again when I have more.”
Hanging up quickly, I head back to the counter, matching Jackson’s grin when I find him munching happily on a cheese-coated chip.
“Ready?” I ask as he passes my card back to me.
He nods, licking his fingers so he can take his soda as well. I grab the two beers, holding them in one hand so I can place the otheron the nape of his neck, a silent reassurance that we’ll make it back to our seats together.
“Soda!” Stephanie gasps as soon as we rejoin her, and I cringe, meeting her eyes with an apologetic look.
“We thought it’d be okay since it’s the weekend,” I explain.
Stephanie grins. “Well, I suppose it is a big evening. You'd just better not be up all night, Jay,” she warns.
“I won’t,” he promises with such earnestness, I could almost believe he’s developed the magical ability to will himself to sleep.
He turns his attention back to the field, where things are really starting to gear up, and I chuckle as I settle into the seat beside Stephanie.
Leaning against the arm that separates our chairs, she accepts the beer I offer her, then gives me a quick peck on the cheek that makes my skin tingle. “I was just teasing about the Coke. You did great. Thank you for making this day so special.”
Turning to meet her eyes, I trap her chin with my fingers. “I’d do anything for you two,” I assure her softly, and her breath catches, her eyes heating.
I steal a quick, molten kiss, and before I can get too carried away, the stands erupt into cheers, Jackson jumping to his feet as the announcer welcomes the players onto the field.
22
JANE
Pain races up my arms as they’re cranked behind my back, my hands pinned uselessly against my spine.
I can feel the soft leather of the person’s gloves—a stark contrast to the way he’s handling me.
Then he gives a deep, breathless laugh as he folds me forward, bringing me to my knees and into a twisted version of child’s pose as he shoves my face against the cold rubber floor.
Terror grips my chest, my heart hammering against my ribs, warning me to escape before it’s too late.
“Whew, she’s a feisty one, isn’t she?” the man says, his gruff voice raking down my skin and unleashing a violent shudder through my body.
“She’s going to be fun to play with,” another man says playfully from somewhere behind me.
“Get off me!” I scream, squirming beneath the man’s bone-crushing hold. But I know it’s pointless.
He’s too strong, and I can feel the road bumping beneath us. He’s taking me away.
From where, I don’t know. All I know is that the farther we get, the more danger I face.
